In what’s becoming a clear pattern, ILLIT are the latest HYBE-associated K-pop act to see record-breaking success on the charts with their debut Magnetic. Many fans have become upset about their persistent comparisons to NewJeans, but although the details may be unique for each act, I think the observation is apt. We need a name for this new sub-genre of K-pop: airy, two-minute earworm tracks that feel more like calorie-free appetizers than the main course.
To be clear, there’s nothing wrong or bad about these songs. They certainly succeed at what they’ve set out to do, and there’s often great care taken with the intricacies of their production. It’s just not really my thing, and I’m not sure it ever will be. I expect something bigger more resonant and vibrant in my pop music. Maybe it’s a generational issue.
This is my long way of saying ILLIT’s follow-up track Lucky Girl Syndrome is absolutely fine, even if it does little for me. It’s effervescent, buoyed by candy floss melodies and an understated performance that gives it a youthful charm. The energy stays sprightly throughout, but the whole package is so smooth and sanitized that it robs the music of passion. There’s no sense of emotion or intensity, which makes it difficult to form any response beyond a requisite “hey, that’s kind of catchy!” Try as I might, I can’t see how songs of this style carve an enduring legacy ten or twenty years down the line. It all feels so transient, wafting into your life for two and a half minutes as a pleasant little fever dream.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
The song sounds like another soda pop plushie surprise rainbow unicorn glitter Gap Old Navy ad.
One thing I do know: they will never sing this song properly live ever. It is essentially acapella for half the verses, and they are not strong seasoned singers to carry it, even though the song is not rangy, and the chorus is sung as a chorus. It is an easy song to sing along with but not sing without backing unless you are good – qv Illit’s own “Magnetic” encore stage.
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its mostly pinkpantheress thats pioneering this kind of airy, short-length sound that hybe and other kpop groups are taking on
like i can enjoy pinkpantheress and all but i dont need a bunch of ripoffs of her
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she did it first and she’s the most innovative with it the rest of these folks are just trying to grab at her success tbh its so obvious
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exactly, its so tiring
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I would have rather had Midnight Fiction as a follow up, I loved that one!
My views are still pretty much the same as when Magnetic came out. I’m fine with this style of music, and if it’s well done and it’s something I find myself coming back to again and again, that’s enough of a main course for me, even if the sound itself is airy. I just don’t want it flooding the market and changing the signature sounds of established groups…which is unfortunately already happening.
And with the live singing debacles that are happening, it would be nice if agencies started caring more about having at least one vocalist that can reliably knock it out of the park on live stages. There are plenty of acts out there who sing subdued fare with minimal belting who still have absolutely gorgeous voices, or compelling vocal colors. I know the industry is in love with mid “all rounders” these days, but is just one supremely good singer such a sacrifice if it saves them from this kind of backlash?!?
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It was boring. Maybe if this sound wasn’t made a thousand times to death already, I would have a different opinion, but this is nothing new. There’s no spice to it. Magnetic >>>
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It’s been both interesting and lightly amusing to see how some of the bunnies are claiming Illit is ‘ripping NJ off’ because of very tenuous connective tissue -using synths, being 5 members, the girls debuting with longer hair & natural hair color – when if you look at both groups there’s a distinct different: NJ tend to do synths and rhythms with a more nature skewed/atmospheric touch while these girls are skewing very digital & chiptune based. If they were to be taking cues from ANY senior group it would be Cherry Bullet instead because of their musical concept style. With Illit you might as well call them Chiptune-Jeans instead LOL
Anyway, this EP was so short – enjoyable but short – and while I don’t favor this song as much as Midnight Fiction it’s still a cute time.
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Ok this is definitely growing on me. Even tho the melody is a bit too familiar, the lyrics are too relatable to stop singing and thinking about!! I hope ILLIT (or any 5th gen gg) tries to rap soon. A cheerful and zippy rap (like soyeon in “what’s in your house”….wouldn’t that be the perfect thing to spice up their songs?
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I don’t even think their songs need spicing up, they need some beefing up. I actually like the concept of not every kpop idol song having a rap in it. Sometimes they’re just not needed
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Unpopular opinion but I really like ILLIT’s first EP and LGS was initially my least favorite but there is something very charming about it : the bossa beat, the eery chorus. Then the final break lifts everything up and I’m here for it.
They mix NewJeans playfulness with IVE’s girly vibes. It’s not original but in a sea of over complicated girl group concepts I’ll take it.
And yes they are not great vocalists and can thank autotune on this one but what a good EP, I just love Midnight Fiction.
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the best
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This song just made be go back and appreciate how Lucky Girl by Red Velvet was
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a great b side
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I feel like this type of sound is the current “bubblegum-pop” and I think, at its core, it’s given us some really catchy memorable songs.I feel like NewJeans’ Super Shy is an example of that, or Magnetic if we wanna talk about ILLIT. However, I still agree on the fact that an entire discography based around a style like this, while it might define the group’s style, is gonna make it a little boring.
I also really do think it can be a generational issue, because like I said, this is doing well with the younger chunk of Gen-Z and Gen Alpha and it’s their version of bubble-gum pop, I would say.
I think, with time, sounds are mean to change and I feel like this style is an okay follow-up to the teen/bubblegum/sparkly pop TWICE or Red Velvet used to make.
Just one more thing I agree with in the comment section: I know these youn girls endure the hardest training you can imagine, but I feel like going back at having 1-2 main vocalists to carry the song when it actually has to be sung live (no pre-recorded vocals) will always be a good idea. Hopefully, ILLIT improves this aspect overtime. They’re a new group which debuted last month and they still got a lot more to show.
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In short, This is good but this is not how I want it to be.
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