Stray Kids released two songs from their upcoming album last month, but neither of these was promoted with a music video. Title track Giant arrives as the album’s first big push right as the full project is unveiled. Fans of the group’s more disruptive side will find plenty to enjoy, as the song rumbles with electronic distortion between gruff declarations from the guys.
There’s a world where I might find this all very charming. After all, I love a punky attitude and general disregard for ‘playing nice.’ But like much of the group’s music these past few years, there’s too little to grab onto and the general vibe leans closer to obnoxious than thrillingly combative. Giant opens as an Imagine Dragons-esque stomp, becoming most dramatic during its pummeling pre-chorus. The production’s too plodding to fully work, but the song still sets itself up for success.
Then, we crash into Giant‘s chorus. This segment will likely polarize opinion, with some listeners loving its brash energy. I find the whole thing exhausting… and not in a good way. The “I’m a giant” hook lacks imagination and the “run, run, run before we come, come, come” refrain veers uncomfortably close to a nursery rhyme for my taste. Add some ear-shredding electronic flourishes and you’ve got a chorus that’s difficult to enjoy on a purely sonic level. However, I’ll concede that I’m no longer the target audience for Stray Kids’ music.
| Hooks | 6 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Meh
7.25 (7, 8, 7, 7) for me.
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I like the instrumental and the pre chorus
8.5/10 for me (9, 9, 8, 8)
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I kind have lost my love for kpop over the last few months. The same old tired songs being released by big for only the deluded masses to lap it up like the last nipple on a nursing Labrador. I don’t know what happened to kpop it used to a great alternative to all the bum shudder in the top 40. Now it’s seems to have lost what made it so appealing in the first place. Oh well.
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I agree with you 100%, but just a few months ago there were tons of great songs being released. These things tend to happen in cycles. It’s just that this has been a very loooong cycle…
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agree
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I feel you! I don’t know how long you’ve been a fan of K-pop, but if current releases aren’t doing much for you, I recommend just digging back into K-pop history. Lots of gems there.
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NewJeans is the only one moving different lately.
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All heat and no light.
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Its kind of ironic how their “japanese” title tracks contain 95% english and 5% japanese. Anyway, kinda like the entire song but wtaf was that chorus. It wennt from an 8.5 to a 7
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you definitely weren’t around during the early days of kpop haha for example big bang’s entire first japanese album was 100% english
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Lol, just name it first “english” album then? 😉
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The prechorus is SO promising but the chorus just can’t keep up the drama.
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Personally I love this song and the meaning behind it. They say others think they’re big but they think they’re still small and have a long ways to go. I love that they’re always trying and learning new things such as different vocal, choreo styles and adding in different genres they haven’t done yet. Solid 8 out of 10 for me.
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I feel you! I don’t know how long you’ve been a fan of K-pop, but if current releases aren’t doing much for you, I recommend just digging back into K-pop history. Lots of gems there.
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I need to listen again, but first listen I could hardly believe this is Stray Kids. Sounds like some bad song they wrote and binned in 2010 and now decided to release. And yeah the hook isn’t there to me. 5/10 (it might grow on me though after a few listens, who knows)
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you all ain’t the target audience, take your opinions elsewhere this is for Stay and Stay ONLY
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as the target audience (4 years of being in stayville) i say it’s actually ridiculous to police music like this. you like it? me too! more power to us! but it’s fine if other people don’t lol. my gf actively dislikes edm/plodding instrumentals like this one, are we about to break up?? no 😂
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K-pop stan living up to the worst stereotypes…
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Exactly!!! I’m tired of reading the comment section on this post when it comes to groups like Straykids or Ateez. I’m here rating it a 10 and they are saying it soo bad and rating it a C or worse. It’s so annoying
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Welcome to planet earth where people have different opinions? 🤷♂️
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the instrumental has done interesting textures, but I’m not sure they all work. They are really the only thing keeping my attention, what the guys are doing is unmemorable. With the exception of the chorus, but it’s a really lazy tired English chorus. It’s reminiscent of 2019-2020 noise tracks but even less melodic and I have no nostalgia for it. No number for it I’m just gonna say it’s a skip
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My ears hurt. 1/10
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okay, man….that was uncalled for…
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Your taste in music must be shit then 😂
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how can people listen to a group that is known for heavy, weird loud exaggerate and experimental sounds and expect something different, are you people new to Stray Kids? if yall were expecting something different yall are ridiculous. Stray Kids songs are for those that do not want to hear the same old r&b, poppy songs. GIANT is for the people that like deep beats and additive sounds that vibrate your bones and eardrums
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stray kids music is the greatest for me for every song they put out has a different meaning in every aspect “Giant” is another phenomenal music cd all around, I love there music it’s different always they have heart in the words whether it’s English, korean, or Japanese we as STAYS love everything about them… much love to my boys!🤩 Neo💙🩵💙another #1 cd for the music charts!!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
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Personally, I love this song. Recently, Lee Know has been getting better lines than previously, and more opportunities to strut his stuff. I almost got so mad when I thought Lee Know barely got any lines (at least good ones) AGAIN and then I looked at the color-coded lyrics and went “oh…I’m stupid” LIKE HOW DID I NOT RECOGNIZE HIS VOICE!?
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i honestly was expecting more songs because the already released 3/4 of it but overall love the album
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This is just the type of sound they have built and will continue to work with forever. I find some sections in the song interesting, but all in all, it’s a very loud track with a lot going on. Sadly, I think it’s another one of their singles with little replay value for me. In these cases, I tend to go to their album/mini-album and will usually find a couple tracks that remind me why I’ve been a fan.
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Stray Kids get away with making the most jarring, disjointed and melody-deprived songs ever. Genuinely well done to the boys for succeeding with music like this.
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I don’t know what the heck you’re talking about??? This song is literally perfect when I listened to it and it’s so odd seeing all of y’all hating on it when it is so good. Please keep your stupid opinion to yourself 🙄
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Despite being known as the noisy music expert, I believe that the center of their recent title tracks is surprisingly understated. While they may embrace yelling as much as they want, the background music always feels weakly tinkling. Could it be that they consider screaming recklessly over a hollow melody to be the essence of the noisy music they strive for?
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I think music is so individualized and really depends on personal preference. Me personally, I love this latest song by Stray Kids. I love the symbolism behind GIANT’s message, the struggle, the unity, and knowing just a bit of their challenges, I think they have the experience to sing this anthem. I actually really like the looming feel of the chorus, its almost haunting and eerie. Then again I’m also a big fan of Topline, Chk Chk Boom, Falling Up, JJAM, just to name a few of their recent songs. On the flip side, I also really enjoy their softer songs like Leave, Eternity, Twilight, Secret Secret and more. I’m most impressed by their self produced storytelling and the creativity to use different sounds to make music. Differences make this world so much more interesting but at the end of it, we can all be united by our common interest of music in general. Have a great day everyone.
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It seems the only place Stray Kids are actually using melody is in their anime OSTs. I don’t think it’s anything groundbreaking, but it reminds me that they have a lot more to offer than the disjointed noise music that’s so pervasive in their title tracks:
Here are the songs currently being used:
Night:
Falling Up:
Again, I personally don’t find them amazing tracks. But they can write melodies, and even though what they are doing seems to be working for them, it makes me wonder what they *could* do if they kept going down the more melodic roads.
Nick, if you don’t mind, what do you think of these in comparison to the MV/title tracks they’ve released recently or for this album? Would you rate them higher or lower?
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I personally love this song I has been on loop I am listening to it right now actually 10/10 always impressed! it is so good I understand where you come from but I like that type of songs that give me energy not ones who you can relax too 10/10 this type of music.
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