A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.
As I anticipated, the hook of Lee Chaeyeon’s Knock has already started to grow a bit dull with age, but the rest of the album is shaping up to be a spring standout. Before writing about my buried treasure pick, I want to take a moment to marvel over b-side I Don’t Wanna Know‘s instrumental. Have we ever heard a K-pop track with such a long intro? Chaeyeon’s vocals don’t even kick in until nearly a minute, leaving space to showcase the killer production. I love this beat. I just wish the actual song had more meat on its bones.
In comparison, Don’t Be A Jerk is a much tamer pop song. But, it strikes a great balance between quirky and melodic. Its bright, synth-driven beat is incredibly enjoyable — particularly when it goes full bore for the chorus. I’m also smitten with the vocal sample placed under Chaeyeon’s performance. This flourish gives the track a unique calling card that prevents it from sounding generic.
But even without these fun elements, Don’t Be A Jerk is such a solid piece of pop music. It’s breezy but forceful — catchy but not overly repetitive. I think it would have made a better title track than Knock, honestly.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
Grade: B+
