Lately, there’s been a plague of member hiatuses and departures for reasons that feel comparatively minor. Tempest’s Hwarang is currently sitting out group activities as penance for… visiting a dance club. Look, there’s a lot I love about K-pop (obviously), but this silly micromanagement of its artists needs to stop. It’s reached a level where netizens can ruin careers over arbitrary things and the idea of forgiveness seems completely alien. We must remember that many of these performers are essentially kids. People make mistakes and they (hopefully) grow from them. That’s part of life, and any “idol” should represent life.
With that out of the way, I knew I’d enjoy Tempest’s new single because they’ve established a seesawing pattern of releasing “banger, disappointment, banger, disappointment, etc.” After last year’s troublesome Vroom Vroom, we’ve now cycled back to “banger.” New single Lighthouse is a rousing, vocal-focused punch of feel-good pop. Its adamant stomp and encouraging, anthemic melodies remind me of Golden Child’s excellent 2021 hit Burn It, which is high praise on this blog. Lighthouse‘s arrangement isn’t quite as magnificent, but I appreciate its willingness to build to a satisfying centerpiece and keep that surging energy going during the verses.
Most of all, I love how the song employs full-throated singing as its biggest charm. There’s no shouted onomatopoeias to be found here. Instead, the chorus crests with a dynamic melody that takes advantage of the instrumental’s optimistic surge. It’s a somewhat generic sound, but stands out in a K-pop market that’s largely moved on from songs like this. And at three and a half minutes, Lighthouse gives itself enough time to unfurl for maximum effect.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
it sounds like something that could be released in mid-to-late 2010s tbh and that’s not a bad thing. a lot better than their last comeback, for sure.
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just last week karina was forced to apologize for… getting herself a man…
apparently some vocal minority of fans wanted her to be a lesbian (who was surprised when she wasnt) and were shocked and disappointed when she wasnt so she was made to apologize for not considering their parasocial relationship with her
its absolutely fucking stupid ik
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And then apparently also got mocked for the apology. I didn’t click through, just read the headline and sighed heavily. I am so over that part of kpop and social media. Sound and fury, signifying nothing.
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And that apology made headlines in several news channels such as BBC and now, the apology is considered an embarrassment.
I wish more companies were like YG, they just dgaf about dating news and all. They even once straight up laughed at the rumors of Song Mino and CL dating. But well, given SM definitely is one of, if not the, major companies who contributed to this wave of parasocial relationships, and given Seunghan going on an indefinite hiatus for doing things like a normal 18-19 year old, I’m just not surprised.
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I wish SM was like that too, I just caught a glimpse of something on ig today that could mean dragging Anton into this idioticism too. I truly hope nothing happens with that🥺we don’t need another member being dragged indefinitely, and why do I feel like years before Idols dating wasn’t this sacrilegious or whatever…
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To be fair, I seriously doubt it was the Twitter lesbians who forced her hand here. More likely it was entitled male fans who sent LED protest trucks and stuff. I think the vocal minority of lesbian fans is just what we see more of here in international fandom. Korean netizens obviously have more sway with companies like SM, and most people who run fansites and attend fansigns etc for female idols are men.
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true honestly
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So refreshing to hear a straight ahead song. No posturing as this that or the other thing, no obvious lore, no hyper corporate test panel. A song is a song is a song. With flavors of the “Dynamite” chorus, the original one from the early 10’s.
That said, rating is a touch high.
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The Hwarang situation is so ridiculous, he even lost his MC gig because of this (and he was hardly there for 2 weeks). Apparently, clubs in SoKor have a bad reputation due to drugs and all (I mean, what club doesn’t has drugs usage? I know it’s not right, but still), but for THIS he’s on hiatus? I’m not even pissed at this, I’m just baffled (I experienced the Seunghan situation as a devoted Briize so I’m kinda… used to it? 🥴) I don’t stan Tempest, but I feel bad for him.
Anyways, for the song, as Jeno said, it sounds like it could be released in mid-to-late-2010s, but this is pretty cute and pleasant, and not pleasant as in “lack of good beats and doing ASMR to it”, but pleasant as in a good, feel-good beat, with some sweet, lively hooks. Hopefully they follow up with another song like this or Dangerous, but well, given their (go up and down like a) seesaw changing of songs, I’m not keeping my hopes high, but hey, let’s enjoy the moment for now.
Ratings is the same.
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the song is cute. 8/10 for me
(on another note though, how come kpop idols lose it whenever their favorite idol is living a normal life? first it was seunghan, then it was Karina, and now hwarang?)
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btw nick could you send me BWO’s Halcyon Days and Fabricator? they’re the only bwo albums not available on apple music
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this is the kind of kpop i love, great singing and melody with synth oomph… 9.25
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