Twice continued their winning streak with the feel-good, synth-fueled I Got You earlier this month. That song acted as a pre-release for both One Spark and the accompanying album With YOU-th. The two songs share a sense of uplift, anchored by glossy pop melodies and a confident performance.
For whatever reason, K-pop’s pre-release tracks often have a higher batting average than title tracks. I guess agencies want to put their best foot forward, though the extra promotions afforded to title tracks beg for the best of the best. One Spark may not be “the best,” but it’s perfectly solid. It manages to tick off many current trends while simultaneously bending them to Twice’s will. There’s a nice mix of restraint and bombast that keeps things engaging throughout (except for the misguided, ultra-predictable post-chorus energy lull…). Bright synth textures punctuate nimble percussion while evocative backing vocals swirl behind the pre-choruses. By the time we reach One Spark‘s rousing, clap-along finale, the song has really cemented itself.
However, I still think I Got You takes the crown. This is largely due to One Spark‘s chorus. I’m not sure how I feel about it. The hooks come across as a little one-note, with too many “burnin’s” and not enough fire. The arrangement is sprightly enough to compensate for this repetition, but I would have loved to hear a more dynamic top line. Overall, the song comes across as mid-range Twice, which is nothing to sneeze at. They’ve mastered this frothy pop sound.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
This song is good, but the album is really great, miles ahead of Ready to be and between 1&2.
LikeLike
I think I Got You takes it over One Spark for me as well, but it’s still good! Same notes about the chorus that’s making the difference. But the album is so solid!!! No skip for me, and it’s so cohesive – love love love this ethereal, bright sound on them 😭
LikeLiked by 5 people
8.5? What have you been drinking, lmao.
The steady decline of Twice continues.
Can’t stop me was great, but everything since has been a massive disappointment.
LikeLiked by 2 people
we found the blink amongst the multistans
LikeLiked by 2 people
Blink? Shut up, retard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
big words for a nothingburger sentence. Relax, bruh 😹😹😹😹
LikeLiked by 2 people
What steady recline? I Can’t Stop Me was released 3 years ago, then that would have mean they crashed and burned already by kpop standards🤣 Gtfo here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Each subsequent release has been a bit weaker imo.
We’re not in the 5s, but this is like a 6 for me, from a group that used to release 9s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
i so agree this song is not great
LikeLike
Ooh, I love it! The drums/percussions are engaging and the funky guitar adds a lot to it! I also liked the melodies a lot, hope Twice releases more songs like this or I Got You
I’d give it a straight 9 or a 9.25 (10 for production cause it’s really engaging)
LikeLiked by 4 people
I’m sticking to 9 for now, but the song will age well for me
LikeLiked by 3 people
A straight 9 for me.
I’ve been looking forward to this. And honestly I wasn’t disappointed
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’d give it a 9 but of course, I am biased 😉 I do agree I Got You is better and One Spark is slightly less than I Can’t Stop Me and Talk That Talk but I love it a lot. TWICE just owns these retro synths and I’m a sucker for it. On One Spark they added a certain kind of coolness to it, which I really like. It feels looser and smoother as Set Me Free.
The girls just sound so engaged. It’s been 10 years already and they continute with the love for each other and ONCEs. You can hear that through their music. That love makes their music better and therefore, they always have an edge for me. They didn’t have to continue. Their status as a legendary group had been cemented long ago. They only make music out of love.
The album is really incredible. Ever since Fancy You their albums have grown so much and this one might just be the best ever. I’m really happy with it.
The group has really created their own sound. They keep reinventing themselves over and over again while remaining true to their own sound.
LikeLike
They can do whatever they want at this point. I’m in. 9.
And Tzuyu is a living god.
LikeLiked by 1 person
rating seems about right. the chorus is my biggest gripe about the song as well.
LikeLike
i was so so on twice at first then by feel special they’ve just been impressing me. They have such a strong selection of korean title tracks. Also that video was stunning
LikeLike
The chorus is an.. interesting choice! 😅 Maybe it’ll grow on me the more i listen to it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this song so much I’ll give it a 9. Twice never disappoints imo (apart from set me free which was dead boring). And omg Tzuyu is so beautiful and is improving a lot with her vocals.
LikeLike
Love that this song and I Got You feels like a celebration of who they are and how far they have come!
LikeLiked by 1 person
JYP not interested in giving bangers to Twice anymore. Theyre just giving them these easy on the ears music as they sail them down the retirement river. 😦 There focusing on NMIXX and salvaging ITZY. Makes sense in a business perspective but kinda sad for old time Twice fans. It’s an understandable career trajectory as their sound matures with their age tho but honestly it wouldnt hurt if JYP gave Twice a good banger of a song every now and then instead of these “it’s ok theyre TWICE” songs. I want to keep them relevant enough in the eyes of the public and not just us fans who would appreciate any output anyway.
LikeLiked by 2 people
What do you mean JYP didn’t give Twice bangers? This has old Twice vibes all over it
LikeLike
Agree with your rating, but Imma giving a 10 on production, making a 8.75/10. The synth, drum arrangement, and small jersey club beats on pre-chorus is growing on me.
LikeLike
Really liked this one!! Also very happy we got a (sort of) actual bridge and the song is over 3 minutes :))
LikeLiked by 1 person
Twice is so polished and well-run at this point that they could do this in their sleep. These recent songs have felt very commercial in a good way (like literally I can see this accompanying some kind of popular product—maybe they should have been in the JYP Coca Cola song after all and improved it immensely?). Still, as a casual listener, I do feel like some spark has been lost compared to their incredible Fancy-Feel Special-Can’t Stop Me run. Maybe it’s the nostalgia talking.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Nostalgia is not what it used to be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You described this perfectly! I was trying to figure out why Twice has felt so different since Set Me Free but you perfectly explained why. I feel like Talk That Talk was the gateway point for this “pleasant commercialization” phase, but I really do miss that unique punch that their older concepts have.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Another solid pop song from Twice. Somewhere in the middle of their singles, as others say here, but a worthy addition.
The thing about the chorus “burning burning burning …. hurting hurting hurting” is that it is old style pop song construction. That is what makes it sounds more classic and solid. Early Madonna the chorus goes “I’m burning up burning up for your love, burning up burning up for your love, for your loooooove” and repeat. This song takes a page from that sort of thing, and I think it works well.
One thing though: Skittering drums have become the new trap. It was fresh a year or two ago, now it is ubiquitous.
Early Madonna, for the kids here. I was with my daughter selling girl scout cookies, and “Borderline” came on the store radio. My daughter was like who is Madonna, and I was like what girl, and the guy who came along was also like what girl, and just might have bought an extra box of cookies because of the lively conversation and requisite video on the phone that followed. I looked it up – this was her second single ever some 40 years ago, since then has released 94 singles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just saw Madonna’s show this week in Vancouver! She’s still got it 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
She didn’t perform Borderline, though… 😦
LikeLike
I suppose when one has 40 years of songs and 94 singles plus all the back catalog, one must choose, alas. Madonna Eras-style concert would last for the better part of a day.
LikeLike
I prefer I got You more but this is good
9/10 for me
LikeLiked by 1 person
idk i think it needed a post-chorus or smthg more to rlly complete the song cause it felt unfinished and (yet again) rushed like every kpop song atm
LikeLike
I love this song so much. I love this whole EP so much. They’re the most consistent group to me.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Sorry to comment here… But 1 of my favorite Kpop Composor – Shinsadong Tiger just passed away this morning… I’m still extremely shock on this news…
LikeLike