Jeon Somi has returned with what will likely be her only new music this year. Talk about a discography doled out in crumbs! Despite debuting as a soloist all the way back in 2019, she’s never been given more than one single or mini album per year, making it even more important that each and every song hits with full force. 2023’s Fast Forward did just that, while last year’s Ice Cream was a dud. New single Extra lands somewhere in the middle.
Extra sets its sights on the 80s, offering a glistening, synth-powered mid-tempo dance track. The glossy production is enjoyable if familiar and places Somi’s artistry in a similarly pop-minded space as Fast Forward (still by far her best track). She has unlimited potential as a pop princess and I really want to see her push all the way in that direction. With that in mind, Extra is frustratingly subdued. So many of the right elements are present, but the song doesn’t exert itself in any meaningful way.
My issues with the track begin immediately. Its opening lyrics are a spelled out recitation of the title paired with a ho-hum melody that’s meant to sound breezy but comes across as monotone. This problem persists throughout Extra. There’s simply no melodic range in the songwriting. No peaks. No valleys. No drama. The song paints a (pleasant) flat line across its brief running time. While this will be completely inoffensive to any listener, it also inspires no excitement. Once you’ve heard a few seconds of the groove, you’ve essentially heard the whole song. There’s nothing to look forward to!
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
Grade: C
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
What’s with all the gemini diss😭
We are not(all) bad😔
anyways I’m here for this after the ear assault she forced/gave us to listen/cower to😍
8.5/10🐻
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geminis are the most disrespected sign in music 🥲
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Better than Ice Cream, but also not as good as Fast Forward. Sigh, this is so subdued and generic, she deserves stronger material than this.
7.25 (7, 8, 7, 7) for me.
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Unrelated, but I’ve been stuck on Cravity’s song from like a week, two weeks ago (Set Net G0!), and I’ve been looking into their discography. So far it’s good, but nothing that has caught my eye. Their sound seems very dated, I can imagine myself listening to the songs when they first came out, but definitely not now.
I was wondering if someone had some recommendations or songs they liked from them, since I’m not finding much stuff.
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If you like Cravity “Set Net Go” you might like “Ready Set Go” from 2023. Its from some OST so it might not have popped up as easily on a search.
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as for the Somi song, I wish it could “give me more, give me more”. It reminds me of the song First Class by Jack Harlow. Ik it’s just because of the E-X-T-R-A chant, but still :”)
Was really hoping for something like Fast Forward, but weren’t we all. Hoping she will give us something better next year T-T
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At some point I was obsessed with Automatic, Veni Vidi Vici and Realize from their b-sides. It’s not groundbreaking but I enjoy it a lot
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Oh I know, so much potential to be a Proper Pop Princess, and the Black Label just strings her along.
This is a one and a half idea song that despite itself sounds pretty good but not compelling.
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very boring in the inoffensive way of a song. Also not a fan of the “spell out the word” club. If you are going to have a single release per year and barely any presence, then at least drop a mind-blowing banger and have the B-sides as ones where you get to express your music tastes
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here before the “nick are you gonna review the kpop demon hunters songs” comment
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Well, is he? 🤨
(For further context; this is a joke, not to be taken seriously.)
Now, what did you think of the songs?
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I agree with you almost completely. I think the spelling hook doesn’t work because everything around it doesn’t go anywhere. A more prominent high harmony would’ve helped. I think AOA’s “10 seconds” shows how much this song could’ve benefited from dynamics
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It genuinely confuses me what TBL’s plans are with Somi. One single a year from a solo pop girl is odd even by Western standards. Unless this is what Somi is comfortable with, I don’t get why they don’t try to elevate her with better material and a proper album roll-out.
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it is definitely not what somi wants because she has also complained about only getting one song a year. apparently she said she writes a lot of songs, they just don’t let her release
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I agree with everything but I still love it. It feels like a dream, and a bit like an apathetic state.
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