K-pop has a long, storied history of songs about shoes. From Highlight’s Gikwang boasting his Dancing Shoes in 2009 to ITZY putting on their Sneakers in 2022, these tracks tend to be pretty silly. And really, how could they be anything else? Now, TOZ is back with their ode to “Nu Shoes” (and no, that’s not an homage to the brilliant 80’s one-hit-wonders Nu Shooz… though I wish it was!).
TOZ is notable in the K-pop industry for being an entirely Japanese group. They debuted last year with the so-so Magic Hour, and Nu Shoes is definitely an improvement. Right from the start, its rhythmic groove unleashes a roller-rink-ready energy, offering a full range of percussion. The guys paint a bright melody over this production, recalling the colorful work of early NCT Dream. It’s a nice blend of singing and rapping with a few satisfying harmonies thrown in.
Nu Shoes‘ chorus is more of a mixed bag. I’m not super enthusiastic about the first half, but this quickly builds to a heartier refrain that sends the segment out on a high. Better yet, the song expands its intensity as it goes on. I can easily see this growing more addictive with time.
Hooks
8
Production
9
Longevity
9
Bias
8
RATING
8.5