After much anticipation, THE BLACK LABEL has officially launched their new girl group MEOVV with the highly awaited debut single “MEOW.” The group brings together an impressive blend of talent and beauty, and with Teddy—famous as the producer of the global sensation BLACKPINK—guiding them, expectations were sky-high for MEOVV’s maiden venture. The group has even been referred to as “BLACKPINK 2.0” for their well-rounded talents and striking visuals, mirroring those of their predecessors.
However, following the release of their debut single “MEOW,” reactions from the public have been mixed. The rookie group’s initial track has not achieved the expected success, and the music produced by Teddy has not resonated well. Recently, IZM—the largest music review site in Korea—evaluated MEOVV’s debut track, granting it an unfortunate 1-star rating.
Specifically, IZM expressed disappointment that the prominent cat sounds in “MEOW” overshadow most of the members’ vocals. The review criticized the song as a disappointing attempt compared to Teddy’s previous successful productions: “The meaningless meowing lasting nearly a whole minute in a song that’s under three minutes feels forced and tiresome for listeners, repeating throughout the intro, outro, and even during the chorus and rap sections.”
“More critically, the excessive sound obscures the vocals of the group’s key members. While Teddy may not have composed the song himself, it’s unfortunate this marks the debut track from his first girl group.”
IZM further criticized the musical elements in “MEOW,” stating: “The combination of bass and drum tones becomes even less impactful interplaying with the identical structure of two vocal phrases. The final 30 seconds with the dance segment lacks a lasting impression. The tiresome rhythm and repetitive lyrics fail to deliver substance. This stems from an attempt to convey both a message and an image, but neither has been fully realized.”
“However, a highlight is Gawon’s vocal performance. Nonetheless, the song itself is too weak to effectively showcase the talents of all members. Why is a fast-paced track that risks being forgotten prioritized over quality music that encourages listeners to replay it?”
After the publication of IZM’s critique, Korean netizens had varied responses. The prevailing sentiment was disappointment in both Teddy and MEOVV’s debut. Initially, fans had envisioned a true “BLACKPINK little sister” group featuring an explosive debut track. Yet, upon the release of the music video, many viewers found themselves “completely let down.”
The music failed to leave a significant impact, with comparisons drawn unfavorably between its rap segment and those of other rookie groups debuting simultaneously, lacking the distinctive “flavor” that fans expected. The choreography also did not sufficiently showcase each member’s strengths. Criticism was directed at the vocals of MEOVV’s five members, which were seen as too similar, with Gawon being the only one who stood out, as highlighted by IZM.
Nonetheless, some voices defended the song, suggesting that while “MEOW” hasn’t reached extraordinary heights yet, it still merits a listen. Furthermore, the group’s live performances have been praised by numerous netizens.
Source: K14
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