It’s always an odd choice to debut a sub-unit before the main group has yet to establish themselves. E’Last debuted last year, and quickly developed a dramatic sound that hearkened back to previous K-pop generations. They could do with another group comeback. Instead, four of its members have formed E’Last U and dropped The Beginning of Spring (right in the… middle of spring).
Sub-units can be a lot of fun, especially when they forge their own path and opt for a drastically different sound. The Beginning of Spring (봄의 시작) is different than E’Last’s singles, but not in a good way. The song gets major side-eye from me right from the start, as the instrumental hinges on two of my least favorite K-pop elements. First, we’ve got that plonky, xylophone-esque synth, which tends to land with a resounding thud every time it’s present in a track. Then, we have those lurching future bass synths, which melt like runny watercolors, draining all life from the production.
The Beginning of Spring would be salvageable with a great melody, but the song goes nowhere. The verses are pretty, and occasionally remind me of Infinite’s more experimental, symphonic work (Feel So Bad, anyone?). But, there’s barely a chorus to be found. Instead, the producers retreat to additional instrumental noodling, placing a lackluster refrain over a bed of distorted synths. Some of these textures are compelling on their own, but without a strong song draped over the top, Spring never gets off the ground. It’s like a car struggling to start, and the engine just won’t turn over.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 6 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 6 |
| RATING | 6.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Whoever thought that lurching instrumental would be musical needs to reconsider. There might be a good song buried under all that, but to get to it one would have to scrap the instrumental and re-record the vocals, and a few other things.
I mean, the song is in 6/8’s time, I should like immediately. … I do not.
The boys do well enough to hit the staccato marks set by the producer, and keep up that pace for almost 4 minutes. Meanwhile, onto, oh look, Ko WooRim bias wrecker autoplays some chestnut again, yippee, yessiree.
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Opinion: Producers should try a little more of non 4/4’s time. But whenever they do that, they go straight to 6/8 or 3/4. I’d like to see more wacky tempos. Schoenberg did a few, but he was classical. I remember an old Bollywood song (which’s name I forgot) was in 5/4, and so was Mission Impossible’s theme. Maybe some more of that?
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I second, third, fifth, and seventh this.
My favorite 7/8 song of all time Vienna Teng “Level Up”
‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4n_8R5lKnw
She does a lot of mixed meters and skipped beats in other songs.
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This! While I don’t often explore a lot musically, when I come across songs with odd time signatures, I just instantly gravitate just because I love how unusual it is.
Most often though, these songs are instrumental, since it’s probably harder to write lyrics that don’t adhere to 4/4.
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Semi-related, and since it will be a slow day. I started the list and correctly guessed that “lurching” and “that xylophone synth” would show up in this review.
List of things that trigger Nick:
Infinite “The Chaser” = all good
Janet Jackson = all good
New Jack Swing = good
Propulsive = good
Savage Garden = good
Teddy then = good
YYJ then = good
High be be da loca = inspired
High-pitched helium Aegyo = depends
YYJ now = depends
Future Bass = depends
SuJu making interesting song choices = meh
City Pop / 80’s revival = meh
Teasers that have nothing to do with the song = meh
OST’s, ballads, coffee house and spring songs = meh
Drop choruses = ugh
Cheerleader chants = ugh
That bamboo / xylo synth fingers dropping on keys sound = ugh
“Moon” as top ten song of All Time = ugh
Teddy now = bad
Unnecessary trap = bad
Lurching = bad
Myma going on again about Vince Clarke, Depeche Mode, SuJu, and Forestella = depends
Add yours.
(I am also making a short list of favorite adjectives.)
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You forgot about Sweetune by the way…
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Though lately, Sweetune has been hit-or-miss with Nick, though that might just be with KEEMBO.
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Still pretty sure he’ll bring them up once in awhile.
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Lol you’re killing me.
One caveat: I’d split up 80’s and city pop. City pop is often a meh, but 80’s revival is almost always a yay 🙂
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Looks like I did not read all the way before commenting – looks like I was also half correct!
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OK, I have added Sweetune then and now, and split City and 80’s.
Keep ’em coming.
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Nimble synths=good and rhythmic funky titles=yay
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Moody or languid = nay
aegyo = absolute nay
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Oh my god this needs to be its own post. I’m tempted…
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City Pop / 80’s revival = meh –> Did I wrongly perceive this then? I thought the whole city pop and 80s synth trend was pretty well received here?
