Buried Treasure: ZEROBASEONE – D-DAY

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.

ZEROBASEONE have been racking up OSTs for awhile now, no doubt making the most of their limited contract run. Two new ones have been released in the past few days, with their track for drama Head Over Heels standing out most to me. Many boy group OSTs lately have been in the up-tempo pop/rock genre, probably in the hope of replicating Lovely Runner‘s success last year. It’s a sound I tend to enjoy — lightweight and pleasant but with just enough grit to get your blood pumping.

D-DAY‘s chorus is especially nice, building to a suite of power notes that give it a gutsy appeal. The verses borrow from the skittering percussion that underlined ZEROBASEONE’s debut, but the melodies are more effusive and galvanizing. The group is a great match for this material, boasting one of the stronger vocal lines of new-gen acts. D-DAY is also perfectly suited for the summer, bringing to mind images of seasonal drives to the beach and carefree vibes on long sunny days. It’s super-solid connective tissue in a discography full of highlights and makes for a nice double-shot with their other recent OST Running.

Grade: B