Ranking all the Singles Released on the Universe App

For those of you who are blissfully unaware, to compete with Vlive, a gaming company has launched the disastrous Universe app. From fake AI calls with your favorite idols to basically ripping of K-Pop fans thinking them to be dumb trash obsessed with their idols (some, unfortunately, are). One of the perks in the app are exclusive singles, with the MVs only being available in the apps.

The song quality can roughly be described as 'meh', but for the sake of it. I am ranking all the songs for the Universe app, all 12 of them (unless I missed any).

12. Astro - Alive

A trendy mess, Alive fails to live up to the best of Astro's best material, and even the half-decent pre-chorus, instead of going for a noisy mess in the guise of a chorus. Getting last place in a countdown where the top song is a mid-8 is just sad.

11. Monsta X - Kiss Or Death

As generic of a track as Monsta X could release, Kiss Or Death fails to live up to its potential, it is clear Starship and I nearly care equally about Universe. At least the rapping and pre-chorus are decent. If only their producer cared enough about this as their stylist.

10. IZ*ONE - D-D-Dance

IZ*ONE's final single prior to disbandment (yeah, they did not get a proper farewell, just an ad collaboration for Pepsi and this), D-D-Dance basically is a mid-tier IZ*ONE b-side, and fails to live up to the group's potential.

9. Park Jihoon - Call U Up Ft. Lee Hi (Prod. Primary)

A collaboration between two of Korea's greatest current-generation soloists has no reason to be this average. The R&B beat is fun, even if totally inoffensive. The singers do their best, but the song is still 'meh'.

8. DRIPPIN - Vertigo

I love the guitar throughout the song, quite cool. However, when it comes to the vocal melody, I think an F for Effort is deserved.

7. Kang Daniel - Outerspace ft. Loco

In a year where Kang Daniel released some of the most personal music ever released by a mainstream idol, his Universe release still managed to be a dull, funky, and trend-seeking dance track.

6. AB6IX - Gemini

A little frothy and synthy track, Gemini opts for some retro synth elements, but only really is memorably for the shifting electro bass throughout the song.

5. WEi - Starry Night (Prod. Dress)

All I'll ever remember about this song is Deforested/StillBangtan telling to me in Discord about an emergency, and it being the teaser to this track having good mixing (love his enthusiasm, but it certainly did not reach me lol), and TheBiasList's poetic review. The ending of the track is good, and the synths in the chorus are fun, at least.

4. (G)I-DLE - Last Dance (Prod. GroovyRoom)

Perhaps best known in the (G)I-DLE fandom as their last song as 6, the aptly titled Last Dance's fun popping dance production gives it a spark of life, even if it lacks the theming that put (G)I-DLE on the map.

3. WJSN - Let Me In

Along with The Boyz's Drink It (coming up soon), Let Me In is the only Universe single that sounds vaguely as part of the group's discography. The synth-driven post-chorus is surprisingly strong, even if the vocal arrangement is pretty bad.

2. CIX - Tesseract (Prod. Hui and Minit)

Minus its awkward title phrasing, Tesseract is surprisingly strong, courtesy of Pentagon member Hui's immaculate production. The chorus' guitar riff is probably Universe's only high point. It is short but gets its work done, even if it lacks the 'it' factor that made other Hui rock productions stick.

1. The Boyz - Drink It

Drink It is not perfect, but it remains one of The Boyz' best songs this year, and one of the few reasons anyone will have to remember the Universe app in a year. The haunting chorus feels like a dark midnight chase and brings you in when you think the track is out.

Image Source: App Advice