Last August, the three-member Limelight released one of 2023’s strongest singles. The shimmering Madeleine offered counterprogramming to current girl group trends, harnessing a full-throated melody over propulsive production. Now, the group has rebranded as MADEIN and added four members (including Mashiro and Yeseo who had previously promoted as Kep1er). This member upgrade demands equally exciting music. Does Uno paint a new way forward?
Well, the song is no Madeleine. It feels much more indebted to 2024-era tropes, meaning it’s a bit spacey and intangible at points. With that said, this is a solid example of the format, painting an evocative soundscape that pairs its dreaminess with a few sonic surprises. I’m most enamored with the stuttering electro percussion during its chorus. Filtered vocals form gorgeous texture deep within the mix as trippy instrumental quirks give the arrangement an otherworldly twist.
I wish more of Uno echoed its final moments. I love the layered vocals that close the track, but too much of the song feels noncommittal. Its verses go nowhere, discarding fragments of melody as soon as they’re laid out. The “uno, dos, tres” hook has a similar issue, failing to merge its counting gimmick to a compelling tune. In short, MADEIN would be infinitely better off if the strength of Uno‘s songwriting matched the evocative atmosphere swirling around it.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
This sound is too NewJeans adjacent for me, which is too bad because I really enjoyed Limelight’s simpler, somewhat dated (in a good way) sound on songs like Honestly, Madeleine, and Eye to Eye. Still, I’m more hopeful for them than say the new Fifty Fifty.
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There is something that weirds me out about the MV, like was there AI used in some of these graphic shots? Wasn’t even necessary, some of it looks like the idols were deepfaked onto midjourney prompts, and they were just slotted in without any consideration of the rest of the MV (or probably even worse, something like Sora). If you don’t have the budget, just try something else you can legit do, Jesus.
As for the track itself, this feels like a stronger Bside than an actual title track. I like atmospheric stuff like this. This is a fun, clubby, airy track that works in the background, but not as the headliner. I’d also give it an 8, but minus a point for their pretty blatant use of AI. I’ll find my way to listen to this as I sail the 7 seas, wink.
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Also, before anyone adds, I know that’s not on the idols, always on the company, but still, using AI instead of finding a creative way around filmography says something about the investment in their group, especially as a creative who can tell when this stuff is used. It makes me sour on a group faster than anything else.
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Why did mashiro and yeseo leave kep1er to be apart of this? If it was me, I would be really concerned with the drop in quality with the mv (and the ai generated scenes?). I don’t know if there were any internal issues with kep1er, I just can’t wrap my head on what they were thinking
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They were already under contract with 143 entertainment when they signed onto kep1er. We don’t know how much it would’ve cost for them to buy out their contract, but it might’ve been more than they could’ve afforded. Everyone else was in a position where either they weren’t with a company or their company didn’t have solid enough plans to want them back, but 143 already had plans so they likely just didn’t let Yeseo or Mashiro extend their kep1er contracts.
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Okay that makes sense. I had tried looking up what companies they were from but I couldn’t find it. Thank you
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Its a bit of a mess. At times works, at other times doesn’t work. Both song and music. Moments of lightness, then random counting in Spanish, then heavier vocal line, then back again to lightness. Video, girls in sailor outfits then in AI, with no storyline.
Anyway, the better part of the beat reminds me of this gem from many years ago. Back in the mix tape era, except it was on a CD not a cassette tape. This got passed around from CD to CD in traditional bootleg style, and no one had any idea what or who. Years later a old office mate sent a link in the early days of youtube. Holy cow! You found it! =Sharing= Because sharing is caring. Denki Groove “Niji” on a DJ remix.
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Nice find! I’ve also been on a weird little ‘hunt’ or atmospheric club stuff. Maybe it’s a sign of the times that I am driven towards airy, ambience, field recordings, all that jazz (maybe that’s also why we have this trend of softer beats and such, makes sense). I have a track Playlist all for finding random things I enjoy called a birds nest. This is going in it.
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The song is not bad, but not great. Just kind of mediocre. In my opinion, neither this song or their actual EP hit the heights of limelight.
What really disappoints me is the MV. The AI use has already overshadowed the actual group on social media. Overall, the company has just made some baffling choices. But at least some decent music has been created.
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I kinda like the “I just discovered AI and I’m gonna keep generating EVERYTHING” hallucinogenic visuals. The song was inconsequential, a breath fogging up glass and then gone.
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