While other groups are turning to Y2K influences for sound and aesthetic, ONEUS have gone right back to the source with a cover of Fin.K.L’s 2000 track Now. Straight-up covers are unusual in K-pop — especially as title tracks — and rather than bend the song to their own will ONEUS have delivered a pretty faithful re-creation.
Of course, the original track is a total banger so sticking with its overall arrangement makes sense. The few added elements (especially the squealing guitar during the chorus) work well, though we could have done without the needless energy slow-down during the dance break. There are some things the 2000 era of music did better, and consistency of energy was certainly one of them. Another aspect I miss about the original is the interplay between male and female vocals. As talented as ONEUS are, the song is flattened a bit without this contrast.
Even so, I’m all for excellent K-pop songs of the past being brought to modern fans’ attention. Even better would be to take this slamming Y2K sound and use it as a springboard to new, original work. Having been a pop music obsessive during the original Y2K era, I can assure younger fans that the skittering, breezy easy-listening K-pop tracks we’re hearing these days aren’t emblematic of that time. Here’s hoping this new Now reminds producers that there’s plenty to be mined from more up-tempo material as well.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I suppose it is a sign the kpop is now old enough to have enough time between 1st gen and the current gen for a full on cover to be right. This is right. The right time. Funny how it sounds fresher and better than the groups imitating the sound of the 1st gen. Th OG material.
The song has a lot of Britney Spears – Backstreet Boys – NSync era instrumental styling in it. May as well have a lyric “My loneliness is killing me …”, or ad lib such live over top.
I have taken to listening to a new oldies radio station in the car as my go to, as my kpop ipods are essentially dormant these months. Last night this gem came on. I remembered that a 90’s group (or something) covered it, and I knew it was a cover, but hadn’t realized the source. The funny thing is that the instrumental is distinctive enough that I started singing right at the right time even though I hadn’t heard the original in ages. “I could feel at the time …”
Side note – many people including myself decry the lack of live singing on the kpop music shows these days. Back when, on the UK-US music shows, it wasn’t uncommon to have a fully lipsynced and mimed on the band instruments version either. The reason at the time was that the audio to get really good was so complicated to set up that the weekly music shows who had a tight budget just did without it. I mean, each week, different groups, different band setups, they just couldn’t afford it. The guys here are actually playing and singing, but the mics and chords go to nothing. The one TV show that did invest in good audio equipment and personnel was Saturday Night Live, which is where the tradition of SNL Live is always live started.
LikeLike
how come nick has never done a finkl ranking
LikeLiked by 1 person
I second a variation of this: a who’s who of 1st gen kpop. Because everybody is referencing them in some way these days. NewJeans with the SES styling, for example.
LikeLike
This is not a sound I connect with, but it’s interesting to learn about the older groups.
LikeLike
I might be a bit biased seeing as Oneus is one of my top favorite artists in kpop but I really enjoyed their take on this song. Granted I wasn’t a big fan of the dance break portion of the song but I can vibe with the rest just fine.
LikeLike