With over 2,600 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature.

The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets the full Bias List treatment!

Year Released: 2011

For about three years between 2011 and 2013, Sweetune’s music was ubiquitous. This imperial phase directly precedes the moment the production team fractured into two, spawning the also-great MonoTree Studio. Oh, what a time to be alive!

Between the discographies of Infinite, Kara, Boyfriend and Nine Muses, Sweetune provided K-pop with one hell of a singles run. Of those groups, Boyfriend’s material often seems to receive short shrift. The guys weren’t providing chart conquering hits like Infinite or Kara, but their music was always incredibly solid. Don’t Touch My Girl (내 여자 손대지마) was the group’s second title track, and first with Sweetune as producers.

Judging from its title alone, you might expect some hard-hitting track filled to the brim with woeful posturing. But, Girl flips expectations. It’s a light-on-its-feet confection, effortlessly breezy and relentlessly melodic. The song hits us with its core beat from the very beginning, which is quickly joined by chugging guitar and a herky jerky synth line that feels constantly off balance. This robust brew supports a wistful melody, made more anthemic by layered refrains and some great backing vocals. Girl’s chorus springs naturally from its verses, stacking more vocals on top of each other for a swift hook that echoes the galloping beat supporting it. Things rev up with some modulation during the song’s final chorus, but Girl’s uncluttered, timeless structure doesn’t really call for a knockout climax. It’s perfectly straightforward, driven by a compelling arrangement and engaging performance.

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