Song Review: Boys II Planet – Hola Solar

Though they’re not technically what you’d call a “title track,” I often write about the signal songs of popular survival series. Since the first season or Produce 101 in 2016, these songs have become K-pop’s most reliable burst of high-drama EDM energy. They’ve basically become their own genre now, tied together by the same musical tropes. Boys II Planet doesn’t premiere for another month or so, but as per tradition its first piece of music has been released early. Hola Solar (올라) makes every move you’d expect it to, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The song arrives as both a “K” and a “C” version (shades of EXO-K and EXO-C??) to match the two-pronged premiere format of the series. And let’s face it, if you’ve watched any of these shows you already know exactly how it sounds. Because of this, it’s better to compare this to the pantheon of similar signal songs rather than the K-pop industry at large. To me, seasons two and one of Produce still reign supreme, partly because the approach was fresh back then but mostly because both songs bang hard.

Hola Solar feels more pieced together, from its needless energy shift in verse two to an extended dance breakdown. As usual, the chorused vocals rob all personality from the track, making it feel as corporate as it is. Its hooks are serviceable but a bit repetitive and the song misses the breathless build and release that’s characterized the best versions of its ilk. It gets the job done as the soundtrack for a few dozen boys cheerily posing before dramatic backdrops, but I doubt I’ll be revisiting the song on its own.

Grade: B-