With over 3,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature.
The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets the full Bias List treatment!
Year Released: 2013
I was so happy when a U-KISS song came up on shuffle for this review because I imagine most newer K-pop fans haven’t even heard of the group. They were quite big in their era, but their legacy hasn’t been handled as well as many of their peers. You don’t hear their songs covered on survival series or referenced in variety. That’s a shame, because the iconic Neverland is a bop and a half.
Standing Still is the title track of the group’s third album Collage. I can’t imagine a song like this being promoted nowadays, and that’s another shame! It’s refreshingly focused on vocal prowess, built from extended melody lines that pull the momentum forward. The instrumental follows suit, building and building as more elements are brought in. Never once do we lose the central arc of the track, and when the inevitable rap verse comes in during the bridge it plays in service to the energy rather than in opposition to it. This helps craft a standout track with no dull moments. That sense of focus is so appreciated.
The vocal arrangement is also interesting. There are many moments where the members embrace a singing style reminiscent of a round, their voices overlapping as they echo and stretch. Electronic arpeggios and touches of guitar further enhance this sensation of movement. The moment where the percussion kicks in during verse two is so, so satisfying and I love the production leading into the second chorus. There’s just a lot to dig into — layers upon layers of instrumentation that keep you coming back for another taste.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 9 |
Grade: A-
