A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.
For awhile now, I’ve preferred most of ITZY’s b-sides to their title tracks. It feels that the agency is choosing title tracks because of their message/concept or producer rather than the actual quality of the music. This has resulted in far more adventurous material being shoved to the back side of albums. We’re more than due for an ITZY title that sounds like DYT.
With talk-heavy dance music all the rage at the moment, I can’t think of a better genre for ITZY to dip their toes into. They have such pleasant voices when the song isn’t forcing them into an overly bratty style and I love the icy performance that drives much of DYT. The track’s stomping electro crunch reminds me of last year’s Untouchable, but DYT‘s structure is more daring and unexpected. The chorus is especially effective, fashioning together disparate fragments of melody in a way that makes total sense. The song never sits in one place for long, switching beats and textures like a sampler platter. DYT somehow holds together throughout all of this. I guess that’s thanks to the magic of its established composer Kenzie.
Hooks
8
Production
9
Longevity
9
Bias
9
RATING
8.75