The other day, I asked Google if and when K-pop might return to the sounds popularized in the early 2010s. Its AI seemed pretty intent that pop’s cyclical nature meant we’d see a 2nd/3rd gen resurgence in the next year or so. No one should completely trust AI, but for all our sake I hope it’s right this time. When thinking about upcoming trends, you must start looking for the seeds early, and I hear a small seed buried within In A Minute’s Midnight.
Obviously, an under-the-radar act like In A Minute does not have enough influence to change trends, but there are moments within Midnight that recall the dramatic, melodically focused angst that fueled so many older boy groups to superstardom. The song’s pining chorus is the lynchpin here, offering a sweeping sound that’s quite nostalgic. The song is ultimately too fussy to totally embrace the schtick (the second verse breakdown is unnecessary), but those looking to build a case for K-pop eating its own 2nd-gen tail have some solid evidence here.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
Grade: B
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Hey! You asked for the return of 2nd and 3rd gen sounds and ofc, it means even the dreaded trap breakdown that got popularized by late-3rd gen!
Anyways, the song’s heart is in the right place, it just needs some push and a stronger arrangement.
8.5 (8, 8, 9, 9) for me. TAN brought back the 2nd and 3rd gen sound, now it’s time for its spin-off to do the same!
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May as well ask a magic 8 ball for the answer to that question, and it would read “Ask again later”.
Anyway, the people in the booth pulled out a few tricks and splashed them across the background and foreground, and they actually work pretty well, most prominently the vvvvomp vvvvomp vvvvomp over the chorus. Then the trance-like post chorus and outro – remember when we all went nuts over KNK “Sunset” some years ago, like that sound. Flavors of the same sounds sprinkled behind the verses, like someone testing out alllll the sounds they hearted on the sample pack late one night and thought this is my chance right now.
Its almost like they didn’t know the usual “how its done” and so they didn’t follow the usual “how its done” and it sounds quirky and refreshing despite being at its core a middling song.
For those who missed it, KNK “Sunset” from 2019.
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