Best of March 2021 B-Sides

Now that winter is finally gone and spring is here, it’s time to look back at something else March 2021 gifted us: more incredible B-sides from our favorite artists.

“Take Me Home” by ATEEZ

It’s no secret to ATINY that when it comes to an ATEEZ release, every track is near-flawless and that the members put their all into everything. While this is much appreciated, it makes picking a best ZERO : FEVER Pt.2 B-side incredibly difficult. “The Leaders” gave us a trap-infused, dark hip-hop track complete with Wooyoung’s harsh whispering, “Time Of Love” reminded us all to be kinder to ourselves, and “Celebrate” was the perfect track for ATEEZ to express their love for their fans, but there’s just something so special about when ATEEZ begin to experiment with new sounds, making the synth-pop “Take Me Home” and its glorious saxophone solo the best B-side. The boys even included an English version on the album. To read more about ATEEZ’s continued rise to the top of K-Pop, click here.

“Come Over” by Rain ft. Keita, TAG, and WON of Ciipher

Shortly before the debut of his boy group Ciipher, K-Pop icon Rain released his third mini-album PIECES by RAIN and featured three of the seven Ciipher members on B-side track “Come Over.” While Ciipher’s debut mini-album consists of mostly bubblegum pop, that’s definitely not the vibe that “Come Over” presents. Filled with the sensuality fans have come to associate with Rain, this playful R&B track was a great chance for Keita, TAG, and WON to show off their skills, with Rain only singing in the choruses. You can read more about Rain’s comeback here. And, if you find yourself interested in what Ciipher has to offer, you can read about their debut here. 

“Action Figure” by WayV

With their first release since their first album, 2020’s Awaken The World, WayV returned on March 10, 2021 with Kick Back. The group’s third mini-album kicked off with title track “Kick Back,” but it’s second track and B-side “Action Figure” that left a bit of an impression on us here at The Kraze. WayV are known for having a slightly sexier sound, sometimes to the point where it’s no longer as covert as most K-Pop listeners are used to, but this track sees WayV experimenting with a slightly Reggaeton sound at the beginning before it morphs into that slinky sound towards the end. But don’t let the repeated line of, “I’m an action figure,” fool you—there’s still some thinly veiled metaphors for fans to unravel. Read more about WayV’s latest mini-album here. 

“Boy in time (Hui Solo)” by PENTAGON

PENTAGON returned on March 15, 2021 with their eleventh mini-album LOVE or TAKE, featuring a rock-fueled title track that is a far cry from our pick for best B-side, Hui’s solo track “Boy in time.” Back in late November 2020, Hui performed the B-side alongside friend and ASTRO member MJ on Show! Music Core shortly before he was originally supposed to enlist. The release of “Boy in time” has been a long time coming for UNIVERSE, as Hui has spoken many times between 2018 and 2020 about the writing process for this track that speaks to his youth and growing up, and it’s even more heart-wrenching now, a month after he’s begun his mandatory enlistment. The Kraze hopes for the best for Hui and you can read more about LOVE or TAKE here.