Welcome to the next edition of the Weekly KPOP Chart posts. This is for Week 2 of July 2025, which spans from 6 to 12 July 2025.
My illness ended up lingering into this week, and so I didn’t get around to doing what I had set out to do for the blog. I am still recovering, though I am well enough to sit in front of a computer and start writing a few posts for the weekend and the week ahead. Got a few chores to run and errands to run, so let’s get right to the Weekly KPOP Charts.
Non-Korean Song of the Week
Each week, the top-ranked non-Korean Song on the Weekly KPOP Chart is spotlighted (as this is an area I haven’t been focusing on as much on my blog lately). The non-Korean song of the past week is ATEEZ’s latest single In Your Fantasy.
The Chart
fromis_9’sLIKE YOU BETTERranks in the top spot this past week, for the third week in a row as well. Congratulations to fromis_9!
Welcome to the next edition of the Weekly KPOP Chart posts. This is for Week 1 of July 2025, which spans 29 June to 05 July 2025. Can you believe that this past week was the start of the second half of 2025?
You may have noticed that my ‘at a minimum’ plan for the blog didn’t come through this past week. That was because I was unwell throughout the week. I am all better now, so hopefully this is the week it starts and I can finally make a dent on my forever growing list of songs and albums to review.
ICYMI – Favourite songs from November 2024 to June 2025
Around 1 July of each year, I make two posts. The first lists (in no particular order) my favourite songs from the year thus far (plus a few additional songs), while the second lists the top songs from each Weekly KPOP Chart post over the past year. If you missed either of these posts, you can find them below!
Each week, I spotlight a song not on the Weekly KPOP Charts that I’ve been listening to over the past week. I haven’t been doing this segment for the last couple of weeks because I haven’t had enough time to identify a track to feature. However, it is back now and I hope it stays for a long time.
This week’s song is a very recent song, but not one that I have included on the charts (as it is an K-Drama OST). It is HI-BOYZ’s When the Day Comes from the K-drama Resident Playbook.
Non-Korean Song of the Week
Each week, the top-ranked non-Korean Song on the Weekly KPOP Chart is spotlighted (as this is an area I haven’t been focusing on as much on my blog lately). The non-Korean song of the past week is Stray Kids’ Hollow.
The Chart
fromis_9’sLIKE YOU BETTERranks in the top spot this past week once again! Congratulations to fromis_9!
Welcome to the next edition of the Weekly KPOP Chart posts. This is for Week 4 of June 2025, which spans 22 to 28 June 2025.
As I had hoped, I managed to post some new releases this week. But it wasn’t the amount that I wanted to publish (I am aiming for a post a day, at the very least), so I will work on that. I will also be focusing on some 2025 albums starting from this new week (the second half of the year). However, before I can do that, I need to release the Weekly KPOP Charts for Week 4 of June 2025.
What else am I listening to?
Each week, I spotlight a song not on the Weekly KPOP Charts that I’ve been listening to over the past week. I haven’t been doing this segment for the last couple of weeks because I haven’t had enough time to identify a track to feature. However, it is back now, and I hope it stays for a long time. This week, the song in question is IVE’s Kitsch.
Non-Korean Song of the Week
Each week, the top-ranked non-Korean Song on the Weekly KPOP Chart is spotlighted (as this is an area I haven’t been focusing on as much on my blog lately). The non-Korean song of the past week is SEVENTEEN’s Bad Influence.
The Chart
fromis_9’sLIKE YOU BETTERranks in the top spot this past week! Congratulations to fromis_9!
