Ado Heize And July Cover Surprises Fans With DEAN’s Rap Part
Quick Take: Ado has released a Korean-language cover of Heize’s “And July,” taking on DEAN’s part after performing the song at Xnterstellar Music Festival 2026.
Written by Huzaifa
Heize’s “And July” was already a lovely surprise in Ado’s Korean festival set. Now there is an official upload to return to: the Ado Heize And July cover arrived on her YouTube channel on October 31, 2026, with the Japanese singer handling both the melody and DEAN’s rap part.
The release follows her October 3 appearance at Xnterstellar Music Festival 2026, held at Paradise City in Incheon. The festival’s own report confirms that Ado performed “And July” and LE SSERAFIM’s “Blue Flame” in Korean as special selections for the audience.
That timeline matters. Fans discovering the video this weekend are hearing a song she had already brought to a Korean stage earlier in the month. For people who were there, the upload gives that concert memory somewhere to live beyond the setlist.
Why “And July” is such a good pick
Released on July 18, 2016, “And July” is the title track from Heize’s mini album of the same name, featuring DEAN and DJ Friz. The project also includes “Shut Up & Groove,” another Heize–DEAN collaboration, so there is a whole little listening rabbit hole here for anyone discovering their work through Ado.
DEAN’s contribution goes beyond being a featured name. The original album credits list him alongside Heize as a lyricist, among the composers, and as vocal director. That helps explain why taking on his section is a meaningful detail of this cover: his presence is built into the song.
For me, the appeal of this choice is the connection it creates between two different fan circles. Ado broke through with “Usseewa” in 2020 and reached another huge audience through the songs of One Piece Film Red. A decade-old Heize track gives those listeners a different doorway into Korean music.
The Ado Heize And July cover also makes a strong case for looking beyond the newest releases when choosing a song to revisit.
Korean fans are noticing the language work
Ado addressed the challenge herself in the upload’s Korean description: “Korean pronunciation is really difficult!! But it’s fun!!” She also described “And July” as a song she loves.
The comments contain a particularly sweet bit of concert-fan behavior: listeners who remembered hearing it at XMF returned to celebrate the official upload. Other Korean-language commenters praised her pronunciation, while one specifically expressed surprise that she tackled DEAN’s part too.
Those are individual reactions, rather than proof of a universal verdict. Still, they explain what fans are responding to: the song choice, the language effort, and the decision to carry both artists’ sections.
I like that the conversation gives the original collaborators attention as well. A cover can be a meeting point for fandoms: one listener arrives for Ado, another recognizes Heize, and someone else wants to talk about DEAN. That is a much more interesting comment section than a competition over who “owns” the song.
Where to watch, and what comes next
The Ado Heize And July cover is available on Ado’s official YouTube channel. Its credits name John Kafka for the illustration and vis for the mix.
The upload announcement does not provide a separate streaming-release date or announce a collaboration with Heize or DEAN. For now, the confirmed release to enjoy is the cover itself.
For more confirmed artist updates, visit DaebakDaily’s News section.
Which Korean song would you want Ado to cover next?