Tag: ROSÉ (BLACKPINK)

[Album Review] ROSIE (1st Studio Album) – ROSÉ (BLACKPINK)

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ROSÉ is nominated for Best Female Soloist and Best Vocal Performance (for toxic till the end) in the 2025 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. toxic till the end is also nominated for Best International Song (Western) and Best Pop Song of 2025. Support ROSÉ and toxic till the end by clicking here to vote today.

Next up on the album review segment of this blog is ROSÉ’s ROSIE studio album. Promotions for the album started with her massive global hit APT. with Bruno Mars, which dropped in October 2024. Then, she pre-released number one girl in November 2024 (which I never got around to reviewing until now), before dropping the album and the main title track toxic till the end in early December 2024. Alongside these tracks, ROSIE also features 9 more, bringing the total to 12.

Overall, ROSIE is a clever album that weaves in a love story. The album starts with the exciting idea of falling in love, then moves to actually falling in love, then to unfortunate heartbreak, and finally to coming to terms with it. The album is strongest when ROSÉ pours her emotions into the songs.

ROSIE Album Cover

1. number one girl (Pre-release Track) – ROSÉ starts off the album strong with the piano ballad, number one girl. The track is rather simple, consisting of ROSÉ’s impactful, emotional and raw vocals over a simple piano-centric instrumental. The combination of the two makes for a stunning ballad that leaves a deep impression that stays with you as you move on to the next song. There is a music video that follows the same frame of mind in being raw and simple. (10/10)

2. 3am – 3am brings together acoustic guitar and trap elements as ROSÉ reflects on insecurity and love at 3am. The lyrics are extremely relatable, and you can feel that from her vocals as well. Though pleasant, I wished the acoustic guitars were a little more prolific, especially as the trap elements come into play. They seemed somewhat lost in the background and overtaken by the trap elements as the song progressed, leaving behind what could have been an interesting combination. (8/10)   

3. two years – two years reflect upon a relationship from years ago that one cannot forget. I really liked the synth work featured in the song, as well as the autotune that complemented it. The line “I try, I try, I try” hits hard, but I am loving how ROSÉ’s vocals carry it. two years come together very nicely, and I liked how it also reminds me of Taylor Swift’s work as well. (9/10)

4. toxic till the end (Title Track) – Click here for my full review of toxic till the end. (8.5/10)

5. drinks or coffee – Changing up the momentum on the album is drinks or coffee. Following a bunch of reflective or emotional tracks, drinks or coffee is more upbeat and features R&B influences. It is a nice song, but I wish there was a bit more to it (especially when compared to the other songs around it). (8/10)

6. APT. (with Bruno Mars) – Click here for my full review of APT. (9/10)

7. gameboy – With an acoustic guitar loop and soft EDM in tow, gameboy brings us back to the topic of heartbreak. The lyrics see ROSÉ mature, realising that her lover was only there to cause heartbreak. I really enjoyed the melodies, ROSÉ’s vocal work and the rhythmic background. The “break” repetition in the background was also a cool element (though it hones in on the song’s message, making it bittersweet). (8.5/10)

8. stay a little longer – We return to emotional ballad territory with stay a little longer. ROSÉ’s vocals are amazing and breathtaking – the emotions are overflowing in this one. The instrumental features a perfectly paced piano and features some soulful rock towards the end to make stay a little longer hit a little harder. This track is not one to miss. (10/10)

9. not the same – ROSÉ continues the acoustic sound in not the same. The guitar plucking is quite prolific and this gives not the same momentum. What I liked about this track is that, at its peak, ROSÉ’s vocals soar, and this left quite an impression on me. The ‘shut down’ ending was a bit random, but upon reflection, it was a creative way to end the drive behind the track. (9/10)

10. call it the end– call it the end has one of the most memorable lines off the album – “Do we have a future? Or should I call it the end?”. The way ROSÉ sings this line and the piano instrumentation in the background just make this one line stand out and be impactful. The rest of the song is quite stunning in itself for all the same reasons, but there is something about that one line that really stuck out at me. (10/10)

