I’m always a bit skeptical about songs called “Rock & Roll” that aren’t from actual rock bands, but if anyone’s got the attitude to drive this style it’s ITZY. They made their name on a brash energy that felt punky even as it was carefully designed by a corporation to appear so.
Japanese single Rock & Roll is not even close to “rock,” despite the girls repeatedly telling us that they’re “so rock and roll.” The song doesn’t even try to embrace this genre, and that’s probably to its benefit. Instead, Rock & Roll is an upbeat dance track peppered by the occasional edgy breakdown. The melodies are lighter than expected, especially the effusive chorus. My brain can’t quite parse what ITZY are saying with how they’re saying it, making me wish the song had an entirely different concept. But from someone who now loves a track called “Head Shoulders Knees Toes,” I can clearly get over cringy lyrics if the sound itself is enticing.
Rock & Roll is enticing, if a bit generic. I wish the song pushed itself further in any direction. As it stands, Rock & Roll doesn’t commit to much of anything, satisfied to stand as enjoyable fluff rather than cause the kind of ruckus we know ITZY are capable of. Within their discography, this is clearly mid-tier — sanitized enough to please just about everyone but lacking the sucker punch that could truly knock out the group’s biggest admirers.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
