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.
When listening to ILLIT’s new mini album, I kept hearing shades of my favorite girl groups from past generations. The songs never quite matched that nostalgia, restrained by many of this generation’s most frustrating tropes. However, brief shots of interest were enough to keep me engaged throughout and make this my favorite ILLIT EP so far.
While I’m not sure I would rate any one track particularly high, there’s a nice sense of “8.25” running consistently throughout the project. I’m the type of listener who generally prefers a couple big standouts surrounded by filler over a steady stream of decently fine songs, but beggars can’t be choosers in this music economy.
This is all an odd way to introduce my buried treasure today, but I felt I had to give context for why I didn’t rate Oops! higher despite enjoying it. I feel like ILLIT could have promoted any song from the Do The Dance / Jellyous / Oops! triptych. Each has their strengths and their weaknesses. In Oops’s case, the song’s biggest boon is its upbeat groove. As with most ILLIT songs, the melodies are simple and repetitive, but the insistent rhythm keeps the track aloft. If artists must opt for a sing-talk approach, this is the way to do it. It’s light, funky and well-positioned for summertime playlists.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
This lowkey sounds like a bad kids’ commercial song. The whistling is annoying as hell.
LikeLike
this was the standout track for me as well, it’s a lot of fun
LikeLiked by 2 people
Its a nice balance between the maximalist kpop of recent years, and the minimalist kpop where you wonder how they heck they sing along to one drum line and one sample with no guidepost for key. Also big time 80’s construction – get the bass and percussion going, add on top a synth line that comes and goes, then vocals on top on top.
That said, its a bit bonkers how much it uses short elements from other popular songs. The double clap from Dua Lipa. The ooohs in the chorus have a Beyonce Texas Hold Em flair. If I liked the song more I could place the synth, the bass, the flutey hook with the right songs, but I am not that bothered.
Personal quibble: the vocals are so young and girly. I feel like I am listening to my young niece doing kpop karaoke/noraebang in the living room.
LikeLike
The track is fun, I like the instrumental and the bass line. Still, not really my style.
Totally irrelevant but I was going down the TWS rabbit hole and I discovered this song that they covered and I think it’s a really nice song, and a very original choice for a cover (also it always shocks me when I watch old kpop performances like this one, where artists just appeared with their natural skin color instead of the victorian orphan aesthetic that is prefered today):
LikeLiked by 1 person
Years later I still don’t know what those ballon people were doing in the mv. Alas, one of my favorite BoA songs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Honestly I’m just happy I live the EP this time around. The first one was consistent and only four songs in which two got videos, so it was easy to digest despite the obvious room for improvement. Then the second one was a big step back for me, I felt annoyed at many of the songs. This one I enjoyed throughout and I love the sorts of songs this ep’s tracks are rubbing shoulders with. Think I prefer jellyous over oops though
LikeLike
yess jellyous was the standout for me too
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was NOOOOT expecting a buried treasure from ILLIT this time around let alone “oops!” but it was definitely a nice surprise to see on the feed! oops is at the bottom of my list for favorite songs from this EP but not because I think it’s bad, just because I found the other songs to be stronger (i.e little monster is fantastic).
The EP as a whole falls into a trope I made up where HYBE’s Girl Groups 3rd EP is musically weaker than the 2nd or 1st. ILLIT, NewJeans and LE SSERAFIM have suffered from this and I wonder if KATSEYE will too…. (hopefully not though)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know about y’all, but Little Monster is their best song by faaar for me personally. I really love it, wish it would have been the main title track. One thing about Illit is that all their EPs are great, not a single filler for me, granted only 4-5 songs about 2 minutes each on every album, but still. If you put all 3 EPs togetehr into a playlist you get a fantastic 35-minute album!
LikeLike