I dunno how unpopular this is or anything, I don’t pay attention to much discourse surrounding them (if there is any?)
I really enjoy a lot of IVE’s titles. The “classics” – Eleven, Love Dive, I AM, After Like – all amazing. On the other hand, I feel some of their more aggressive or intense songs (Kitsch, XOXZ, even Baddie?) get a bit more of a polarised reaction at least to start with.
To some extent, I get it? Their biggest tracks are often mastery of classic pop sounds/formulas, and they pull those off well.
Yet, when I’m watching live performances – it’s always songs like Kitsch or Bang Bang that bring out the absolute best in them. Yujin’s vocal tone is so much more assertive and punchy, it just immediately steals your attention – Liz also seems to go for a more chesty, power-focused approach. I find both Rei and Leeseo’s tones to be a lot more distinct and interesting with more forward delivery. Gaeul’s softer/breathier delivery also tends to work great in these songs as a contrast point. And Wonyoung seems to go 10x harder with the choreo when it’s not asking her to be “elegant.” I mean, I know people do constantly talk about how much she truly seems to enjoy herself performing Kitsch and I’m seeing it again this era.
The group don’t really fit the “girl crush” stereotype, but I find them infinitely more interesting when they work in that realm. I don’t mean that as an insult by the way. Again, their first 4 titles are effectively pop perfection and they pull it off well. Yet, being “perfect pop music” is almost boring in a way? I don’t mean to use such strong language as again I’m not trying to disparage IVE or anything. It’s just that the moment their songs pivot in tone, I’m hooked so much harder.
If they released another I AM tomorrow, I’d love the song to death but I wouldn’t really be surprised, shocked, or gushing about it to everyone in my vicinity. But Bang Bang just released and I do feel all of those things. When I heard Hypnosis and My Satisfaction for the first time, my jaw might as well have dropped. When I watched a live performance of Kitsch, my eyes were hooked so much harder than watching them perform Love Dive (a song I love equally as much on a musical level).
I think the general attitude on this is changing though. If I said this when XOXZ, Baddie or Kitsch came out I think I would’ve been a bit more on my own. But Bang Bang seemed to nail the balance for a lot of people and is getting plenty of great feedback; I’m very glad to see it. The members’ versatility is far greater than they get credit for.
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