Within the K-pop industry’s hyper-polished, hyper-controlled framework, Jessi has always been a necessary cog in the machine. She’s gone through so many iterations since her debut twenty (!) years ago, but every style and configuration has been anchored by her inimitable personality and bold attitude. Even when the music hasn’t connected, her persona has.
New single Girls Like Me attempts to summarize this career into one mantra, boasting Jessi’s assets over an old-school funk/hip-hop beat. It’s big and bawdy and potentially a lot of fun if you can get over the dull hook at its center. The track relies heavily on a “bum bum bum” vocal riff that frames the bulk of the instrumental. Occasionally, the song switches into a trendier Afrobeats groove, but most of the time Jessi keeps the percussion as aggressive as her performance.
I’m drawn to the moments when Girls Like Me gets really crazy — especially the heavy drums that precede verse two. As a medley of percussion, the song is a real adventure that’s fun to experience. However, I wish Girls Like Me gave Jessi more to do. She fires off some memorable lines but the chorus is too simple and repetitive to elicit many sparks. Rather than the song itself, her star power does most of the talking.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Ah, Jessi, singing about Girls Like Me except there really isn’t anyone like Jessi in kpop. … perhaps CL could have had a career like Jessi, I just don’t know what CL is up to these days.
Anyway, the song, it does have a groove, authenticity, sass in spades, its just not my style.
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I remember a friend of mine who’s from Philadelphia remarking that Jessi is New Jersey trash but no one in Korea knows the reference so they take her seriously. This is no shade against her, I think she’s a fun popstar, but fun to think about where it all comes from.
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As someone who grew up in NJ, this is not wrong. I might say though, as a person who’s from NJ, that Jessi is more Long Island than Jersey.
That said, there still isn’t anyone like this in kpop, so Korea is not wrong either. Its like arbitrage but make it music.
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Oh more Long Island, interesting. The Jersey Shore really conflated those two cultures, didn’t it?
Also fun fact, my friend for a while was dating Jessi’s cousin, also from New Jersey.
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“Girls Like Me” – they definitely do.
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This one sound interesting !!
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