Over the past few weeks, ARTMS have payed around with expectations. Rather than simply debut a video and song as normal, they first dropped pre-release track Born Stunner via an unexpected Instagram reaction video. This is a great way to build buzz and conversation, but at the end of the day the actual music must be solid if the group wants to keep listeners’ attention.
This year, I’ve become convinced that the K-pop industry has become incredibly insecure. Why else would so many groups have to constantly tell us how great/attractive/strong/etc they are? In 2026 alone, we’ve been forced to endure dozens of such songs. It’s now become a formula: take some “experimental” hyperpop production, find a quippy catchphrase and repeat it over and over again in the most obnoxious tone you can muster. For ARTMS, those catchphrases include gems like “I said, “Okay, okay, okay, okay” (I’m stunner)” and “Watch me step into the club like I’m your trauma, trauma.”
I just don’t understand who enjoys listening to this. If you’re a big fan of this specific style of song, please let me know why it resonates with you because I’ve reached an impasse. All a song like Born Stunner reminds me of is that annoying, self-obsessed friend who says things like “I don’t look for the drama. It just follows me around!” as if they’re some sort of victim. It’s an insufferable mentality and these songs are a brutal soundtrack to our SNS-and-meme-driven world. As a song, Born Stunner doesn’t even boast any strong moments (or any real semblance of melody), so it plunges to the bottom of this undesirable slop pile.
Hooks
3
Production
7
Longevity
3
Bias
3
RATING
4