11. too bad for us – too bad for us is another amazingly breathtaking track with amazing vocals from the soloist. The backdrop of this track is a stunning rock production that, when it peaks, creates an epic atmosphere. ROSÉ’s vocals grow alongside, and so too bad for us is quite an impressive number. There is also something familiar with the melodies about the track – I can’t pinpoint this familiarity (perhaps it is the classic nature of it), but I know that I like it. (9/10)

12. dance all night – dance all night remains in acoustic territory, but as a mid-tempo track. dance all night ends the album’s storytelling by expressing a message of coming to terms with heartbreak and moving on – the final stage of the album’s story that began with wishes for love, falling in love and then heartbreak from love. I liked the chill vibe of this song and enjoyed the brightness ROSÉ brought to dance all night, complementing its message. (8/10)

    Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

    ROSÉ’s teaser image for ROSIE

    [Review] toxic til the end – ROSÉ (BLACKPINK)

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    ROSÉ officially released her solo album, Rosie, alongside the single toxic till the end last week. It follows the very successful APT. collaboration with Bruno Mars and the single number one girl last month, both featured on the new album. It is also ROSÉ’s first album release since her solo debut with R (led by the single On The Ground) almost four years ago.

    I quite enjoyed toxic till the end when it was first released. It has good melodies that make the song easy to listen to, some catchy moments (such as the ‘end, end, end‘ line at the end of the choruses) and a punchy pop instrumental that hits all the right spots. These three are a start to a good song. Throw in ROSÉ’s distinct vocals, who does a decent job of showcasing her emotions in toxic till the end, and you have an undeniably fantastic song. Sure, toxic till the end feels very familiar and very Taylor Swift-esque. But I don’t think there is anything wrong with this direction, as it speaks to the masses and feels very appropriate for 2024. Plus, ROSÉ does a good job with the material overall. But there is one thing holding toxic till the end back – the vocal processing. This was felt most during the bridge, where it is very clear that ROSÉ steps up her vocals but is limited in how far her vocals go. I feel like this is a part where she could have given us a lot of emotion and impact. But the vocal processing gets in the way of that. But apart from that, toxic till the end is still a good song to me.

    The music video stars ROSÉ and actor Evan Mock, who become a toxic couple. The video begins with Evan Mock’s character hitchhiking. ROSÉ pulls up and offers him a lift, creating the beginnings of a relationship between the two. And the pair appear to be quite in love (kissing at one point), playful with one another, and ROSÉ also shows she cares for Evan’s character following a tumble on a skateboard (which breaks his arm). Partway through the video, Evan Mock’s character gets a text message, which he attempts to hide. But this ends up being ROSÉ’s tipping point, and she tries to leave. Throughout their fight (in which Evan’s character hits his head), there is a montage of flashbacks exposing Evan’s character’s toxicity, where he keeps her from leaving by rigging her car and injuring himself to make her feel bad. And it all continues as we see ROSÉ lying in bed with him after their fight. It is a well-executed video with a thorough storyline, and I really liked the Autumn/Fall elements around the mansion.

    Song – 8.5/10
    Music Video – 9/10
    Overall Rating – 8.7/10

    [Review] APT. – ROSÉ (BLACKPINK) & Bruno Mars

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    In 2023, BLACKPINK renewed their contracts with YG Entertainment for group-based activities while taking their solo activities elsewhere. Over this year, the BLACKPINK members have been busy working on solo projects (including song releases). We have heard song releases from LISA and JENNIE, which I have not reviewed yet but will do so in the coming weeks—watch the blog for those reviews. But for now, ROSÉ’s collaboration with Bruno Mars, APT., sneaks in to be the first song I will review from the BLACKPINK members’ solo careers post YG Entertainment.

