After a very long wait since their July pre-release Step It Up, Starship Entertainment’s new boy group IDID make their debut today. Step It Up grew on me immensely and I’ve since gotten to know the group through their pre-debut variety content. Now all that’s left to deliver is a great title track. Does CHAN-RAN (제멋대로 찬란하게) live up to their potential?
Before getting into the song itself, allow me a moment to gripe about how K-pop songs dumb down their titles for English audiences. The Korean title of CHAN-RAN translates to something like “Brilliantly, and in my own way,” which is a really evocative and cool title. Instead, we get the nonsense “CHAN-RAN” that doesn’t tell me anything about the song’s meaning or vibe.
Okay, rant over.
As a song, CHAN-RAN is enjoyable. It’s got a fun, freewheeling rock sound, melded to hip-hop samples and buoyed by a strong chorus. I’m never going to be a fan of the percussion and arrangements that come along with producer Dem Jointz (I’d also be happy never to hear another obnoxious “incoooommmmming!” or “and now… the breakdown” again), but the song is boppy enough to (mostly) overcome these issues.
CHAN-RAN starts slow, unveiling a forgettable verse when it should simply hit out of the gate. Things improve from here as verse two generates greater energy that better matches the chorus. At three minutes, the track has time to build toward a climactic finale that fully cements its memorable hook. I firmly believe IDID have greater music to come (maybe with a different producer), but this is a solid debut.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
