Several days after announcing her online concert, Sunmi surprise-released new CF single Go Or Stop. The song is “inspired” by KIA, presumably because cars go and… stop? Whatever the motivation, it’s always great to hear new music from Sunmi. Go Or Stop pairs her with frequent collaborator Frants, and comes close to being a real highlight.
I love how relentlessly upbeat Go’s instrumental is. When it comes to tempo, K-pop so often ebbs and flows. But, it’s satisfying when a dance track remains danceable all the way through. It’s ironic that a song called “Go Or Stop” would be the one to buck this trend! Its pulsing beat thumps with a single-minded intensity, and I love when a sprinkle of keys joins the party for the pre-chorus. This arrangement has tons of potential. All it needs is one unique element to set it apart from other songs of this genre.
Go Or Stop could also do with a strong chorus. Given its breakneck pace, this segment needs to explode or deliver a killer hook. Unfortunately, the chorus doesn’t do either of these things. The energy pulls back, and the melody feels stuck in one gear. This is a shame, because the ingredients are here for a knockout song. It’s all just a little undercooked, like a demo that’s not quite there yet. And at a brief two-and-a-half minutes, the song makes no room for a bridge or climax. Sunmi drives Go Or Stop forward with her effortless charisma, and I love hearing her vocals over this brisk beat. But when it comes down to it, this is another October trick: a great idea undercut by a few frustrating choices.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
