Along with what feels like half the K-pop industry, Fifty Fifty are making their comeback on June 1st. Before that, they’ve cobbled together a special video for pre-release Starstruck. This video also functions as a teaser for their upcoming drama After-School Exorcism Club.

Since debut and re-formation, Fifty Fifty’s style has run the gamut but generally leaned toward quirkier sounds and melodies. Starstruck follows this template and has its charms, but much of the song feels too nursery rhyme for me. I use that description as a catch-all because when I stop and think about it, I can’t actually recall a nursery rhyme that sounds like this. However, the melodies have a sing-song quality that brings to mind that kind of songwriting. It’s never been a favorite approach of mine, with very few tracks able to pull it off without getting on my nerves.

Starstruck doesn’t quite buck that trend, but I find its instrumental pretty interesting. The synth-heavy percussion has an uneasy build that feels constantly on the verge of exploding. Instead, the track pulls back, keeping us on edge. Some moments are more successful than others, but I’d love to hear this technique used with a different set of melodies.

Grade: C+