Buried Treasure: Teen Top – Everglow

A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. I was a bit iffy about Teen Top’s Don’t Stop at first, mostly due to its overly busy vocal arrangement but also due to its cringey, on-the-nose lyrics. However, I’ve come around to the song after realizing that it’s basically a Eurovision banger dressed up as a K-pop comeback. We need more of those in the industry, honestly. Unlike Don’t Stop, Everglow was an instant hit for me. It’s got that 2nd/3rd-gen feel I absolutely love: big, sung chorus paired with euphoric dance beat. And unlike the title track, you can actually hear the guys’ vocals well during the entire song. Everglow is also nearly four (!) minutes long, which feels like a minor miracle in this year’s K-pop economy. The chugging synth has a stately appeal that reminds me of great Brave Brothers productions in the past and the melodies take their time to build momentum that pays off brilliantly during the chorus. If we were back in 2012 or...