Song Review: BABYMONSTER – Drip

In the lead-up to BABYMONSTER’s first full album, they’ve teased all of its songs except title track Drip. We even heard the full album opener Clik Clak two days ago. I haven’t been impressed by much of the group’s discography so far, but YG Entertainment always seems to come up with at least one highlight for its newer acts. Add a composition credit from K-pop icon G-Dragon and you’ve got the potential for something really great.

Drip has more spring in its step than Clik Clak, tying its tried and true tropes to a rubbery groove and slapping percussion that gives it extra drive. There’s nothing here that can’t be found in a hundred other songs, but the production keeps its energy bouncy enough to maintain momentum. There are a few nice vocal moments during the pre-chorus and especially the bridge, but as usual melody is sacrificed in favor of overly-simplistic catchphrase hooks. Without an idiosyncratic vision or unique delivery, Drip feels like yet another product off the assembly line. It’s performed as well as any other offering from this musical brand, but never quite displays the “passion” and “ambition” included in its lyrics.

On the plus side, it’s nice to hear a rookie girl group harness an in-your-face style this year, as the prevailing trends favor much more subdued fare. Drip‘s boastful subject matter isn’t for me (and it seems to be all YG composers are capable of writing these days…), but I can easily see how it might connect with BABYMONSTER’s target audience. I’ll just continue bopping along to the Euro-cheese of summer single Forever and imagine what might have been if this group had ventured further down that route.

Grade: C