A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.
I’m not sure you can call Korea’s official World Cup cheering anthem a “buried treasure,” but TWS’s Dream With Us doesn’t have a music video (yet?) and I’m not going to pass up a chance to write about it in whatever format I need to. I don’t know much about the World Cup despite it taking place in my backyard this year, so this will likely be the one related piece of media that will be touching my life.
To me, Dream With Us sounds more like a sprightly OST for a youth drama, similar to the OST efforts TWS released last summer. It’s a pounding, feel-good rock track with an optimistic energy and melodies that feel instantly familiar. In this way, the song comes across as more generic than most of TWS’s material, but as usual their performance imbues it with a specific tone unique to them. I really enjoy the chorus, which delivers a soaring refrain punctuated by jubilant exclamation marks. This is echoed by incessant percussion and waves of electric guitar. Rather than a football match (which I’d probably never attend, to be honest), Dream With Us feels primed to echo out of my car stereo on summertime drives. I’ll gladly take it!
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
Grade: B+
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I guess nick could call himself “iconic by mistake” the way his haters are break breaking their fingers with the hate comments😭💔
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(The keyboard warriors in that other thread just need to get new hobbies. Arguing with strangers on the internet is a waste of time.)
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Right😭💔
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i lovee this. their discography might as well be my entire summer playlist. it’s crazy how hybe’s acts could release this and iconic by mistake not even a day apart 😓 it couldn’t be any more different.
also, do you think you could write about the tws songs left without a review on this blog? since you’ve covered all their releases. i think the ones left are 7642, highlight, unplugged boy, fire confetti. i’m rly curious abt their rating. i still have no idea why they released a cover of kiss kiss shy shy last year and not bang! 😭
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I really love this type of youth-esque song where the energy is so palpable. I actually like it better than TWS last title track You You. The rock element is my favourite thing and the chorus feels liberating. This is a really good song for summer season. Imagine my suprise that this is actually the official cheering song of Korea Soccer Team for World Cup this year.
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im addicted to this song, refreshing,youthful,summer vibes. i hope they release the MV for this
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It’s hard to not like a song like this. I am sure that there were many hands involved and thoughts and opinions, given it is their world cup team song, but somehow they all still came out with a great song.
… what group are they in. Group A. OK, they have half a chance of surviving the group rounds. Good luck!
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Wait there are multiple groups with a proposed World Cup song?
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Meaning that since it is for the national team, HYBE probably worked with multiple ministries of sport and culture to approve the song.
Anyhow, since you mentioned it, Jo Sumi (the opera singer) performed the song for the 2002 World Cup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J7UNNRp3Vw
Fast forward to early quarantine, and my hot honeys Forestella covered the 2002 song, adding excerpts from the UEFA cup theme (which itself is from Handel), as a tribute to first responders. Proceeded to be hired to sing this rendition everywhere for the next few years. Five key changes, if you aren’t keeping track.
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haven’t felt this good since “hey! hey!” and idc that post-chorus is a callback to me 😌 love the song’s plentiful high notes and well-placed raps courtesy of shinyu as always!! (9,9,9,10)=9.25
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Blue Lock if the characters smiled with joy instead of bloodlust. I love it!
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I feel like I’m worldcupmaxxing right now. Not only with this song but also because last week watching Music Bank I saw Xikers perform a World Cup song. Really cool to see a good atmosphere!
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I played this song 53 times today 😭 I’m obsessed this is my new hey! hey!
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Yeah, it’s already grown on me over the past two days and quickly become one of my favorite songs this year. They just excel at this sound!
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Yeah the song is truly so euphoric I’m actually on a high when I listen 😮💨 Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘stupid song’ which just released this week too gives me the same song-to-blast-on-a-summer-drive-with-the-windows-down feeling just with some more yearning and heartbreak
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Nick, looking at your reviews I’m looking forward to TWS’s Career in Song Ratings! They’ve been delivering since debut and has never faltered to me.
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