A BLACKPINK comeback still feels like a big event in K-pop. Not only do they release music infrequently, but that music tends to have a uniquely global appeal that makes it a hit all around the world. Despite some initial hesitations, I warmed to last year’s Jump quite a bit and it became one of my most-played K-pop tracks of last summer. The group attempts to replicate that dancefloor energy with new title track GO, even pairing with prolific DJ/producer David Guetta for the first time since 2020’s Lovesick Girls.
Guetta releases so much music that it’s bound to be hit-or-miss, and sometimes that uneven nature occurs within a single song. Such is the case with GO, which offers thrilling moments of build only to sacrifice that potential with a lumbering, repetitive drop. The first time through, GO‘s opening verse immediately grabbed my attention. Synth strings deliver plenty of anticipation, as if the song will blossom into a truly euphoric moment. Instead, GO makes a sharp turn into its central drop. I wouldn’t mind this moment if used sparingly and strategically. At least the instrumental has a fullness and rugged texture that captures the ear. But without a vocal melody placed over the top (shouting “BLACKPINK’ll make you… GO!” doesn’t count), this instrumental shift loses novelty each time it comes around. A song like this really needs to raise the stakes and keep raising them as it moves toward its finale.
The rest of GO divides itself into various iterations of past BLACKPINK group and solo tracks. Verse two borrows the skeletal hip-hop that characterized some of their most popular hits while the addition of acoustic guitar during the bridge feels like something off a solo Rosé album. At best, GO could be considered a musical retrospective of sorts, but without bringing anything new to the recipe it ultimately spins its wheels. There’s just not enough meat on these bones to forge a discography highlight.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
Grade: C+
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Yeah, this is fine, the beat’s cunty but without a good hook…
8 (7, 9, 8, 8) for me
LikeLiked by 3 people
It is fine but just disappointing.
Scratch that. It was expected, not disappointing
Still, I am just tired of this group, and I really really want to like them again.
LikeLiked by 2 people
it’s one good hook away from becoming a really great song…
LikeLiked by 5 people
BLACKPINK is just an iconic group, and I’m happy they’re releasing something 10 years into their career (even when their discography has been scarce and inconsistent). I respect what they mean for KPop and just how they’ve been an opening door for a lot of Gen Z and Gen Alpha KPop fans.
As per the actual song, I really, really liked it. The production value is gigantic here. After 10 years, I’m used to BLACKPINK not having actual choruses in their songs. But GO actually makes up for it with a very high-quality beatdrop. It sounds pretty expensive and also different for them. A lot of their previous drop or anti-choruses sounded empty and kind of dull. This one is actually alive, and it’s very hard-hitting.
I’ve never been super excited about their singles, I always found them a bit inconsistent (especially after Du-du-du). But I think this song is 100% a discography highlight and it’s what I think all their catalog should sound like: very expensive, high quality EDM-infused tracks with hard-hitting production choices.
LikeLike
I like it. great verses and bridge, the beat drop chorus is worn out at this point but I don’t mind it as much here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just think Teddy’s sample pack was the problem 💀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Again I have to confess I value the whole music video sensory experience more than many when judging a “song”, and o boy does this offer world class production, but after listening a few times I have to force myself to accept that the actual song in itself is missing something, because I find my enjoyment of it somehow “lagging” the visual experience.
My conclusion when listening to how it is constructed, from the ending with presumably fans chanting their name to how the bridges and refrains are constructed, they are more and more aiming for the arena rock experience. I can already see how great this will be in front a great outdoors audience. Last years Jump does nothing but reinforce this impression, they are just releasing these singles just often enough to be able to be call themselves an active group.
LikeLike
For me, the staggering amount of AI kind of ruined the visual experience for me, but I guess that’s our new normal now.
LikeLike
By the way, what is it with all these sport references? Early claim to being the unofficial olympic anthem of 2026?
LikeLike
How is it an early claim, when the olympics are over?
