I haven’t checked in with multinational girl group X:IN since 2024 on this blog, though they’ve released material since then. Their early reviews ranged from a peak of 6.5 to a low of 2.75 (!) for the unintentional comedy of 2024’s My Idol. I’d say they have nowhere else to go but up, but let’s see how they’re doing with new single RRRUN.
In K-pop, you can’t just “run.” You’ve got to RRRUN!! That title is more in-your-face than the accompanying song, which smartly harnesses an incessant groove for a “hip-sporty” (their words, not mine) concept that suits the girls well. The song is light on melody, centered around a spoken chorus that traces the rhythm rather than offer its own highlight. Even the rapped verses are largely just exuberant sing-talk. This will no doubt hinder RRRUN‘s longevity, but the track is fun enough while it’s playing.
For RRRUN, you just need to focus on the groove and treat everything else as window-dressing. I’m not sure that’s the best approach when it comes to getting listeners interested in the group themselves, but the instrumental pulls you along with ease. There are a few nice vocal turns in the pre-chorus and during verse two, but it’s the overall energy makes that this a new peak in X:IN’s career.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
