There are few things I enjoy more than a great summertime song. They’re bright, they’re exciting, and they remind me of my favorite time of the year.

There’s no telling what this summer in K-pop will bring, but over the next few weeks I’ll be flashing back each day, showcasing a highlight from past summers. The rules are simple: I fire up my carefully compiled “K-pop summer” playlist, hit ‘shuffle,’ and if the song that pops up hasn’t already been featured on the site, it gets a post and mini-review of its own.

So, get ready for a summer of K-pop on The Bias List!

(View all the Summer of K-pop songs here)

<< Song 09 >>

VIXX – G.R.8.U (2013)

Though not a traditional summer release, G.R.8.U’s step into a brighter soundscape makes it a perfect pick for any warm weather playlist. VIXX ditch their dark theatricality for a moment to deliver an upbeat explosion of singalong pop hooks and sweeping synths. The punchy verses set up a rhythmic pre-chorus that perfectly introduces G.R.8.U’s surging refrain. Even so, the song’s highlight is a warped vocal hook that punctuates each chorus. There’s not a moment of wasted space, here – just wall-to-wall pop melody, performed with panache.