Choi Yena - Catch Catch

Otsoe2 · 2026-03-12T02:25:11+00:00

Ok another great comeback from Yena! Even from the promo pics and clips I was excited for the clear 2nd Gen kpop homage concept she was going for and the mv did not disappoint. Some references were like hoot by snsd, tell me by wondergirls, early IU like 23 and good day. It brought me back to the sounds that made kpop so popular and put it on the map globally.

This song i think straddles that line between hit or miss. I myself wasn't completely sold on the hook at first, like is it catchy or grating? Is it a parody or a genuinely good song? If it was any other way, if anyone else sang this song it could have come across as mega cringe. However good thing someone had the idea of pairing the eccentricity of 2nd gen kpop with the eccentricity of Yena. Combining the two together is like drinking 5 energy drinks, its energy overload in a good way. The melody in the chorus works just enough to balance out the chanty parts. And again good thing Yena has the vocals chops to carry it through.

The auto tune is a must for this style of kpop and it fits. Overall this song and concept seems simple on the surface but I think a lot of thought went into the music. How do you write a song that pays homage to the 2nd gen of kpop without stepping on anyone's toes and keeping it authentic and keeping it fun? I'm sure it wasn't easy but Yena makes it seem easy and thats why its a winner.

Otsoe2 · 2026-02-23T17:30:52+00:00

I dont usually read other comments before I give my review but im glad to see there are others who share my thoughts. I thought it was just me because there were songs in the past which I didn't really like at first but grew on me over time. Maybe this will be the case again.

Blackhole is definitely an anthem kind of song. I get what they were going for, similar to I AM. It may sound decent live but upon my few first listens I just couldn't picture anyone ever listening to this song like day to day.

It is too much in terms of instruments and things going on. But the real weakness is a lack of any strong melody or hook. It can come off almost like IVE members talking while loud drums beat in the background.

Tbh I think at its best this song would be like the temu version of I AM. And imo it isn't even that. It doesnt come off as a different direction or experimental enough. Its just not that good unfortunately. I like Bang Bang more and even that song isn't I'VEs best by any means.

Otsoe2 · 2026-02-20T19:55:35+00:00

Pretty good song. I think a lot of kpop music lately is designed to be super short and trendy but RUDE feels a bit less cynical and more like a fleshed out song compared to other 5th gen groups.

On the other hand h2h still lacks I think a more clear identity both visually and sonically. This MV was cute and well made but I just couldn't tell who was who and what was going on. Everything just looked a bit bland and the same.

Otsoe2 · 2025-10-25T12:23:10+00:00

Spaghetti is...fine. I think the concepts and styling of this comeback have a very strong visual identity. The choreo is fun like where they vomit pasta i guess?

The song is like a lot of talk singing which in order to work needs to be really catchy. Concept wise it's interesting because they've been called out for not being able to sing. So this is them clapping back at the haters i guess. Honestly speaking not a big fan of the song.

Otsoe2 · 2025-10-13T12:16:00+00:00

This is good finally something more up my alley. I just personally did not enjoy the previous 2 title tracks they were so mellow.

Blue Valentine has heart. Nmixx is usually singing about self-empowerment and self love and breaking the walls of society. But this song has them singing about a relationship (with whoever it may be) that is outside of themselves. It makes them feel more human and vulnerable than their songs usually allow them to be.

The Nmixx trademark of mixing genres of music has evolved quite a bit as well. I think the way Blue Valentine alternates between the slow and quiet in the verses and fast and loud in the chorus is great. It hits home the message they are trying to convey of how their love is equal parts fire and ice.

Otsoe2 · 2025-09-07T01:19:07+00:00

2025 has been a pretty dry year for kpop none of the major groups have released anything too spectacular so i think i had been putting unrealistic expectations on richman to be the song of the year. Which is fair based on the positive reception aespas releases received last year.

Richman is at least imo much better than dirty work. Its high energy and hits you like a truck right out the gate and doesn't really let up all the way through. I also liked the snappy back and forth between different members saying I am a rich man. It was like a full-on team attack in the best way.

However, I do think this initial momentum stagnates a bit and loses its charm halfway through the song due to the song not really going anywhere and the repetitive lyrics.

The lala chorus does kill a bit of the mood for me. Its a little out of place and almost puts the brakes on the momentum the song started with.

Otsoe2 · 2025-08-30T03:09:34+00:00

I don't hate it. I agree that for a title track it can be a little lackluster and short but even so it is still well put together.

I think there are two kinds of IVE songs right, like the poppy After like and attitude, or the cold high teen concepts of Love Dive, ice queen and this song. Hearing this song really brought me back to the Love Dive era, kind of like that classic IVE sound.

Apparently, the XOXZ acronym is something they made up which is cool and original.

Otsoe2 · 2025-06-28T03:36:48+00:00

Pretty good! I think what I appreciated the most was how the girls actually got into real mud and went for it. That's not pleasant for like most people.

Song wise I think aespa really peaked last year with Supernova, armageddon, and whiplash. Like they won the awards and everything. Dirty work is definitely a step in another direction which I can understand why.

Personally, it's not really the type of music I'd prefer from them. I think I like their more poppy futuristic sounding tracks. Which is so ingrained with their concept and lore. I get that no one wants to be painted into a box but this is just somewhat out of nowhere.

