Thus far, BABYMONSTER have embraced all the YG girl group tropes you'd expect, casting them as heirs to 2NE1 and BLACKPINK's throne. This is not an agency known for its willingness to experiment. Instead, they've managed to enthrall fans with slight tweaks to successful formulas. With this in mind, it's time for BABYMONSTER's version of As If It's Your Last. This may be welcome news to pop fans like myself, but does this iteration match or improve upon the original?
It doesn't... but that's a tall order. I instantly enjoy Forever more than Batter Up or Sheesh, but the song could be more than the amiable retread it is. The opening verse is an underwhelming lump of reheated boasts, improved by a few nice instrumental flourishes. It's not until we reach the chorus that Forever really takes shape. This hook has the colorful, careening energy of YG's best material -- at least during its first half. The repeated "for-or-or-or! eh-eh-eh-ever!" feels a bit messy and at odds with the glistening instrumental, but grows more effective as the song goes on.
Verse two is a problem. This segment might thrill if taken from a completely different song, but its drastic shift in energy and structure throws Forever off its mark. Even so, the song crosses the finish line admirably. This is largely due to a well-placed key change that bottles Forever's strongest melodies into a knockout punch. By the time the track has ended, I'm excited to give it another play. This bodes well for its longevity, even if you must wade through some dubious choices to get to the good stuff. Overall, this is a promising step in the right direction for BABYMONSTER.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B
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