Review

Song Review: SMORZ – I Want You To

In the world of silly K-pop names, “SMORZ” is pretty cute but also ridiculous when you realize that it’s a combination of “S’mores” and “Generation Z” and means that you’ll want more of… Gen Z? This project group has debuted with an English-language EP, showcasing their global ambitions.

K-pop in English always gives me pause because it means I have no choice but to hear and understand the lyrics. This can pull down an otherwise fine track, and that’s exactly what happens with I Want You To. It’s like one step forward, two steps back with this song. While I’m so happy to hear a girl group inject a bit of bright, upbeat energy into its approach, this track is about as generic as you could possibly get. The lyrics are so inane that you could’ve easily convinced me AI wrote them. The girls overuse a chirpy affectation to the point where it becomes completely ineffective, veering dangerously close to Kidz Bop territory. And beyond this, I feel like we’ve heard I Want You To before. I can’t come up with a direct comparison, but I swear these exact melodies exist in other pop songs — maybe even ones released this year.

Overall, I Want You To is completely harmless and may even find a niche audience, but I can’t find much to recommend about it.

Hooks 7
 Production 8
 Longevity 7
 Bias 7
 RATING 7.25

Grade: C

12 thoughts on “Song Review: SMORZ – I Want You To

  1. I would’ve been higher on it if it wasn’t in English. I never really compared cutesy pop music to kidzbop because for me that’s a very particular level of cringe and pain. So while the lyrics aren’t good, I’ve definitely heard worse in kpop

    The other thought I have about this song, is that it feels like a random comeback or digital signal. Debuts don’t debut like they used to. I wish they acted more as statement pieces. And I don’t mean they need to be big and in your face, but they should stick and allow me to have expectations

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  2. I personally liked their whole debut ep – it’s nothing groundbreaking but I thought it was well produced, the members had distinctive vocal tones and the songs were catchy. I don’t mind the lyrics because many songs in Korean are just as banal, so I’m not gonna ding them on that just because I can understand it.

    It may sound like an insult but I really do mean it positively – the whole album feels pleasantly derivative. It reminds me of some IVE, KIOF, and Twice songs. In fact, I can answer the question you had of what the song reminds you of – the verses sound exactly like the verses in The Feels!

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  3. Heh, I already knew what you’d write, especially when I saw the explanation of their name.

    The song is definitely derivative, but nonetheless, I truly enjoy it. The production is solid, and their vocals are decent. I also don’t mind the lyrics as much, there’s been worse in songs where even only a part was in English. Gonna check out the rest of the EP too.

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  4. Heartbreak, by Minimani M -> Beep Beep by Jessica Jung, melodically.

    Vaguely like After Like, as well. The general tune is pretty close to “I Will Survive”.

    Also a bit of Pooky‘s verse in the second verse.

    I think they’re cute. Idk, I’ll listen to their next song.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. might be fun to add the fact that they are singing a full English “kpop” song because they are actually a group full of Hong Kong members and they aim to enter the kpop market…

    Liked by 2 people

  6. ?? this is surprisingly really good. would never have guessed it from the kidzbop comparison in the review. plus, the song makes it over the 3 minute mark which is an unfortunate rarity nowadays

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I actually quite like this song, but either way the melodic contour sounds so alike to Madein’s ‘Love, Afraid’ that this practically just feels like a cover. Ironic because Madein’s song in of itself was a cover of a much older song.

    I prefer Smorz because it doesn’t have one of those second verses where the whole song halts for some lame trap section.

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