Got7 is one of the most important k-pop boy groups of the late 3rd generation of k-pop, JYP’s answer to Big Hit’s BTS, YG’s Winner, and SM’s EXO. They debuted in 2014, with seven members: Jinyoung, Jackson, BamBam, Yugyeom, Jaebeom (JB), Mark, and Youngjae.

Here are my credentials: While I don’t know much about Got7’s music, I do know a decent amount about them as people. I first heard about them when I watched Jinyoung’s fantastic performance in The Devil Judge (one of my all-time favorite k-dramas), and then started to learn more about them. I’ve also seen interviews of Jackson and BamBam, and grew to like them too. But I’m doing this deep dive because I wanted to see if their music could become a favorite of mine too. So let’s get started!

EP #1: Got It?

I’d heard the hook of Girls Girls Girls before, putting MNET’s performances on shuffle and…admittedly didn’t have the best opinion of it, but I wanted to give them a fair shake. I honestly enjoyed the greater part of the verses and choruses, and Got7 has a lot of talent and charisma. But oh my everloving christ that is a stupid hook, because once they sing “Girls, girls, girls, they love me,” I’m immediately thinking: “are you sure about that?” Nayeon’s cameo is the best thing about this song and I will die on this hill. Next!

From the 1st EP, Got It?, I enjoyed the excellent bridge and gentle choruses of Like Oh, but besides that this release wasn’t for me. I confess that the faux-cool intro Hello made me laugh a little, and I’m sorry, but they were 17-20. No boy that age has the kind of charisma to make a song like that work.

EP #2: Got Heart

A more or less picks up where Girls Girls Girls leaves off, but while its lyrics aren’t that different, this song is imbued with warmth and humor that their debut was missing. They don’t seem afraid to laugh at themselves, and it’s nice to see. The beat is light and supports a smoothly catchy blend of hip-hop and R & B that’s quite a good fit for them. Also, seeing Jinyoung especially in such a cutesy video (with such an insane amount of gel in his hair) after the incredibly dark storylines of the Devil Judge gave me a good laugh. And now, another member of TWICE is here: Sana!

From the EP, Got Heart, though I enjoyed the acoustic guitar of Forever Young, my hidden gem was easily the confident, brassy Good Tonight, with its underlying EDM beat and flashes of electric guitar. It’s a great song, and I wish it had been a single alongside A, which I did really like too. There’s also a bunch of remixes for A on this album, of which my favorite was the collapsedone one.

Album #1: Identify

Stop Stop It is up next, and has one of the wildest intros I’ve seen in a k-pop MV, between body doubles, alternate universes, and a Notebook-style threat of jumping off a building if a crush (in this case Dahyun) doesn’t reciprocate. Lovely. The song itself is pretty alright, but not as solid as A, and though I know it’s intentional, there’s too much autotune to make me want to keep listening, and instead the vocals just sound crunchy. I know that Got7 can sing, and sing well, so why not just let them? And get them out of those horrifying blue overalls.

Identify is the first full album, so there’s a lot to talk about. I enjoyed the video-game-esque instrumental of Magnetic, the soft vocalizing in Moonlight, and the distortion in She’s A Monster. And I had two hidden gems: the summery, bright Gimme with its frizzy synths, and the off-kilter Turn Up The Music with its slightly menacing choir. I feel like it would be impeccable for Halloween. I swear, though, if Mark says “baby girl” one more time, I am calling Derek Morgan from Criminal Minds and telling him to sue for copyright infringement.

EP #3: Just Right

Just Right is the first of Got7’s songs to really reach a huge level of popularity, and is still today considered a 3rd gen classic Though it’s a bit too cutesy in parts for me, I do love the encouraging message towards the listener that they’re just perfect the way they are. It’s goofy and sappy, absolutely, but it’s still very sweet, and finally gives Got7 the chance to show off their vocals in a title track. I also enjoy the acoustic guitar in the background.

From the EP, Just Right, I enjoyed the vocalized intro of the hip-hop Nice, and the upbeat summer feel of percussive Back To Me.

Album #2: MAD (Winter Edition)

If You Do begins with one of the angstiest intros I’ve heard in a k-pop song, on the level of BTOB’s I’ll Be Your Man, and that really sets the tone for the rest of it. It’s the beginning of a clear shift in their discography for sure, with a more minimalistic EDM-based pop than the bubblegum of before. It also feels more polished than either Girls Girls Girls or Stop Stop It, from the instrumental to the vocals to the choreography. The contrast of that with the incredibly dramatic destruction of cars, paintings, and windows is a little amusing, sure, but also powerful, and makes If You Do feel like their first full triumph.

Confession Song is the title from the repackage album, and I’m not going to go too into detail on it because it’s a special track for Christmas and that would just be mean. It’s sweet and its music video doubly so; it’s nice to see the members celebrating and even nicer to see actual people get together through the video from their planning. It’s a nice place to take a break before we get into the Flight Log EPs, I think.

From the album, MAD Winter Edition, I enjoyed the fading outro of To Star and the spacey synths of Feeling Good.. My hidden gem was Put Them Up, which reminded me a lot of BTS’ Danger-era work with its catchy hooks and chanting. I also liked the stage version of If You Do with its brassy interludes and added drama. Mostly, though, this release wasn’t for me.

Next time, we’ll be doing Part Two! (Part Three) Tschüss!