Song Review:: Baby DONT Cry: AFTER CRY- Shapeshifter {Pre-Release}

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  • Release date: 2026 March 24
  • Album tracklist: Mama I'm Alright, Bittersweet, Shapeshifter, Moves Like Ciara, Tears On My Pillow
  • Album runtime: 15 minutes

 I apparently missed their debut last year. Oops. And since their album recently came out and I missed their pre-release, I'm going to do the pre-release and then the title track in fairly quick succession. And, in case anyone cares, the maknae turns 18 this year and was 16 at debut (December birthday). I'm going to give them a slight pass on the other qualifier for Underage Protocol (>50% of members eighteen at debut) only because the middle two debuted at seventeen, but turned eighteen fairly shortly after debut, and the eldest was over eighteen. I don't like it. But. Considering this is my first review of theirs, they were borderline to begin with, and they're all but the maknae at least eighteen as of this moment, I will give them that pass. The company better not make me regret it. The average runtime is a little short (thanks to the first track) but both the pre-release and the title track are over three minutes, so I'm okay with it.

This song has high danceability. Buried underneath the beat during the floatier section is a very solid bass that helps to round out what you're hearing even if it isn't super audible. It's actually pretty steady, with a couple of very interesting shifts in sound, which I'm a huge fan of because I love variation, as we know. This is satisfying. I'm very pleased.

You know, I think I really like this song. I'm glad I decided to cover it. I was more or less ambivalent the first fifteen times or so I listened to it, but it's grown on me. And this is why I don't like putting songs on Underage Protocol, because this wouldn't have ended up in that playlist I'm using to keep track of the songs I like from this year. I really like the chorus. I enjoy the rest of the song, don't get me wrong, but I really, really like the chorus, and I just keep liking it more and more every single time I hear it. 

Second gen weirdness updated to more modern kpop (I see you, random flying pink gorilla). They also turn into dolls, which is odd, but I'm here for. We've got a storyline, which I'm here for. I love their costuming. I really like the choreography and I think it'll age well as the group ages. I'm pleased again.

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