During their last comeback with Supersonic, fromis_9 had an 8-member lineup. However, their contracts with Pledis Entertainment expired at the end of last year, and three members (Lee Saerom, Lee Seoyeon, and Roh Jisun) chose not to continue with fromis_9. The remaining 5 members decided to continue as a fromis_9, signing on with ASND and releasing their 6th mini-album, From Our 20’s, and the single LIKE YOU BETTER.
fromis_9 comes through at the end of the first half of the year with LIKE YOU BETTER. And even though it’s only been out for a little over a day, it’s already shaping up to be a hit for me. What I like about LIKE YOU BETTER in particular is its bolder and more in-your-face sound compared to some of their past releases. I loved the explosive chorus, the pop-driven melody, those shouty vocals that really boost the energy, and the super catchy but straightforward “I like you better” hook. I do think the second half of the chorus could’ve flowed a bit more smoothly from the first, but it still works. What I also liked in LIKE YOU BETTER is the pop instrumental. It’s super upbeat and feels refreshing, making it perfect for the summery season. The vocals are another highlight, particularly the layering of the bridge and the extra oomph they give to the final part of the song. The only downside for me was the rap part, which just didn’t quite fit with the rest of LIKE YOU BETTER for me. But that’s a small thing in what’s otherwise a fantastic track.
The music video features the group’s single suitcase being stolen, and they embark on a quest to retrieve it. But they also take advantage of the situation and make the most out of the trip. It is odd that the suitcase ends up in a claw machine, of all places, and is eventually thrown out by the members (though they do retrieve it for a change of clothes). I enjoyed the fact that they were outdoors and weren’t confined to a studio (as that was the case for some of their more recent videos), and I liked how the video embraces those summery vibes.
For the performance, I liked how the routine and the members themselves complemented the energy that the song exuded. I also liked how the audience embraced the liveliness, as this is a perfect song to sing along (or shout) to the hooks. I particularly enjoyed the moves that accompanied the second half of the chorus (i.e., the “Woahs“), as well.
Song – 9.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8.8/10
fromis_9 is gearing up for a comeback in June with a reformed lineup of 5 members (Song Ha Young, Park Ji Won, Lee Na Kyung, Lee Chae Young, and Baek Ji Heon), after it was announced that the group would not renew their contracts with Pledis Entertainment and that Lee Sae Rom, Roh Ji Sun and Lee Seo Yeon would be departing the group. It is time to review their last album release as an 8-member group ahead of the comeback. Supersonic (the single album) was released long overdue in July 2024, with the title track of the same name and 2 additional side tracks.
Despite the long hiatus between Supersonic and their previous album, Unlock My World, fromis_9 proved they were still on the ball with a chart-topping hit and 2 impressive side tracks. More on the songs can be found below.
2. Beat The Heat – The one thing that Beat The Heat could have done better is cohesion, as the rest of the track is pretty good. The single has a bit going on, but it doesn’t overwhelm. But those bridging moments are quite tight, and I wish they were a little more breathable. It maintains its upbeatness all throughout the song and sounds well-suited for the summery period in which it was released. I found the slightly descending melody in the first chorus quite abstract initially, but it grew on me over time. The group delivered everything else nicely. A great song, overall. (9/10)
3. Take A Chance – Beautiful vocals make Take A Chance a stunning listen. I enjoyed the contrast between the consistently beating instrumentation and the delicate melodies. And in addition to the beautiful vocals, I love how sweet and nostalgic everything came to be. It is a perfect song for a nice breezy day in Summer and the new chapter they are embarking on for each of their careers. (10/10)
Welcome back to another Weekly KPOP Chart post! It also been back to my normal routine and work wiped me out mid-week (hence why I didn’t post for two nights). Hoping that won’t be the case for this week (though to be honest, there is a high probablity it will happen again). I have been preparing some extra posts over the last day and will continue to do so today to reduce the impact of work on my ability to write and post reviews – especially since I am very late on some aspects of the blog (Did anyone figure out where the time has gone? How are we already in August?). Anyhow, here is a simple Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 2nd Week of August 2024. Let’s go!
Non-Korean Song of the Week
As my focus on this blog is primarily on KPOP songs, I draw attention to a particular song that isn’t in Korean in this part of the Weekly KPOP Chart post. That song is the top-ranking non-Korean song on each Weekly KPOP Chart post. Last week’s non-Korean song is one of JAEHYUN’s pre-release singles, Roses. It ranks in the 4th position this week.
