K-pop is littered with acts who – for one reason or another – didn’t get the full spotlight they deserved. I’ve spent plenty of time ranking and reviewed the industry’s biggest artists, but these underrated acts should never be forgotten.

This feature will take a look at disbanded groups and rank/rate their entire singles run, placing them in the pantheon of K-pop history.

Next up is Romeo!

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Career timeline: 2015-2018

Overall sound: Bright, funky pop initially produced by Sweetune before moving on to other collaborators

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8. Hanabi (Beautiful Like A Flower) (2018)

Romeo’s second Japanese single also acts as their musical farewell. As such, its sentimental, mid-tempo sound gets the job done. However, the stuttering electronics during the chorus are very 2018 in the most generic way and the melodies could be stronger.

Rating: 7.5

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7. Stay With Me (2017)

You can tell the budget was running on fumes by this point. Stay With Me’s music video may not inspire much excitement, but the song has a funky bounce and smooth vocals that make for a laidback vibe.

Rating: 7.75

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6. Nightmare (2016)

This is a sweet summer sound, bopping along brassy percussion and classic K-pop melodies. It’s a shame it wasn’t promoted with a better video. I don’t think I was too thrilled by this track back when it was released, but it’s definitely improved with time.

Rating: 8.25

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5. Treasure (2016)

Romeo go full-on SHINee with this jagged funk workout. The chorus is a bit too overstuffed for its own good, but I love the bounding energy of the instrumental. The vocal arrangement is also really satisfying.

Rating: 8.5

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4. Without U (2017)

Though they started their career with Sweetune, Romeo pivoted to Brave Brothers for this highlight. The verses are subtle and somewhat forgettable, but the multi-part chorus works well.

Rating: 8.5

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3. Miro (2016)

I remember being quite upset when Romeo ditched Sweetune so early in their career, which probably made me a bit bitter toward Miro. However, the song’s funky rhythm guitar and exciting hooks sound great in hindsight.

Rating: 8.5

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2. Target (2015)

You’re always gonna get me with a big Sweetune-produced banger. Target is an incredible burst of synth-fueled goodness, delivering high-octane verses and an explosive chorus. Just listen to the interaction between the main and backing vocals during Target’s thrilling centerpiece. It’s pure pop bliss.

Rating: 9.5

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1. Lovesick (2015)

Romeo debuted with the Sweetune-produced Lovesick and instantly captured my attention. The song is sleek and supremely catchy, fueled by its signature layered vocals and idiosyncratic synth loop. It may not be as bombastic as Target, but I put it a (slight) notch higher because everything about the song is so smooth and tightly produced.

Rating: 9.5

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OVERALL RATING: 8.5

(Check out the full “Underrated K-Pop” rankings list here!)