I combed through the Bias List archives and was surprised to find that it’s been over three years since I’ve written about new music from Seventeen’s The8. He’s released a couple of songs since then, but new single Orbit (轨道) bolsters his first EP. With Seventeen enjoying a mega-successful year, this release feels like icing on the cake for fans.
Orbit fits right within current trends, melding spacey synth to subdued afrobeats — similar in style to TWS’s Last Festival a week ago. Unlike that song, Orbit sets its melodic ambitions relatively low, remaining hushed throughout its entire running time. While the verses offer a bit of range, the track plays more like a flat line than an exercise in tension/release. This structural approach is what causes songs like Orbit to feel too much like background music for my taste. The track doesn’t even bother with a climax or finale. It simply… ends.
If you’re looking for “vibe” music, you could certainly do worse than this. The production glistens and has a nice sense of depth. Rapper JinJiBeWater_隼 adds to the texture, making a complimentary pairing with The8. Orbit would make a solid album b-side, offering tone and style. But as a single, it’s a bit undercooked.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
What’s more interesting than the song which is dull, is the featured artist’s name. A lot going on. Almost a rapper name generator name.
Jin Ji Be – Water – the symbol for falcon
Is the bee as in Bi as in Rain, or is it be like Jin Ji is like water which is like rain. And then a falcon. Perhaps an animal attribute, perhaps a pet, who knows. Perhaps a falcon in the rainwater?
I don’t remember what my rap name is or was, something like “My Mama Myma”. Perhaps I should append 鸭
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Hey there! The name actually has some cool references. “Jin Ji” comes from the Chinese classic Tao Te Ching and means know yourself. “Be Water” is inspired by Bruce Lee’s philosophy. And his last name Sun has a similar pronunciation to the word falcon. I’m a fan of his.
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This feels like an extension of Spell to me, with the same atmosphere and somewhat forgettable melody. Still, I think it fits The8’s persona more than his other solos, at least those that I can recall. Also, it’s nice to hear his voice in his native language.
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but surprisingly I really liked the song, kinda gave me weekend vibes too..idk..I just love ..part of it comes from the mv itself +two bsides were relatively good too..
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Nothing against The8 (except maybe his stage name), but he’s the member of Seventeen that I always forget about. Nice to see him pursuing more solo work, even if it’s a bit too vibey for me.
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Well the lyrics are stupid, but I came to this after feeling meh about Treasure, Cravity and &team, so this was refreshing. It felt like the adult in the room. I’m overfull of teenybop ballads.
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