Song Review:: BABYMONSTER: DRIP- Love In My Heart

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  • Release date: 2024 November 1
  • Album tracklist: CLIK CLAK; DRIP; Love Maybe; Really Like You; BILLIONAIRE; Love In My Heart; Woke Up In Tokyo; FOREVER; BATTER UP (Remix)
  • Album runtime: 28 minutes

 I wasn't expecting a music video over a month late, but it's here, and I'm vaguely reminded that they were planning on doing several music videos for this song. But, a song that's longer than three minutes is what I'll almost always be here for.

I really appreciate the quality of the mellow instrumentals, especially when put against CLIK CLAK and DRIP. They're soothing in a way I'm excited to see from the group, even when the energy level spikes during the chorus related sections, being the pre-chorus, the chorus, and the post-chorus. The clapping during the pre-chorus definitely brings me joy. It's not quite audience participation clapping, which I've been very vocal about how much I love, nor is it quite clapping as I'm almost positive that it's actually a drum of some variety, but it still catches my ears the same way. This song also goes back tonally to the early 10s, with what could be an EDM dance break during the chorus and post-chorus especially if it was actually a break and not included as the instrumentals behind singing, but I appreciate the gesture nonetheless. I'd love a proper EDM dance break again, but I'll take what I can get where I can get it. The rapping also gets the benefit of the rather gentle instrumentals, even though there's a quick beat given by the drums, as it helps to provide a good contrast.

The vocals. This group has some pipes on them, and they obviously have been trained in using them. I could not be happier with the belting and just the overall strength of their voices. Even when they're soft-spoken or in upper registers, they still sound well-supported. I also love the sung chorus, which feels like an actual chorus with the repetition kept to the post-chorus. It does feel like most of the song, but because it's not a single word or phrase constantly repeated, the repetition of it overall is more than tolerable. It's catchy and pleasant, and I am frustrated that the maknae was so young at debut because this would normally be an automatic acceptance into regular listening playlists. And I don't know about the Korean lyrics, but the English ones mostly make sense, so I have no complaint there. But also, I'm glad in a way for CLIK CLIK and DRIP because the versatility of the three songs is demonstrating good things for the group. I'm also somewhat glad that this is a b-side, for as much as I love the almost EDM dance break and just the song in general, in terms of the title track promotions, the higher energy of DRIP would serve better to rile up the crowd if needed. 

The music video is as soft and sweet as the song itself, and while I initially thought we'd be going with a mostly slice of life generic music video, there is actually a storyline about finding your joy with the people you love. It's a lightly toasted storyline, where you can pretend it's not there if you wish, rather than one where anyone can taste the char of it. It's cute and fits their ages a lot better than the swaggering of the other songs with music videos from the album. But it's not a delicate music video. It's age and feel appropriate, but it also feels real and affirms their bond as a group rather than borrowing swagger that they haven't earned yet. Also the "after credit" made me laugh. I thought it was lovely, until I noticed that one of them is a slow runner. I don't know if she's just normally a slow runner or if the long skirt/dress she was wearing caused the slowness, but I thought it was adorable.



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