ENHYPEN’s music has evolved over time, moving from darker, concept-heavy fare to softer earworms that embrace global pop trends. Last year turned up up the funk with Bite Me and (especially) Sweet Venom, but new single XO (Only If You Say Yes) smooths the groove for an airier take on understated radio pop.
Not many songs can get stuck in my head before I’ve even heard the full thing, but XO‘s teasers prominently featured its chorus and this stuttering hook instantly lodged itself in memory. It’s catchy through sheer repetition, which is an easy — but effective — pop trick. Supported by a bouncy rhythm and beautiful bed of synths, these melodies act as a refreshing breeze. They’re not the least bit ambitious (nothing about XO is, to be honest), but they ingratiate themselves with little pushback. The song slides into your ears like a stealth attack. Before you know it, your head is nodding along.
The real question is: how long will XO retain its potency? It’s objectively memorable from first listen and the sparse production does a welcome job spotlighting the members’ vocals. This isn’t always the case with ENHYPEN’s work. However, I worry the song is a one trick pony. The synth flourishes add a sweltering atmosphere that will likely have me coming back for more, but I imagine the song’s repetitive structure burning bright and burning fast. The stuttering effect on the vocals lands just short of “annoying” — an approach that could easily tip into troublesome territory. For now, I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, mostly because the groove is so sticky.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I’m with you on this song. I fear for this song’s longevity, even though I quite like it right now.
I’m currently listening to the album, and Moonstruck could be a potential buried treasure.
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I honestly, did not like this at all, its really boring for me it’s just like kinda flat and it sound uninteresting compared to their other material.
7/10❤️🌹🍒
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On another note, f5ve songs what actually good! 😍
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F5ve’s new song underground was good and I’m retyping that because I can’t spell💔😭☠️
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honestly such a cute song!! still do wish they would add a bridge but that’s probably my biggest complaint. I would give this maybe an 8.5.
on another note however, moonstruck is definitely my favorite from the album (:
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Eh, it’s fine. It’s vibey and the stuttering hook is quite memorable. The synths used in the middle of the song (around the 2:20 mark of the MV) could have been utilized further.
8 is the perfect rating for it, though I’d prolly waver to an 8.25 cause of the stuttering hook (hooks being a 9 then). But 8 for now.
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Honestly, probably my least favorite title from them. Mainly because they teased basically the entire chorus around a week ago and I was kinda expecting more, and the prechorus is pretty much the same as the chorus. The vocal “chopping” is comparable to JUSTICE’s but I feel like it works for that song more than this one here. However, I do agree that it’s catchy and will work its way into my head, and I appreciate the vocals, especially Heeseung’s. I also like that synth that develops later in the chorus. Hope the other songs serve more since ENHYPEN’s bsides are usually decent.
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when I think of what connects jvke and enhypen, dramatic orchestral instrumentals and tiktok come to mind. I guess xo is meant to lean heavily into their tiktok side more than anything else.
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An interesting take. I agree to it considering their last 2 title tracks
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I was actually terrified of that chorus snippet they released on TikTok but thank God it’s built up from the pre-chorus, so it works well. not their best but also far from their worst.
I loved DIMENSION : DILEMMA, and I’m glad to say that this is another great album. Moonstruck, Hundred Broken Hearts & Brought the Heat Back are my top 3 right now.
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I honestly really like this track alot but
There has not been a bridge in an enhypen title track since 2021 😭
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sweet venom had a bridge and it was released late 2023.
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God those synths were so underused. I wish the song had some more synths going on in the verses but wtv. Also, that chorus sounded more like a post-chorus rather than the actual chorus I was like no way thats it. The song is 3 minutes long, and it DOESNT FEEL LIKE IT LMAO
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If there’s a buried treasure from this album I’d guess it’d be Bring The Heat Back. Well, it’s my fave from the album at least. It’s giving me Dua Lipa.
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This is a 7/10. I generally enjoy Enhypen’s offerings, but to me, there is no substance in this one. Seems like they jumped on the current trend of “catchy phrases, barely there music”. The only song I can see myself coming back to (maybe), is “Hundred Broken Hearts”.
