Tag: BOYNEXTDOOR

BOYNEXTDOOR is back with their 5th mini-album, The Action, led by the single Hollywood Action. It follows the release of their 4th Korean mini-album, No Genre (yet to review) and the single I Feel Good, as well as their Japanese single, Count To Love.

I have been a little busy the last couple of weeks, so I hadn’t checked out any teaser material for BOYNEXTDOOR’s newest album. So, going into Hollywood Action, I had no idea what to expect aside from what I knew of BOYNEXTDOOR. Well, I am genuinely surprised with how the final product turned out. The track features a retro-driven swing rhythm instrumental with catchy brass. Altogether, this lays the foundations for Hollywood Action‘s fun, addictive and groovy nature. I also liked the jazzy elements that the producers managed to incorporate into Hollywood Action, particularly via the outro where the members introduce the piano, drum bass and trumpet for some brief solo moments. I did enjoy BOYNEXTDOOR’s dynamic and chemistry in Hollywood Action, which made the song super engaging and worthwhile to listen to. Their delivery adds to the fun and gives off a witty impression, which works well with the lyrics. However, I think Hollywood Action needs something textural and be longer to take it to the next level in my book.

The music video is excellent! It definitely matches the fun and upbeat vibes of the song. We see the members crash the Hollywood production of a spy-slash-sci-fi movie that, if it were real, would be extremely cringy and cheesy. But isn’t that the nature of some classic spy and sci-fi movies from that era? I particularly liked how they are nonchalantly performing their choreography throughout the video, whilst on set and in the foreground of the movie production. I also liked the ending of the video, which saw the members (and the rest of the cast and crew) attend an award ceremony and receive an award for the film. This speaks well to those jazzy elements in the song and just gave a nice classy cap to the video. Love that the aliens were also there, as well.

The performance for this comeback, from the one reel and the snippets in the music video, promises synchronisation and the vibrant energy. This performance already looks like a standout to me. I enjoyed the Thriller reference and am intrigued by that crouching twist (where they touch the ground behind and in front of them) move, all of which form part of the chorus routine.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10

BOYNEXTDOOR is back with a new mini-album, No Genre, and the single I Feel Good. This is their first album release since September 2024’s 19.99 (album yet to be reviewed), led by the single Nice Guy. An English version of I Feel Good and the January 2025 single IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU (also yet to be reviewed) are featured on the new mini-album, as well.

Only two groups that can pull off I Feel Good‘s energetic vibes come to mind – the first element that really stands out to me in the new song. The first is BOYNEXTDOOR, who has gradually grown on me since their debut and made a name for themselves with their ability to embody energetic vibes so well. The second is Block B, as I Feel Good just has a lot of their flair. The latter also makes sense given that one of the writers (and the producer of BOYNEXTDOOR) is Block B’s leader, ZICO. The funky bass guitar and the guitar work throughout I Feel Good are punchy and charismatic, while the beat gives the song head-nodding potential. The catchiness of the song’s hook (i.e., the “I Feel Good” repetition) is made even better with the delivery of the “I“. The hacking-like delivery just gives it character and personality. The rapping just exudes so much of that already mentioned energy, while the vocals were pretty nice. LEEHAN’s vocals in the second verse have a sleek and chic feel, while I enjoyed the incline that the vocals bring alongside the background for the pre-choruses. Again, the biggest problem with I Feel Good is simply that the song is too short. While it is all energy from start to end, I Feel Good could have done better with a peak moment to build up towards and give the song more trajectory. But overall, another powerful song from BOYNEXTDOOR.

Like the song, the music video is just as fun and energetic. It starts with BOYNEXTDOOR entering a corner store and having a one-sided rap battle with the shop attendant. The rest of the video shows BOYNEXTDOOR going around, spreading their positive feeling and promoting their upcoming underground performance. Flyers and a dance battle are involved. I liked how you can tell the members had fun filming the video. I also enjoyed the comedic touch by having LEEHAN hold a ‘BOYNEXTDOOR’ sign with an expressionless face whilst everyone else is moving about. I wish they had done more with the grayscale scenes, as they felt underbaked compared to the rest of the music video. But overall, a fun watch.

