I have such mixed feelings abound aespa in 2026. They are undoubtedly one of the most influentual girl groups of this era, but their influence has been both positive and negative. Songs like Supernova and Whiplash helped usher in a higher BPM and more electronic-centered soundscape for K-pop, yet they also promoted a talk-heavy style that many other groups have copied to the point where it’s become cliche. Add to that the fact that I haven’t fully enjoyed an aespa single since 2024 and it feels like we’re at the edge of a precipice.
Rather than overcome or succumb to that pressure, new title track Lemonade simply embraces the trends aespa helped originate. It’s incredibly talky but also bolstered by an incredibly enjoyable club beat. I know we’re not supposed to evaluate music on what we wish it was, but I can’t help but imagine how much of a knockout Lemonade‘s production would be with equally strong melodies anchoring it. The beat pulses with force and energy that’s very refreshing and seems to promise a chorus for the ages. Instead, we get yet another catchphrase hook that teeters between “addictive” and “annoying”. I can’t tell which way this hook will fall when all is said and done, but I know that a huge, sung refrain bolstered by aespa’s powerful vocals would have been a showstopping moment for the ages.
Okay, enough living in fantasy land. We can’t expect K-pop songs to have choruses these days, can we? In the world of “charismatic talking over a club beat,” this is about as good as you could hope for. Charisma is on full display and there’s enough variety in the rhythm of aespa’s speech to make the verses ear-catching. I don’t think they’ll have the staying power I’d hope for, but they get the job done.
I’m not sure what “I’ll make you lemonade, I got no ETA” is supposed to mean or how any of those words connect to each other, but I’ll just pretend they’re saying “Wow, Fantastic Baby” and this is some bizarro-world ode to that 2012 classic. Of course, that classic actually had an epic vocal build and satisfying drop, so maybe it’s better to bop along mindlessly without conjuring Lemonade‘s more fleshed-out forebearers. This is boppable enough. Hopefully it will inspire other groups to better the formula later this year.
Hooks
8
Production
9
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
8.25