MEOVV pre-released their Hands Up a few weeks ago and, though the song didn’t bowl me over, I’ll admit that its chorus has stuck in my head. Now, it’s time to see what they’ve got for a title track. Drop Top was written by a variety of YG Entertainment staples, responsible for crafting the greatest hits from groups like Bigbang and 2NE1. Add UK singer-songwriter Claudia Valentina to the mix and you’ve got a real nostalgic Avengers team.
Because of this, Drop Top shares many sonic hallmarks with early-2010’s K-pop. Its slow-build verse is straight out of that era, even performed with similar affectation. It’s so interesting how certain producers foster a specific vocal color from their artists. As I’ve written before, MEOVV’s performance is extremely BLACKPINK-coded, but that’s to be expected. Their music has been a bit more daring, venturing to several distinct places. Rather than borrow the euphoric EDM energy that characterized much of the early 2010’s, this song takes a stomping, anthemic approach. Think Katy Perry’s Roar or Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood but make it darker and more K-pop. Unfortunately, this style has never appealed to me much.
I appreciate how Drop Top builds to an actual chorus and makes the most out of the moment when this hook finally crashes in, but I don’t find the actual refrain very impactful. It’s cookie-cutter Top 40 radio in the most insidious way. Sometimes, pop music is built to be so catchy that you can almost see the work that went into it. This robs a song of its magic and makes it come across more like a chore. As well-honed as Drop Top may be, its centerpiece feels functional rather than transcendent.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
The song has potential, but the energy’s kept low and it doesn’t really go anywhere. It’s just right in the middle
7.75 (8, 8, 8, 7) for me.
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It has an interesting energy progression, interesting in a weird way. Starting slow verse then mid-tempo chorus then a double time rap, then pull back and etc. Does it all match? Does it work? Oh, I don’t know. To me, it just feels crafted instead of inspired.
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I kinda like hands up now.
This was mid af.
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I was expecting it to be good because I liked where the verses were going but the chorus sounds corny to me.
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It’s hard not to hear how Blackpink would perform some of these sections when listening to this. Though I no longer listen to BP very often, I can’t help but think their charisma and delivery would elevate this song more since it sounds so coded to their style.
Ending also seems a bit abrupt. All in all, still a decent song though, but hands up fits the group much better than this one does.
7,7,8,9 = 7.75
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the chorus sounds super childish, like a nursery rhyme. very old western pop song style. meovv could be making some great songs rn but their stuff sounds so dated at times… izna’s sign, although not 100% amazing for me, was a stunner. nostalgic yet modern and catchy.
i’m still looking for a meovv title song where it just wows me. i look forward to any live performances though. meovv is on a better musical path but i think they could be doing so much more and so much better..
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For me it commits pop music’s most cardinal sin, which is simply that it’s boring and unoriginal. It’s certainly competently performed and produced but it feels like a song I’ve heard 1000 times before.
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Amen to that!
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why have those god awful lyrics paired with such a catchy melody. I’ll still listen to it but I really wish the chorus was in korean so I didnt have to actually understand what (nonsense) they were saying-
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So love me like you do/
lo-lo-love me like you do…
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I was pleasantly surprised by Hands Up, so I was expecting big things from this and what we got was just meh.
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