Song Review: None of My Business by ITZY

‘None of My Business’ acts as ITZY’s second pre-release for their upcoming album. Despite my problems with ‘Bet On Me’, it is hard to deny the strength of its melodies. It was just not executed very well, and to this day, I still wonder why the producers did not give the girls a break and pitch the song down just a few semitones, which would tremendously improve the song. On the complete contrary, ‘None of My Business’ has the opposite problem. While the song is set at a very comfortable range (FINALLY) for ITZY, the melodies simply do absolutely nothing for me.

‘None of My Business’ takes an almost NewJeans-esque route, employing pleasant instrumentals and repetition of one core melodic idea throughout the song. What would make this work is if the hooks actually hook, but they were a complete bore. It might improve with time, just like many NewJeans songs, but the melodic variation in the chorus is almost non-existent. This might be useful for the song’s concept, trying to sound nonchalant as they allude to the title, but it ends up being so nonchalant to the point of being forgettable. This is not something that I have ever had an issue with any NewJeans song, even if I do have problems with some of them more than others. I fear that in ITZY’s attempt to chase trends, they end up loosing who they are as artists. ‘Bet On Me’ was more successful, but I don’t think the choice worked for ‘None of My Business’.

The song was well-produced, but since they are somewhat emanating a current style and trend (a.k.a NewJeans), and since NewJeans has some of my favourite productions in K-pop at the moment, it greatly pales in comparison. I associate NewJeans productions with interesting choices of rhythm particularly in percussion, unique song structures, light and clear vocal processing, and atmospherically engaging. This makes them stand out in the industry, even though their songs are so minimalist that threaten to become ‘boring’. ‘None of My Business’ sadly fails to find ways to innovate what would conventionally be ‘boring’ into something gripping. I would rather listen to a NewJeans song any day. The production of ‘None of My Business’ is done well for what it is, but that is all there is to it.

I like how ITZY performed this track actually. Props to them. While they haven’t fully adapted into singing in a style suitable for this kind of song, they are getting there.

Overall, ‘None of My Business’ is by no means a bad song. It is inoffensive in every way. It is just that I have absolutely no desire to play it ever again, given that there is an entire K-pop group who specializes in these easy-to-listen-to bops and does them significantly better.

Hooks – 6
Production – 7
Vocal Delivery – 9
Rap Delivery – 9
Overall – 7.75