This has little to do with Fifty Fifty’s actual comeback, but the word “pookie” annoys me to no end. Over the years, it’s gone from cute little novelty nickname to a term used to show a dismissive attitude toward someone else. That connotation is absent in Fifty Fifty’s own Pookie, but the word is still awkward to hear repeated in a pop song.
In some ways, the original iteration of Fifty Fifty helped popularize the endless wave of “beigepop” that’s currently terrorizing the K-pop industry. Their Cupid remains a high water mark of the sound, even if agency drama and member shifts have dulled its legacy over the years. Now that we have five million other iterations of the sound clogging the market, it’s more difficult for a song like Pookie to stand out. Its short run time and repetitive hook make it feel more like a ringtone than a fully-developed track and this earworm quality is likely intentional.
If nothing else, Pookie is certainly catchy. From its sing-song hook to the wordless refrain that follows, the song is crafted for maximum stickiness. The instrumental offers a bit more bop than most songs of this nature, but overall the production and performance is unambitious and familiar. Because of this, Pookie never goes beyond “cute.” It’s like eating a piece of candy — sweet and sugary in the moment but quickly forgotten as you move about your day.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Well, it’s a somewhat better effort than SOS, the hook’s pretty cute, catchy and I like the little funky production during the verses. It’s just like any other beigepop music, but it’s decent enough.
Rating’s the same.
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I know Cupid was their massive hit, but the previous EP, with its 3 standout tracks, was for me one of the best EPs by a female group in recent years. The 3 members who left to form Ablume will be debuting on Friday next week. I should try to temper my expectations, but I can’t help but look forward to it.
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I was expecting them to do a continuation of the fifty fifty sound, but their teaser for echo sounds like it could be girlcrush/ edm? Definitely not what I was expecting
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Yikes, really? I haven’t heard it yet. That’s most definitely not what I want from them. Maybe the b-side will be better.
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I mean, the title track can still be good, just in a left field sort of way
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pookie is an annoying term, but not as much as beigepop, which had a negative connotation from the jump
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It’s kind of cute and sugary and weightless and ephemeral, like a tasty cupcake that is gone too soon.
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“Beigepop” is the exact word I needed to describe the pandemic of “oh thats cute but I’ll never listen to it again” GG (and even soloists) songs
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i lowkey just prefer the old 5050 and their debut&cupid era, this was rather.. not enough, like “yeah it’s ok but not getting on replay” for me. 6/10
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Instrumental is vaguely like “On a Ride” by Red Velvet, in tune.
I like it.
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Okay, this is probably going to be the most controversial statement I ever make here, but here it is:
The vocal melody for the chorus is really close to the chorus of GFRIEND’s Rough.
Pookie lyrics, Rough Lyrics (Hangeul), Rough Lyrics (roman)
I’m your pookie in the morning/ I’m your pookie in the night
미처 말하지 못했어 / 다만 너를 좋아했어
micheo malhaji motaesseo / daman neoreul johahaesseo
너만 보면 super crazy / 두근두근, gets the vibe
어린 날의 꿈처럼 / 마치 기적처럼
eorin narui kkumcheoreom/ machi gijeokcheoreom
Don’t matter what I do/ 하나, 둘, 셋, gimme that cue
시간을 달려서 /어른이 될 수만 있다면
siganeul dallyeoseo/ eoreuni doel suman issdamyeon
‘Cause I’m your pookie / 헷갈려도 아는 signs
거친 세상 속에서 /손을 잡아줄게
geochin sesang sogeseo / soneul jabajulge
Or, at least, you can quite comfortably sing Rough at the same time during the chorus.
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This could have been an ILLIT track, it has some of the same sonic similarities, though I find Magnetic and Tick-Tack a bit more dynamic than this. All in all, the strength of “beigepop” is that I can play it around family and friends and not be immediately asked what the hell I just turned on, unlike some of the more exciting pieces the genre has to offer, so I guess there is that.
Unfortunately, my grandmother used to use the term “Pookie” for flatulence, so the term itself is not a pleasing choice for me either.
8,8,7,8 = 7.75 as well.
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Haha that definition of “pookie” is hilarious!
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