A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.
ITZY’s new mini album is strong all the way through, even including the type of sweet pop ballad we rarely hear anymore. Most of the songs follow a similar tempo and template, strutting forward with club-ready attitude. Of these songs, Kiss & Tell is the sharpest example.
IZTY had such an exciting debut year, but pretty much jettisoned that sound after Wannabe in early 2020. It’s exciting to hear them recapture and update it on this track. They’re no longer the fresh rookies they once were, and Kiss & Tell harnesses that experience. It’s not a very melodic track, choosing instead to throw around taunts and barbs as the production kicks off behind the girls. I listen to quite a bit of material like this in the Western pop world, and the key to this style is finding production that keeps momentum high and thrilling. Kiss & Tell‘s beat feels in constant acceleration and moves so confidently that your ear doesn’t even have time to absorb (or critique) the song’s meager vocal hooks. I’ll be interested to see how this ages with time, but for now it’s the most exciting moment on the album.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
how would you rank the songs on the album?
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we need more songs like this
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Quite possibly their best song (not just b-side, song) since Wannabe and Ting Ting Ting.
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I made an account just to tell you, Ting Ting Ting is literally such a fucking masterpiece.
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You are absolutely correct. Probably the best song off of It’z Me after their title.
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I don’t really listen to B-sides, but I started listening to them because of JYP SUPERSTAR.
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Yup, it’s another one for the KPOP for gay guys playlist
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Oh. My. God. YES!!! A million times yes! This is going to be in my top songs of the year, easily. I also enjoyed Girls Will Be Girls and Locked N Loaded (that guitar at the end is everything) but this is just on a different tier. Kill Shot has officially been dethroned as my favorite Itzy b-sides! I pray they’ll give this song a music video or at least a choreography.
(Side note: I think I’ll put this song in a playlist alongside the Steve Aoki Whiplash remix, the Lara Gnarly remix, EPBBW by Le Sserafim, and Trouble by EVNNE. Anyone have any other “club banger” songs to add?)
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From the moment I heard it in the teasers I knew it was gonna be a good song.
Also I wanted to know what you thought of the songs from the new Street Woman Fighter. :0
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This is the b-side they performed on music bank and I’m very happy they did. I haven’t heard a kpop song like this in a while.
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Definitely my favorite song off the mini album!
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