Song Review: CLASS:y – Psycho & Beautiful

It’s been a good long while since CLASS:y last released music in Korea, and although they have a decent-sized singles run, I couldn’t tell you how a single song sounds off the top of my head. Such is the rapid pace and oversaturation of the K-pop market, I guess. New single Psycho & Beautiful sees them trying on current 2024 trends, delivering the latest in an endless line of subdued earworms.

Talk to me a year from now (hell, talk to me in a month) and I guarantee I’ll have no recollection of this song. Psycho & Beautiful pulls from the same library of samples so many other girl groups have dabbled in this year. It’s a little NewJeans, a little ILLIT and not much CLASS:y. The percolating beat is a laidback vibe — “coffeeshop dance music,” if you will. It’s slinky and lithe, but utterly unsurprising. The melodies follow a similar route, bending around the production but disintegrating immediately after you hear them.

The song’s calling card is a repetitive “me, me, me, me, me, me, me” — an especially dumb refrain delivered in monotone. I’m jealous of listeners who enjoy this style because you’re certainly feasting this year. Unfortunately, I was already hoping this trend who fizzle out in 2023. The fact we’re still here is discouraging.

Grade: C-