WayV’s Ten has a new mini album out later this month and — like seemingly everyone in K-pop — has teased it with a pre-release single. Pre-releases often end up being bigger hits than the actual title tracks, as artists want to come out of the gate with their strongest material first. Bambola takes a different approach, eschewing chart potential for experimentation. It sets the stage for a musically ambitious project.
If I were to describe Bambola succinctly, it’s like a typical K-pop song thrown in a blender until it’s shredded and put back together again. Many of the pieces are in the “wrong” place, yet the structure still (barely) makes sense as a song. It can be difficult to get this balance correct. Too “experimental” and we lose the aspects that make pop music great, yet too safe and the song feels more like a gimmick than a statement. Overall, Bambola hits a satisfying middle. I wish it was a bit hookier, but its constant barrage of sound is compelling in its own way.
For me, this kind of song works best when cutting its frantic nature with an oasis of melodic perfection. Though it’s not nearly as weird as Bambola, Xia Junsu’s 2016 single Rock The World is a great example of how to execute this well. The “yaba daba” chorus here doesn’t work for me and only heightens the song’s more obnoxious elements. I’m much more interested in the dramatic pre-chorus, which hints at a more robust series of hooks.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I don’t know what the intention was with these drop turns, but ok. Go for a 7.5
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My god, this sounds like something Taeyong would release 😭 A weird little chorus? Check. An almost confusing, what-the-fuck-is-this structure (how I felt about Shalala and kinda Tap’s structure/arrangement)? Check. Weird, almost bonkers production? Check.
I live for bonkers songs (as long as they have a good melody), and this is bonkers personified. The weird hook could use some punch and decent melodies to it, so this affects the song’s longevity for me. I’m unsure of how I’ll feel about it in the next few weeks to be honest, but for now, I’m intrigued by how strange this song is.
8 (7, 9, 7, 9) for me.
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Yes from me, because its not boring. Its actually anti-boring, I mean it packs several songs worth of ideas into under 3 minutes like crazy. Like a classic Beach Boys song, but make it kpop. (For the kids here – “Good Vibrations is all of 3:35 and packs in so many changeups.)
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Agree to the comment above. This is a weird song, in a good aspect and it’s anti-boring, YES! I’m liking every unexpected insertion of the beat bringing in in every segment and while I’m not sold on the chorus itself, the whole structure is such a roller coaster.
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hey nick, could you please review Monsoon by Rehma? she’s one of my favorite artists rn who is currently releasing a dance-pop album!
music video
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i feel like they gave him material meant for taeyong. the production is hard carrying the song right now, ten gets lost in it IMO. taeyong’s signature drawl would have been a much better fit, like how he managed to hold his own on Hitchhiker’s Around despite the chaotic instrumental
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I like the song and I like Ten but I fear you may be right. Ten fits the sultry type of songs better and this is sooo chaotic and tons of energy that he kinda gets lost.
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While listening I was trying to figure out what is the precise vibe this is giving, and then I realized it’s basically a Dorian Electra song. And even though Ten isn’t quite putting the amount of personality into it vocally, it still makes sense that I love this so much.
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