Hwasa scored a mega hit last fall with Good Goodbye — a song that took a moment to top the charts but didn’t relinquish its place once it got there. That success was a welcome surprise. I didn’t care much about the song itself, but I’ve always liked Hwasa. Time will tell if those good chart fortunes extend to new single So Cute, especially since it’s a very different style of track.
With So Cute, Hwasa has kicked up the tempo for a glossy synthpop number. Its chorus is highlighted by bright 80s synths that give it a subtly anthemic sheen, though the song mostly plays things safe. Similar to Good Goodbye, So Cute hinges on a few repeated melodies that lack edge or surprise but unfurl with a comforting familiarity. Nothing about this track is designed to shock. It’s soft (adult contemporary?) pop music driven by an airy weightlessness that goes down easy.
As you might expect from this description, “airy weightlessness” has its limitations. I can’t imagine any listener hating this experience, but it’s hard to picture anyone becoming completely enamored by it either. Such is the case with relentlessly pleasant fare. Without tension or friction, So Cute is exactly that. Cute. I’m not even sure it’s ambitious enough to earn the “so”.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
Grade: B-
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
i liked the mv and the references to her past eras!
song wasn’t anything special though. I’m not going to lie but I listened to this once about two hours ago and while writing this I had to go back and relisten because I forgot what it sounded like..
hwasa has such a beautiful nice that works with so many different types of songs, and I’ve loved her since the beginning stages of mamamoo. But, I hope whatever song she has next really showcases her vocals and not just in the final chorus.
7/10 easy listen but not very memorable
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Well at least it is an entity known as “song” which is a rare thing these days.
Props to the synth player who picked an old school setting on the synth and the solid chords. That choice is almost everything to this song, sets the retro theme. The chord hook styling is close to the Animotion “Obsession”. and now here is where I take a tour through my memory and youtube DX7 sample videos to place the synth button …
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I thought I heard Gloria by Laura Brannigan, but definitely that era.
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Yes, that’s a good one too. Here is the thing: those simple synth chord stylings are so characteristically 80’s that it could be so many. I also had Steve Wynwood “Valerie” in mind.
Here is another kpop song that is SO 80’s I mean everything is Spot On. This may as well have been the Hooters or Glass Tiger. JYP must have had some hand in it as he mimics 80’s 90’s pretty well in everything he touches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nk5O__ALI8
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The bars are so low, getting a “song” itself is rare.
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The producers did their thing with the classic fade out at the end which was a nice touch !
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I like Hwasa, too, but feel like she’s definitely lost some edge since she’s been with PNation. Both of her latest singles are ‘ok’.
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I’m a sucker for modern songs with a retro vibe, especially if they use synths. That all sounds really good here, but as you say, the song isn’t very ambitious. A missed opportunity, but otherwise it’s a fine song.
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I think music for a celebrity like Hwasa just needs to work as a personality vehicle. Bonus points if it’s a great song, but she’s got so much charisma it kind of doesn’t matter.
Note how she’s performed “So Cute” on music stages so far: entering through the hallways of MNET on MCountdown, and entering through the audience on Music Bank. Her personality is just as important as the song (which I happen to like!)
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“Without tension or friction, So Cute is exactly that. Cute.” the chord change with the bass jump down right out of key is pretty weird tbh
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