And just like the rest of the comeback, the performance for this comeback embodies the energy and positive vibes of the song. The routine involves the members constantly moving, which maintains the energy throughout the routine. I enjoyed the rock references, with the microphone and air guitars during the chorus. The Michael Jackson touch made complete sense (as he was referenced in the lyrics), and I loved the range of edgy moves paired with the “I Feel Good” hook.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9/10

Earlier this week, we saw BOYNEXTDOOR return with their 3rd mini-album, 19.99, and the title track Nice Guy. But last week, BOYNEXTDOOR pre-released the single Dangerous. This review focuses on the pre-release single, which also got the music video treatment. As noted in Nice Guy‘s review, we last saw BOYNEXTDOOR through their Earth, Wind & Fire comeback earlier this year.

Right off the bat, I instantly get a sense of goofiness from Dangerous. This is re-confirmed when you read the lyrics, which speak to their rebellious phase, which they do not want their parents to know. Very relatable! The pre-release focuses on the hip-hop genre, a slight deviation from their regular work. But not an extreme deviation – after all, they are produced by ZICO, a well-known hip-hop artist in the KPOP industry. Since Dangerous‘ release, I have been nodding along to the song’s beat. The synths are a bit slinky, but they are backed up with some good bass that makes the beats more pronounced. The members delivered the song with a goofy and playful demeanour, giving Dangerous that personable and relatable feel I mentioned above. Their rapping was solid. However, they could have made Dangerous even more playful if there were a few serious melodies. Again, like most songs released this year, Dangerous is severely short. But I think this plays in BOYNEXTDOOR’s favour. Dangerous is not meant to be taken seriously in any way, and a short pre-release is a good vector for that. It keeps the song short and sweet without directing too much attention towards it, which may be perceived as very immature, which has implications for the artist.

The music video shows one of the members stealing their parents’ car keys (as they sleep) so they can go out and have some fun with the rest of the group at the karaoke. However, they lose the keys in a rubbish skip, leading to a frantic search to find them (otherwise, the poor guy has to return home and explain why the keys are missing). And the night wraps up with a welcomed breakfast featuring some meat. We see some memes in the video, and the members try on their parents’ belongings (which I am sure we all had a snoop around before). It is a fun video, and I like how straightforward and literal they interpreted the lyrics. I also like how the video ends with the parents none the wiser, allowing BOYNEXTDOOR to continue their rebellious phase the next night.

Despite being a pre-release, BOYNEXTDOOR hit the weekly music shows this past week to perform their pre-release single. The members ensure they show just how fun the routine is throughout the performance. I liked the ending the most, with their odd shuffle around the stage.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

BOYNEXTDOOR returned to the music scene yesterday with the new single Nice Guy and the new mini-album 19.99. It follows their earlier 2024 comeback of Earth, Wind & Fire and mini-album How? (which I have yet to review, but I can confirm that it is coming). Ahead of Nice Guy, BOYNEXTDOOR pre-release the single Dangerous last week, which I will be posting a review for later this week (the way I drafted it hinges on the review for Nice Guy to be published first, which is why we are here).

Since its release yesterday, I have given Nice Guy a few listens. Interestingly, the same thoughts have recurred on each occasion. I acknowledge that Nice Guy is funky and groovy, which offers the song a fun exterior. This fits BOYNEXTDOOR’s repertoire of title tracks, which all have this fun element that makes them appealing. But for some reason, my mind keeps settling that the song’s delivery, especially when it comes to the chorus, feels constrained (more than usual, at the very least) and underbaked. I don’t get that same excitement from the members in Nice Guy compared to the other title tracks and even the pre-release Dangerous. Interestingly, I keep missing Nice Guy’s chorus. I think consistency is the issue here, as the chorus and verses all felt similar and didn’t really differentiate much between one another. And the lack of oomph from their delivery doesn’t help out. The only major difference I hear is the presence of Nice Guy‘s hook (i.e., Look at me, Look at my lines my girl…), but even that didn’t feel memorable enough for me. Even the other parts of the song don’t really catch my attention. Ultimately, all of this leaves Nice Guy in an awkward position where I don’t remember much from the song once it wraps, which isn’t the usual reaction to BOYNEXTDOOR’s title tracks.

