Thus far, BABYMONSTER have embraced all the YG girl group tropes you’d expect, casting them as heirs to 2NE1 and BLACKPINK’s throne. This is not an agency known for its willingness to experiment. Instead, they’ve managed to enthrall fans with slight tweaks to successful formulas. With this in mind, it’s time for BABYMONSTER’s version of As If It’s Your Last. This may be welcome news to pop fans like myself, but does this iteration match or improve upon the original?
It doesn’t… but that’s a tall order. I instantly enjoy Forever more than Batter Up or Sheesh, but the song could be more than the amiable retread it is. The opening verse is an underwhelming lump of reheated boasts, improved by a few nice instrumental flourishes. It’s not until we reach the chorus that Forever really takes shape. This hook has the colorful, careening energy of YG’s best material — at least during its first half. The repeated “for-or-or-or! eh-eh-eh-ever!” feels a bit messy and at odds with the glistening instrumental, but grows more effective as the song goes on.
Verse two is a problem. This segment might thrill if taken from a completely different song, but its drastic shift in energy and structure throws Forever off its mark. Even so, the song crosses the finish line admirably. This is largely due to a well-placed key change that bottles Forever‘s strongest melodies into a knockout punch. By the time the track has ended, I’m excited to give it another play. This bodes well for its longevity, even if you must wade through some dubious choices to get to the good stuff. Overall, this is a promising step in the right direction for BABYMONSTER.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I knew when the music stopped after the first chrous we were in for a… Treat😁
But this was actually really surprising and I’m glad they are moving in this direction😍
8.25/10🩵
LikeLiked by 4 people
Why are the instrumentals so faint in the chorus? Seriously it feels like only half the track is there
LikeLiked by 2 people
I actually really like this song but I have 2 problems.
LikeLiked by 4 people
On first listen, the production felt kinda off, but the second listen kinda subsided it. I blame the ubiquity of Coldplay’s ‘Viva La Vida’, because that’s all I could think about during the first part of chorus. I would say, that instead of As If It’s Your Last, it reminded me more of Crazy Over You. Some of the rap sections felt so jarring, but that just might be a personal thing. It’s not my style, but I’ve seen a good number of people who like it, and that’s all good.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was bothering me a bit, but I finally figured it out, it reminded me of the Pitbull song ‘Feel this Moment’. That’s why the melody and part of the instrumental felt so familiar
LikeLiked by 2 people
…. which in turn samples a-ha’s Take On Me! All roads lead back to a-ha, always. 😂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was just thinking about it when re-listening! The stronghold that song has on music
LikeLike
I also sense the presence of 1D’s Night Changes on this song pre-chorus lol.
LikeLike
Oh, wait, you’re so right
LikeLike
the verses and the rap is okay… But the chorus felt flat.. I didn’t find the chorus good 😢
LikeLike
I like it! the writing needs some refining but this is a good first step in the right direction for them. between this and the Stuck in the Middle remix, they really suit these type of songs.
apparently this is a pre-release to their album releasing this fall, and that the title track has a very similar sound. since this is YG we’re talking about, I just hope they’ll keep their promises because I really want to root for these girls.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Same ol’ hackneyed formula, at the same time it’s their least annoying-sounding track by far. Still away from above average let alone “good” good, but an improvement nevertheless (the bar is on the ground).
LikeLiked by 2 people
The comments have been positive on reddit, but it sounds really dated to me, not retro, just dated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah it sounds like a 2010s club anthem😅
LikeLike
K-pop Reddit fawns over everything ever released 😅
LikeLiked by 2 people
Except for kwon eunbis sabotage😅
The Reddit community was not happy with it😅
LikeLike
Wow, you know you’ve got a flop when even Reddit doesn’t approve 😭
LikeLike
😭
LikeLike
why ?! it’s such a banger
LikeLike
During my first watch I was scared in a few moments that it might take the wrong turn and drift into sing talk/shouting/weird hooks like Sheesh. Thankfully, except for the second verse, it was quite enjoyable for me. The final chorus is really a redemption for the few slightly odd choices earlier. 8.5 for me as well.
