As part of my “A Career in Song Ratings” feature, I’ve been looking at trendlines for idol releases. When it comes to song quality, most groups start strong and taper off as they go on. This makes sense, as those early years are vital for gaining a foothold in the industry. In this way, CRAVITY have been an exception. Their music has gotten better as the group has aged, culminating in a standout 2025. Now approaching their seventh year, they’ve taken another risk with title track Awake and its eye-catching video.

In some ways, Awake borrows from the full spectrum of CRAVITY’s discography. They’ve had moody tracks before. They’ve delivered electro bangers with gritty synth breakdowns. They’ve played around with structural and pacing changes. Awake includes all of these elements, tied together with the reassuring poise of a veteran act. I don’t think it’s among their very best title tracks, but it boasts a sense of ambition and I can appreciate that.

There’s a slowly-broiling tension driving most of Awake. The song starts soft, though shuffling percussion promises more dynamic turns to come. This dynamism appears in the chorus and (especially) the post chorus. From here, Awake tears itself apart for a so-so second verse. Some momentum is lost here, though the fast pace of the rapping keeps things moving. Overall, I wish the track went bigger and bolder with both its tempo and sonic influences, building to the kind of knockout climax a song like this deserves. Despite its ambition, Awake also plays things a little safe. We’ll see how it ages.

Grade: B