[Review] PYTHON – GOT7

Out of the releases released while I was on break, I was most excited for GOT7’s long-awaited return. I have been looking forward to sitting down and reviewing the lead single, PYTHON. It is the title track from their 13th mini-album, WINTER HEPTAGON, which dropped in January. We last saw GOT7 as a group in 2022 through their 12th mini-album GOT7 and the single NANANA.

PYTHON features a very subdued trap-based instrumental, serving as the backdrop to showcase the group’s affinity for the hip-hop genre. There is also this harp-like synth recurring in the mix that feels quite calming and soothing. Altogether, PYTHON‘s instrumental is very low-key and minimalist, yet also chic and stylish. Also, it somehow doesn’t come off as repetitive to me. When the instrumental brings in some new elements, like the broad vibrating synth in the pre-choruses, these elements really pop. And I quite like that contrast. Another aspect of PYTHON that made it a great release was the vocals. I really like how expressive some of the members were (i.e., YOUNGJAE and YUGYEOM). On the flip side, I like how some other members were lowkey (i.e., JAY B, JACKSON and MARK). It is an interesting dynamic that actually showcases the members well. JINYOUNG does a great job in the pre-choruses, smoothly giving PYTHON some momentum. I also enjoyed PYTHON‘s darker tones, a side of GOT7 that I have previously enjoyed. We have BAMBAM to applaud for that, who was one of the producers behind PYTHON. Unfortunately, I do have a complaint to make, and it is about PYTHON‘s very short length. PYTHON sometimes feels like it wraps as soon as it starts, and I don’t find this satisfying. Overall, it’s a great song from GOT7, but something longer would have been appreciated.

As mentioned above, PYTHON has some dark tones, which were brought to life well in the music video. The song speaks to how the hold someone has on them is like a python’s grip, preventing them from moving on. That’s why we see the members stuck in the same location in their solo shots at the start. For example, JINYOUNG is walking in one spot, and YOUNGJAE is unable to leave the chair surrounded by microphones. Even on the plane (a form of transportation to move people), the members wear the same stylish black suits as in their earlier solo shots. This shows us they are ‘stuck’ in this form. In the latter scenes, the members escape the ‘hold’ and don more casual wear. But we see BAMBAM getting pulled back into the plane and black suit because the python’s grip is too firm at the end. This suggests someone has a strong hold on them, just like a python’s grip. In amongst the above, the music video cleverly incorporates elements from GOT7’s older music videos. I noticed the plane from their Flight Log series, the airline service trolley that JACKSON throws in their Hard Carry music video and the members lying down in a circle from their You Calling My Name era.

The choreography looked quite cool. I liked how they utilised the beats well to showcase the hip-hop style. The start of the chorus brings in imagery that looks like the python fangs and the AHGASE (GOT7’s fanclub’s name) hand sign. JINYOUNG’s solo moments in the pre-choruses are my highlight for the routine.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10