On a subconscious level, every song impacts each of us differently. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. I know you didn’t reply directly to me, but I’m replying just the same. Let’s all move past the “omg Johnny and Jaehyun are shirtless” moment and discuss how much of a drop in quality this song was compared to Superhuman, which was in my opinion was one of the tightest, most clever, most well produced kpop songs of all time. The vocal sections are super weirdly mixed, but the “chorus” sections really take the cake with the super tinny electric guitar sounds and the horrible artificial-sounding percussion mixing. The “new thangs” drop chant chorus AND the weird repetition of Bruce Lee is super cringeworthy (sidenote: also annoying bc SM literally kicked the only Chinese member out of 127 and now is trying to shove a super gauche, tacky, culturally appropriative Chinese “kung fu” concept down our throats). Hooksīe sure to add your own rating by participating in the poll below!ĭamn I am so disappointed… I’m such a huge fan of NCT (listened to every song every unit has ever released) and I’ve been a fan of the vast majority of the whole group’s discography, including the oddball ones like Simon Says and Go, but this song was really not it. Kick It is solid, but I wish the entire track had been as unhinged as its final moments.
With these kinds of tracks, NCT 127 are at their best when they throw everything at the wall. The instrumental warps into a demented breakdown, kicking up a grimy funk. Just as Kick It’s bridge is about to segue into the final chorus, the song delivers the kind of musical madness I was hoping for. The second verse does a better job hitting us with unexpected aural exclamation points, though it could have embraced its inherent oddness even more. Thankfully, its guitar distortion backbone keeps things compelling.
Its first verse subscribes too heavily to the kind of skeletal trap that everyone’s already doing. The song loses me a bit when it slows down. Its chorus is memorable from the very first listen, even if it relies more on energy and novelty than well-developed hooks. Still, I think Kick It is at its best when it goes over the top.
Even the hip-hop verses feel needlessly aggressive, as if the guys would rather pummel us into submission than gradually draw us in. It’s a loud track, filled with chants about Bruce Lee and “new thangs,” and it’s more than a little silly. Kick It feels like a catchier, more approachable version of the style 127 built their name on. The song is a bit disappointing for those of us who adored the group’s more pop-minded material last year, but it also suits them so well.
With this in mind, new single Kick It (영웅) fits right alongside past tracks like Simon Says and Cherry Bomb. Still, when I think of NCT 127, I immediately picture experimental soundscapes, hard-hitting hip-hop and atypical approaches. Both have secured plenty of fans under the NCT umbrella, showing a remarkable level of diversity when it comes to genre and style. Despite unlimited potential for new sub-units, NCT’s Korean promotion has largely boiled down to releases from either 127 or Dream.
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