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Crossover Ready: 'Lemon Drop' by ATEEZ
The group's smoothest, coolest record yet is the perfect amount of refreshing as we dive into summer.
Jeff Benjamin
June 13, 2025
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K-pop underdogs ATEEZ have been making a clear, concerted effort to lean into their growing international presence with the new single “Lemon Drop” delivering what I think is their best chance yet for a crossover hit.
Following up from November’s Billboard 200 No. 1 album Golden Hour : Part.2, the boy band’s Part.3 drops today that continues the building pop appeal of past Golden Hour singles in Pt. 1’s “WORK” and “Ice on My Teeth” for Pt. 2. Both tracks had fantastically subtle production that would grab the ears of any pop fan or at least get hip-hop heads bobbing. ATEEZ continues to deliver with the equally accessible “Lemon Drop,” which I believe boasts the best song structure and lyrics for the group yet.
While “WORK” and “Ice” both kicked the songs off right with their choruses, “Lemon Drop” lets things simmer before bubbling up to its maximum temperature. ATEEZ leader Hongjoong and eldest member Seonghwa kick things off with a quick tease of the song’s post-chorus hook, the latter setting the tone with (what I think is) a cute line, “Ain’t nobody, yeah / You know you're a hottie, yeah.”
None of the ATEEZ members grew up speaking English fluently, but everyone’s sounds perfectly placed through the K-pop’s mix of English and Korean. The first verse features members San, Yunho, Mingi, Jongho, and Wooyoung, with lines that all sound like perfect fits for their voices. San sets the song’s seductive tone, purring how he’s got his “eyes locked onto you” before Yunho hops in with, “You’re the kind of muse I admire.” Mingi’s fast rap includes easy-to-rap-along-to lines, “Emergency, emergency / You put me in emergency... / Focus on me,” before some power-packed vocals from Jongho, with second-youngest Wooyoung closing the verse with a youthful “Yeah I feel the heat going crazy / Cheers to this night!”
Yunho and San lead the slinking chorus that has an addictively sultry quality about it as they use cocktails for (what I assume to be) sexy metaphors. The group adds vibrating harmonies through the chorus, singing, “Lemon drop, lemon drop, closer... / Tequila, tequila sunrise / We’re staying up till sunrise.” While I wish we could have found a better word to rhyme sunrise with other than sunrise, I’ll take it!
The song continues with Mingi and Yeosang bringing back the hook introduced in the intro, with Hongjong dropping in for a sassy rap section that hip-hop fans should take note of as he dances through rapping lines like, “Oh my, drop it like, it’s too hot,” while bursting with confidence and attitude.
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ATEEZ has been experimenting more with crossover remixes and remakes of their singles. “WORK” had three new remixes drop: one by Don Diablo and another by ATEEZ’s RCA Records labelmate G-Eazy, whose questionable verse caused more online music-fan gossip than help for ATEEZ. “Ice on My Teeth” got an English version and a slew of different mixes, including the usual sped-up and speed-down versions, but also the more uniquely named “Double Pepperoni Version” and “Olive Alive Version.” I have a strong feeling “Lemon Drop” is going to get some additional pushes, whether it’s through remixes or collaborations — any artists would be lucky to hop on this potential summer banger.
Ahead of Golden Hour : Pt. 3’s release, “Lemon Drop” was described as a new seasonal summer single that’s reminiscent of ATEEZ’s past summer singles like “Wave” and “Eternal Sunshine.” These brighter, feel-good tracks have become staples for ATEEZ, particularly “Wave,” with “Lemon Drop” feeling like a more mature version of the group.
On the Billboard 200, ATEEZ will face significant competition from Morgan Wallen’s ongoing juggernaut I’m the Problem album with its 37 tracks. However, perhaps the goal should be for “Lemon Drop” to have a greater impact. I’d love to see some remixes drop this week to give the group the best chance to make the Hot 100 or even the Bubbling Under Hot 100; that’d be a major step for the group.
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