I am not entirely sure what is going on in the video. At first glance, it looks like a hodgepodge of different scenes. But given the song is about BOYNEXTDOOR trying to get with the person they like, I think my guess is that the guys are trying their best to make the person fall in love with them. Things they have done in the video to win over the person include getting a job at the same workplace as that person (the pizza shop), trying to deliver food to the person they like (but they end up delivering to the wrong person entirely) and taking care of animals to win over the person. I did like the second chorus montage, where the different backgrounds are spinning into one another. It looked cool. The falling through-the-floor montage feels far-fetched, especially since I didn’t see its relevance to the video. But I do like how that led into the final bit, with the group dressed up in a classier way, and it pulled all the characters in the video (including the background characters into one scene).

I liked the choreography for this comeback. It has a lighthearted vibe, which works nicely with the song. We have to wait for more to see, but I think the choreography they perform towards the end of the music video at the party scenes is shaping up to be my favourite part. Again, this sequence embodies that lighthearted vibe but just gives something different that the rest of the choreography (from other parts of the music video) didn’t have.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

We are now mid-week, but I am finally making a start on the comebacks that occurred at the start of this week. BOYNEXTOOR is one of the artists that did so, and they returned with the single Earth, Wind & Fire. The new single forms part of the group’s second mini-album, How?. An English version of the song also features as part of the new mini-album. This is their first comeback since the release of But Sometimes and WHY… last year.

BOYNEXTDOOR goes down a very playful route for Earth, Wind & Fire. This playful route revisits a dynamic that the group kind of touched on in one of their debut singles, One and Only. A major difference between the two songs is that Earth, Wind & Fire goes even further along in the playful department. This is particularly highlighted to us following the fun yet repetitive chorus (more on this in a second), with the sped-up line post-chorus. The chorus itself is already quite playful via its melodies, and the addition of the post-chorus sped-up line reiterates that even further. I can also see it potentially attracting attention and keeping Earth, Wind & Fire in your mind, even after it wraps. The chorus could have been better had it had more to it. It did end up being quite repetitive and this may have implications on continuous repeats of the song. I would imagine the repetitiveness might dull everything else going in the song or has been set up. To me, the most lacking sequences of Earth, Wind & Fire are the verses. The opening verse was okay with some interesting vocals, but there wasn’t anything that pinged me as interesting or worth mentioning, As for the second verse, the rapping and vocals we got didn’t feel like it fit with the rest of Earth, Wind & Fire. But the pre-chorus lines and trajectory serves as a nice ramp up to the song’s highlight. I also like the retro direction the bridge had. Overall, I appreciate the fun energy and unique elements in Earth, Wind & Fire, which keeps me around.

Backing up the playful song is the music video. And this video is definitely wild and a quirky journey. Earth, Wind & Fire is about the feelings of how the person someone love can be their whole world like the elements of earth, wind, and fire. These are definitely represented in some form in the video. But the song also highlights how love is like nature one can’t control, which we can see represented in the video via the imagery of the wild weather events in the sets. I quite enjoyed the addition of the sped-up choreography scenes to accompany the sped-up sequence of the song, as well as the in-built lyrics to help us (loosely) decipher that they are singing in that sequence. These two elements definitely adds to that playful nature really well.

Keeping the playful vibes alive is the choreography, which I really enjoyed to watch. They really carried the energy through the entire performance – both in the choreography and their chemistry on stage. It was so fun to watch and become engage in. I also found a down-to-earth side to the choreography, which furthers that engagement I just mentioned. I also find it astounding that they are also doing the sped-up sequence live, which adds intensity to the mix. Definitely can’t wait to watch more of this group performing this song on stage!

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8,5/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

BOYNEXTDOOR is nominated for Best New Male Group in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support BOYNEXTDOOR and your other favourite acts by clicking here to vote today.

The BOYNEXTDOOR release that I promised I would review one day is the single Serenade, the third and final single from their single album WHO!. Today is the day I fulfil the promises I made in their One & Only and But I Like You reviews. Serenade was later featured as part of the group’s first mini-album released in October, Why.., and an album review for Why.. will be published soon.

