ITZY – 'IT'Z DIFFERENT'

Track List:

1. DALLA DALLA

2. WANT IT?

JYP's new girl group, ITZY, has just had their debut. It's a single album with two tracks, titled 'IT'z Different." The five members are Yuji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna. It's JYP's first girl group since TWICE debuted in 2015. The MV was released days before the single itself, racking up an impressive 14+ million views in 24 hours.

"DALLA DALLA" starts out with a thrumming bass line and some echoey ad-libs, and this song really got in my head. I like the powerful choruses too. Even the rap was cute if super-short. The bridge is actually pretty, and I can see these girls killing a ballad. I was hoping for something club-banger-style, and I got it in this song.

"WANT IT?" has an electric guitar intro, and they lead with the chorus. It's also a lot more playful, relying on chants for the main verses. Because it's not quite singing, not quite rapping. But I love love love that chorus. It's loud and powerful, and exactly the kind of thing that gets my feet moving, head bobbing, and my blood pumping.

Okay, what I can say about 'em so far as they're not going for the cutesy label, and they don't sound like TWICE. Plus, they have an energy and enthusiasm that further sets them apart. These girls sing with guts, and while I haven't heard a ballad from them yet, what I have heard I really like. Catchy, powerful, and gorgeous, I think these girls will go places as long as Mr. Park treats them right.

MV REVIEW

The girls of ITZY are taking a trip, or at least hanging around an airport.

The place appears to be ultra hi-tech, or at least futuristic, with chrome hallways, backgrounds that change color, and even a tunnel. There's more, like a long-haired dog (that also changes color), accommodations with fuzzy furniture, and more. Watch them go through security, sit on moving escalators, and dance outside against a brick wall, with sections that shift hues apparently at random.

And it doesn't end there. We've got miles of cars, a faux cityscape, and even a baggage claim. That's one thing -- if you enjoy the song, the MV is a veritable feast for the eyes. Frankly, I don't know how much this cost them, but at no point was I thinking to myself "God, this looks cheap." Quite the contrary.

The choreo is deceptively simple. When you're looking at with everything else going on the MV, you think it's fairly uninvolved. But take a look at the actual dance moves in a live cut and you'll think twice. I know I did. And the girls appear pretty enthusiastic about the whole thing, which is nice to see.

Another thing I liked was that the song has this attitude to it, and so these girls give plenty of that mugging for the camera. I'm more of a fan of fierce groups, so I hope they don't lose that girl crush vibe. I prefer strong girls, rather than wilting lilies.

So yeah, if you're looking for another group to stan, look no further.

Score

MV Relevance.......8

MV Production......9

MV Concept..........8

MV SCORE: 8.3

Songwriting..........8

Composition.........9

Impression............9

ALBUM SCORE: 8.6

OVERALL............8.5