IVE is one of the most popular girl groups in k-pop right now, and considered a forerunner of the 5th generation. There are six members: An Yujin, Wonyoung, Liz, Leeseo, Gaeul, and Rei. It’s happening again where I’m covering a band that not only debuted after I became a k-pop fan, but with members younger than me, which never fails to freak me the hell out, so…that’s great.

Here are my credentials: I really don’t know much about IVE. I’ve heard a couple songs of theirs and liked them, and of course I’ve been there for the insane amount of coverage they’ve been getting for a few mini-scandals with varying levels of seriousness. I admit that I actually don’t have the most positive opinion of them at the moment, but I realized that I don’t have a solid reason for that, so I decided I would do a review to give them a fair shake before I pass judgment on people I don’t know.

Single #1: Eleven

I’ve been a k-pop fan since early 2019, so I was well and truly in it when Eleven came out at the end of 2021. Yet I didn’t actually hear it then, for some reason; I’m unsure why. The song is minimalistic with some electronic percussion in its verses before a quick, slowed-down pre-chorus that soon skyrockets into a fuller, poppier chorus. I get what the song is going for with these tempo changes, but for me they feel like they come out of nowhere and it just doesn’t quite work. I do like the post-chorus’ vocalizing, though. I prefer the more in-your-face, fritzy energy of b-side Take It, since it’s more unique.

I didn’t realize it until I looked up their ages, but Rei had just turned 14 when they filmed this, and everyone else was still a teenager too which…given the kind of dancing they’re doing at some points, makes me feel uncomfortable.

Single #2: Love Dive

Love Dive was the first song I heard from IVE, because it came up on my recommendeds and intrigued me since it seemed to be going for a schoolgirl concept but with a lot more confidence than is usual. It has the same kind of minimalistic electronic production that Eleven does, but I think the transition into its chorus is far more smooth here. Smooth seems to be the operative word for the whole song, which glides along with a gentle, ethereal vibe that, at its best moments, feels like you’re floating along.

I didn’t really like the b-side Royal, though; I’ve never been a fan of anti-drops.

Single #3: After Like

After Like is the third of IVE’s run of early singles, and goes for a more expansive sound than the previous two, feeling like a natural build on Eleven and Love Dive’s minimalism. I’ve always been a fan of disco and synth, so I’m a bit biased here, but this is a good song. As a side note, I really do like how each different member has a different monochrome set for their solo part of the MV and in their jewelry later in the video, both because it helped me in getting to know who was who and because I just love color coding.

I also liked the lower-pitched vocals of My Satisfaction, with its great build-up and more sprawling chorus.

Album #1: I’ve IVE

Kitsch was most known to me, before this deep dive, as the beginning of a tonal shift in IVE’s discography, although when sitting down and watching the whole video, I see that that’s not exactly true for the whole song. The verses, while a little more staccato than their work before, still feel very true to their style and are pretty good, but the second half of the chorus goes for a boy-group / girl-crush anti-drop that is so relentlessly catchy that it’s now unwillingly stuck in my head.

This song confuses me a little, because the word “kitsch” (which means tacky and weird but in a fun way) has absolutely nothing to do with the message of the song. I’m fine with a track being strange and having weird lyrics as long as the singers own it and have fun with it—like SHINee’s Ring Ding Dong or (G)I-DLE’s Tomboy—but when they don’t, it just comes across as not understanding what they’re saying.

I Am is a return to IVE’s smooth and self-assured concept, which is good, since it suits them so well. The track takes the synths of After Like even further in the best way, for a sprawling chorus that would be perfect for a night driving through a city alone. It’s probably my favorite of their titles so far, and feels like a culmination of their style in a naturally maturing way. I especially like the way the bridge leads into the final chorus with that high note, and I appreciate that the dance moves have changed to be less sexual and more elegant, though I wish it could’ve happened earlier.

From the first album, I’ve IVE, I enjoyed the hints of reggae in groovy Lips, the bassy distortion in pop-rock Mine, the carnival-esque summer fun of Your Girl, and the dramatic, declarative intro / chorus of Shine With Me, which finally gives them a chance to show off their voices.

Single #4: WAVE

Wave is IVE’s Japanese debut, and makes the choice to start with its chorus, which is unfortunately the weakest part of the song in my opinion. The rest of the track, like with Kitsch, builds on IVE’s strengths and opts for a more melodic hook that works quite well, especially in the first verse and the bridge. But overall, it’s not solid enough or unique enough to make much of an impression on me.

I prefer the b-side Classic, but it’s not a highlight for me either.

EP #1: I’ve Mine

Either Way is the first of two pre-releases for IVE’s first EP, I’ve Mine, and, in the grand tradition of pre-releases, goes for a more toned-down, more self-reflective style than we’ve seen from them so far. I’d heard the “either way, I’m good” hook before, but in the context of the rest of the song, I like it more. I didn’t expect to be as affected by the song as I am, but something about it nearly brought me to tears. It’s so honest that it’s genuinely painful, especially when it came to the part where they were singing about the hate people directed at the other members while they had to do nothing. The quiet scenes of them just going about their lives was powerful, and finally was a moment where I felt like they were being treated like people, not just faces to sing on a screen. I don’t think it’s something I would listen to every day, but I do respect IVE immensely for it.

Off The Record is the second pre-release and is overall more upbeat than Either Way, but also more youthful and less over-produced, though I know that part of that is on purpose. It was nice to see them smile and have fun together, and to sing a song that wasn’t about how great they are but about their bond with each other and the late-night conversations that made them bond. My favorite part was probably the bridge, which had a really catchy beat.