The Charts
fromis_9’s long awaited comeback with Supersonic lands in the top song on the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 2nd Week of August 2024. Congratulations to fromis_9!
It has been over a year since we last heard from fromis_9 through their #menow comeback and Unlock My World album. While a comeback for this group should have been sooner, it took one member (Chaeyoung) to complain publicly in May about their lack of comebacks for their company to announce the group’s comeback for this month. That resulted in the release of Supersonic, which is the focus of this review.
It took me two listens to fall for Supersonic. I acknowledged how good the song was on the first listen, but Supersonic hit really hard upon the second listen. It has been on repeat since. The instrumental is a relatively simple aspect of Supersonic. The pulsing Miami bass beats give Supersonic so much body, while the percussive synths are wonderfully light yet textural enough to give the track added vibrancy. One of the things that surprised me was how much I enjoyed the consistent instrumental. It was all very similar throughout Supersonic. Normally, I would have commented on how it negatively impacts the quality of the song. But the producers of Supersonic do just enough in that space to ensure it doesn’t feel that way. A good example is the backing of Jiwon’s part in the second verse. It ‘roughened’ the trajectory of Supersonic briefly, with Jiwon’s lines delivering her lines perfectly. Talking about delivery, the standout elements in Supersonic are the members, who were extremely charming throughout. Once Supersonic‘s chorus started, Supersonic felt like a fromis_9 song to me. DM flashed into my mind during my first listen, and it is always the first song that comes to mind when I think of fromis_9’s sound. The melodies of the two songs are different, but their delicateness is a common factor throughout both songs. The dragged-out words in the opening line of the chorus were done so well and emphasised a refreshing vibe in the song. Supersonic manages to also infuse a slightly edgier vibe to it, which was intriguing. Even the ‘Super Super, Supersonic, Supersonic‘ rap-speak hook was done so softly (which aligns with the idea of fromis_9’s sound being delicate) but yet so punchy simultaneously. Put all of this together, and Supersonic is a strong addition to fromis_9’s repertoire.
The video captures Supersonic‘s refreshing vibes extremely well. The slight breeze in the music video, the group’s casual attire, and the water explosions provide a sprinkle in the final set of choreography scenes. All of this just makes Supersonic an ideal video for the summer season. The members themselves look amazing throughout the video. I just kind of wished there was a bit more to the video. It just doesn’t feel complete to me. But truthfully, I am not entirely sure what the music video lacks.
Choreography-wise, I thought it was good. That delicateness that I mentioned in the song portion of this post felt reflected and worked nicely with the song’s vocals. The first move during the ‘Super Super, Supersonic Supersonic‘ part was somewhat familiar – NewJeans’ Super Shy came to mind. BUT fromis_9 took it in a completely different direction after that move, so don’t get me wrong. I also liked how the members ended the performance, standing in a singular line and walking off to the sides like models as the song finished.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
fromis_9 debuted back in 2018 and it has taken them one full contract over a five year period to finally release their 1st ever studio-length album. Unlock My World was released in early June this year and features the title track #menow and 9 additional side tracks. For me, fromis_9 is a group who has released multiple underappreciated gems over their half-a-decade-long careers, with tracks like DKDK, Love Bomb (still one of absolute favourite tracks of all time) and DM under their name. I found this album to be full of these gems as well! 4 of the side tracks earned a 10/10 rating from me and the rest of the tracks also earning a high rating as well. Keep on reading to find out which 4 tracks got a 10/10 rating and my thoughts on the rest of the long time coming album.