LikeLike
Here in the US, NBC kept playing sections from Kpop Demon Hunters “Golden” at every opportunity. I don’t know what was the official anthem, but “Golden” sounds like it.
LikeLike
I think GO is BLACKPINK’s best release since Lovesick Girls and this is not even an understatement. For the first time the chorus is actually listenable and not pots and pans or chants. The maximalist vibe of the pre-chorus coupled by the synth-driven future bass instrumentation in the chorus with a very early BLACKPINK bridge which harkens to why I love this group, suffices. Personally, it hits everything I wished they continued after DDU-DU DDU-DU which was their last monumental release after the misstep that was Kill This Love and thereafter.
It works and I appreciate that. 8.25/10.
LikeLike
the kind of track that needs to switch things up half way through. The boombastic metal drop is so repetitive and the last bridge plain boring. Shame because as you say it starts great in a sort of Loreen way. The epic sound could have gone into something big.
LikeLike
I didn’t actually see David Guetta in the credits on Spotify, but I did see Chris Martin – and suddenly some of the song made way more sense to me somehow. Like it definitely had some Coldplay energy in places
LikeLike
it’s because it samples Viva La Vida!
LikeLiked by 2 people
That explains it then! Thank you!
LikeLike
As somebody already said: their first listenable chorus since Lovesick Girls and a fine yet disappointing song. But that was to be expected. Besides a few good songs their discography is horrible.
LikeLike
I’m probably in the minority here, but I think GO is… fine? I don’t mind the drop chorus at all. It’s not groundbreaking, but it does the job. My bigger issue has nothing to do with the production. It’s the fact that there aren’t any Korean lyrics. Part of why I gravitate toward kpop is the language and identity baked into it, and hearing a fully English single feels a bit hollow. And maybe this is just fatigue talking, but I’m getting worn out by how common this has become. It’s not only BLACKPINK, so many kpop acts are chasing fully English singles lately, and I’m honestly sick of it.
The song itself isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s nowhere near the disaster some are making it out to be. For now, I’m sitting at a solid 8/10. Whether it grows or fizzles out… we’ll see.
LikeLike
I literally listened to SNSD’s Into The New World right before this, and damn that lyrical depth and emotion really put things into perspective. No wonder I’m feeling a little disappointed.
LikeLike
They really need to disband/retire for good. Always the same, recycled crap 😒
LikeLike
This doesn’t really work for me as a song but it does work very well as a high-quality ad for the Blackpink brand, which I suspect was their intention in the first place.
LikeLike
Man, this song is actually very good BESIDES THE TERRIBLE FUKING CHORUS. Genuinely, what were they thinking…?
LikeLike
I find it intriguing but not compelling. The heavy beat drop section is the best part for me, imho.
LikeLike
verses were good, everything else was mind numbingly boring. This wouldn’t even sound good in a rave with how empty it is
LikeLike
i wouldnt call myself a blackpink fan but the mv made me pretty emotional. someone in the comments said it was a collab between the four of them and not a group comeback and i completely agree. as bittersweet as it is i think a lot of us have not thought of blackpink as a group in a long time – the mv had little to no group shots and the ones that they did have they were separated by the oars. in a way it was a weirdly satisfying reflection on their last few years as soloists as well as a more realistic tenth year track. as much as i would’ve liked to see a classic kpop comeback w korean lyrics, choreo shots and maybe some nostalgia/references, thats not really where they’re at rn as artists and its kinda cathartic to see it acknowledged
as for the song it suits the mv well and i liked it a lot more than i thought. but like alot of dramatic tracks that’ve come out recently, it doesn’t feel..complete. its definitely designed to be anthemic and it hits in that regard but i really cant see anyone looping this. i wish newer releases wouldn’t sacrifice solid songwriting for a vibe. you can have both!!
LikeLike
honestly I think it’s one of their better tracks, the bridge is one of my favorite bp moments. A chorus would be nice, but you can definitely do worse
the video is at the same time beautiful and unsettling. Gen ai is clearly being used and I wonder if the ladies were even in the same room
LikeLike