Collaborations between K-pop stars and video games have become more common, which makes sense because I’d bet there is a lot of crossover between the fandoms. aespa’s new track with battle royale game PUBG goes beyond simple tie-in to include a full music video that sees the girls deposited in the game’s violent landscape.
Musically, Dark Arts feels like a suitable extension to the group’s monotone Dirty Work from a few weeks ago. The energy is similar, even hinging on a spoken-word hook. However, there’s a little more going on here, from the skittering percussion to the melodic pre-chorus. And even though the song’s centerpiece is spoken, there are at least… more syllables? That’s weird criteria for a review and to be honest Dirty Work‘s defiant grumble has grown on me a bit since its release. But unlike that song, Dark Arts attempts to build into mini peaks of drama that give it greater scope.
Even so, this relatively flat “we’re so badass” sound isn’t my favorite match for aespa. For such great vocalists, it’s disappointing to hear them constrained by the material. Just imagine how cool Dark Arts might have sounded with a fully sung chorus that echoed the excitement the production seems to promise. Even better, pair it with the trance synths that briefly pop up during Dark Arts‘ climax and you’d have a truly energetic highlight worthy of a shoot-em-up video game. But sadly, Dark Arts is too concerned with being cool to ever be legitimately fun.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I agree completely with all of your points, but my rating is a wee bit higher.
8,8,7,8 = 7.75
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u should do a post ranking songs from each kpop aesthetic/concept like girl crush etc.
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pretty pls
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Hii people, off topic here, (when are my posts ever), but I found this song.
In my opinion its okay, not that good. Its kinda hip-hop-y, so not my style at all. I don’t like the chanted chorus, but the pre-chorus is kinda nice.
Overall, I’d give it like 6/10 (not on Nick’s rating) ((I’m still slightly confused on the official rating, so if someone could explain that would be very nice T-T))
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They, aespa and the producers and the video people, are trying very hard to sell a mid song.
Minus points for promoting messing about with guns. Nope nope nope. They are not in the game, they don’t need them in the music video.
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Not sure what you mean by your last sentence? As part of this collab, the aespa members have been added to PUBG and players can customize their characters to be one of the four members and also use the same guns (and frying pan) as the ones in the video. Last year the newjeans members were added similarly.
In addition, guns have been peripherally tied to aespa’s original concept, as Winter’s lore power is “armamenter”, which apparently refers her to being proficient with weapons and she’s typically given a gun as a prop.
Granted, they have kinda moved away from their original concept, but I would still consider aespa to be the “action genre” of girl groups. They’re often fighting something or each other in their MVs.
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I live in the US in a part of the country where individuals re-enacting first person shooter games to a final blaze of glory is too common. I subtract points any time I see a glamourization of guns.
I must admit I don’t always watch the videos, so aespa being so suffused in this subculture that one whole person is “typically given a gun as a prop” is a reason to stop listening full stop.
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Ehh. Not that great imo. Not a song I’d go back and listen to. It was a long 3 mins listening to it.
6,7,5,9 = 6.75
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