Kep1er’s most recent Korean title track Tipi-Tap felt like a non-entity — a song so slight that it tippy tapped its way from memory almost instantly. But after that, they released the surprisingly boisterous Yum in Japan. After performing that song at this year’s KCON LA, they teased new single Bubble Gum. This song exists in the same sonic universe as Yum, which is a welcome development.
Kep1er are clearly done tippy tapping around and have settled into a stomping strut. The song will be docked the usual points for being a string of spoken catchphrases over a beat (because apparently no one in K-pop knows how to write melody anymore), but if an artist must go down this route that beat has to be absolutely massive. Bubble Gum has this covered, throwing every bit of weight it can muster behind its thumping rhythm. This ends up being a bit of a one-trick pony and I’m not sure it’s enough to sustain the entire track, but it’s nice to hear such bombast in a new girl group track.
Kep1er bring the catwalk energy, which has become another requirement for girl groups wishing to release upbeat material. It’s all a bit ‘Rupaul’s Drag Race lipsync for your life’ at times and this has become its own kind of trope, but the song is sharp and focused enough to make the schtick work. It’s one Yum-style chorus away from becoming a real standout. Without that weapon in its arsenal, Bubble Gum is good campy fun that — just like its namesake — will likely lose flavor as time goes on.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
This is really fun! I think it’s cool that they followed the sound of Yum (which is one of their best), I just wish the song was a little longer instead of the abrupt ending.
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I feel the same way about the ending. Even though this song isn’t my style, I was enjoying it, and then it suddenly ended.
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Love the bouncy beat, but yeah, the hooks could do better. Glad to see them go the Yum route, but lacks the oomph Yum had.
8 (7, 9, 8, 8) for me.
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The ladies are performing the shit out of a mid song. For that, Good job!
For the song craft and styling, it is so overtly a single entendre. There was a time in the early to mid 2010’s when kpop had a lot of overtly sexy theming and dance. This here just doesn’t seem to fit Kepler. To me at least, but what do I know.
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theres an incredible song hidden behind this but the repetition of “bubble gum” keeps that song from showing up. I like it, its catchy but not too sure how well it will age.
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I thought it wasn’t bad but it needs something more (a Yum-style chorus like you mentioned would’ve been great), which speaking of, I still hate that their company didn’t make that part the TikTok challenge, if people heard that part more there’s a chance that song would’ve become bigger.
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Girls, you have successfully made my gay self pop my body like bubble gum👭🙏🙂↕️🤧
8.5/10💗🍭👠
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I’m surprised you gave an 8 for hooks! Honestly, I thought it would be a 7. You’re definitely grading on a curve these days…
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I was kinda expecting a yum style chorus, yet I didn’t come out of the song disappointed! Loving the trajectory kep1er’s on right now
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Wait there’s Milkshake by Kelis in this towards the end.
Overall it’s fine but not for me
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Meh, it’s ok.
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It’s a grower. The song is now “pretty good”.
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I regret all the parts of the song end too early. I mean, the song is 3mn straight with many parts that sound differently (intro, verse, pre-ch, chorus, bridge, end) and there’s no possibility to enjoy a part long enough. Plus, the bridge is cut in two, the end is cut in two, even the chorus is cut in two!
That said, i put it among the good Kep1er songs.
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