K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers!
But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold up and how representative they are of an artist’s eventual singles run.
Debut Date: July 9, 2010
Review:
Girl’s Day went on to craft an amazing discography, but you wouldn’t know it from Tilting My Head (갸우뚱). The first time I heard this, I think my face made one of those derpy emoji expressions, utterly shocked by the autotuned “haallooo” that opens the track. Looking back, I have a fondness for just how weird this song is.
First, some context. In 2010, it was not unusual to hear tracks with vocal effects slathered across every moment. It wasn’t to cover flaws in the performance. It was meant to sound synthetic. For better or worse, this was a trend during the time. Some songs carried strong enough melodies to cut through the computer wizardry. Tilting My Head isn’t one of those songs. I can’t tell if the producers were aiming for the sort of techno aesthetic favored by J-pop groups like Perfume and Capsule, but the whole package is wrapped in chirpy repetition that embraces the worst instincts of this approach. The anime-esque color-coded outfits certainly don’t help!
Still, I can’t hate Tilting My Head. It’s too ridiculous to completely dismiss. I also think there’s a good song buried in here. I like the call-and-response nature of the hook and the pulsing electronics of the instrumental. They just need to remove the incessant effects from the verses to offer contrast for the hyper-processed chorus. Luckily, Girl’s Day would soon follow this experimental debut with the sublime Nothing Lasts Forever and all would be right with the world.
Does the song hold up?
No. It’s pretty dated.
Is the song stronger or weaker than most of the artist’s title tracks?
It’s their weakest title track, though they did release a few dull ballads.
Does the song represent the artist’s music going forward?
It doesn’t represent their overall sound, but definitely hints at the quirky nature of their music.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 6 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
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The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I’m probably one of the only ppl I know that LOVES this song. I know it sounds weird and dated and very 2010 but I love that time period of kpop.
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finally you accepted our dare
i know i love cringe, but too much cringe and i click off. this song has too much cringe for me to finish
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This is the only song of theirs I don’t claim lol. I miss them so much that I feel like I’d accept the cringe again, though.
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I can hear the hook even if I haven’t listened to this in ages NOR was I there/following them when they debuted. Definitely of its time but in a really fun way lol
Do you take debut evaluation requests? Because I would LOVE for someone to talk about Stellar’s debut song ‘Rocket Girl’ which is……well it’s everything I feel IGAB and Zimzalabim aspired to be but didn’t quite reach IMO
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I adore this song, even if I’d never listen to it. It’s like if you asked an American television company in 2010-2015 to make what they thought K-Pop sounded like.
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This song is such a sad mess, but one that is annoyingly catchy, that I am changing my username for just this one post.
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The moment I read the title the hook is already stuck in my head 😭 agree it’s something you just can’t hate. And yes Nothing Lasts Forever is great that and Don’t Forget Me are my favorites from them.
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Yeah, nah.
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And that comes from a huge Crayon Pop fan.
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I was waiting for this one! I totally thought you would hate it since you don’t seem very fond of vocal effects in general. The song is a hard pass for me for the most part minus the chorus (I think it closes out badly though) and when they say “갸우뚱 갸우뚱”. This wasn’t my first girl’s day song, so it was very weird hearing such a forgettable song (and seeing a lineup of three members I didn’t know of).
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Control, from their debut album was a pleasure of mine for a few months in 2014. It gives off a very different impression of the group with the lower register and relaxed performance
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pretty soon the cia’s gonna use this song as a torture device
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I just came back here to see if Xeno came by to let us know his personal arc of Girl’s Day stanning, and which one he has the hots for. He has not, alas.
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