By any metric, it’s hard to argue that Seventeen aren’t the biggest K-pop act currently active. With this in mind, I keep waiting for another new single to wow me in the way so many of their past songs have. Maestro‘s chorus was an unsatisfying tease while last year’s God Of Music was pleasant but lightweight. I have to go all the way back to 2021 to find a Seventeen title track that really captured me, and this is from a group who barely put a musical foot wrong for their first three years.
So, what does the biggest group in the world do next? Enlist DJ Khaled for a feature, of course! Hearing Khaled’s brash (ie: annoying) vocal tag kick off Love, Money, Fame is a real trip — almost as if we’ve landed back in 2020. Beyond that intro, this song is mostly Seventeen operating in a mid-tempo comfort zone. Given their status and resources, it’s amazing how throwaway the track feels. From the faceless production to the unadventurous melodies, everything about Love, Money Fame seems content to play things as safe as possible.
My gut says the decision-makers behind this single were aiming for playlist ubiquity — something that can seamlessly fit between any number of songs without making waves. Indeed, Love, Money, Fame casts an amiable groove. Its hooks are flat and catchy enough to rattle around your brain without superseding other important thoughts, ensuring plenty of replay value. But for a group who so often thrills us with their over-the-top performance ability, I’m not sure “Seventeen background music” is what I want from them.
Hooks
8
Production
7
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5