SEVENTEEN's comeback album, Attacca, drops October 22, 2021 at midnight ET. Photo: HYBE LABELS/YouTube
And just like that, SEVENTEEN confirmed their comeback! Imagine that, only four months since the group’s latest release, Your Choice, we will be seeing our beloved thirteen again!
Really, how sure are you?
On September 22, the group’s social media accounts released not one, not two, but three teaser posts a full month before their scheduled comeback. The first post was in black, with the caption,
SEVENTEEN 9th Mini Album ‘Attacca’
2021.10.22 1PM (KST)
2021.10.22 0AM (ET)
#세븐틴 #SEVENTEEN
#Attacca
Followed by a teaser treated in a red filter, featuring all 13 members of the boyband in an empty indoor swimming pool as they walk into the distance, their back against the camera.
The last teaser post was in black again, with the group’s name in a white, italicized font, with the same caption about the group’s 9th mini-album entitled Attacca.
Attacca? What is that supposed to mean?
Attacca does sound like something coming from a Romance language. However, “attack” in Portuguese and Spanish only use one ‘t’ for ataca and the spelling in French includes a “q.” That leaves Italian, which indeed has attacca as a music term. It could be used at the start of the next section (movement) or by a conductor to mean that the musician will have to start playing immediately without any pauses. It is a distinctly Italian term and is used by musicians all over the world in its original form without translating it. After all, it may sound awkward to hear “attack the music” in English.
Otherwise, outside of music, attacca in Italian also means to attack, to stick, to attach, to hang, to affix, to plug, to fasten, or to tie, among other meanings.
It seems. All three teasers look dark and harken back to other more intense releases from the group like Hit, Home, and perhaps their most dramatic release, Fear.
But how about Jun and The8?
Pledis Entertainment had previously shared that SEVENTEEN will be promoting this upcoming release as an 11-member group, and will also do so for the rest of the year. The8 and Jun will be coming home to China to be with family and hold solo activities in their native country. So, does this mean that the two will not be in the album?
No, the album is already finished and the materials have already been furnished. As seen in the teaser post, both Chinese members are present. This means that they are in the album, it’s just that they will not be able to promote the EP with the rest of the group until December.
Stay tuned for further news on this exciting comeback!
SEVENTEEN’s comeback album, Attacca, drops on October 22, 2021 midnight ET.
SEVENTEEN’s comeback album, Attacca, drops October 22, 2021 at midnight ET. Photo: HYBE LABELS/YouTube
BLACKPINK members Jisoo and Rose take a selfie at the iconic Eiffel Tower ahead of their schedule for Paris Fashion Week 2021. Photo: sooyaaa__/Instagram
The month of September has been all about our beloved lovesick girls BLACKPINK. First, on Sept. 10, Lisa finally made her highly-anticipated solo debut with her single Lalisa, breaking records left and right like it’s nobody’s business. Just days after, September 15 to be exact, our main vocalRosé made headlines by being the first member of the group to appear at the Met Gala and being one of the first two female K-pop idols to grace the ceremony overall (with 2NE1’s CL). But even before the two girls gave us much-needed BLACKPINK developments, it was actually Jennie that ushered in the month with some eye-popping photos of her in the Calvin Klein Fall 2021 campaign, wearing nothing but her Calvins… underwear. How’s that for the group reminding us they’re in everyone’s area?
And before the month ends, BLACKPINK strikes again with more of the group’s fashion-related activities. All the members are reported to attend one of the fashion industry’s most awaited events: the Paris Fashion Week. It seems that BLINKs haven‘t been disappointed that the usually frugal (when it comes to giving their idols activities) YG is keeping the girls busy by giving the girls a packed schedule by letting them attend high-profile events even without a group comeback on the horizon yet!
It was only last week when news about BLACKPINK’s appearance at Paris Fashion Week started circulating when a number of Korean media outlets reported the group would be flying to the City of Love soon. Some sources claimed that Rosé and Jisoo were scheduled to leave for Paris via Incheon International Airport on Sept. 25, while Jennie and Lisa, who still have items in their Korean schedule, would be taking their flights at a later time. The rumors seemed to make sense with fans, especially since all the four girls are current global ambassadors for French fashion brands – with Dior having Jisoo, Celine having Lisa, Saint Laurent having Rosé, and Chanel having Jennie.
Alas, the reports came true when indeed, Jisoo and Rosé departed Incheon and went to Paris on September 25. Blinks rejoiced when the two shared selfies of themselves in front of the Eiffel Tower on Instagram.
After the IG updates, the two girls have gone to work, and by work, we mean appearing in the fashion shows of their respective brands. The Dior Collection show at Paris Fashion Week was scheduled to take place on September 28 at 2:30 PM, and Jisoo did not disappoint by attending the event wearing a black-and-white mini dress from the brand’s Resort 2022 collection. The group’s visual paired her attire with a tiny Lady Dior bag and open-toed platform heels, and with long straight hair, Jisoo gave high fashion vibes through and through.
