I loved Kep1er’s nine-member swan song Shooting Star and was upset when they never performed it at this year’s KCON LA. Now the group is down to seven, as Mashiro and Yeseo parted ways to join 143 Entertainment’s Madein. A new configuration opens potential for a new sound, and Tipi-Tap certainly switches things up. Unfortunately, its musical choices struggle to set the song apart from many other current girl group efforts.
We get it, K-pop agencies. You can all make a NewJeans knockoff. Congratulations! But we’re about to leap into a new year. It’s time to get some fresh musical ideas because this muted sound palette is draining all the ambition from the industry. Tipi-Tap is by far the most boring title track Kep1er have released — essentially one flat hook repeated ad nauseum. I wasn’t even a fan of Wa Da Da‘s brash energy during the group’s debut era, but given the choice between that and this I’d happily go back to the days of vroom vrooming like a supersonic. Take me to the moon, Kep1er. Just take me away from whatever this is.
“Tipi-tap” makes an awkward centerpiece as a lyric, but its weirdly childish phrasing is probably the most interesting thing happening here. The rest of the track washes over like murky watercolors. The drum and bass production is beyond overused at this point and much of the girls’ vocals are drowned in reverb. However, Tipi-tap‘s biggest issue is its complete lack of melodic range and dynamics. It’s just a straight, dull line extending to nowhere. Where’s the group that gave us Shooting Star only five months ago?
| Hooks | 6 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 6 |
| Bias | 6 |
| RATING | 6.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
boring
7/10 (7, 7, 7, 7)
LikeLike
I’d appreciate the sound more if it’s only NewJeans doing it, but when everyone else does it, it gets stale. But again, K-Pop and their tendency to milk every trend dry. (Though 2020-2021’s retro trend was passable since retro has the perfect amount of groove and dynamics to it and is a bit more versatile than the subdued trend of this year)
But this song has a decent amount of groove to it, although the melodies are a bit too airy for its own good. The verses have a slight dynamic to it, but the centerpiece falls flat in comparison. The “tipi tipi tap” hook reminds me of Supersonic’s “super super, supersonic” hook, but the latter seems more fleshed out and less… childish.
7 (6, 8, 7, 7) for me.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’m not bothered by it being a new jeans knockoff. I liked garage music before it got to kpop. So hearing it in kpop doesn’t suddenly make it painful to my ears. The verses and pre-chorus are great but the chorus is let down. It’s a 7 for me
LikeLike
unrelated to the post but i recently discovered this synth banger bside called Heartstorm frm sorn’s new ep that i think nick might rlyy like https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=APHbvGf-wyo&si=W0lIkK8eIN9km1zY
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow, that’s good!!
*Synth-Sorn is the best Sorn again.
LikeLike
YT:
LikeLike
The song feels less interesting the more I listened to it, but for a first listening. it’s good. Funny enough, I thought the origami thing in the MV was just random until I found out it’s called a “tipi tipi top”. That explains the hook I guess?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The more you know! Thank you for the tidbit ~
LikeLike
I give this review a 8.75. The song itself, pass.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Despite the repeated lyric of ‘Crush on you’ I sadly do not have a crush on this song. I adore the girls but the production has let them down in a major way this time as it all feels so flat?? Even bad songs before we’re boombastic while this is just existing. The B sides are a little better but hopefully the next comeback is much better.
LikeLike
This doesn’t sound like NewJeans to me. And I’ve heard many b-sides that sound like this long before NewJeans existed. I guess we can attribute it to NewJeans that this b-side song was chosen as the title track, though. Overall, the song is fine to me. But I am off-put by the cartoony voice layered into the last of the “tipi-taps” in the chorus. Thank god it is brief and not too noticeable. If that weird voice had been added to all of the tipi-taps, I probably would not want to listen to this song again.
LikeLike
I don’t hate it, but it feels like too slight of a song overall, like it’s barely there. The tipi-taps and crush on yous have potential, but as one portion of a stronger song with more going an. As centerpieces, they don’t really manage to carry enough weight. I can’t imagine that this’ll help Kep1er retain their fanbase after the somewhat last-minute contract renewals that probably left a lot of the less invested fans thinking they’d disbanded.
LikeLike
I think you’re being a bit harsh with your evaluation, even though I know it’s not that exciting of a song. I’d give it a 7 or 7.5 because I think the song does work.
Anyway, I prefer the bsides by far, I loved the last three songs on the EP, I’d only say goodbye to sync-love but I still appreciate its presence on the album.
Bitter Taste is my favorite and Heart Surf reminds me a lot of 2000’s R&B in a good way.
LikeLike
ratings a bit harsh but imo sync love (first song on the ep) does this sound in a much more interesting way theres a lot more dynamics between the verses/main hook
LikeLike
and while its not kpop this song which actually predates nwjns by like a year also does dnb/2step in a very interesting way production wise and im curious to know what nick thinks abt it
(and while were on that note underscores in general is a phenomenal artist and i highly HIGHLYYYY recommend her music if u like experimental leaning pop)
LikeLike
Tipi tap is amazing and a fresh new beginning for the girls as 7 members now. They even said they are looking for songs that represent them musically since the last ones dos not. Music is a personal taste and we’re all entitled to what we like and dislike but at least we can respect the effort of the producers and singers put into it. But I see that this review is the specific point of view of a single person and their musical taste and does not represent the marjority.
LikeLike
At one point this year I was kind of on board the subdued trend, but it was shortlived. I got off that train and I’m back to typing ‘this song is subdued, so it’s just not for me’ under yet another New Jeans-esque girl group track.
I hope at some point companies will magically realize that it’s a great idea to create a group with a core identity, sound and style that will cultivate a loyal fanbase of people who love that particular vibe. I’m not loving the trend copy + paste thing, although it isn’t really new (I remember the tropical house trend being done to death).
LikeLike
i swear everything is called a newjeans sound no matter what
LikeLike
Yeah. Newjeans is more atmospheric, this is more explosive in its energy. There are definitely K-pop songs which are Newjeans clones but this is more upbeat Pinkpantheress.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No way this deserved a D. After a few listens, this has surpassed Up as my favorite title track. So incredibly fun and girly, otherworldly even. A bit psychedelic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, it’s far from an A but it has grown on me quite a bit as the days have gone by XD
LikeLike
I like this group better when Mashiro and Yeseo were still there.
LikeLike
This is fun. I don’t mind it.
LikeLiked by 1 person