PS: I’ll stick to XO by Evnne✌🏻
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I like this song but XO by EVNNE definitely is the better XO, it’s so refreshing to listen to compared to most of the k-pop songs of the same genre
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Oh lord no. That vocal pulsing stutter drives me nuts. And it is just about the only thing going for the song. Sheesh.
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Ooh harpsichord…or is it? I like this at least for now, cool contrast between instrumental and the melody. I like that Enhypen is able to, at least for a moment, kind of capture most of international fans and unite them with something close to “a hit”.
P.S. Exo I know you can hear this🙏🙏please you’re being summoned so make a comeback quick
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EXO can’t come back without Kai & Sehun.
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They have plans for a winter album at the end of the year although I’m not certain whether they’re going to follow through with those given recent events…
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Baekhyun better keep his word
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its a nice song for enhypen, but I kinda prefer their darker concepts more
7.75/10 for me
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Surprised it’s rated that high. It’s a 7/10 for me. It found the tagline cheesy, and I felt the melody in the chorus is actually, one of the worst I’ve heard (I’m not a fan of that XO repetition, actually, my exact gripe with EXO’s song [XOXO], one of the few songs from them I actually can’t stand). The production also felt empty and amateur-ish? Saying I was underwhelmed is an understatement. Personally, songs with production like this just don’t do much for me, SHINee’s The Feeling was a great exception, but this song fall VERY short from that.
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The intro instrumental kinda reminded me of OOO’s Skinz
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xo was produced by jvke and tbh I think it was a huge ask of him so maybe that’s why you felt as if the production felt amateur.
i remember when renjun posted a cover of golden hour with a music video. in turn, jvke ended up on the remix of a bside.
sunoo sang along to golden hour during a live and in turn, jvke ended up producing the title track of their second full album.
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I like this. I can envision a better melody, and the production could’ve expanded but the verses are nice enough. The chorus is def an earworm. Don’t think it’ll last super long on my playlist but it’s a good vibe for now.
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yeah nah this song is not good, love my boys but the song felllllll wayyy to flat. Why did it seem as if the song was just beginning halfway through the duration 😑😑😑. This song definitely ain’t gonna last long, I sure don’t see myself playing it repeatedly in the near future. Now I’m gonna have to suffer countless edits on tiktok overplay the song and making it seem way more that what it truly is… a bore😑.5/10 from me cause I appreciate the beats.
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I agree I agree. I don’t see myself listening to this song for long. I do like some of the parts, the begining and the pre-chorus esp! And it got so much potential if only the chorus… 😦 I already know I’m not gonna like it that much since the first time I heard it in the teasers😭 it’s like sweet venom again. But imo, I like the rest of the song when I give it a listen, and it kinda grows on me. (I used to be an exo-l too, and the songs triggered memories lolol).
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broo exactly my thoughts, it’s like a repeat of the mistake that was Sweet Venom.
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The KISS MEEE-EEEE-EEE made me laugh. But the verses were good I believe. I hate it less than I thought I would, when it began.
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I like the song, but it would be better if it had a bridge.
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I have the same feeling after listening to this and Not For Sale. No bridges, no climaxes whatsoever? The verses are great, pre-chorus is pretty lazy, feels like it wasn’t even there (personally it’s okay when songs doesn’t have them, but I was looking for more variety in melody). The hook is kinda repetitive, saved by the beautiful synth that was the only highlight of the whole song. And I wish the song utilized that medieval sound at the intro? don’t know what it’s called 😂
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The production is really interesting but man do I feel let down by the repetitive chorus and post-chorus being so similar (it feels kinda lazy) and the complete lack of a bridge.
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I’m sort of impressed that xo is so out of left field, especially after memorabilia. there was a conscious choice for xo to be the title track for enhypen’s second full album and not fatal trouble, which is interesting to say the least.
it’s probably a scary time for enhypen – incredibly high stakes without the producer who shaped their concept and sound – and it’s dyed pink for the summer! I can’t be mad at it.
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