VIVIZ are back with their second comeback, following last summer’s Loveade. Thus far, the girls have been trying on a variety of styles. Nothing has stuck out as much as their old GFriend sound, but their work as a trio has been pretty solid. New single Pull Up hearkens back to a mid-2010’s girl group era where brass-filled bops were all the rage. It’s a surprisingly good match for VIVIZ.
Compared to earlier singles, the ladies sound very assured here. The song allows for more personality than before, fueled by a sassy energy. This is evident right from the start as a boisterous brass loop brings us into the track. From here, Pull Up flirts with disco and funk before dropping into its percussive chorus. VIVIZ aren’t reinventing the wheel here, but the song has focus and drive. Its arrangement is varied enough to maintain interest, moving through distinct segments without sacrificing the central appeal of the track. A repeated rap during the bridge and outro is goofy fun, proving the girls aren’t taking themselves too seriously.
Over the past few years, I’ve grown more unimpressed by K-pop choruses that opt for some slinky bassline over a robust melody. Pull Up takes this approach but melds it to a hook that feels like a natural peak. This goes a long way toward making the track a satisfying whole. Though it clocks in at under three minutes, you feel like you’re getting a full experience rather than a stop/start sketch of a dance song. Time will tell how Pull Up ages, but I think this might by the group’s strongest single yet.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
