Random Shuffle Review: Boyfriend – I Yah

With over 5,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature.

The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets the full Bias List treatment!

Year Released: 2013

You know it’s a good Friday when a Sweetune song pops up on my random shuffle. I haven’t been shy about my feelings toward this production team and this song comes directly from their imperial phase.

If we look at K-pop boy groups today, there are distinct concepts with specific songwriting styles attached to each. We’ve still got the bubbly, bright melodic fare (usually my favorite). We’ve got the moody, vibey stuff that often sacrifices energy and melody in favor of atmosphere. Then, we’ve got the shouty, chanty bad boy posturing crap. Very few songs exist outside these templates, and a song like Boyfriend’s I Yah just doesn’t exist at all. This is the kind of song — edgy and powerful but not shouty, emotional but not boring — that first drew me to K-pop. For the life of me, I don’t understand why the industry abandoned it.

I Yah is an absolute dynamo. Funky guitar riffs form its ultra-rhythmic instrumental, accented with synth that drips with texture. Vocal hooks abound, swirling across the propulsive instrumental with glee. The chorus forges an overwhelming presence, bringing the guys’ vocals together to craft a triumphant wall of sound. And this being a Sweetune production, we even have a key change at the climax to drive home I Yah‘s single-minded pursuit. It’s intense with no lulls, no sing-talk, and no shouting. K-pop producers: you can still make tracks like this. I’m sure Boyfriend would be happy to lend you this legendary song as inspiration.

Grade: A+