2 months ago
6
K-pop groups have long borrowed from past classics to deliver their own hits but few samples have ever been as successful as IVE’s 2022 mega hit After Like. Its immense “I Will Survive” sample catapulted an otherwise strong track into generational territory, delivering a perfect mix between homage and innovation. As such, when new single Attitude‘s teasers hinted at another sample heavy track, my ears were instantly perked. But while undoubtably potent in many areas, the final product doesn’t quite get there.
I loved pre release Rebel Heart and for much of Attitude‘s first half, I thought the girls really were going to go two for two. It’s a track that’s not shy to show off its Tom’s Diner sample, proudly embellishing it in its opening moments before strutting into an excellent first verse. It’s got a real verve to it, pulsing with personality and an engaging synthetic pulse that’s only heightened by those sporadic disco strings. The vocal performance is equally as engaging during the transition into the airy pre-chorus and eventual hook. I applaud the idea of that little glitch before the chorus but I’m not quite sure it works. And while I would have loved a little more punch during the chorus, I was still heavily on board with everything.
Unfortunately, Attitude starts to lose its footing a little after this first minute. For tracks like this to really stick the landing, they need to either be streamlined to perfection (like After Like) or subvert expectations in a consistently engaging way. Attitude however gets stuck somewhere in the middle, taking some unique musical turns that have the potential to excite but instead lend the final product a sense of disjointedness. It lacks the kind of focus I was really hoping for and while I’m typically not too fussed about post chorus breakdowns anymore, the one here is probably the tracks biggest stumbling block. In the end though, Attitude is undoubtably catchy and while I may still be parading the anthemic rock of Rebel Heart as my 2025 IVE track of choice, I can see Attitude having great longevity.
Verses: 9
Chorus: 8
Production: 8
Performance: 8
Final Rating: 8.25 / 10
English (US) · 