Loving this list though. It’s funny how we can see patterns forming over the years (“propulsive” was always a great one – though I haven’t seen that word used as much in the reviews now).
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Nick’s biases, as perceived by we regulars. Not our own biases, although as the author of the list I may interject one or two of my own (ahem).
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(I am also making a short list of favorite adjectives.) YES.
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Thank you all for your comments. I shall close today’s session with the current list of “Nick’s Bias Triggers” Until next time, as always, its been a pleasure.
Infinite “The Chaser” = all good
Janet Jackson = all good
Sweetune then = all good
New Jack Swing = all good
Rhythmic funky titles= all good
Nimble synths=good
Propulsive = good
Savage Garden = good
Teddy then = good
YYJ then = good
80’s revival = good
More cowbell = good
Sung chorus with a nice melody = good
SHINee back catalog = good
Bright boys theme done well = inspired
High be be da loca = inspired
Orange Caramel = inspired
Trance = usually inspired
IGAB = inspired
Songs that try to be like IGAB = depends
High-pitched helium = depends
Sweetune now = depends
YYJ now = depends
Future Bass = depends
SuJu making “interesting” song choices = depends
CF’s = meh
City Pop = meh
Dark theme = meh
Teasers that have nothing to do with the song = meh
OST’s, ballads, coffee house and spring songs = meh
Second verse rap = *sigh*
Rap triplets = *sigh*
Shouting not singing = *sigh*
Bratty girls theme = *sigh*, and dropping
Drop choruses = ugh
Cheerleader chants = ugh
Half-time breakdown = ugh
Fake deep voices = ugh
That bamboo / xylo synth fingers dropping on keys sound = ugh
“Moon” as top ten song of All Time = ugh
Moody or languid = Nope
Aegyo = Nope
Boys styled in pastel colors and sailor suits = oh good lord no
Obvious, metallic autotune = usually bad
Teddy now = bad
Unnecessary trap = bad
Lurching = bad
Myma going on again about Vince Clarke, Depeche Mode, SuJu, and Forestella = depends
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Aegyo bad? But I remember seeing your comments about enjoying FUN! by fromis_9 and JUICY by Rocket Punch? Those songs fall under aegyo don’t you think? (Also I swear I’m not a stalker. It’s just your comments are always the most memorable)
Also yes, dark theme is meh unless it’s done right, which is kind of a rarity nowadays
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Per my comment above: Nick’s biases, as perceived by we regulars. Not our own biases, although as the author or, more properly, the compiler of the list I interjected one or two of my own (ahem, what this list needs is more cowbell).
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Ah yes I totally get it, gah I really need to stop and think before commenting, it’s a really bad habit I’ve been trying to fix. Biases and opinions are obviously A-Okay
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You are all wonderful, and have inspired a new page: FAQ & Best of The Bias List
Please let me know if you have any questions you’d like answered or “golden comments” you’d like to nominate for inclusion on this very special page. Myma, your breakdown has the honor of being first up!
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This One JHYB comment:
“All jokes aside, the question “how would The Chaser sound if it were written in 2019?” gives me severe anxiety. Like – imagine a world in which The Chaser has a trap breakdown instead of the iconic rap break we have today. And not just The Chaser – like, bear with me: imagine Back, but all of the downtempo sections are actually future R&B. Picture in your mind’s eye – if you will – Monster by Big Bang, but instead of the bridge it’s hard Autotuned GD shouting skrrrt skrrrrrrt over a trap beat. Suffice it to say that shivers go down my spine. A certain ennui begins to disperse itself across the plane of our collective existence. My grip on reality loosens as I shift deeper into melancholia and pain…. what undiluted existential horror!”
Best.Comment.Ever.
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Ooh, I love this one! It paints quite a picture.
Added.
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While it’s not a comment, your Still Nirvana review is still hilarious to this day. You’ve rated others songs lower than that song, but I think this is the only song that has broken you.
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Oh yes, and also the Myma English in K-Pop Ranking Scale. They’ve updated it every now and then that there’s a lot of levels now.
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Exactly. I’ve been looking for that comment.
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Nick, for golden comments, I think there is one more that needs to be added. And that is Sargun (Metric System)’s a legendary spoof of the trolls you got in 2020.
