8TURN are one of two K-pop debuts today. After a relatively sparse 2022, I expect 2023 to be a busy year for boy group debuts. These guys hail from MNH Entertainment, an agency that hasn’t had a great track record. Successful soloist Chungha just announced her departure from MNH while their girl group Bvndit disbanded last year. We’ll see if the agency can somehow be more successful with a boy group. 8TURN arrives with some pre-debut buzz thanks to members’ participation in survival series I-LAND, BOYS24 and MIXNINE. But if Tic Tac is any indication, MNH has no idea where to go with their music.
When in doubt, K-pop’s default decision seems to be opting for an NCT-lite sound. Dozens of boy groups have gone here before and I suspect dozens more will follow. Tic Tac lacks any ideas of its own, which feels a bit insulting as a consumer. Why do agencies expect us to fall in line behind a new group when they’re not offering anything we can’t get everywhere else?
On the “NCT rip-off” scale of obnoxiousness, Tic Tac falls somewhere in the middle. Its beat is mildly amusing and it earns extra points for not incorporating some irritating whistle sample. Its core chant/chorus feels vaguely melodic and the vocal blend is pleasant. But, the incessant shouting and general lack of melodic invention renders most of these strengths moot. As usual, it’s clear the guys of 8TURN are talented and charismatic. But, I’m eager to see their individual charms – not predetermined ones that have been copied and pasted on top of them.
(For what it’s worth, the music video is far more fun than the song)
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
