IVE — ATTITUDE: They Aren’t Afraid of Dissonance

In 2023 and 2024, whenever I met people — whether in conversations about films or dramas — I kept asking the same question:

“So, NewJeans or aespa? What’s your pick?”

Answers varied, but most people agreed: those two were leading the girl group scene.

Time passed, and now there’s a name that has grown into a towering mountain in K-pop. Today’s protagonist: IVE. (If you only know Jang Wonyoung or Ahn Yujin, that’s okay — come on in.)

Their work is genuinely beautiful. Arrangement, lyrics, album structure… Maybe I’m actually admiring Starship’s entire production direction.

It may be a little late, but before IVE’s next big release drops, here’s a review I had to write:

“IVE — ATTITUDE”

@ Stubbornness — in a girl group?

“Stubbornness” is a word I use a lot when I talk about art. Even when the audience is full of question marks — the strength to push forward anyway. That sense of: “I think it’s beautiful, so why not?”

The intro of ATTITUDE features the iconic hook from Suzanne Vega’s “Tom’s Diner.” Isn’t it the first time since Fall Out Boy that we’ve heard this in a pop track?

But what matters isn’t just the sample — it’s how much they use it. That “Da ra ra” hook appears twice, fully, every time, all the way through to the end.

You might say, “That’s it? What’s the big deal?” If that’s your reaction — think again.

Let’s talk about 2025: Songs are shrinking. Tracks in the 2-minute range have become the norm. But here comes IVE — a 3-minute+ song with a full 8-bar hook repeated four times?

This isn’t just pop structure — this is artistic boldness. While the world cuts 8 bars into 7, or 4 into 3, this song gives generously — like a tree that offers its whole branch.

And strangely, this nonsense-syllable hook — filled with just “Da ra ra” — somehow melts, organizes, and emphasizes the lyrics that deal with hardship, luck, and self-love. (Don’t forget to credit Pokjoo Gini for the magic!)

@ Dissonance? So what.

Of course, ATTITUDE isn’t IVE’s only great song. There’s “REBEL HEART,” and from their first full-length album, tracks like “Lips” and “Hypnosis (섬찟)” overflow with creative ideas.

But the attitude that IVE has upheld since debut — that consistent, confident boldness — truly shines in this track.

Take Gaeul’s verse in the first part of the song:

“Dress up to impress but I’m impressing everyone”

Got a piano nearby? Try playing these low notes: F — Eb — D — Db. Sounds weird and uncomfortable? Good. That means you played it right.

In harmony, we call this dissonance — notes that don’t “go together.” In life, we use the same term for relationships that don’t quite work.

Dissonance isn’t hard to understand. Just play two neighboring notes at the same time: C and C♯, E and F, B and C…

The bass line in Gaeul’s part? Exactly those notes: F — Eb — D — Db. And the melody? It descends in half-steps: F — E — Eb — D.

See it now? The melody and bass clash against each other by half steps:

• Bass: Eb / Melody: E
• Bass: D / Melody: Eb
• Bass: Db / Melody: D

You see that? These are straight-up dissonant collisions.

And here’s the twist — the melody, on its own? It’s gorgeous. The bass progression? It’s part of a recurring, well-written harmonic pattern.

But when the two hit together — they crash. And yet — it’s beautiful.

There are eight credited songwriters on ATTITUDE. Do you think they missed this dissonance? Of course not. It was deliberate.

It’s saying:

“We know it clashes. We know it’s against the rules. But we like it that way. We’re doing it our way.”

That’s confidence. That’s poise. That’s ATTITUDE.

Isn’t it beautiful? K-pop has reached a level where even harmonic rules can be bent — and redefined. They twisted music theory itself to express:

“I like my attitude.”

That’s ATTITUDE. That’s IVE. (Go ahead and clap now.)

@ Conclusion

ATTITUDE is from IVE’s third EP, “IVE EMPATHY.” The theme of empathy is literally written on the cover.

There are times when IVE’s shining, star-like confidence feels too far from where I am. But this album seems to say:

“We see your heart. We understand you. You, too, can be confident.”

It’s a song that responds to all those admiring gazes looking up at IVE. And I can only marvel at it. Because stars like them — and those who resemble them — will one day fill the skies.

That’s ATTITUDE.

This ending? Pure magic again. Now I’ve even reviewed K-pop. See you in the next one — for sure!