Track Review: Boys World, "Wingman"

While BLACKPINK has been holding down for girl groups with Little Mix doing their thing over in Europe, a new girl group is getting ready to take over the world. Boys World, comprised of Elana Caceres, Olivia Ruby, Queenie Mae, Lillian Kay, and Makhyli, recently dropped their second single ahead of the release of their upcoming debut EP. The girls have taken TikTok and Twitter by storm with their effervescent personalities, enrapturing presence, and the earworm hook of their debut single, "Girlfriends."

On their new track, "Wingman," produced by Melanie Joy Fontana, Michel “Lindgren” Schulz & Farrago, the girls deliver an energetic anthem of independence and self-love. Conceptually and lyrically, "Wingman" follows the blueprint laid out by "Girlfriends" which triumphed friendships among women over the drama of romantic relationships with men. Sonically, the girls shift into a pastiche of funk-influenced pop complete with a plucky bassline and tight backing harmonies. Their vocal chemistry is particularly strong, especially in comparison to some of the bigger pop girl groups from the last decade. They're able to harmonize into a cohesive sound without sacrificing the uniqueness of their respective tones in solo parts. The pacing of "Wingman" also evokes the great pop cuts of the 2000s, particularly the care put into the building of the pre-chorus before it transitions into the chorus. "Wingman" occupies a space in pop music that has yielded tens of hundreds of songs, but the vigor that each lady brings to the track prevents it from sounding redundant or tired. The delivery of lines like "Not a brand new thing that a queendom doesn't need a king" and "Don't wanna be weighed down by that stone" is pitch-perfect. Oh, and the Destiny's Child reference ("My destiny isn't somebody paying my bills") is just delightful. From the catchy hook to the excellent ad-libs in the outro, Boys World are now 2 for 2 with their singles.

Score: 67