Whenever a group I enjoy states they’ll be releasing a song that “sounds nothing like anything we’ve done before,” I get nervous. Yes, I want groups to push outside the box and experiment with new sounds, but in K-pop “nothing like we’ve ever done before” tends to mean attempting some (bad) global trend an agency thinks they can hitch their fortunes to. Thus far, RIIZE haven’t had a consistent sound but have managed to make just about every genre work. So, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic about new single Fame.
However, reports of Fame being “rage hip-hop” tempered my expectations before I even heard the song. There are few genres I outright hate, and this is one of them. Fame augments its expected trap beats and shouty, autotuned vocals with plenty of guitar. The song certainly has texture and is far more dynamic than its genre trappings might suggest. Still, I can’t help but imagine how much better it would sound without the tinny percussion. Give me the exact same song with clearer vocals and a more satisfying beat and you’ve got a potential winner. Just ask IDID, who showcased an addictive hip-hop groove last week.
As is stands, Fame feels more like a curiosity than a natural extension of RIIZE’s winning streak. It has elements of their (and SM’s) potential sprinkled throughout, but every time I hope the track will soar it’s pulled back by its leaden production. The melodies are often constrained in the same way, tracing familiar, repetitive phrasing even as the guys sing with full abandon. It’s as if they’re trying to rescue the song at every turn. This contrast is a bit compelling, but most just frustrating.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
The song has so much potential, but replace the tinny percussion, remove some of the affected verses and vocal effects and it’d easily be in the high 8s for me.
Rating’s the same.
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This wasn’t as bad as I thought, but it still doesn’t come close to my favorite RIIZE song.
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I was unsure how to feel but it grew on me by the 4th hour. I love the singing parts (it’s always Sohee at the scene), the chorus is great, thankfully not a shoutfest. I unfortunately don’t like Shotaro’s parts, this is the worst he’s sounded on their songs, and I don’t like the instrumental besides the sickening electric guitar.
I think overall this is still a strong comeback musically, both b-sides are great too, especially Sticky Like, though I wish Something’s in the Water was longer. that had potential to be so much more had it been extended.
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Sigh ~ Doesn’t do much for me. I think the runtime doesn’t do any favors to the song either. I think that an additional minute of build up would’ve done wonders. Also, I’m not a fan of some of the autotune and vocal processing that was done. For me it’s a 7.5. The best song in the single is surprisingly Sticky Like, but even it it’s not that noteworthy
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yeah the tinny percussion knocks it down a couple notches. That second verse did wonders for me though. Probably an 8.25 at this point
Sticky Like will definitely get some streams out of me tho!
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Sheesh.
I played the Odyssey album a lot this year, so much so that I have been debating which song)s) to include on my year end list, because I can’t just list them all.
Now this happens and its like what?
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Bleh
Once upon a time we had get a guitar, love 119 and impossible…
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RIIZE is one of my favorite boygroups currently but much like some of their other contemporaries (looking at LE SSERAFIM here, for example) they’ve just been given a song in every possible music style and they call it “emotional pop.”
I was not a huge fan of the Disney sound Combo and Fly Up had, they came across as dated and super corny to me. But honestly, my reaction to the teasers was positive, and the idea of them having a rage hip-hop track is something I’ve been excited about.
I’d say SM carefully tried to take some elements of rage while infusing it with more melodic pop melodies. RIIZE isn’t going all in when it comes to rage hip-hop, but that’s ok. While they’ve explored a lot of music genres, their music has always been unmistakablypop, so it was good to pull things back a little bit and avoid giving them, say, a CORITS kind of song.
I can’t complain, this is right up my alley and kudos to Sohee as usual for murdering his solos, and especially to Anton because the guy sounds great in this song. I don’t recall another RIIZE track where his vocal tone sounded as present and as strong as this one.
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Now THIS is how you make a comeback.
It exceeded what expectations I had and they were high after the excellent Odyssey album. They didn’t fully commit to the sound they were going for but the blend of genres works anyway and there’s emotion at the heart. I don’t love it but it got better the more I listen. My only complaints would be to add a bridge as it doesn’t feel like there’s much breathing room and to incorporate more adlibs.
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I waited a bit on this one. I’ve listened to it a few times now and I’ve like the song better each time. It’s anthemic, stirring. It makes me believe they’re singing about themselves, about their own experiences, their own conflicted feelings. I’m left with a very positive impression.
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if any other bg released this, i probably would’ve hated it but i have a soft spot for riize now. their discography thus far has been exceptionally well done. while i would’ve preferred another boom boom bass or ember to solar, i genuinely love how overtly dramatic and passionate this is. MAN that synthy guitar and vocals in the background really drives this song. that pre-chorus is so mf good. bag bad back, which grew on me (come on, that bridge and piano part is glorious), definitely paved the way for fame to run though. this song is in the realm of taemin’s dramatic dark songs lol.
we are 2 steps closer to riize intense dramatic yearning music with a complete rock-anthem style guitar solo. i am SO here for it. funnily, there’s aspects of riize’s music that reminds me of one direction. i think it’s the naivety and earnestness of their “emotional pop” concept.
my only gripes? song is TOO SHORT. there’s also a metallic tone on the vocal mixing on this song but i’ll call it a stylistic choice 🙌
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For me its their voices not selling it for me. They are too high pitch and clean. If it was NCT 127 or TVXQ I think I would like it more.
This song made me realize how much they sorta sound like Changmin and Yunho rather than EXO like how NCT was modeled after.
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