Monsta X’s Shownu and Hyungwon debuted as a duo in the summer of 2023. I saw them perform that year at KCON, yet for the life of me I can’t remember the song. That tends to happen with these slinky, bass-driven tracks that K-pop churns out on the regular. There are simply too many of them to recall in great detail unless they find a way to really stand out. With new single Do You Love Me, the guys are back with another track to throw on that pile.
To be fair, Do You Love Me adds a bit more intensity to the formula, pulling in atmospheric synth to give the instrumental extra texture. The energy is also expanded, but only by a little. When it comes down to it, Do You Love Me employs the same kind of spoken-word hook that’s unlikely to lodge itself in my memory longer than a few weeks. Shownu and Hyungwon are great performers and do the most they can with the material, but the song gives them very little to do. It’s undercooked, and could have used a melodic post-chorus to add some spark to the tension.
This is the type of track my “7s” ratings were invented for. There’s nothing bad or offensive happening here and it’s perfectly enjoyable in the moment. I’m sure it’ll make for some eye-catching stages. But when the promotion’s over and visuals have faded, I can’t imagine a reason to place this at the top of a playlist.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
7
Bias
8
RATING
7.5