After taking the world by storm for so many years and tearing down boundaries not only in K-Pop but also in the music world as a whole, BLACKPINK has been taking a well-deserved break over the last year or so. BLACKPINK has broken down so many barriers as a group over the years, and it is cool to see the members able to focus on themselves for a bit. This mini hiatus for the group has led to the group being able to take on various solo endeavors. Whereas it seems like JISOO is mainly focused on acting and fashion, the other members are once again diving into solo music. This started with LISA, who began and finished the summer with a bang with her two great singles, ‘Rockstar’ and ‘No Woman’ feat. Rosalía(the former winning her yet another VMA K-Pop award). She has also dazzled this autumn with her single ‘Moonlit Floor,’ a rework of the song ‘Kiss Me’ by Sixpence None The Richer. About a month ago, JENNIE started promoting her own new upcoming solo, culminating in the lead single ‘MANTRA.’ This Beyoncé-esque bop is an empowering anthem that I have been bumping consistently, and that I am sure has become a pregaming favorite for young people around the world. Then, with pretty much no forewarning, ROSÉ burst onto the scene with her solo track, also revealing she has a full-length album dropping in December. Unlike the rollout for LISA and JENNIE, ROSÉ’s new song had very little promotion. About two weeks ago, she posted on her Instagram that she had something cooking up, dropping little hints on who the feature in this song could be. On October 18, ROSÉ dropped ‘APT.,’ her new single with none other than Bruno Mars. This was not a collaboration that anyone could have seen coming, but now that ‘APT.’ is out, it is very clear that we needed this link up. Here are some of my thoughts on ‘APT.,’ the lead single from ROSÊ upcoming album rosie. Please let me know in the comments what you think about ‘APT.,’ and also comment the names of any other K-Pop songs or artists you think I should check out!

Now I will start off by saying that frankly, I absolutely love this song. Since the minute I heard it, I have been hooked. Once in a while, a Pop song comes along with a simple and extremely catchy sound that just works perfectly for what it is and feels timeless. ‘APT.’ is a song that immediately fits that bill for me. ‘APT.’ feels like the kind of single that will grow over time, and become a staple for young and mature music fans alike for many years to come. I know that is a bold statement, but this song just has that kind of energy and aura. There is a specific era and style of Pop-Rock music that ‘APT.’ immediately took me back to when first heard it. It is the Punk-infused fast, quirky Pop Rock that was big in the early 2010s. Two songs instantly come to mind when hearing this one(because of its energy, not actual melody or anything like that): ‘Girlfriend’ by Avril Lavinge, and ‘That’s Not My Name’ by the Ting Tings(I also get a smidge of Franz Ferdinand on this track well). Both of these tracks are quirky little Pop hits that are still popular to this day, so I promise this is high praise for me. ‘APT.’ is driven by a groovy guitar riff that has a retro tint to it that still feels pretty fresh and fun. This entertaining riff, seemingly played by both ROSÉ and Bruno Mars at times, is put on top of an upbeat drum pattern that makes me want to dance. This drum pattern almost has a cheerleader or matching band quality that can just put someone in a good mood when they hear it. As fun as the instrumental is, the vocals are what take this track over the top. All of the vocals on ‘APT.’ are excellent, starting with the chanting that drives the chorus. Both ROSÉ and Bruno Mars both show how great of vocalists they are throughout this track, and their chemistry is palpable. ROSÉ especially shows off on the bridge, demonstrating her impressive range, and Bruno Mars does his thing on his verse like he literally always does. The phrase “APT.’ actually refers to a little drinking game that is popular in South Korea which ROSÉ likes to play. I read that ROSÉ actually stated she was a bit nervous about dropping a song about a drinking game, which is funny to me considering the topics in most of the American music I listen to. ‘APT.’ is also an abbreviation for the word apartment. Besides referencing a drinking game, ‘APT.’ is a cute little love song where ROSÉ and Bruno Mars are asking their partner to come spend the night with them and party away. ‘APT.’ is a smash with an undeniable sound that is such an earworm. I would even venture to say that is one of(if not the, although competing with ‘Espresso’ and ‘Good Luck Babe’ is not easy) best Pop songs of the year. ‘APT.’ is a song I know I will be bumping consistently in the foreseeable future, and it gets me excited to hear ROSÉ’s new album coming out at the end of the year!