Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.

Judging from commentary online, B1A4‘s Rollin‘ comeback has disappointed a fair share of the group’s fans. This surprised me, since it feels like such an instant, anthemic hit. Luckily, if you feel like the song borrows too much from tropical trends at the expense of the classic B1A4 sound, the rest of the mini album should compensate. As usual with this group, they’ve compiled a very consistent collection of tracks, resulting in one of the strongest minis this year.

Chief amongst these offerings is the ebullient, rollicking You Need Me (너는 내가 필요해). Composed and produced by leader Jinyoung, the song carries all the hallmarks of the group’s most addictive upbeat material. It may begin with a soothing, down-tempo take on the chorus and a brief tropical electro breakdown, but after that the gloves are off. A persistent throb of percussion supports the verses, winding up to the song’s explosive, shout-along hook. The melody here isn’t quite as complex as something like 2013’s What’s Happening, but the sentiment is very much the same. The only missing piece is that secondary, post-chorus hook that tends to pop up during the climax of Jinyoung’s best work. You Need Me does such a good job sweeping listeners up in its driving energy that it could stand to run even longer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12-Y3wNDS0s
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