Of the three debut singles BOYNEXTDOOR had, Serenade offers a more melodic focus. If you know me, I do like tracks that more vocal or melody forward, compared to rapping. And while the melodies in Serenade are quite pleasant and the vocal work we do hear from BOYNEXTDOOR does have some potential (the bridge is the best example of this potential), I wished that the producers of Serenade reeled the song in a bit. The group keeps to their youthful and playful charms in this song, something that they really made sure to emphasise in their both One & Only and But I Like You already. I don’t have an issue with the producers and the group maintaining this energy (as that is their concept), but it does make Serenade feel a bit ‘too much’. Some of the vocals and rapping feels a bit over-the-top and shouty, which detracts from the melodic focus that I mentioned at the start. Elsewhere in Serenade, I really liked how the song ends (though the “I’ll get along with your dad, for you” line makes me laugh), and I thought the various detailing in the instrumental keeps the track charming and on its toes.

The group chases after the person they have a crush on in the music video. And that is the music video in a nutshell. They follow her on the streets, to the place where she hangs out with friends (i.e., the recurring diner) and to her home. Not in a creepy sense, but in a ‘boy next door’ type of fashion that you see in American TV shows, where one party is upstairs and the other party is outside throwing rocks at the window to get the other’s attention. Holding speakers over the top of one’s head whilst outside of another’s home is similar I liked how the dad opens the door at the very end, and the group is taken aback with the presence of the dad. It gives context to the final line of the song mentioned above.

The performance was fun and playful, which works with their image. I really liked the crab walk move they do as a group in the first chorus  

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.9/10

I know I have not yet finished reviewing all of BOYNEXTDOOR debut/pre-debut singles. I have already reviewed One & Only and But I Like You, but not yet Serenade (I will get to that). However, should that stop me from reviewing their first comeback single, which dropped yesterday? I think not. BOYNEXTDOOR has returned with their first mini-album, Why.., which features all of their debut/pre-debut singles mentioned above and three new tracks – one of which is the title track But Sometimes.

But Sometimes departs from the more innocent sound that they started off with a few months back and goes for a punkish rock sound. It is definitely an on-trend change in direction for the rookie group and I do like how they sound in But Sometimes (more on this in a moment). To be fair, I had expected the group to have debuted with an edgier sound, particular since the group boasts Zico as their producer. And the edgier tone in But Sometimes seems to satisfy that expectation. It also sounds on brand for Zico. I am glad that they do explore an edgier sound, as BOYNEXTDOOR sounds much more engaging in this form. I really like how straightforward the punk rock instrumentation was. The guitar riffs and drumming were very expressive in delivering the punk rock sound, but also they keeps the energy upbeat enough to form But Sometimes into a dance track. The melodies in But Sometimes were memorable, particularly in the chorus. There is something about those melodies and the group’s shouty delivery that just clicks and works tremendously well. Elsewhere, there was some other strong delivery from the members. For example, the second verse rapping sequence was top notch and well-executed. I also liked how clean the final moments of the bridge were, in both instrumental and vocal departments. It made for a really nice incline towards the final chorus. Overall, But Sometimes gets my tick of approval.

Compared to the music videos and songs released for their debut (which were all about falling in love), the music video and But Sometimes deals with the heartbreak associated with one’s first love. I really like how the video has tie-ins to their previous videos, such as the replicas of the burger joint sign and the house of their first love/crush. But instead of the sunny blue skies and lovely neighbourhood, the video depicts these settings on fire and the sky around them is a hell-ish red tone. I also like how the members are dressed in black whilst everything around them was burning, as if they are mourning and grieving. Elsewhere in the video, we see a teddy bear become decapitated and the members struggle through the heartbreak. It was a well-shot video that really sums up the meaning of the track quite well. I also like the recurring presence of doors, which I had pointed out to likely be a recurring element in their One & Only review.

The edgier sound mentioned above allows the performance to show a different range and energy in the choreography. And BOYNEXTDOOR pulls off the performance quite well. Nothing really stood out for me, but given it is their first edgy routine and that they pull it off well, I think the performance is a success. Their stage presence is also a positive, with the members having great chemistry with the camera.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

Continuing my coverage of releases I should have reviewed much closer to when they were released is BOYNEXTDOOR’s But I Like You. It was one of three singles off the group’s first single album, Who!, all of which had an accompanying music video and were promoted on the weekly music shows. The other singles include One & Only and Serenade (the latter I have yet to review, and will return to review on another day). In other related news, BOYNEXTDOOR is due to make their comeback next month.