But the day didn’t end there, as the Yves Saint Laurent Collection show was held that evening at 8 PM. It was our On The Ground singer’s turn, and she continued her penchant for black YSL outfits by wearing a sheer mini dress with knee-high boots, which she glammed up with a gold chunky necklace with pearl detailing.
So now, you may ask, when are Jennie and Lisa joining Jisoo and Rosé? The Paris Fashion Week will be until October 6, so there are still a good number of days for the two left in Seoul to take that Paris-bound flight. The Chanel Collection show will take place on October 5 at 10:30 AM, while there are no scheduled shows for Celine. Would that mean only Jennie would be off to Paris while Lisa would continue her Lalisa promotions in Seoul? Stay tuned for developments in the coming days.
BLACKPINK members Jisoo and Rose take a selfie at the iconic Eiffel Tower ahead of their schedule for Paris Fashion Week 2021. Photo: sooyaaa__/Instagram
We may have heard a lot of news about these dramas, including casting updates, the dropping of stills and teasers, but for the longest time, we have not been informed of confirmed dates for their release.
Now, we have gathered the latest updates about three web and TV shows that will feature some of your favorite idols, so without further ado, here they are:
Heartbeat Broadcasting Accident
Scheduled to premiere on October 27 on Naver TV Cast
What’s it about: A lot of us K-drama followers are surely hard to please! We constantly complain that a majority of the content we see is not that relatable. If most dramas are about fantastical characters with superpowers like Goblin or A Korean Odyssey, we complain. If we get a suspense drama about how the 1% of society live, such as the Penthouse series or SKY Castle, we still complain. When we have period dramas like 100 Days My Princeor Mr. Queen, we still have something to say about the content being too foreign and irrelevant. Finally, when we have shows about celebrities like The Producers or Touch Your Heart, we still have an issue or two.
So alas, we are starting off this list with something most of us can surely relate to – an office drama! Heartbeat Broadcasting Accident is a web drama set in an office that will surely be relatable to a lot of us since it is about unrequited love (who can’t relate to fluttering hearts the first time we meet an attractive officemate?), influencer rivals (there’s always competition on who gets the boss’ approval, after all), and a love triangle (because it is sometimes inevitable that attraction breeds in the small circle of office teams)
Who’s in it? The web drama features SF9’s ZuHo, Lim Nayoung, Lee Hyunjoo, and Jung Mingyu. ZuHo proves that all (or at least, a majority of SF9) members can act and pursue careers outside of their group. So, it’s not just Rowon and Chani who get to display their acting chops, as in this show, he will essay the role of Cha Seonwoo, a first planning team leader at “Sherry Shop” and has good looks and top skills and competes with a male colleague for the affections of a female officemate.
[UPDATE] Official photo from script reading session of web-drama ‘Heartbeat Broadcasting Accident’ revealed
Cast: Im Na Young, SF9 Zuho, Jung Min Gyu, Lee Hyun Joo, Hak Jin, Jang Yoo Jin & Kang Hyun Moo
Lim Nayoung, former I.O.I and Pristin leader, seems to be intent on proving herself as an actress since her group’s disbandment and leaving her former talent agency, Pledis Entertainment. Debuting in the acting world with the acclaimed drama Flower of Evil, she has since appeared in the web drama Summer Guys with bandmate Kang Mina and the KBS idol drama Imitation, which also starred ZuHo’s bandmate Chani. Nayoung will be the leading lady of the drama, playing Yoon Yiseo, a social media influencer who has to keep an office job to make ends meet. She meets childhood friend Seonwoo in Sherry Shop, though she has also noticed another male officemate.
Second leads include Lee Hyunjoo, formerly of the girl group April, who plays Yura, Yiseo’s rival in many aspects – online, in Sherry Shop, and for Seonwoo’s affections. There’s also model-turned-actor Jung Mingyu, who as Kwon Hyuck, also works in Sherry Shop and will battle it out with Seonwoo for Yoon Yiseo’s heart.
Idol: The Coup
Scheduled to premiere on November 8 on JTBC
Speaking of Lim Nayoung, after Pristin was disbanded, she moved to Sublime Artist Agency, where she is now pursuing an acting career. The agency is also home to former idols who have opted to diversify or shift their careers to include acting, such as Yerin formerly of GFriend, Youngjae of GOT7, and Ahn Heeyeon, or more known to us as Hani of EXID. Hani has dabbled a lot in acting since leaving Banana Culture, EXID’s agency, having bagged roles in web and TV dramas such as XX, The Spies Who Loved Me, SF8, Not Yet 30, and You Raise Me Up. Next for her is this idol drama, Idol: The Coup, which coincidentally is also similar to Nayoung’s previous drama, Imitation, in the sense that both are shows about the triumphs and struggles of idol groups.
Idol: the Coup is a story of an idol group that is on the brink of disbandment because of its unpopularity. Just like most idol groups these days, the fate of the band ultimately depends on a breakout hit that may possibly save them and bring them back to public attention. Us fans are too familiar with this scenario, as we’ve witnessed groups that have been on the brink of getting dismissed and it just took one viral hit to change public perception. There’s Brave Girls with Rollin’, LABOUM with Journey to Atlantis, and EXID with that viral Up and Down fancam that featured none other than Hani!
