JD1 feels like one of those acts who are much more popular in Korea than abroad. This often pairs with music that sounds less internationally-minded, though his first two singles were palatable enough to appeal to a wide swath of listeners. As far as I’m concerned, he’s two for two so far. New single Be Responsible (책임져) feels more like a side quest than an addition to that streak.

I’ve been listening to a fair amount of 90’s K-pop recently, so this throwback arrives at an opportune time. Be Responsible borrows heavily from the Korean musical trends of that decade, and that’s no surprise because it’s a cover! The song originally came from popular duo Untitle. Their version is slightly more hip-hop than JD1’s, but apart from that this is a pretty straightforward remake. The music video even gives JD1’s eyes that weird star treatment that marked many mvs of the late-90’s.

There are definitely better late-90’s K-pop hits, but this is amiable enough. The remake is lovingly crafted and brings plenty of sparkling synth to the arrangement, but I would have rather heard a new song within this style.

Grade: C+