A.C.E’s Kang Yuchan signed with from20 and Hello Gloom’s Way Better agency, joining a boutique line-up of solo male artists. It’s been fun watching this agency grow, though they have not been without their missteps. A set of ill-advised teaser photos for this very track had to be yanked off the internet as fans complained about their strange use of the American flag, and the overall concept behind Champagne Poppin seems built on some messy tropes.
I know Way Better were never going to stick strictly to synth pop and dance music, but that early run of from20 and Hello Gloom singles remain so exciting and fresh. In contrast, Champagne Poppin feels almost behind the trends. Its soft garage beat has been peddled from about every idol group and soloist you could imagine, and its presence here feels more rote than inspired. Kang Yuchan’s expressive vocals and unique tone work well over the sound and it’s nice to hear him tackle a song on his own, but the track doesn’t really go anywhere. Nor does it scream “this is who I am as a solo artist” in the way I’d hope a solo debut would.
Even the trendiest instrumentals can be boosted by a great set of melodies, and that’s the real problem here. None of Champagne Poppin‘s elements stand out as particularly memorable. The chorus is flat, and while the verses offer some satisfying vocal runs the structure isn’t taut enough to work. The instrumental injects life into these moments with a sense of synth[powered acceleration, but overall this is a rare miss from the agency.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
