ATEEZ (에이티즈) Turn Being 'BAD' into an Art Form

If you've ever wondered what would happen if a nightclub, a telenovela, a dance battle and a blockbuster action film all arrived at the same party, then ATEEZ's 'BAD' is here to answer your oddly specific question. The title track from GOLDEN HOUR: Part.5 swaps the group's usual apocalyptic intensity for something hotter, bolder and thoroughly danceable, with Brazilian funk rhythms driving an irresistibly swaggering chorus. The video, meanwhile, gleefully throws subtlety out of the nearest window, serving up flirtation, jealousy, spectacular choreography and enough visual flair to keep freeze-frame enthusiasts occupied for days. It's loud, stylish and gloriously over the top – exactly the sort of music video that reminds you K-pop often treats "less is more" as a quaint historical curiosity.

Some K-pop groups become famous for catchy songs, some for impressive choreography, and some for looking impossibly cool while standing perfectly still. ATEEZ somehow managed all three at once. Since debuting in 2018, the eight-member South Korean group has built a global following through performances so energetic that they occasionally give the impression that the laws of physics are merely polite suggestions. Their music videos feature pirates, rebels, alternate realities and enough dramatic symbolism to keep internet theorists occupied for years. Meanwhile, fans – known as ATINY – enthusiastically piece together the group's sprawling fictional universe, proving that a catchy chorus and a mystery are a powerful combination. Whether storming festival stages or collecting international awards, ATEEZ continue to demonstrate that if you're going to take over the world, it helps to do so while executing perfectly synchronised dance moves.  Of course, on the other hand if my (long departed) grandmother was to watch this, she would come out with one of her favorite phrases: "No wonder kids are daft".

Watch BAD below: