March Comeback Roundup

March has been jam-packed with great K-Pop comebacks, but also a lot of great Japanese releases from some of our favorite K-Pop groups. Keep reading to learn more about these great title tracks!

Secret Number - “LIKE IT LIKE IT”

“LIKE IT LIKE IT,” Secret Number’s first Japanese single, is the perfect formula of catchy, fun, and addicting. The beat will have you moving in no time and wishing you were out for a fun night with Secret Number. There are a few beat changes throughout the track, which makes for a really interesting listen. Sometimes the beat fades out completely, other times it slows down, but for the most part it keeps a rather upbeat tempo. Next time you’re getting ready to hit the town and lure potential romantic connections in, make sure you put “LIKE IT LIKE IT” on repeat to gain Secret Number’s confidence.

DRIPPIN - “Hello Goodbye”

Hello Goodbye is DRIPPIN’s second Japanese single and features the title track of the same name, new Japanese track “MIRAI,” and a Japanese version of their previous title track “The One.” “Hello Goodbye” is much softer than their previous Korean comebacks, making for a nice change in pace in their discography. It reminds me more of their early Korean releases, going for a more straightforward pop sound. The music video is also much softer. Gone are the days of villains DRIPPIN as we’re greeted to the boys hanging out, having pizza parties, dancing, and cleaning up a room that they seem to transform into their new dance space. “Hello Goodbye” evokes a certain sense of nostalgia and will have you thinking about your own good ol’ days.

Kep1er - “I do! Do you?”

While the music video for “I do! Do you?” was released in February, Kep1er’s second Japanese single FLY-BY was released on March 15, 2023. The track has a very retro feel to it, bringing in a fun bass in the background that sets the tempo. I’m a sucker for a good bass, so this song instantly had me hooked. Much like “LIKE IT LIKE IT,” “I do! Do you?” is another song for when you’re getting ready to go out, but the vibe of the track is completely different, leaning more into that young, high school love type of relationship rather than hitting the clubs. The music video is super cute, so if you haven’t watched it already, make sure you check it out!

FLY-BY also features four other tracks: the Japanese original track “tOgether fOrever,” Japanese versions of “We Fresh” and “MVSK,” and then a remix by IMLAY of the Japanese version of “WA DA DA.”

VERIVERY - “Tap Tap”

The Japanese version of “Tap Tap” was released on VERIVERY’s second Japanese single, which also features Japanese versions of “Love Line” and “So Gravity.” The music video for “Tap Tap” differs from the Korean music video, which is always fun to compare and contrast. That said, they do feature a lot of the same elements, like the band aspect, the fun couch hangs, and the use of pop-up graphics and words. In a way, the Japanese music video is also slightly edgier in terms of VERIVERY’s outfits. For fans of the Korean music video, you’ll still positively adore the Japanese music video.

PURPLE K!SS - “Sweet Juice”

PURPLE K!SS really blew it out of the water with their first Japanese release, DEAR VIOLET. The mini-album features six tracks, five of which are Japanese versions of their previous title tracks and then an original Japanese track, “tonari.” For this release, PURPLE K!SS decided that one music video wasn’t enough, and they released Japanese versions of the music videos for “Sweet Juice,” “Nerdy,” “memeM,” “Zombie,” and “Ponzona.” Unlike the VERIVERY video that differed from the Korean version however, the PURPLE K!SS Japanese videos are almost identical to the Korean versions. Make sure to check out both versions of all five tracks and spot the differences!

ATEEZ - “Limitless”

ATEEZ are no strangers to Japanese releases, as the boys have steadily been recording songs in Korean and Japanese almost since debut. To date, ATEEZ have released a total of seven Japanese albums, varying from singles to a full album. Maybe this is my ATEEZ bias and a love of anime coming through, but “Limitless” would make for the perfect anime opening or ending, something the boys already have experience with thanks to their Japanese track “Dreamers” being used as the OST for Digimon Adventure. “Limitless” has the perfect balance of an EDM-like buildup followed by that perfect anime OST chorus (come on, you know exactly what I’m talking about). Next time you need an inspirational track to help you conquer the world, put “Limitless” on repeat and embrace the winner that you are.

That’s it for March’s Japanese releases from our favorite K-Pop groups. Which tracks were your favorites? Let us know in the comments!

Edited by Aleena Faisal