Last week, NCT Dream unveiled pre-release Flying Kiss, which was… half a good song. Its verses and chorus existed on a different plane from one another, but its best moments offered a peek at what we might hear on the group’s full album. Title track When I’m With You never hits the heights of Flying Kiss, but its upbeat groove is far more consistent.
After this March’s disastrous Smoothie, it’s refreshing to hear an NCT Dream single that’s not built around shouting and blustering. When I’m With You melds 90’s dance elements with the glossy disco-pop of the early 2000’s. Its bass thumps immediately, anchoring a solid beat that gives the group plenty to play with. The production is bright and spacious — an updated version of the youthful sound Dream debuted with. Nothing within the instrumental is particularly unique or memorable, but its unfussy nature will likely play well in the long run.
As with 90% of K-pop songs this year, When I’m With You‘s shortcoming center around its melodies. The track is catchy but very unambitious, delivering a series of hooks that come and go without much effect. At its worst, it has the same anonymous, antiseptic feel that marred Key’s recent solo effort. Dream imbue the track with a bit more personality, but we need a knockout chorus to bring new texture and range. The “when I’m with you” refrain feels more like a concession than a highlight. Surprisingly, the biggest shot of joy comes during a late-track rap verse. The members sound like they’re having actual fun here.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
Grade: B-
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
This sounds like a boy band song from any era of boy bands, updating the instrumental to be more contemporary. It could be New Kids on the Block, but make it kpop. I did a quick google and stopped counting at songs called “When I’m with you” at about a dozen of them on the first page alone. (The most notable being everyone’s prom song of 1989 Sheriff “When I’m with You”)
It also harkens back to Jin’s Astronaut’s chorus. “When I’m with you, there is no one else” which was a great solo song.
Not saying today’s song is bad, its just common.
In the meantime, Baaaabbay ay yay ay yaaaayyyyayyyy ooh I get chills when I’m with you oo woah oh woah woooooah. (When I use the phrase “sing the shit out of a song”, it is this kind of performance. He leaves it all on the field. And =KEY CHANGE=)
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I definitely hear Pleasure Shop in this, but with more oomph. But I vibe with it well, it’s better than Smoothie.
8.25 (8, 9, 8, 8) for me.
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medium house feel with an easy chorus, with a segment that doesn’t impose too much… and that’s kinda boring
it’s a 7.75
I also listened to the album and I wasn’t that impressed
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I like it but I feel like it needs to be a bit faster. The album is really good though, definitely their best one by far imo. I still can’t pick my top 3 favorite tracks.
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I am a Smoothie enthusiast but it was definitely polarizing. This feels like course correction—but a little over correction. It’s fine. Just fine. 7.5. Average.(the mv is one of my favorites this year though!)
literally every other song on the album will be on repeat though. Heavenly is the stand out for now but it could change.
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It’s alright, groovy but not remarkable.
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NCT album
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Oddly enough, one of the weaker songs on the album for me. So many songs are great like i hate fruits, Heavenly, Night Poem, and my personal favorite of Off the Wall. This album has been playing nonstop for me the past few hours
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Kinda flat and thoroughly unmemorable. Feels like a failed nct effort to be easy-listening.
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At least this song has a bridge, unlike ENHYPEN’s No Doubt. Anyways, I like the song.
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As a title track it is a little lacking. I prefer the prereleases (Rains in Heaven and Flying Kiss”). Bside “Heavenly” is pretty.
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So, I’m back here after watching the performance 👇. Somehow, watching it made this song so much better. The choreography elevates the song imo. I found myself mesmerized bu it. This is exactly what happened to me with Riize’ “Impossible”, and that song will be on my top 10 of 2024. I’ll wait and see how far this one goes.
https://youtu.be/qiaLTtDLB10?si=C3BYrYPUyjbO3sL5
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Flying Kiss feels more “Dream” if that makes sense. It’s more sonically interesting whereas When I’m With You is more generic in nature. Nevertheless they fit the house genre fine so I’m satisfied with it.
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“Flying Kiss” and “Rains in Heaven” weren’t the best pre-releases for me, but I’m happy to say that my Dreamy hopes have been restored. I like this type of sound for them (I think it’s a little bit too RIIZEy?) but they definitely nail it. Their album also has some nice tracks that cater to my taste so I’m a happy fan.
8/10
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