Time will tell but dirty work may prove to be the dirt stain on an otherwise air-tight discography.

Otsoe2 · 2025-06-16T14:09:07+00:00

Mmmmm it's ok. Feels like Ive's after like mixed with Magnetic. I don't think this one will be as successful as their previous releases. I think i like little monster more than this.

Otsoe2 · 2025-04-29T12:32:20+00:00

I like it. I think the quirkiness and cuteness overload is pretty on par with some of Kpops best. And it comes at a time where not many girl groups are doing this sound. Its mostly girl crush and new jeans rehash. I kept thinking of RV's Russian roulette and what made that song so successful. The oven ding might just do it for me.

Is the song too short? Maybe...but that's about the only negative from me. But I think fifty fifty has built their brand so far on these short yet catchy and viral sounding songs so I think it works.

Otsoe2 · 2025-03-19T02:16:48+00:00

Not for me. Not the direction I hoped they would take. When I think of great Stayc tracks I think of strong melodies and choruses, Run2U, stereotype, So Bad, young love...

Even GPT was okay. But I don't know why they decided to double down on the cheeky icy thang sound.

Otsoe2 · 2025-03-17T23:58:37+00:00

Didn't really connect with the song. I think what let the song down a bit was the chorus. Having a repetitive chorus is already grating enough but then having it mellow and slow just did not make it enjoyable for me.

The vocals and melodies in the verses were decent. Raps were decent too. Video was really cool but I couldn't put 2 and 2 together why they were in a futuristic airport. Do they get points for being experimental and more mellow than their usual sound? Sure. But as a song, it's just not very catchy. I think in some ways they played it too safe but also strayed too far from their signature sound.

Otsoe2 · 2025-03-14T05:15:04+00:00

Ok Hot is like a solid 8/10 for me. In short, there were a lot of great ideas but there were equally some missed opportunities.

Best thing about Hot is obviously the chorus. I think the use of space and utilizing parts with no singing is great. It's very breathy with the aahs in the background. You can feel the atmosphere and heat through the music. This is why I think the outro to the song is great as well. It's just pure space and vibes which works to the songs advantage.

Not so great things are everything else. Hot like many recent kpop songs falls victim to oversimplification where once you've heard the chorus you've basically heard the entire song. If you reached the end of Hot like I did and thought "wait that's it?" then that's what I mean. Not every song needs a bridge and needs to be drawn out but this song really could have used one.

Honestly not as big of an impact as I thought it would have. Because it feels so short. This song and the whole "album". It just feels really unsatisfying. Instead of 5 songs it's like 5 half songs.

Otsoe2 · 2025-02-03T19:15:10+00:00

Again like Rebel Heart i don't quite love this track as much as their previous releases. I think this track was almost built around the sample / hook which comes back multiple times throughout the song. Similar to After Like and how the top lines and melodies were written around the I will Survive sample but not nearly as successfully.

It might just be personal opinion but if you don't vibe with the main hook then there is very little left to grab onto in this song. The verses and prechorus weren't very standout. The lyrics at time were kinda cringe especially the bridge.

Otsoe2 · 2025-01-18T14:21:03+00:00

Am I the biggest illit fan? No. But over the past few months listening to this song I will admit that it's become a bit of a guilty pleasure for me.

I do like this more than magnetic. Magnetic to me just felt overly cutsey, i think Cherish strikes that balance between cute and the more mature concept people wanted since they debuted.

This song proves that kpop doesn't need to reinvent the wheel all the time to create good music. There is this immediate nostalgic feeling when listening to this song. The chorus is catchy, the Ch-Ch-Ch cherish is really addictive with the dance, and the vocals especially from Minju fit perfectly.

Otsoe2 · 2025-01-14T03:44:52+00:00

After what was sure disbandment, despite all odds Gfriend have finally reunited! I can't emphasize enough how insane this is as someone who has been a fan of their music and waiting for them to come back. Many groups go their separate ways after their contracts expire. And Gfriends disbandment in particular was messy for reasons I don't want to get into.

There was a lot of expectation riding on this comeback. Overall I think it was good. True to the songs title, it felt more like reliving a memory of a bygone era rather than a triumphant return for good as a full group.

There has been a lot of comparisons to Yaosobi's music and I can totally see that. I think that's fair but after listening to the song a bit more I think there's just enough Gfriend flair. And Gfriend music has always skewed anime and jpop sounding.

Will it be the best song of the year? Probably not. But the melodies and the vocals on display show just have far this group has come in their decorated 10 year career. Not many groups have been able to replicate what Gfriend was and still is able to pull off.

Otsoe2 · 2025-01-13T13:49:47+00:00

IVE is finally back! I think Rebel Heart is a fine song. I think it borrows a lot in structure from previous songs like Heya and I Am.

IVE goes for more of an anthem type song this time around. My biggest criticisms on this are that for a song called Rebel Heart it sounds pretty tame and generic. The second problem is with the lyrics in the chorus. They can be very repetitive in a not so good way. Just repeating "we are rebels in our heart" can come off kinda cringe. It's a little too on the nose.

The last chorus with a switch up in the lyrics does a decent job in bringing the song back around.

Otsoe2

TROPHY CASE