Throwback Thoughts: Love Like This- SS501

Bet you never you read a review like this!

Ahoy there! I mean-hello. Let’s start it off with news about a male 2nd gen K-pop idol not being a massive tool. We saw 2PM’s Taecyeon be rewarded for exemplary work during his military service. What a nice contrast to the other men making headlines! 2AM’s Jinwoon and Super Junior’s Kangin raised suspicion over if they actually were involved with Jung Joon young’s infamous chat group, and JYJ’s Yoochun’s ex-fiancee Hwang Hana allegedly had previous sketchy activity at Seungri’s controversial Burning Sun club.

Kinda similar to recent events but not connected, SS501’s Kim Hyungjun (not to be confused with SS501’s Kim Hyunjoong) was accused of sexually assaulting a woman 9 years ago. Further developments to this story imply this may not be foul play and the accuser is kinda weird. With that, let’s look back at on of the most popular boy groups of the 2nd generation of K-pop with their song Love Like This!

SS501 had some good music going on in the second half of their brief career. Love Like This has a fast pace to it emphasized even more in the chorus. The chorus is also fun to sing along to with “love” showing up once every four measures. It makes it hard to imagine this being performed by a western boy band.

But here it exists anyway. One of the members of Varsity Fanclub is credited with writing SS501’s version, so I’m pretty sure what happened is the guy wrote and recorded this for his boy band, and he saw a better profit in selling the rights to DSP. Also, this has to be the most awkward-looking US boy band photoshoot.

SS501 might have had more good songs if Kim Hyun Joong’s career didn’t skyrocket the way it did. It wasn’t even until after his scandal broke that he said he’s be open for a reunion. There was a time when SS501 needed him, but now he needs the band more. And I know this pic isn’t of Hyunjoong but I thought Hyungjun was far superior in looks the moment I laid yes on him.

He was pretty useless in the songs anyway. Every time he signs in Love Like This, you can hear the autotune leaking out. The same can’t be said for when the other members sing. I won’t deny they aren’t using autotune tough, but they can probably hit the notes better than Hyunjoong if he’s the odd one out. And I doubt the autotune is a stylistic choice either. “Autotune King” T-Pain actually can sing, what’s Hyunjoong’s defense?