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 35 >>

B1A4 – Drive (2014)

Ah… we were bound to get to a song from this album eventually! When I think about K-pop summer, B1A4’s Solo Day is one of the first minis that comes to mind. Unlike the ebullient title track, Drive is a vibey CNU-composed offering. Its retro synths melt in languid harmony over rhythm guitar and a groovy, low-key beat. It’s not one of B1A4’s instantly catchy, big-chorused pop songs, but it has a real charm to it that improves with further listens. B1A4’s diverse set of vocal tones deliver plenty of unexpected texture, as the guys ad-lib all over the track.