Song Review: Bibi – Bumpa

K-pop summer songs come in all shapes and sizes, from bouyant blasts of pinwheeling energy to drowsy grooves perfect for lounging around in the sun. Unsurprisingly, Bibi has chosen the latter for her new single Bumpa. She doesn’t really have a toe in the idol world anyway, pursuing a quirkier singer-songwriter route instead.

To me, Bumpa fits firmly in the “background music” category of K-pop. As mood music, this song could be played just about anywhere. Its brassy instrumental is uplifting but never overly energetic. And really, there’s not much of a song thrown over the top of this production. Bibi riffs and repeats variations of the same melodic lines, her soft voice becoming yet another cog in the instrumental wheel. For me, this is a functional song and my enjoyment will depend entirely on if I have use for it in any given situation.

Grade: C