Of all the trends that have come to dominate the K-pop landscape over the past year, the retro revolution is one that I’m fully on board for. After the gargantuan success of western acts such as the Weeknd and Dua Lipa, Korea have quickly latched onto this now global appreciation of music of the days gone by. I’ve always loved songs from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and whenever I hear a more modern take of sounds from those era’s, I’m almost predisposed to love it. Such is the case with When We Disco, a track that brings together two of the industries most magnetic performers to create a somthing that feels like a throwback in the best way possible.
As soon as I saw the initial teasers for When We Disco, I knew I was going to love it. I mean you had Sunmi, the queen of retro concepts and JYP, the guy who pretty much popularised the idea of retro concepts with Wonder Girls. And the final product doesn’t disappoint. Much like Sunmi’s own Pporappippam from earlier in year, the song manages to hit most of my musical soft spots with ease. And while I don’t even think It comes close to Pporappippam‘s near flawless brew, it’s easily one of the most enjoyable I’ve heard all month. I adore the groovy dance beat and those icy synths sprinkled throughout are just so satisfying. The song has some great energy and it’s only amplified by the performance. Sunmi and JYP know exactly how to tackle a song like this and they manage to imbue each and every moment of When We Disco with just the right amount of charisma and cheese.
Speaking of cheese, this song is one of the most campy songs and music videos I’ve seen all year. And. I. Love. It. You just don’t get these kinds of concepts any more and I’m so glad that these two really know how to have fun. The whole thing feels almost like a parody but is held together by some really fantastic songwriting and a hook that hits immediately. In an age where dark edgy concepts and faux badassery reign supreme, this is very refreshing. It uses repetition to its advantage and while I don’t know how this will effect the tracks longevity, I know that for now I’m fully entranced within this songs buoyant and cheesy charms. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Verses: 8
Chorus: 9
Production: 9
Performance: 9
Final Rating: 8.75 / 10
KBopped 
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