Across their Rania, BP Rania and Blackswan days, this group has been home to a whopping twenty four members. This revolving door has gained some stability in the past few years, with the current line-up performing together since 2022. Roll Up arrives just over a year since their last comeback and sees the group trying on a harder edged sound.
Blackswan’s discography has been very hit or miss for me, at its best when experimenting with sounds to craft music that’s a bit different than other girl groups. In contrast, Roll Up conforms to a certain type of K-pop structure — think BLACKPINK’s more boastful segments without the dramatic melodies buttressing their choruses. The music video opts for a western theme, but that influence doesn’t transfer into the music. Instead, Roll Up utilizes a toolbox of sharp percussion and trendy synth.
Blackswan deliver swagger as well as any other group, but nothing about this song connects with me. The chorus is deflating and repetitive while the overall message seems to be “look at us, we’re so cool” — a sentiment that’s been delivered two billion times in K-pop already. There’s no originality to be found and the music itself is dull and uninspired.
| Hooks | 6 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 6 |
| RATING | 6.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Meh, average girl crush song. The pre-chorus is pretty cool though.
6.75 (7, 7, 7, 6) for me.
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Same that pre Chorus is magical! 😍
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And btw, ex-Pixy’s Dajeong (who left the group last month) re-debuted as a soloist under the stage name U_Chae today, so what are your thoughts on it? Do you plan to review it (it’s okay if not) https://youtu.be/IzTgsU9hjYw
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Not planning on reviewing it, but the song is pleasant. I appreciate that she went with a dance tempo!
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When I heard the teasers I was very worried; the chorus isolated by itself was plodding. However, it worked better with more context, being a nice contrast to the fast pace verses. The bridge was good but needed more time to get to the climax. While lazily written, the post chorus coming in on only The first and last chorus is a structure I have a bias towards. Fire whoever thought that adding skittering trap was a good way to bolster the last chorus.
The message of the song doesn’t bother me because Blackswan doesn’t opt for that everytime and none of the lines stick out in a bad way. After watching a few other kpop releases from the past few days, Blackswan are above average at delivering this energy. Watching stray kids mountains made me cringe, some of those performances are just unbelievable. Everyone is putting on some facade in their videos, but it’s all about if you can sell the illusion.
The video was better than expected. Tonight and close to me looked cheap.DR music had BP rania looking poor, so I’m glad they’re providing enjoyable visuals at least. The song is just a 7.75 for me but this is one of my favorite videos this year
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looking closely at the lyrics, the song isn’t the rehash you made it out to be
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Blackswan, Rania and BP Rania are different groups. Blackswan was formed in 2020. Blackswan started with Hyeme, Youngheun, Judy, Fatou and Leia. Currently the group has Fatou, Nvee, Gabi and Sriya. Blackswan has never had 24 members. That information is incorrect.
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To say that is to ignore the history of the group. It literally started with Hyeme (as you stated) who was a member of the BP rania lineup. The company even tied them to all that history with their studio album being called “goodbye rania” (probably just saying bye to the name honestly)with several previously released tracks.
It’s like the scenario of the axe having its handle replaced then later having it’s head changed. Is it still the same axe?
I choose to focus on what they are today but there’s an undeniable (messy) continuity that goes always back to rania
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They are literally the same, like, Rania rebranded as BP Rania in 2017, then changed back to Rania after using Alex as a marketing strategy didn’t work and she left, then rebranded as Blackswan in 2020 (there’s a difference between rebranding a group and disbanding a group and making a whole new one with a clean slate). And besides, like Gunther said, DR literally linked Blackswan’s debut to Rania by calling their DEBUT ALBUM “Goodbye Rania”, and most of the album literally had re-recorded versions of Rania’s old songs.
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They actually left some of the old members vocals on some of the tracks
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To say that is to ignore the history of the group. It literally started with Hyeme (as you stated) who was a member of the BP rania lineup. The company even tied them to all that history with their studio album being called “goodbye rania” (probably just saying bye to the name honestly)with several previously released tracks.
It’s like the scenario of the axe having its handle replaced then later having it’s head changed. Is it still the same axe?
I choose to focus on what they are today but there’s an undeniable (messy) continuity that goes always back to rania
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wish I could delete this, meant it as a reply not a standalone
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This is a cap, you don’t know about the group, you should do some research. And the rating is bs.
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It’s not cap, black swan legit originally started as Rania before rebranding into BP Rania, before rebranding back and then finally rebranding into BLACKSWAN. To say it’s cap proves that you could not be bothered doing ur research
plus, nick has stated multiple times that he doesn’t like this type of sound. I do enjoy this type of sound, but I don’t go attacking nick over his rating. Out opninions are different, and you have to accept that
TL;DR: 2/10 ragebait
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If you don’t like hearing honest criticism, you’re in the wrong place. We don’t endlessly praise without discretion here
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just came here to say a few things
tl;dr: blackswan is messed up save for the ot4 rn themselves
p.s. agreeing w/ rating a bit, i’d say it’s more a 6.75-7, seeing what 8’s can mean nowadays
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yea, i kind of agree with what you are saying here….all of the ladies in DR Music have gone through so many difficulties and poor management problems from that horrible DR Music that you really feel bad for them….i like their latest comeback, “Roll Up” and would give it at least a C+….
i came into k-pop around the time Rania was coming out and projected to be ‘the next ‘big’ female group in k-pop….well, we know that DR Music royally screwed that up!….then from Rania to BP Rania to finally Blackswan….i personally enjoyed the BP Rania era (even though my bias and crush, Hyeme, turned out to be a little trollop) when Hyeme, Jieun, Zi.U, Ttabo, and Yumin were the group (i also liked Jooyi in the original Rania lineup)….
i believe BP Rania churned out the most hits: “Demonstrate” (recorded as the group Rania), “Start A FIre,” “Make Me Uh,” “Beep, Beep, Beep,” and “Breath Heavy” (one of my personal favorites)….this was, for me, a golden era for the ladies….this was my favorite era for the ladies….
-MJ
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bp rania songs are the ones I return to the most
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yea, me too….
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The rest of the EP is pretty good, Double Down would have made a great title track and La Boum is a really nice listen.
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