Despite featuring a strong member line-up, I haven’t yet been able to connect with One Pact’s music. I admire how they compose their own work, but in my case it’s a matter of diverging musical tastes. However, teasers for new single 100! unveiled a promising funk pop sound, joining the ranks of many current boy groups enamored with a brighter aural palette.
As expected from this genre switch, 100! instantly stands as my favorite One Pact song so far. I still have some issues with the composition (namely, the melodies should hit much harder), but the overall vibe is quite irresistible. The synths have an authentic 80’s sheen, underpinned by rhythm guitar that keeps the track humming at a pleasant pace. And just when you expect the tempo to slow for a second verse rap, the song actually speeds up. This is a great surprise that benefits the overall structure.
100! is also the group’s first single in awhile to feature member Jay Chang. His confident vocals add needed character to the track, elevating the overall sound. In the grand scheme of things, 100! is still a slight entry in K-pop’s increasingly stuffed retro funk line-up, but given the sorry state of 2025 releases so far, I’ll gladly take it.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
I believe portraying them as group that composes their own songs is misinformation spread by fans, although I understand why it looks that way. If you look up credits for this song on KOMCA’s official database, the first name that appears for both composition and AR is Son Young Taek (no. 10009509) – Golden Child’s TAG. He and another Universe composer have also written other songs on this album, as well as their previous album (including title track Deserved).
LikeLike
I wish it was Golden Child’s Tag! The Tag that composes their songs is their own member who also goes under the name “Tag”
https://www.melon.com/artist/timeline.htm?artistId=2926247
LikeLike
It absolutely is, that’s why it looks misleading having with two people using the same stage name. Plug in Son Youngtaek’s number (10009509) in “writers and publishers” here https://www.komca.or.kr/foreign2/eng/S01.jsp
It will show all of his songs for Golden Child and One Pact (and a couple more). It also shows that Chae Gang Hae has been a collaborator for awhile (and is credited on Oasis, Purpose and Dear).
LikeLike
I think it’s an issue/oversight with their website. The Tag that composes One Pact’s material has the number 10030193 — unless there are two Tags working on the same material, which seems extremely unlikely/random. Every other site shows only the Tag from One Pact, including MelOn, Bugs, Genius, etc.
LikeLike
Yes, on the other sites Son Young Taek and Chae Gang Hae are listed together as “Universe”. The KOMCA numbers are reliable, that determines how they get paid.
LikeLike
When I look it up on KOMCA, I see both Son Young Taek’s (Tag from Golden Child) number (10009509) and Tag’s (from One Pact) number (10030193) listed for ‘100!’ as Composers. For the remaining 6 songs on the Pink Crush album, I also see Tag (from One Pact) listed as the Composer.
Also, when I search by Tag’s number (10030193) under writers/publishers, I find 34 total credits, which include Composer credits for the group CIIPHER (which he was also a part of).
I am not seeing the misrepresentation you mentioned, or am I reading this incorrectly? It is my first time accessing KOMCA so I am no expert!
LikeLike
Wow, the production goes crazy on this! Agree that the melodies are kinda slight, but they really went all in on 80’s synths in a way I haven’t heard in k-pop in a while.
LikeLike
Really liking this song.
Looking forward to seeing more of them.
LikeLike
This is a banger, easily a ten.
LikeLike
I like this song, and it’s so great to have Jay back in the group!
LikeLike