When in doubt as a nugu group, it’s never a bad idea to release a song K-pop fans already know. AtHeart’s 3!4! is a cover of the 1996 hit by co-ed group Roo’ra. Come to think of it, AtHeart’s (presumably young) fan base may not have heard this song at all, giving them a chance to repaint it as their own addition to the K-pop canon.
I’m all for first-gen covers, as the technology back then didn’t afford artists the crisp production of today. You can really do a lot to update these tracks, and AtHeart’s take on 3!4! works well. Rather than a first-gen pastiche, this sounds more like early-GFriend to me. We’ve got a perky new jack swing beat supporting the sing-song melodies that were such a hallmark of that K-pop era. It doesn’t sound particularly fresh or cutting edge, but doesn’t come across as overly dated either. The group’s vocals fit this aesthetic well, adding a nostalgic touch that’s quite pleasant.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
Grade: B-
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
What a day with tons of comeback today…
Before your review I srsly hv no idea that this is a cover… Just when I was thinking we’re finally receiving a 4 minutes song in this economy. Anyway the production is good, the MV do look nostalgic, and the chorus is, of course, is chorusing, since this is just a cover, but I’m glad that at least they sing well in those high note at the end of every sentence.
I’m giving a 9 for this. I like it.
LikeLike
As fan of Knowing Bro show, my knowledge of Roo’ra start and end with knowing Lee Sangmin (cast member) as their producer. I knew the original song as it was featured multiple times in the show, but I did not expected that it would be covered by nugu group today. The song relied on nostalgia as it instanly took you back to your childhood era and it worked just fine like that. Their vocals did the song justice and that’s all that matters.
LikeLike