    It should take you less than a listen to feel the fun nature behind APT.. A few signs will help you make this realization. The chant that begins the song and the super catchy and fun “Apteu, Apteu” are familiar drinking games in Korea and have been heard on many Korean variety shows. The chant features giggles from ROSÉ and friends (a clear indication of how fun it should be), and APT.‘s main refrain is addictively catchy. Even the energy that ROSÉ and Bruno Mars exude during the song is playful and whimsical, contributing to that fun sound. And since APT. dropped on Friday, I have been playing it repeatedly because it is so catchy. But while the exterior is entertaining, I also have good things to say about the music of APT. itself. I love the song’s simplicity, with the straightforward pop-punk instrumentation reminding me very much of Arvil Lavinge in the early ’00s. I have also come across people saying it reminds them of Hey Mickey (which is so true), another song from the early ’00s that brings further nostalgia. ROSÉ and Bruno Mars sound amazing when they aren’t repeating “Apteu, Apteu“; the pre-choruses are a testament to that. While a little cringy, I also enjoyed ROSÉ’s bridge in the song. Altogether, APT. is a fun song that is easy to get into but hard to forget.

    The music video also contributes to the song’s fun nature. ROSÉ and Bruno Mars are having so much fun playing around and dancing with each other. I can see everyone else (me included) joining in with them to just let loose and have some fun after a long day. Simplicity is also an appealing factor in this video. ROSÉ and Bruno Mars donned black leather motorcyclist jackets and had fun in a pink room. Nothing complicated about this video, which helps make APT. more enjoyable and appealing. Even the visual effects added to the video don’t feel crazy and just channel the same energy that ROSÉ and Bruno Mars bring out in the video.

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

    [Review] On The Ground – ROSÉ (BLACKPINK)

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    It has been a long time coming. But after years of promise, the next BLACKPINK member has made their official solo debut. ROSÉ makes her start as a solo artist with the single On The Ground, an all English single. Usually for an all English single would be lumped as part of the International Song Review segment. But as ROSÉ will be promoting the song in Korea, I have decided to write a separate review for it. The first member of BLACKPINK to make her solo debut was Jennie, way back in 2018 with SOLO. Check out that song if you haven’t yet after this review.

    On The Ground is an awesome track. I literally have to get that off my chest. I was pretty satisfied with the entire song from the start. ROSÉ really shined with her vocals in this song, making a lasting impression of a minimalistic acoustic instrumental at the start of the song. Her vocals were extremely clear and I really like the tiniest tinge of raspiness in her voice throughout the song. The producers were very clever with the minimalistic instrumental approach, as this made us zone into her vocals from the very first second. I also like the ‘Every day, every night‘ line in the verses, which reminded me for the briefest of seconds, a Taylor Swift type of melody. The chorus is a bit of a twist, with the direction changing for a bit of an electronic influence. I really liked this beat drop changeup, as it cuts through the acoustic of this song and brought a intense dynamic to the song without going for an overload of synths or strong beats. It is aesthetic, similar to how I perceived Jennie’s solo debut. As mentioned at the start of this paragraph, I was pretty satisfied with the song. But what sealed the deal for On The Ground that spectacular high note/peak. It came out of nowhere and everything before it in the bridge did not give me any idea that high note was fast approaching. It was so good and out of the blue that it left a strong impression on me. To the point where it made the final chorus feel more astonishing and lively. Needlessly to say with how impressed I am with the song, ROSÉ delivered a stunning solo debut song with On The Ground.

    The music video compliments the song so well. I really like how the music video really highlighted her visuals throughout the video and kept her grounded (pun intended) throughout the video (for the most part). I also liked, to match with the song’s chorus, the music video opted for explosions and really cool effects (i.e. floating ROSÉ) to heightened the chorus’ vibes and energy. I also like how glamarous she looked throughout the video, which I am sure is reference to her celebrity status. But there are many scenes littered throughout showing us that she is realizing what is most important to her is not that lifestyle, but rather being herself. This is the premise of the lyrics as well.

    [Updated] The performance was very clever. The thing that really stood out to me was just really how low the performance was, which felt fitting for the song’s lyrics/title. The first chorus was performed by Rose and the dancers by lying on the floor. The second chorus was performed sitting on the ground, while the final chorus was performed while standing up. It was a creative choice and it felt like a climb that shows that while she was at a low while living the glamorous life, she got back up as she fully embraced her own identity.

    Song – 10/10
    Music Video – 10/10
    Performance – 10/10 [Updated]
    Overall Rating – 10/10