“Wow, really wow, what kind of review is this?!?! As a longitme reader of your blog I’m deeply disappointed. I’ve been reading your reviews since 2026 and I’m just so frustrated that you can’t see that Dashing Kanadian Boxers only put out bops. Like this song is so good, and did you know they came from a small agency? Their career has been so hard and everyone is giving them online hate. I’m sorry Nick but this is honestly soty material. Even before I even listened to the song I even knew it was even soty material. You know what else is soty material, all of Blackpinks and Twices songs, their songs still weeks way but I know my queens will revolutionize the music industry. Your faves could never. DKB are revolutionary and did you hear about their deep lyrics. They talk about really sad moments in everyones life and it gets so deep. The part that made me cry was when they talked about when you feel like you’re going to sneeze but nothing happens. Ugh they are just so revolutionary DKB world domination! EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN STREAM GUYS WE HAVE TO GET TO 10K BEFORE BTS EVEN IF YOU DONT LIKE THE SONG PLEASE STREAM IF U TRU FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Also, love the new page!
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LOL this one kills me!
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Only yesterday was discount seungmin and I gushing about the possible creation of a bias list readers lore and here we are today.
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Also, there’s this comment by xenoterran which I cannot correctly recall but Nick liked very muchm
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Ooh for my favorite Xeno comments, his whole mini-novel in the top 50 songs of 2019 is a must-read for TheBiasList comments.
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Haha agreed. I’ll have to figure out the best way to include it on the page since it sprawled across various posts!
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Aw shucks, thank you all.
With minor tweaks since the last posting, here is the latest
Kpop Lyrics in English ranking, in descending order, best to worst:
Intelligible English good lyrics that rhyme
Intelligible English good lyrics
Unintelligible English of any quality lyrics
Double entendres
Mispronounced but decent lyrics
A single lyric line that is so craptastic it is great
Cringey but campy lyrics
Cringey cringetastic lyrics
Single entendres
Oh so bland lyrics
Really, what does that mean lyrics
But, um, I don’t think you know what that means lyrics
A single word said over over like that will make it mean something lyric
Well-pronounced lousy lyrics
Also note that:
Any song that starts with a “yeah” or inarticulate grunt = technical foul, automatic one point deduction
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Yes, I double nominate this one!
Also, side note Myma, but I love your long and informative posts. All your Vince Clarke, Depeche Mode, SuJu, and Forestella posts are some of my favorites.
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A few more suggestions, because I currently am just going on and on about this feature.
This exchange between Nick and a troll.
Leejon: you’re definitely a girl with the most basic taste out there and you’re biased too so you should consider stop reviewing songs for real
Nick: Ugh, you got me. I guess I’ll pack it up and stop reviewing. In fact, maybe I’ll stop listening to music altogether. Do you want the password so you can take over the site?
Nuff said.
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Haha how bitchy of me…
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There’s this last line of this comment by magrittes (?) in next level,
Yeahh….so SM got me unreasonably excited for this one after the 10 minute teaser film that actually made the initially freakish AI concept come off as really cool and interesting. I don’t care for this song; it’s just boring to me. The funny thing is that if you put it on 1.25 speed it sounds a lot better to me, like it was meant to be sung and rapped at this speed rather than the grinding pace of the original. Perhaps it’s just my internet induced gen z short attention span. Also kind of bummed about how the entire song is filled with these SMCU tie in words–naevis, kwangya, cosmo, going to this place or that–even as someone interested in the ‘lore’ I wonder why they couldn’t just release a normal song with normal, more universal sounding lyrics and just keep the fancy SMCU elements to the music video and teaser films. (Although the one mention of popping in the lyrics and the implication that jopping apparently has an in universe significance and wasn’t just some SM songwriter’s 3am fever dream is a little brain breaking for me.)
3am fever dream? Yes, exactly how I feel when I realize what the lyrics of superm songs are.
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I’m a sucker for Future Bass, so when I read the review I thought I might like the song. I don’t like all of the genre, some of it can be too generic, but I do love the sounds of synths just kind of entering in and out.
That said, this song’s not there. The synths aren’t clear enough for me to really feel it, and the chorus melody sucks. It’s like they took a generic ballad and added noisy synths behind it to hide the fact it was.
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I feel like there’s a better song hidden underneath. The song is in a different time signature and that is assuring by itself. Even though this is a style done a million times, this song feels fresh and symphonic.
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The music made me feel on edge and my brain feel itchy. It seemed to work against the very pretty vocals. I don’t know what they were aiming for but it left me uneasy.
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