Unlock My World Album Cover
1. Attitude– fromis_9 begins their first studio album with a 180° change with a darker and mature sound in the form of Attitude, which feels miles away from what we have heard from the group thus far. I really like how this track turned out. Alluring and very sexy sounding. I enjoyed the synth work in this track, giving Attitude so much texture to work with. This is smoothed out by the members’ vocals, which glides and moves the song forward. I also enjoyed the lower notes and tones the members adopted in the track. It is a hard to forget track on this album. (10/10)
3. Wishlist – Jiwon and Chaeyoung come together to perform the first unit track on the album. Wishlist is a R&B all-English track. I like the messaging behind the lyrics – that you should not make yourself fit the ideals of another person (i.e., their wishlist) and that you should be yourself. The pair brings a vibrant tone to the mid-tempo R&B track, which helps makes Wishlist a bit more impactful. (8/10)
4. In the Mirror– In The Mirror is a dance pop track that features Seoyeon and Nagyung. It brings back the darker tones that the album kicked off with. The synth work is very atmospheric in In The Mirror, which helps makes it a captivating listen. The vocals were very nice, particularly during the choruses where the melodies literally felt like you were drifting along. The rapping is also a stilling moment in the track. While In The Mirror doesn’t exceed the expectations of Attitude, it definitely up there as one of my favourite side tracks from the album. (10/10)
5. Don’t Care– Don’t Care is one of tracks that really jump out with you instantly thanks to its groovy and funky synth work. It features Jiwon, Jisun, Seoyeon and Nagyung. With the tracks before it, I appreciate Don’t Care’s boldness and upbeatness, which is quite enjoyable. The beats do get bolder around the bridge (though the transition was a tad overwhelming). I like the members’ powerful tone and tenacity in Don’t Care, as well. All of this made for a strong listen. (9/10)
6. Prom Night – Saerom, Hayoung, Chaeyoung and Jiheon feature on the last unit track of the album. The pre-chorus was a very intriguing aspect of Prom Night and I liked the vividness of the bouncy aspect of the UK-garage synth-based background. But aside from that, Prom Night is the least interesting unit track to me. And it simply comes right back to the instrumentation, which I personally felt overpowered the members’ vocals in the chorus, sans that short push from Hayoung and Chaeyoung to rise above the instrumentation. (7/10)
7. Bring It On – Personally, I felt that Bring It On could have had a more vibrant pop instrumentation. I don’t think the R&B pop backing that Bring It On featured did the vocals justice. The hooks and melodies, and the vocals delivering them, were all catchy and a solid effort from the members. But the instrumentation wasn’t eventful as I wished for and turned an otherwise good showing into something bland and boring. (7/10)
8. What I Want – I will make the rating straight up. What I Want is another 10/10 track on this album. Everything in the track had me dancing along and there was never any weak moment. What I Want was a very interesting electro pop track that really caught my attention. The upbeat nature of the track was fun. The members’ vocals and delivery back it all in. I like the burst of energy in the chorus, which comes about by the combination of vocals and instrumentation, and that is my pick of highlight of the track. The hooks and melodies were all catchy and added to the fun listen. (10/10)
9. My Night Routine– My Night Routine softens and mellows out the energy that precedes it with another R&B track. I like the jazzy vibe of the instrumental, as well as the bass. The vocals are pleasant. Altogether, My Night Routine comes off as dreamy. (7.5/10)
10. Eye Contact (눈맞춤) – Unlock My World ends with a fun pop rock track that had me smiling throughout. I may have also danced along to this track as well. The energy of Eye Contact was very extremely likable and the members sound like they were having a blast. The inclusive parts where the members were singing together were my favourite and just made everything more wholesome. An easy 10/10 and great ender to this album. (10/10)
As mentioned yesterday, today I will be posting the Weekly KPOP Charts post for the 4th Week of June 2023 (which just passed last week). And with this post out of the way, I will be back tomorrow to write reviews and some special posts that I mentioned in the Weekly KPOP Charts post for the 2nd Week of June 2023 (before I took some time off). Enjoy the charts below and check back tomorrow for a new song review!
The Charts
Congratulations to fromis_9 for rising to the top spot on KPOPREVIEWED’s Weekly KPOP Chart with their latest single#menow. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down.
