Leading up to the release of their second mini album later this month, TWS are the latest group to drop a promoted pre-release single. Generally, these have been stronger than the actual title track, with TWS’s own Plot Twist being the obvious exception. That song has gone on to become a mammoth hit on both the charts and my own playlist. It’s hard to see a reality where they don’t end up as my favorite rookies of the year. It’s early days still, but I don’t think I’ve felt as strong a musical kinship with a new group since Golden Child in 2017.
The rollicking hey! hey! pretty much seals the deal. Composed by members of the same team that made Plot Twist such a hit, the track opts for a driving, rock-infused energy. This sound hits all my musical pleasure centers, but its execution and sense of fullness (an actual bridge!) send it over the top.
Some listeners have compared TWS’s music to early GFriend in the sense that it all sounds like the opening theme to a youth anime. If so, hey! hey! must be soundtracking some summer sports series — lots of running and cheering and (of course) friendship. The track kicks off at a clip as a catchy guitar riff leads into the pulsing beat. The melodies are somewhat reserved here, but feel intentional and satisfying. Then, we launch into a standout pre-chorus that almost acts as its own fan chant. This sets the stage for an even stronger chorus as hey! hey! unveils its full energy. It’s a very optimistic, uplifting sound.
However, hey! hey!‘s most surprising element may be its bridge. In this era of two minute songs, I was shocked to find a thrilling build tucked away in this oft-forgotten segment. Instrumental and melody work together to forge a suitable climax. All that’s missing is a big power note. But even without that highlight, the song’s final chorus and outro send us off on a high. I can only hope the impending title track is this strong.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 10 |
| RATING | 9.25 |
Grade: A
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
All the comebacks are eating lately!!! 😍
Kep1er, TWS, ARTMS, SUHO like yes please keep giving us this good music😍
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They keep releasing hit song after another hit song🔥.I just hope the quality of their songs will continue to be good in the future.Love their high school concept also.
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i think plot twist was only a huge hit in korea bc ive barely heard any intl fans talking abt the song + the song in general on social media (except for like a ton of payola allegations)
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I’d rather a song be a huge hit in Korea than internationally, tbh. I don’t trust our taste! haha
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I mean, we’ve seen plenty of cases where if the Korean GP loves it, then we know the song’s great! (Except Sheesh was doing pretty well on charts but I suppose it’s because of the girls getting attention for their talents and their stages + it’s a YG song)
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Don’t trust our taste either😆 Intl fans also tend to place too much weight on how appealing the idols are to them personally, in terms of looks or vibes, instead of actually putting attention into music. Further, I said it in some other places and got called out, I-fans just love their “thirst trap” songs, by which I mean if the lyrics and the vibe is leaning into that direction they are going to love the song that more. On the other side Korean GP just seems to completely bypass such songs, even the fans cherish them less (I might be wrong but I feel like that’s what I saw)
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Honestly, I don’t agree with the sentiment that either international audiences or the Korean GP have this power to only recognize ‘good songs’. I might sound a bit forthcoming, but the Korean public has also made popular songs like Bibi’s ‘Bam Yam Gang’ and other songs which resonate with a Korean audience because of their lyrical context or their cultural context. Both audience have their bias and it’s kinda reductive to uphold one to a a higher regard.
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Will agree to an extent, because I don’t always hold their charts as the eligible ones for what I like either. Of course I only hold my personal chart eligible, with always taking into consideration both sides as well as many third options, but I might say that Kor charts will usually have a different explanation for something charting, and it will mostly make more sense, while for Intl ones I might even say that stuff like TWS just isn’t horny enough to be recognized lol. But when both sides recognize something as good that is of course the best indicator
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and me personally idk how true the payola allegations r but i feel this is more like a lim youngwoong/jannabi/iu situation where intl fans dont rlly know them but they have massive chart success in their home countrys gp
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it’s good, but somehow unmemorable for me. I don’t remember anything even after listening to it a bunch of times.
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Somehow that’s exactly how I felt! You explained the sentiment well
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I think the song is perfectly fine and upbeat, but I honestly can’t feel strongly about it. It’s just not type of musical soundscape that I gravitate towards, but I think it’s still a good song. I think last year’s Nine.i ‘Turn it Off’ was the sweet spot for me
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This sounds like an anime OST! It’s wonderful! I have no other comments, I love it! And a bridge in this current era? Sweet!
Ratings is the same! I’ll defo be enjoying the crap outta this song!
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Boy, they sure sound like Seventeen’s kid brother’s here. I can hear where certain Seventeens would have their parts. And they for the most part kept up with that level of energy. So, well done for that.
For the song itself, … …. … that said… .. I mean … … its so smoothly polished there isn’t much character there. You know how like Phil Collins had all those hits (yeah, sure, nodding quietly, while revealing my age), but the ones that resonate and get covered are the early ones, the bucu later ones just being radio friendly pleasant fodder. Its like that.
As far as the TWS moniker, it still isn’t great. Apparently now it is pronounced “Two-Us”, though it still means “TWenty-four Seven with us”.
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This is like a straight up 9.75 for me on first listen. Like, personally, it all reminds me to the first time I listened to INFINITE’s The Chaser. I would even say it is personally up there and definitely one of the best singles of this decade so far, ofc this is my personal preference. I absolutely love the direction TWS is going and hope them all the best.
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If I didn’t know ONF’s Show Must Go On from their 2021 Goosebumps album, then maybe I would like this song. But it pales in comparison.
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The two songs barely sound alike, though? 🤔
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This song really doesn’t stop…I feel exhausted (mostly in a good way) just listening to it! I do wish there was a bit of a breather, like in the bridge. So far everything from TWS has been super solid.
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This song really doesn’t stop…I feel exhausted (mostly in a good way) just listening to it! I do wish there was a bit of a breather, like in the bridge. So far everything from TWS has been super solid.
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“Some listeners have compared TWS’s music to early GFriend in the sense that it all sounds like the opening theme to a youth anime. If so, hey! hey! must be soundtracking some summer sports series — lots of running and cheering and (of course) friendship”
Nick. This. Is. So. SPOT. ON! You hit the nail on the head with exceptional force on this one. I’m not even into anime that much and I can already picture this in my head with all the typical slice-of-life/youth anime archetypes that come to mind. RIIZE’s Impossible may have found a worthy competitor for the “Best Summer Song of 2024” title.
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its nice I guess
8.75/10 for me
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oh yeah speaking of early gfriend did anyone else notice the fact that this starts w the same school bell melody as glass bead
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it’s the school bell in Korean schools in general afaik
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With their current skill state (I perceived), I think they will do it best in around two years or so.
Hoping the same for title track!
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The song is really good, it sounds so much like an OST for a school anime for sure and it reminded me of early seventeen in terms of the energy and playfullness.
But having said that, I cannot recollect the song clearly now, may be because I have only heard it once but this was the same way with plot twist, which I grew to love a lottt.
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Ikr, their whole first album was like that to me too, couldn’t remember anything for a whole few days I think, and then the sound just came naturally to my memory, Love 119 was the same (I understood the structure of that one after like two months of coming back continuously😂, and I think there is still stuff in it that I didn’t get😳). I assume it’s the structure and layering, because there’s simply a lot to find..
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Yeah, agree there is a lot and because of that your mind cannot get hooked on to something. Love 119 was that way for me too, it’s one of my favourites from Riize now.
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