Earlier this month, JYP Entertainment rookies KickFlip pre-released the anthemic pop/rock track Band-Aid, showcasing a sonic upgrade that fits them so well. That soundscape continues with new title track My First Love Song (처음 불러보는 노래), which underpins its rock energy with a consistently bounding beat.
There’s a brightness to this song that helps it stand out among the many rock-themed tracks we’ve heard this year. I love its blend of guitar and synth. This texture reminds me of a youth drama and manages to be simultaneously angsty and celebratory. And though My First Love Song‘s runtime is short, it doesn’t slouch for a moment. We’re at full intensity from the moment the instrumental kicks in. This goes a long way toward selling the song’s concept as it feels like a clumsy, unrehearsed confession.
While My First Love Song‘s slight frame can be an asset, it’s also what prevents the track from climbing further up the ranks. Give me a longer bridge or (even better) a dynamic coda and you’ve suddenly transformed a great song into something legendary. Of course, sonic real estate is very limited in today’s streaming age, so we’re lucky to get a bridge at all. On the whole, this is an undeniable bright spot in a very underwhelming month and yet another example of KickFlip’s continued growth. I wish they had debuted with a song this strong!
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I like this band, it reminds me when Seventeen was fun and wild.
great song!
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I agree, this should totally have been their debut song. It’s a perfect fit for them and uses everyone well. Great vocal lines in there too.
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Another good one from KickFlip. Solid pop song. Reminds me a bit if a One Direction-type were to debut today, they might sound like this.
There is a persistent drum underneath again that carries the song through the quieter moments. That must be one of their producer’s signature style elements. Its a different boops and beeps percussion mix than for Band-Aid, but the persistence is the key part. It reminds me of how Stock-Aitken-Waterman had a signature percussion style back in the 80’s = Rick Astley, Bananarama, Kylie, Dead or Alive, etc.
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Kickflip continues to impress. At this point they are in the top 3 on my list of active BGs (BOYNEXTDOOR and TWS being the others).
9, 9, 9, 9 = 9
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Kings of lackluster trash.
With songs like these Kickflip will be forever doomed to fail.
Not even big company privilege will be able to save these guys.
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How can something be “lackluster trash”? “Lackluster” connotes a shrug or a sigh, while “trash” is like… “burn it with fire I never want to hear this again”
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I think something can still be lackluster while also evoking feelings of distaste.
I would consider a lot of lackluster literature to be trash.
It’s bland, uninspired and worthless. In other words, trash.
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What a toxic heart! 🥲
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Because I don’t like a song xD? lol
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I believe this album has their most appealing sounds to date, it’s impressive actually. I noticed some mentioning poppunk (I guess) under their songs, so if anyone wants to hear some more of that, I think Crush, 404: Not Found, and Secret Nightmare here are some great highlights. I was afraid they would ditch songs like Code Red but thankfully that’s still not happening 😌.
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Yeah, there will almost certainly be a buried treasure for this. Strong album overall.
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KickFlip’s first two mini albums grew on me, but this mini was an instant hit.
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I’ve liked them since their debut and this song is no exception. Very youthful, fun, and appropriate for their age group, and most importantly, even though it’s on the shorter side, it feels complete to me.
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Realizing from how much this song instantly hit for me is that I’ve got a major soft spot for sounds that effectively capture a sense of youth, whether that be through evoking boundless energy or unabashed angst. No surprise, then, that a lot of my favourite eras of boy groups are their first few (TXT, Seventeen, TWS, etc.)
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They’re good, but I absolutely cannot get into this goofy youth stuff. I’m jaded or cynical or just plain bored by it. Maybe I’ll just wait until they’ve grown up.
Why do I dislike this but love Nowz’s Fly to the Youth? I’m going to put it down to knowing that school and adolescence are a kind of hell and Nowz acknowledges that experience. In fact, My First Love Song is exactly the sort of song I would have loathed at that age. You can tell I was the emo Goth kid, if such a thing had existed back in the day, and I’ve never quite outgrown it. Thank hell for Taemin and the demon gods Ateez.
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this song is a grower and the lyrics are so fun and breezy. Easily a 9
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