Since their debut, xikers have shared producers with agency seniors ATEEZ, making it difficult to truly climb out of their lengthy shadow. Oftentimes, they feel like a junior ATEEZ to me, but their team rarely gives them music as undeniable as ATEEZ’s best hits. Perhaps its not surprising that their biggest musical triumphs have stepped outside the expected framework into sounds that feel more unique to xikers. Sadly, that doesn’t happen on new single OKay.
Of all the new-gen K-pop groups who make boisterous shouting a big part of their careers, xikers are one of the shoutiest. They love an incessant vocal effect and a shrill shout-chant hook. Neither of these approaches work well for me and feel like easy (re: lazy) ways to connote a “badass” persona. To the group’s credit, their music is usually quirkier than straight-up posturing, but that doesn’t mean it’s always an enjoyable listen. OKay‘s shouted chorus certainly brings the energy and I appreciate the big wall of synth that underpins it, but something about the sound of those layered, whiny chants just doesn’t vibe with my ears. I find it more off-putting than exciting.
Perhaps if OKay had injected a bit of melody as contrast, its shouty bits would work better. But rather than offer a dynamic blend of elements, OKay keeps its energy pummeling all the way through. If what you’re looking for is the musical version of a Monster energy drink, you might find something to enjoy here. But even then, there are so many great energetic K-pop tracks that offer more variety in sound.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
Grade: C
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Well… it is OKay!
It’s like if Witch had a baby with Wonderland as the sperm donor but Witch raised it alone and all Wonderland did was give child support money and the bombast genes and not the letting-the-song-develop-and-reveal-itself-gradually-as-the-song-goes-on genes that made Wonderland such a success.
7.75 (7, 8, 8, 8) for me. The synth is lowkey cunty though
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I didn’t know they were having a comeback today! Weird timing, because just a few hours earlier, I made a comment saying how most of ATEEZ’s Treasure era material has not aged all that well for me. I just wanna know if anyone feels the same?
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The song is fine for me. Does anyone think the chorus is kind of reminiscent of first gen kpop?
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I can see it, tho for me it veers more 2.5. But that may partly be because they’re one of the groups that gives me Block B nostalgia.
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I was hearing some Block B also MCND “Ice Age” which was at least amusing with the subject matter. COME INTO ICE AGE, MAKING ICE HAIL!!!
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Jesus, these lyrics are just plain fucking drivel.
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Sweet baby hey zeus, please stop shouting at me, I have enough stress in my life.
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The Joey Valence & Brae enjoyer in me is oddly taking a soft spot to this. Like this could definitely be spotted on something like HYPERYOUTH, and I welcome that.
That being said, holy sh*t is the production tinny as hell where it matters most. Like the chorus has so many high tones going off at once and… I’m not even against all shouty choruses but Christ. I think this could have improved by having a rearrangement that allowed for a different on-ramp to the dance break that didn’t rely on that hook. Because if we saved the last use of that hook to extend the dance break instead, we could have had a bit more time to breathe. No pun intended. Also we could have given more shine to the vocalists outside of them mostly screaming.
7.5 (7, 7, 8, 8). It has some clever bits like the back and forth between Junghoon and Jinsik (probably my favorite part alongside that dance break portion). And it can absolutely be mindless fun. Just a few tweaks and this could have easily been one of their Top 5 title tracks for me.
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The song is a 10/10 for me. I honestly think groups like SKZ, ATEEZ and xikers don’t get appreciated enough if at all here. God forbid groups start doing music they’re comfortable with instead of trend hopping.
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