But I Like You is a fair song. Not as punchy as One & Only, but it does the job as an introduction to the group, given it was the first of the three singles to be released. But I Like You features a held-back form of pop rock. The beat keeps the song bouncing along, but there isn’t much else to the song to build excitement. But I Like You just doesn’t have enough meat to really deliver on that front and I wish it had that oomph as it does slightly frustrate me when the rest of the song is quite good. Vocally, the members sounded very nice. Their vocals had the right amount of texture to fit that pop-rock motif and they give enough energy to give But I Like You a vibrant flair that adds to the song’s appeal. The melodies and hooks had a catchy tinge, just not to the same degree as One & Only. Had the instrumental not been suppressed, I think the reach of melodies and hooks could have heightened. My only other two gripes of the song occurs at the end – the fact But I Like You is very short (it only goes for 2:17 minutes) and it has an abrupt ending that leaves you hanging for more. And that craving is never satisfied, as the single album goes onto the next song. Overall, But I Like You is decent and it is clear to me more could have been done on many fronts to make go further.

But I Like You is all about the feeling of falling in love. In the music video, the members all express this feeling after falling for the same girl. Not a foreign concept in KPOP, but it feels like it has been a while. We see the members sit around at the start, explaining their interactions and excitement to each other. However, those interactions are quite brief, such unintentional physical contact, glimpses from afar or with one another and short text messages. They all get invited to a party and realize their feelings are for the same girl. An awkward second occurs during the party, before the members appear to play it cool and leave the party. A short video, but I liked how succinctly yet effective the story was. And this is in addition to the choreography scenes.

The members did a super good job at making the song appear more vibrant and poppy. Their chemistry with the camera and one another does not allude to the fact the group were a newly debut group. I also like how they express themselves in the performance, with a youthful and cheerful vibe to compliment the song.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.5/10

New group alert! BOYNEXTDOOR made their debut back in May with a triple title track situation – But I Live You, One and Only & Serenade. All the tracks come off the group’s first single album, Who!. Good question. BOYNEXTDOOR is a six-member male group from KOZ Entertainment (a subsidiary company of HYBE LABELS) and is produced by famous KPOP producer and Block B member ZICO. The group consists of Sungho, Riwoo, Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan and Woonhak. This review will focus on their highest charting and what I think is their more recognisable title track, One & Only. But I do have intentions to return to review But I Love You and Serenade in the near future.

I found One & Only to be a cute number. I think it has been a while since I have described a male artist’s release like that, but it does take me back to the cringy days of KPOP when cuteness was the only thing male groups were putting out. One & Only appears to be more refined, without it going into obnoxious territory. I am very appreciative of that. The chorus was a fun little jingle that I cannot get out of my head. It was also playful vibe and suits the youthfulness that BOYNEXTDOOR clearly brings to KPOP. That being said, One & Only is not the perfect KPOP release, let alone a debut release. I don’t remember much from the song other than the chorus jingle, and the members don’t have much opportunity to really showcase their individualistic talents or skills in the song. This is particularly a major problem given that this is one of their first releases, and I don’t see anything that helps differentiate the team from their competition (which I believe will be heating up later this year). Thankfully, the other title tracks do provide this opportunity. But overall, One & Only does enough to attract attention to the group, and serves as a good starting point of the newly debut male group.

Given that the group’s name is BOYNEXTDOOR, I thought it was clever to make a door a recurring element in their music videos. Hopefully, the producers keep this up in future music videos, as this could be a trademark element for the group and it would be intriguing to see how this would be interwoven into future concepts that are not as casual as this one. As for One & Only specifically, the music video feels refreshing and has an exciting energy coming through it. The cuteness comes through as well, and it also isn’t obnoxious from a visual sense. The members look like they are having a fun time, which works well with the joyful and bright energy the group exudes from the song.

While the song doesn’t showcase the members as it should, the performance does a good job of showcasing their cohesiveness. And just like the rest of the comeback, there is a fun and playful vibe coming from the choreography that instantly makes me smile. I like how the door was incorporated into the performance, especially as it helps introduces the members and hides the members throughout the performance. The best part, however, was when one of the members shakes the door to make the others “fall” out.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 7.9/10