Song Review: MEOVV – Toxic

Girl group MEOVV made their debut on Teddy’s The Black Label back in September with the disjointed Meow. That song seemed to come and go without much fanfare, but the girls have made a quick follow-up with new single Toxic. Co-written by YG Entertainment mainstays Teddy, Kush and 24, the song fits neatly within a given sonic trope — but not the one you might expect.

This is not the “look at me, I’m so cool” bop acts like BLACKPINK and BABYMONSTER have made their names on. Instead, Toxic takes a softer approach, much more comparable to songs like Stay or even Rosé’s On The Ground. Toxic is much more sparse than either of those tracks, pulsing along a delicate beat that constantly sounds as if it will build into something bigger. This provides a welcome sense of tension, but the lack of a resolution gives the song a slightly hollow feeling after it’s finished.

Performed entirely in English, Toxic fits perfectly within the subdued “diary pop” that gained prominence in international markets just before and after the pandemic. This sub-genre does absolutely nothing for me because it’s not what I turn to pop music for, but that’s a personal preference. Purely as a song, Toxic is affecting but dull. It stays hushed for too long, unable to provide the sonic or emotional contrast that would make it memorable. The girls sound great (especially during the chorus), but for a song like this to capture me the melodies have to be absolutely incredible.

Grade: C