While there have been plenty of great title tracks so far this summer, we haven’t heard many that are explicitly themed to the season. (G)I-DLE are here to fix that with new single Klaxon (클락션). Following 2020’s DUMDi DUMDi, the girls are back with another summer track that hearkens back to K-pop’s distant past.
The first time through, Klaxon felt like a song that would have done well in the 90’s. Many Korean groups of that era embraced a summery, novelty-heavy sound that often utilized faux reggae in a way that feels a bit cringey now. Klaxon doesn’t touch reggae (thank goodness), but it has a Meghan Trainor-esque kitsch retro energy that heavily leans into musical influences from decades ago. The song never falls into total pastiche, though it certainly teeters on the line.
I wish Klaxon harnessed a more freewheeling energy. It sounds very studied and constrained. A track like this thrives on an overwhelming sense of fun and borderline goofiness. Klaxon is silly but not unabashedly so. The brassy instrumental has potential and there are a few nice melodic touches here and there. It’s nice to hear (G)I-DLE tackle a completely different sound and we know the charts will reward them either way, but for me this doesn’t commit far enough in any direction to stand out.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Like the production, but wish there was more bite to it. Not a big fan of the “oooh, honk honk” hook or whatever that was.
7.75 (7, 8, 8, 8) for me.
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If Beep Beep by Little Mix had a daughter then it’s Klaxon
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God I LOVE the “i love you baby” hook, miyeon’s delivery is chefs kiss. But the song is a little underwhelming compared to queencard’s punchy sound that i feel was missing. The energy needed to be turned up to 100%, it seems it was at 70%
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does sounds like an old basic summer kpop song, which while not he most interesting thing would be perfectly fine to play in the background while driving to the beach. I said would be, because the honk honk part of the chorus… this is such a weird choice, it doesn’t sound good (doesn’t sound enjoyable to sing either. at least to me
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if they could recapture the magic of Dumdi Dumdi, THAT would be a summer hit. This song I agree sounds formulaic and constrained
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Another lukewarm serving?
2024 just won’t stop!
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This song and production sounds like a quick cash grab. the trailer they released has nothing to do with the MV, the MV looks like it was shot at cheap locations devoid of the meaning of the song and the song lacks awareness with muted vocal colors
The kpop summer quick cash grab continues on pace
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comparing it to meghan trainor was sort of brutal lol
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But not totally inaccurate, right? 😅
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The downward spiral of gidle continues. This time the track comes straight out of high school musical lol
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Yeah, I mean, bright sunny, in theory no complaints.
In practice, I didn’t know what a klaxon was, I mean I kinda sorta know the word well enough for NYT spelling bee type games (isn’t it like a fire truck siren?) (or the kind of horn on old cars that used to go “ah-woo-gah”). It does sound like Meghan Trainor but make it kpop. Also, G-idle for their style actually dialed it almost too back, for them.
Finally I Love you Baby. I can’t un hear one (and two half) better songs that start the chorus with that line. (also Pet Shop Boys and Lauren Hill cover, but they probably actually paid for the rights.)
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wow i was expecting a 3/10 tbh it’s been ages since I wasn’t able to finish a song….
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I actually might love it lol
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the fact that the hook of the song is “honk honk” and it’s paired with chest popping is so freaking unserious 💀 I cannot take this group seriously, like at all
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2/10 for me. These type of songs are never my type at all since I really dislike brassy songs. I do like the “I love you baby” part. But outside of that, it’s not for me.
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This is probably the only current gidle song which i felt kinda meh about. Didnt hate it, didnt like it. But I heard it once and have no desire to replay it again.
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It sounded like a prototype for a summer song. I listened to it two days before, I don’t remember anything as of now.
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..I am late again. I came across this on social media and I actually really like this. I agree however that it could and should be way more silly. This is very BooSeokSoon-esque, and the song would have worked better if they had gone all the way with that.
Also the pronunciation of claxon (klak – shion ??) is really bothering me here.
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