A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.

K-pop’s early summer continues with the release of Fantasy Boys’ newest mini (single?) album. It’s heavily themed toward the season, down to its title (and also the title of this buried treasure), Make Sunshine (몰랐어 첫사랑인지 스쳐가는 감정인 건지). Prior to its release, the guys performed both this and title track Pitter-Patter-Love on music shows. I watched both and debated which deserved more promotion. I’m still not completely sure and hope that Make Sunshine gets a music video closer to actual summer because it really encapsulates that vibe.

Before even listening, my mind was blown by the fact that this song is a full four minutes long. That may be a reason it wasn’t chosen as the title. It can be uncommon to find K-pop singles that extend past the three minute mark, but four minutes is practically unheard of in this age. This extra length allows for a fully-fleshed out pop track, delivering a series of climaxes. Better yet, Make Sunshine echoes the carnival-esque, brass-kissed sound that fuels so many K-pop summer classics. It’s too familiar to compete with the best of the best, but I’m very pleased with its bright, bounding energy. It may be slightly less catchy than Pitter-Patter-Love, but the fullness of its production definitely compensates.

Grade: B+