In my corner of the world, the first few days of this summer have been mired in showers and a cool breeze, but in K-pop we’re witnessing the beginning of a battle between girl group summer tracks. From where I stand now, Hearts2Hearts’ Style has only grown in stature while I’m worried I might have slightly overrated fromis_9’s Like You Better. However, it will take time (and a surplus of actual sunny days) to determine the ultimate victor. Today, H1-KEY offers their bid for summer ubiquity with their long-awaited comeback Summer Was You (여름이었다).
This might be the most explicitly seasonal track yet and takes a slightly different approach than its predecessors. Summer Was You opts for a hearty rock arrangement. If you told me this was originally written for a group like Dreamcatcher, I’d believe you. This rollicking sound feels well-suited to a summertime OST. You can easily imagine it playing over the credits of a drama or soundtracking a road trip. The track has a sing-it-at-the-top-of-your-lungs appeal that’s hard to resist, hitting all the cues you’d want it to.
Summer Was You is anchored by a brilliant chorus that unfolds in several distinct segments. In K-pop’s current catchphrase-heavy world, it’s become very rare to hear songwriting in this style. I might have shrugged a track like this off ten years ago, but in 2025 it feels like a magical unicorn that must be treasured and protected. I love how the melodies grow more and more robust as the song unfolds. An equally dynamic instrumental would have given Summer Was You a more idiosyncratic touch, with icy synth or a memorable guitar riff delivering unique texture. But even without these elements, the track comes close to being a slam dunk.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
nick, did you had time yesterday to listen to fromis_9 mini? what’s your favourite track? any buried treasure?
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Yes, bright uncomplicated pop music. Summery and easy breezy. It’s hard to hate a song like this – maybe someone doesn’t like it, but there shouldn’t be hate when everyone is grinning with genuine smiles*. Maybe this is the magic unicorn of this summer.
Rating is about right, maybe 8.5 for me.
(*someone is going to say, humpf, have you read the boards or followed social media about this that or the other thing, to which I say I live in a cave. I don’t social. It is not worth my time and energy to listen to strangers arguing on the internet.)
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The J-rock sound has really taken over K-pop (ex: QWER, BND ‘If I say I love you’, etc.) I do feel like it often tends to steer into generic, but this is a fun upbeat track. I don’t mind it, but it doesn’t leave a lasting impression. I appreciate it more than I like it. An 8.25 from me.
By the way, been listening to some B1A4 lately. Apart from Solo Day, Rollin’, and O.K, I’ve been listening to these b-sides.
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My favorite B1A4 ever is “Beautiful Target”. It presently ranks as my #13 played song on my ipods ever. There is also a Japanese version and a remix Japanese version.
(This is not to be confused with “Beautiful” by the kpop group called Target, which is a very different song. Sweetune, and one of Nick’s favorites.)
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Though I love B1A4’s poppier tracks, my favorites have to be A lie, Tried to Walk, and Lonely (then followed by I’ll pretend I didn’t see and Solo Day). I can’t explain how much I love their use of harmony and surging instrumentation to convey emotion.
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Nice to hear Korean used for the title and the hook lyrics. 여름이 었다 (yeoreumi yeotda) is great-sounding turn of phrase.
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Good summer bop.
Betting a good chunk of money a Buried Treasure post for Good for U is coming…
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Finally! A follow up to Run!
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I love this song, the nostalgia it carries within the summery light is strange and pleasant. It stirs up so many emotions, and that, combined with the well-crafted lyrics, is truly commendable.
On the other hand, the rest of the album didn’t excite me much until I got to the final track (or second-to-last, if you count the instrumental). “Let Me Be Your Sea” is a b-side that sounds very much like old K-pop, and I really like it for that reason. I even thought it was a remake of an old song I hadn’t heard of. And, come on, “I wish my name was changed to the ocean because you like the ocean” seems like a beautiful line to me!
https://youtu.be/SOvFxcYqLbI
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Very nice comeback! The rock style and type of guitar reminded me a bit of the last Younha album, which I also really loved.
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