LikeLike
A HUGE improvement from Sheesh! I like it! The beginning reminded me a bit of Fact Check, and I was even bracing myself for some YG-ass chorus, only to be blessed with an actual full chorus!
A 8 (all 8) for now
LikeLiked by 1 person
the production is just not giving… it sounds like a karaoke fanmade version
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think the idea was there, it still needs more refining nonetheless. Not bad, but I expect more from a supposedly bombastic track. That rap part, while it’s a treat in itself, would probably sound better with a dance track-style instrumental.
LikeLiked by 2 people
This song is not it.
LikeLike
Once again were seeing a kpop song that has a rap section that does not need a rap section. Even worse they gave it to someone who is not a rapper. You have 2 dedicated rappers and they decided it to give it their mid-vocalist. Sheesh suffered the same fate, Ahyeon having the high notes despite her not being their top vocalist.
LikeLike
Which member are you talking about?
LikeLike
Deep down you know she ate that whistle note😌
LikeLike
Who are we talking about😭
LikeLike
Ahyeon 😭 she’s the other rapper besides Ruka and Asa 😭
LikeLike
While Baemon has tons of talent, the production on this sounds really disjointed. I really liked the last 30 seconds of Batter up…Hopefully they do something like that again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not feeling this one but it’s a step up over their other singles
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know why, but I was completely expecting a different sound for the ‘like I’m gonna live forever’ hook. I thought it was going to go further, but it just leaves me hanging, lol. The production is cheesy as hell, so I don’t understand your 8. Please listen to any karaoke track on YouTube and tell me it’s not the exact same instrumentals. I also wish the chorus had a fuller sound, like IVE’s I AM.
LikeLike
The chorus is great. The rest feels like sections shifted into place whether they worked with the chorus or not.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I instantly realised As if it’s your last was the template which is a good thing. Best material from them so far mainly because of the chorus that makes you wanna give it another listen.
LikeLike
To me, the chorus sounded very familiar and generic. Ava Max’s Kings and Queens immediately came to mind when I heard it. It’s still beautiful, just not that innovative. I love the potential of Babymonster, but their music is unlistenable when it comes to the rap part. Fast rapping doesn’t mean the lyrics suddenly become better. YG doesn’t need to make these girls rap the exact same each time and should’ve went with a much calm flow for a song like this. They’re definitely capable. Overall, I still believe this is their best song yet and without the rapping it’s a 7.5/10.
LikeLike
It sounds like ava max to me too!
But it sounds more like so do I song from her to me, but really all her songs have the same feel☺️
LikeLike
I usually don’t have a big problem with verse trap breakdowns but this one lasts so long with good but unmemorable flow. Love the rest of the song. Weird delivery of “forever” but I can look past it. Definitely their best single yet, which is also a bad sign if they’re following BP’s trajectory
LikeLike
wow, I actually like this!
9/10 for me
LikeLike
I don’t like the stuff they put out so far, what do you want with the generic and soulless YG sound, but this one is a pleasant surprise. Love the retro sound. I’m a sucker for it :p Some elements aren’t my thing but for this song as a whole it works really well for me. Their best song to date without any doubt.
LikeLike
Overall, 7.75 of 10 (9, 7, 7, 8) but if we’re talking about JUST the chorus (especially the last chorus??!;!?!?) IT’S 10s across the board. Period
LikeLike
it just reminds me of i am (ive) for both the song and MV tbh
LikeLike
Not their best work. The chorus is nice as well as the pre-chorus (shout out to Pharita on her vocals). However the song is not cohesive at all. I know that YG wanted to have the Blackpink and 2NE1 moments in the song but it did not fit with each other, which was a shame. The intro was alright and I thought the song was going to progress more from there but instead it did the opposite.
6/10 from me
LikeLike
the verses was okay the rap too.. but the chorus was flat.. this is so forgettable track..
6/10
LikeLike
They’re gonna be fine, they have the usual YG salesmanship and charisma which a ton of idols have been shunted to other groups for. And the chorus is genuinely lovely.
LikeLike
well, the production is weirdly tinny for YG
LikeLike