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 11 >>

SHINee – Boys Meet U (2013)

A highlight of SHINee’s (very strong) Japanese discography, Boys Meet U borrows heavily from the punchy power pop of One Direction, who happened to be quite popular at the time. Of course, SHINee improves upon the formula, giving the track’s guitar-chugging arrangement extra heft with their always-strong vocals. It’s one of the group’s most playful offerings, gifting the world with a few cheesy English-language one-liners. But when it comes down to it, Boys Meet U thrives on the strength of its incredible pop chorus, which hits with the best kind of bright summertime energy. It’s a reliable mood lifter, for sure.

EDIT: Oh my god, I’ve actually already reviewed this! Wow… this is the first time I’ve doubled up without realizing it. I guess it goes to show just how many reviews I’ve written. I’ll leave this one up, anyway 🙂