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.
I’m about to contradict myself…
In an industry that loves a pick-and-mix approach to song producers, I’m always urging agencies to find a core team of composers and stick with them. After all, this helps craft a signature sound for a K-pop group. But when it comes to Seventeen, I’d actually like to see them collaborate with new voices. That’s no dig on Woozi and Bumzu. Both are immensely talented. I just think it’s interesting to hear how the group might sound with different influence.
The Performance Team’s Back 2 Back answers this request while maintaining the Woozi/Bumzu magic that powers most of the group’s material. This one brings producer TAK into the fray and you can hear his abrasive electro touches all over the song. The production has a chugging, maximalist force that recalls early-2010’s SHINee alongside other TAK-produced hits like NCT 127’s Superhuman. For K-pop producer nerds like me, it’s great fun to hear Seventeen try their hand at this sound.
Melodically, Back 2 Back isn’t a discography standout. However, this is a Performance Team track so its emphasis is weighted toward its ability to spawn an engaging performance. With this in mind, I can visualize the stage now — sort of a Lilili Yabbay on steroids. I hope we get to see it!
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
definitely my favorite b-side too, TAK is a genius.
and I agree on collaborating with new producers. I love Woozi but it seems like him and the team have lost the plot for a while now. I appreciate the theme of the new album, but personally most of the songs are still a miss for me.
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they worked with tons of outside producers on your choice, attacca, face the sun and sector 17 with varying results. if anything woozi having “lost the plot for a while now” has more to do with having to give way to other randos intervening lol. hybe was clearly trying to make the group happen in the west in 2021/22 but they were never gonna have a breakthrough as a 13-member boy group, so now that they’ve given up on the US and billboard woozi & co. have gone back to mainly working on the music themselves.
either way, reading this comment and parts of the review had me go ? considering they HAVE been working with other people for the past couple years.
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Huh, but haven’t they had a major breakthrough in the west in the past two years? The fandom has snowballed to enormous proportions lately.
I definitely drifted apart from Seventeen a bit because of some of the more US-catered choices, but as far as I could tell it was successful.
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they’ve blown up in popularity everywhere and whatever small breakthrough they may have had in the west, it’s dwarfed by their growth in popularity in (east) asia. if anything they’ve had their biggest breakthrough in china this past year. they’ve completely stopped promoting in the US this year and are focusing on korea, japan and china now.
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Oh yes, this is a maximalists’ dream. Right now it’s a bit much for my poor overloaded brain, but I really dig this approach and if anyone can pull it off, its Seventeen.
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Love the production on this song! The Performance Unit really had the best unit songs this year.
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I liked 2/3 of this EP. I’m shocked, because while they have some of my favorite b-sides, they just generally don’t hit with me for some unknown reason. This might be some of the better stuff they’ve done since Your Choice. I even liked the title. And, TAK is always the right answer.
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