There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” features, I can average their ratings into one mega-score and place them in a pantheon alongside other acts.
As always, this feature has some rules of its own. I’m including any “Song Review” ratings as part of this graph, including Japanese releases and collaborations with one other artist. I’m not including Buried Treasures or solo/sub-unit releases. For the ratings themselves, I’m using the most current number on this blog, so if a song was part of a “Risers and Fallers” or “Legendary Songs Inauguration” post, that’s the rating you’ll see displayed here. That means there will still be a few ratings here and there I find slightly inaccurate, but it’ll mostly reflect my up-to-date feelings.
Finally, these scores are completely subjective. Feel free to agree, disagree and argue (that’s part of the fun!), but know that this chart reflects the opinion of only one person (me).
Check out SATURDAY’s placement on the ULTIMATE ARTIST RANKING page!
SATURDAY: A Career In Song Ratings
The Breakdown
Highest Rated Songs
Lowest Rated Songs
Gwiyomi Song (Saturday), D.B.D.B.DIB
Imperial Phases
None
Slump Phases
WiFi -> Only You (2019-2021)
Rating Average: 7.68
Overall Trendline:
can i ask what makes IGAB by SNSD a 10 for you
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Groundbreaking structural shifts with each moment as good as the last, unlike the kind of pick-and-mix fare we have today that’s usually great parts and awful parts in equal measure.
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is that also part of the reason why you hold aespa’s next level highly as well? as in, the structural shifts
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But I think something important as well for Nick is that the structure has to hold together for him, either through singing powerfully or similar instrumental styles. Otherwise songs like this are like going to the JYP casino and playing craps. You bet on the dice as you trust the dealer since they’ve rigged the game in your favour before. Then the dealer unmasks themselves and you groan as they roll double one. Then you cry afterwards as you lost half of your money on that bet as you wish for Changmin’s high note instead of the high note that played in the middle of the craps Game.
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Correct. There still needs to be a throughline/narrative/payoff that makes it feel whole and satisfying, which is where most of these newer songs flounder.
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I see you, Nick doing a group called Saturday on a Saturday
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I hoped someone would see that!
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clicked on that gwiyomi song out of curiosity… i shouldve stayed curious
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I’m surprised that DBDBDIB even grew on you 😭
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ikr, like I have to disagree with Nick that song still sounds like a nightmare to me
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I support the rating for the DBDBDIB song. It just exists and is also not as annoying as other songs that interpolate nursery rhymes.
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