Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of k-pop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.
Listening to Seventeen’s new album for the first time, I wondered whether the success of iKON’s Love Scenario and Pentagon’s Shine steered the direction of their title track. Oh My is already growing on me, but if I were part of the decision making process, I would have lobbied for Holiday as the album’s lead single. It’s upbeat and summery, but sounds different enough from the group’s recent work to leave an impact. And, its refreshingly brisk tempo feels very indicative of the album as a whole.
Holiday does a solid job merging its more modern production elements with the group’s usual dose of guitar-led funk pop. Its opening verse feels a little all over the place, but soon streamlines into a more propulsive arrangement. After a subdued pre-chorus, the song finds its groove with a slinky hook that cleanly delivers one of the album’s most irresistible melodies. The post-chorus refrain is less catchy, but offers a nice rhythmic balance that connects Holiday’s many moving parts. The track gives off a sense of breeziness that’s perfectly attuned to these summer months, bringing to mind a trendier version of Seventeen’s own Healing. Holiday isn’t quite as effective a song, but its pop-minded heart is in the right place. They really do pull off this sound better than anyone else in K-pop right now, and that effortless skill should be enjoyed by as many listeners as possible.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I’m so happy you picked this as the buried treasure!!!!!! I know a lot of people are going crazy over moonwalker but holiday and come to me are my favs off the album, they just make me feel so uplifted XD I was a little disappointed when I realised SVT would be doing tropical house (inspired, at least) but they manage to do it like KARD and just really push the sound til it becomes special and exciting rather than forgettable. that funky flute part has been stuck in my head since I heard it and I couldn’t be happier :3
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Moonwalker is good, but it seems like a crime to give a song that title and NOT have it be an MJ-style track. He was certainly not known for deep house.
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This was actually easily my least favorite when I first listened to the full album! Something about it irked me (maybe because the Oh My teasers made me so terrified of Seventeen going fully tropical house that Holiday was toeing the line just a bit too much). I really didn’t like it at all but, as songs always do, it grew on me immensely. The unadorned prechorus is what reeled me in for the first few listens after my initial dismissal of the song, and after a few minutes it was clear how strong and charming the track really is. It’s a poppy summer song with a Seventeen twist.
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I’m glad that it grew on you! It, along with Come To Me, was probably the album’s most instant song for me.
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