Baddie is the official single from the EP, though you probably wouldn’t know it from my thoughts. Although both Either Way and Off The Record felt like IVE finally shedding their aura of “cool” and being able to just exist, Baddie overcorrects for this. I really didn’t like this track, from them not really getting a chance to use their vocals to just overstating the point, telling the audience how cool and unique they are while abandoning their main style to chase trends. I have no idea why this of all things is the direction they went in, but it seems like a mistake.

From the EP, I’ve Mine, I enjoyed the brassy background combined with the high-pitched vocals in Holy Moly and the light synths of Payback.

Single #5: All Night

I’m probably showing my age here, but I remember when the original version of All Night by Icona Pop first came out, and I haven’t heard it since around 2015, so when it was time to write my paragraph for this song, I suddenly got war flashbacks to my incredibly cringy teenage self performing this at a talent show. Oh god. Jokes aside, it’s was a nice hit of nostalgia to see this song being covered by such a popular idol group, but I have to say that though they (and Saweetie) did a nice job, I don’t think they really did anything unique with it. The point of covers is making them your own while respecting the original’s heart, and I just don’t see that here. It feels like a very pragmatic decision, not done because of love for the original but just for popularity, and that makes me sad.

EP #2: I’ve Switch

Heya just came out an hour and a half ago, at the time I’m writing this, so it’s as close to a daily review as I’ll probably ever get. Right from the start, it seems to go more the route of Baddie, with a self-confident and 2019 girl crush rap-centric verses. The choruses are my favorite part, especially their quite elegant build up and “heya heya heya” hook, which is pretty catchy. But unfortunately, overall the song didn’t capture me, and that’s not the fault of IVE, whose charisma definitely elevates the track. It just doesn’t feel that unique, I suppose?

From the EP, I’ve Switch, I enjoyed the fast-paced staccato beat of Blue Heart, and the sweet lyrics and bubbly chorus of WOW.

Single #6: Crush

Crush is another Japanese release, and I was hoping that it would build off of the good of Wave and leave the bad behind. It’s tailor-made for summer, from the teal color palette to the light-footed beat to the sunny mood that permeates the whole thing. I really liked the chorus’ vocals and how they managed to feel both relaxed and cathartic in a way that IVE’s work hasn’t done for me in a while. It doesn’t quite go far enough, in my opinion, but it’s a start, and I’m happy to have it.

EP #3: IVE Empathy

The name “Rebel Heart” intrigued me, since so far, I’ve seen IVE as fitting pretty neatly in kpop trends, with a few exceptions here and there. The first verse is good but fairly par-for-the-course; I was holding my breath during the pre-chorus, to be honest, because it’s one of the best build-ups I’ve seen in recent months. The rockier edge and punchy delivery really caught me off guard, but in a good way. But that chorus takes off from it, for a catchy but not irritating hook, and an excellent post-chorus. And the MV is great too, doing what so few songs do, and bringing their confidence to people around the world, fostering this sense of community that’s lovely to see. I still disagree with the name, but that’s a bit besides the point; it’s a great song.

Attitude is the official single from this release, and my expectations were high coming on the heels of Rebel Heart. The build-up is also pretty great, and while I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the somewhat-anti-drop and the more sing-talk heavy sections, I enjoy the chorus too. I’d be lying if I said it had as much of an effect on me as its pre-release, but I think it’s pretty solid. Like a lot of their singles, despite knowing logically that it’s a good song, I’m just ambivalent about it. I suppose I was hoping we’d turned a corner with Rebel Heart, but Attitude is basically I AM (Part II).

From the EP, I enjoyed the comforting tone of You Wanna Cry, and the great vocals of Thank U. My hidden gem was probably Flu, with its touches of funk and overall sense of fun.

Verdict: TL;DR

I’m glad I did this. I learned a lot more about a group I really didn’t know well enough to have a valid opinion on. I watched their appearance in the k-pop documentary Generation, some interviews, and BTS content, and I can definitely say I know them better now. There were some moments that made me smile, moments where I felt like they were allowed to be kids and have fun together, but they were the minority. I want to stress again that none of my criticism has to do with IVE as people. I wish them all the best, and I’m not going to hate on them for things they have no control over. If anything, I feel very scared for them. After the recent high-profile deaths in k-pop, I fear what will happen when we keep placing such young children in such a pressure cooker of an industry with no help. I hope that they’re alright, and I’m glad they have each other.

My Top 5 songs are I Am, Love Dive, Either Way, Blue Blood, and Rebel Heart, with Off-The-Record as an honorable mention. IVE gets an 7.75 out of 10 from me, which may come as a surprise. IVE, really, is a perfect example of what k-pop is, in both the good and the bad. As talented as they are, something here just…makes me uncomfortable. Something about their work, despite its quality, just feels plastic and artificial, and it doesn’t feel like there’s any soul behind it. I would rather hate a song than feel ambivalent about it.

And in this case, I can’t make myself get over these bad feelings and I can’t make myself care about most of their work. But I’m also not going to give up on them all together, because that’s not what I’m about on this blog. Who knows? Maybe the next comeback will change my mind.

(Edit, 1-13: On further reflection, Rebel Heart and IVE Empathy had me increase their score to 7.75 [previously 7.25], but the majority of my comments still stand)

Next time, we’ll be covering a boy group, for an update of one of my first reviews. Tschüss!