TWICE Returns With Third Single Of The Year, 'Likey'

As if they hadn’t won over the K-pop scene already, Korean girl group TWICE wants everyone to like them on their latest single.

“Likey,” the lead song off their newly-released Twicetagram album, was released today (October 30), marking the act’s third Korean single of the year. Vibrant in its future pop nature, the track is inspired by social media, as the nine women of TWICE sing about getting the perfect look to attract the “like” of their crush.

Kicking off with the stereotypically-TWICE catchy, repeated title hook of “me likey, me likey” (courtesy of Sana), the single delivers an ebullient take on the anxiety spurred by turning crushes and social-media fantasy into reality. “Like is such a common word, not enough to express my feelings/ But I like it, even if I can't, even if I run late, like it anyway,” sings TWICE.

Sweet in its pop effusiveness, “Likey” primarily does without the gimmicks that the girl group has focused on in recent songs, favoring substance over quirkiness and providing the group’s singers a platform to show off their distinct vocal colors, creating an immensely easy-to-listen to single. There are still a few moments, like Momo’s pre-chorus and dance break, and the rap break featuring Chaeyoung and Dahyun, where the song turns into typical TWICE fare, moving away from the song’s more even vibe to perk things up with funky tonal shifts.  

With an overall retro style that depicts the members in crop-tops and plaid that would make any ‘90s fashionista proud, the accompanying music video features TWICE in a home-video style clip that shows them enjoying Vancouver, as they sing their feelings out in a variety of settings.

Co-written by the songwriting team Black Eyed Pilseung and Jeon Gun, it’s a return to working with the former for TWICE: the group’s debut song “Like Ooh-Ahh” and the following tracks, hits “Cheer Up” and “TT” were all brainchildren of that duo. TWICE worked with other producers on their previous 2017 singles, “Knock Knock” and “Signal.”

“Likey” is the single off of Twicetagram, the 13-song track released by TWICE on Oct. 30. It is the K-pop group’s first full-length album, following the release of several EPs and compilation albums in both Korea and Japan.  

Photo: YouTube/jypentertainment