Katseye are not a K-pop group, but of all the global acts backed by K-pop agencies they’re by far the buzziest so I continue to write about their work regardless of my own criteria for this blog. Love or hate their songs, they’re guaranteed to garner a strong reaction. Alongside new single Pinky Up, Katseye are poised to conquer a huge stage at Coachella minus member Manon, who remains on hiatus and has been rumored to leave the group.
This behind-the-scenes drama has little bearing on Pinky Up, which mixes early-2010s Eurodance tropes with the group’s trademark engagement bait approach. Up until the first chorus, the track unveils a satisfying — if generic — take on dance music. I appreciate the vocal melodies and sense of build. But in this case, what we’re building to is a car crash. Rather than attempt anything interesting for its hook, Pinky Up repeats its title in monotone over a chintzy club beat. It’s a real comedown from the verse, meant to grow into some iconic catchphrase but too threadbare to amount to much of anything. At least Gnarly utilized a few more words (as dubious as those words were…).
Ultimately, Pinky Up is less a song than it is an excuse for fans to yell “slay, girl, slay!” (or whatever it is they yell these days to celebrate percieved badassery). Taking the video’s many pauses out of the runtime, Pinky Up lasts just over two minutes. This is largely comprised of the melodic verses, but without a beating heart at its core even the best moments come across as scraps from a better (unrealized) product. It’s the memeification of pop music, designed for quick consumption and an even shorter shelf life.
| Hooks | 5 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 6 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 6.25 |
Grade: D
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
This is giving that ai cat dancing song for some reason. My pinky is up for another reason katseye…
Also manon should leave while she still can 😭
Index Down/10❤️
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I watched the tws health check up video and it’s so funny😭😍
They’re so adorable ☺️💕
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I like the production, the outro reminds me of Blackpink’s Jump tbh, and I appreciate the production’s thumping energy. The first minute up to the chorus was strong and I wish it was utilized in a better song, but yeah, I agree that it mostly works as meme music or performance music. Sigh, if only HYBE could utilize a Tonight I Might-esque sound, that song deserves its flowers.
6.5 (5, 8, 6, 7) for me.
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yeah I hate it.
i liked gnarly (for like 2 months after I learned the dance and then I got sick of it). but this was actually all over the place. it usually takes me 2 listens to really understand any song but this I couldn’t wrap my head around at ALL. it was like 3 songs mixed in one??
the first part was promising and I’m glad Lara and Sophia got a chance to show off their vocals but the chorus confused the hell out of me it was just so RANDOM. I liked the rave type instrumental at the end but I wouldve preferred it in a song that already had that vibe.
everything felt soo forced. I’m a sucker for some good music I can twerk to but this was something else. the part with Dani + Sophia in the middle just… shouldn’t have been there. (loved the representation in the mv tho!)
sick of this company giving these insanely talented girls crappy music. they deserve better. hearing Lara and Megan’s songs that they created themselves which are pretty good just juxtaposes these songs even more.
yk after gnarly released I really thought they were trying to do the whole thing where there’s a bad comeback and then a good comeback.. but after internet girl and now this i’m losing all hope. I hope these girls get better songs in the future or at least are allowed some creative freedom because this was awful 😦
5/10 for me but I’m probably never going to listen to this ever again
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yesss let’s give our very vocally talented group this sing-talk garbage 🥰🥰
but of course their rabid cult will eat ANYTHING up
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Tell it how it is baddie❤️
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they have such a good base, they can still have the memeable moments while fleshing the song out more. I love the ending, but imagine if it was part of a bridge?
I feel like hook being 5 is harsh, i don’t think its catch phrase hook is a particulary awful example of this style. I thought verses would boost the hook score, they’re petty catchy.
I don’t say that to change your mind, itd just reading the review feels life a mid 7s so seeing a lower score was Surprising
I like the song overall but the bts of it all makes me want to withdraw
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FRANTS this isnt you. What have they done to you
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Like Tis.oo above, I feel like it was hearing several different musical moments grafted together awkwardly with clean cut jumps. Sherlock Clue+Note this is not.
The sung parts over the regular dance beat are okayish.
The “pinky up” parts sound like a sports event with some stunt the mascot is doing versus some kid from the crowd, complete with crazy frog on the jumbotron. Carrying buckets of balls on the head from one little pool to another in one minute, and hilarity ensues. I mean, that part is not really a song at all.
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This song is so torturous to listen to and Manon not being in the MV made it even worse. The only reasonable explanation as to why people like this song is because they’re biased. This song is bad…
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So for Gnarly, I did warm up to the song, with the choreography being the only thing keeping interest alive for the first few listens, but eventually I cooled on it and don’t find myself wanting to listen to it much.
For this song, I’m not even sure how to rate it, and I’m someone that usually enjoys random stylistic changes. I think there still has to be some connective tissue, but it’s hard to find any here.
There are some nice parts, but they can’t really make up for the dumpster fire that is song construction here. I’d give it 8,5,5,7 = 6.25
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If y’all want real Western girl group music from a Korean company, Girlset is right there.
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