Song Review: Bibi – Derre

Though I haven’t often loved Bibi’s music the way others do, she was a fantastic addition to this year’s KCON LA and offered a contrasting style to many of the festival’s idol acts. She’s also a bundle of charisma, able to captivate with simply a whisper or sigh. New single Derre (데레) capitalizes on this power, tying her skills to a trendy groove.

I know readers are sick of me comparing everything to NewJeans, but their debut-era sound has really turned the K-pop industry on its head. Derre plays with similar tones and energy as hits like Ditto, chopping up samples over muted synths and percussion that segues from loping thump to skittering drum and bass. Strings accent these shifts, doling out added texture.

Bibi’s performance is just as fluid as the instrumental, effortlessly moving from soft vocals to rapid-fire rap. Even when the song itself doesn’t fire on all cylinders, she is always compelling. Derre is the sound of an idiosyncratic voice taking on a trend that’s rapidly become smoothed of its edges. I’m not sure this style of song will ever be for me, but I appreciate Derre‘s ability to push on its edges and deliver something that feels unique to Bibi.

Grade: B-