Stray Kids have a tour and a new album coming up, and to promote both they’ve released a special single that serves as an anthem for this era. Run It arrives with little promo other than an excellent teaser video that made me think it might be the best Stray Kids track since Miroh. That’s a lofty expectation and I really should know better than to set it, especially since I haven’t clicked with their music in some time.
Run It is definitely my favorite Stray Kids single in awhile, but that’s not saying much. I’m pleased to hear them take a more anthemic approach rather than the gimmicky, catchphrasey mode they’ve been mired in. The song’s worldly production has a ‘made for global stadiums’ vibe that feels appropriate for these World Cup times. Of course, this is meant as an anthem for the group’s tour… not a sporting event. Bombastic brass battles it out with thundering percussion for a theatrical arrangement. Run It is at its best when it gives in to these excesses, upping the tempo and widening its scope. I like the chorus quite a bit, even if it feels like a sanitized version of itself.
Sadly, there are multiple choices that make Run It feel smaller than it should. Vocal effects soften the sung portions of the track, removing urgency and contrasting awkwardly with the fiery instrumental. The climactic rap during the song’s finale is a far better use of the group’s skills. Trap percussion occasionally cheapens what should be a powerful beat (let’s get some timpani in there instead!) and much of the instrumentation feels canned rather than organically explosive. A second verse rap break threatens to derail momentum at the most predictable time, further tempering the song’s effect.
Even with these reservations, I’m a sucker for this style and it’s nice to hear Stray Kids attempt something with bigger musical scope. This ambition extends to Run It‘s length, which is well over three minutes. This allows the track to grow and change without constraint. I bet a fully live, symphony-backed version would be awesome. Too often, this studio version feels like an iPhone video begging for the big screen and a better sound system.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
9
Bias
8
RATING
8.25