The K-pop industry is in dire need of some eccentricity. Sure, there’s a subdued quirkiness to many of its recent visuals, but this approach has become so cut-and-paste and rubber stamped by corporations that it feels more mainstream than it seeks to be. There is no act reliably delivering the colorful madness of previous groups like Orange Caramel and Crayon Pop.
In this world, soloist Yena has stepped up to the plate. She’s no stranger to brash idiosyncrasy. Just listen to her 2024 single NEMONEMO. New track Catch Catch (캐치 캐치) picks up that song’s baton in a way that nods back to K-pop’s past. Its throbbing electro beat has touchstones all over the industry, from Brown Eyed Girls’ Abracadabra to PSY’s Gentleman. Its immediately recognizable point move is so second-gen coded it hurts. Yena performs the entire thing in a chirpy style, her voice stretched and clipped into a character all its own.
I’m not sure Catch Catch is a pastiche that comfortably sits among its many inspirations, but it is so damn refreshing to hear in 2026. It’s refreshing to hear something this fun, upbeat, silly and sung. It’s nice to hear a song that feels so specific to K-pop with a series of hooks that immediately lodge themselves in your brain. Of course, I’d rather hear something legitimately new and forward-looking than a strong reinterpretation of past glories, but given the sorry state of the industry’s output this year, I’ll gladly take a nostalgia play right now.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
Grade: B+
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
MAKE KPOP FUN AGAIN AND SHE DID!
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I enjoy this song too, and it’s so great to see an 8.75 for a title track this year!
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This song is an absolute banger – so so good. And my god, the mv is so funny too!! The extras are hilarious 😂😂
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KPOP IS BACK!!
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THIS IS SUCH AN EARWORM OMG. the production is insane yena never misses IM TELLING YUOU
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In a world full of Gracie Abraham’s, whiplash rip offs and pots and pans percussion, yena is like the light in the darkness that shines a pathway through it❤️🙏
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Thoroughly enjoyed this! Might be her second best song after Smiley. Hopefully the music quality only goes up from here on out.
Same rating as Nick for now, might go up to a 9, but we’ll see
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I like it! It reminds me of the songs with heavily processed and stylized vocals that was popular in kpop for a minute in second gen! It’s fun. Definitely gives some T-ara and Co-ed school vibes 😭
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And the “rated 8.5 and under” curse is broken!!!
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I was hearing T-ara as well. In a good way. Lovey Dovey with a space age sheen overlayed.
Yena is one of the few soloists active today who can pull off a full song like this all by herself.
Which is to say it’s a yes from me. Or rather YASSSSSSS.
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i like this. very fun and energetic track for my playlisyt
8.75/10 (8, 9, 9, 9) for me as well
(btw have you checked out v01ds new song yet? they’re a 5 member indie rock band that debuted today. the title track is tug of war, though I have a feeling you might enjoy rockrovk more)
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Yeah I might circle back to some of today’s smaller releases later in the week and v01d are on my list to at least sample. I just didn’t have time to write about six releases this morning (sweating face emoji)
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Love it. Rating same. Spring Fever and April’s Cat on the EP are pretty good too!
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YYAYAYYYYYYAYAYAYYYYYY!!!!!!
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This might be the best production I might have ever heard this year in K-Pop. The energy actually feels so stable and grounded in this song. I love YENAAAAAAAA
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