Alas, this drama’s story is also quite familiar with its actors because aside from Hani, who plays the leader of the fictional struggling group Cotton Candy, the other members include Exy of the Cosmic Girls (WJSN) and Solbin of LABOUM. Suffice to say these actor-idols will be acting from experience, indeed. The drama also includes Han Soeun and Green (of the group REDSQUARE) as the other members of Cotton Candy, Produce X 101 alumnus Kim Minkyu as Seo Jihan, the leader and main vocalist of Mars, a popular K-pop boy group that has an opposite fate as their labelmates Cotton Candy. There also may be a love angle between the leaders of the two groups.
Other members of the cast include Kwak Siyang as Cha Jaehyeok, the CEO of Starpeace Entertainment, the agency of both Mars and Cotton Candy, Lee Youjin as Piyon, a genius producer who exclusively provides songs to Starpeace Entertainment talents, and the other members of Mars, which also include real-life idols such as Hong Eunki (formerly of RAINZ and also a Produce 101 X contestant), Lee Eunsang (who was also with Eunki and Minkyu in PD101X and became a member of X1), and actors Baek Seohoo and Jo Joonyoung.
Teasers of the drama have already been released on JTBC’s YouTube channel, which show a lot of the cast members in heavy drama scenes. Looks like the idol actors don’t have to work that hard to be reminded of the struggles they had in their careers as idol group members.
School 2021
Premiering on November 17 on KBS2
I’m sure most, if not all of us, have at the very least heard of an installment of the School drama series. After all, there have been eight (you read that right, e-i-g-h-t) of them released, with the first one coming out in 1999. A lot of established actors have been a part of the franchise, including Bae Doona (School 1), Lee Dongwook (School 2 and 3), Jo Insung (School 3), Gong Yoo (School 4), Kim Woobin (School 2013), Kim Sohyun (School 2015), Nam Joohyuk (School 2015), and Kum Junghyun (School 2017). BtoB’s Sungjae and former Gugudan center and I.O.I main vocalist Kim Sejeong also have School 2015 and 2017, respectively, as part of their acting credentials.
A new batch of relative acting rookies will be introduced in this year’s School 2021, which was actually supposed to be School 2020 had the pandemic not delayed production of the show. As with the other earlier editions of the drama, this 2021 version still follows the life and growth of students, with a twist. This time, the show will be set in a vocational high school and will star feature ex-X1 center Kim Yohan, Choo Youngwoo, and Cho Yihyun.
Gong Kijoon (Yohan) used to be a taekwondo player and has played in national compet9tiojn when he suddenly had incurred a serious ankle injury. With his father’s business going bankrupt, Kijoon wanted to reverse his family’s misfortunes by quitting taekwondo and entering a vocational high school so he could be employed fast. Enter Jin Jiwon, his first love, who wants to become a carpenter and is already enrolled in the vocational school. There’s also Jung Youngjoo, a transfer student who has a connection to Kijoon’s past.
The other students in the drama include Kim Kangmin who plays Ji Hosung, a student who is always changing his plans on what he wants to become in the future and becomes Kijoon’s friend. There’s also Hwang Boreum Byeol who plays Kang Seoyoung, a high achieving student focused on making it to one of the five top universities in Korea and maybe cold and uncaring because of her ambition.
BLACKPINK LALISA special stage. Photo: BLACKPINK/YouTube
After more than two weeks since Blackpink’s Lisa dropped her debut single album, it may now be safe to assess its merits. There are currently two schools of thought when it comes to Lisa’s solo effort – those arguing that it was a resounding success and those claiming that it was a downright flop. So, which is which? To view things objectively, we need to weigh all the points of both sides.
LALISA special stage
Spelling success with L-A-L-I-S-A
Arguing that Lisa’s debut was a hit would definitely bank on the achievements it has claimed. Let’s count them up:
Broke the record for 24-hour YouTube views for a soloist previously held by Adele;
Broke the record for 24-hour YouTube likes for a soloist;
Only female K-Pop artist ever to be number 1 on iTunes in 71 countries;
Biggest streaming week by a K-Pop soloist on Spotify;
Biggest first-week sales for a female act on Hanteo (quick cheat sheet: Hanteo tracks real-time sales while Gaon tracks shipments and pre-orders);
First foreign soloist to get a win on a Korean music show (Music Bank on September 17);
Number one on Gaon album charts.
With achievements on Spotify, YouTube, Hanteo, Gaon, iTunes, and physical sales of over 700K, you can argue that Lalisa is an unqualified hit. Or is it?
LALISA on SBS Inkigayo
The rest of Korea hasn’t been loving Lalisa
On the flip side, many also argue that Lisa’s debut isn’t as successful as her fandoms, the Lilies and the Blinks, make it appear.
One facet in this entire scenario where Lisa has been severely underperforming is in the digital charts. On Gaon, while she has proven her dominance in the album charts, she has been struggling with her single Lalisa, where she is currently #88 in the streaming chart, #10 in the download chart (falling six places from last week), and #64 in the digital chart.
This is further emphasized by her absence in the instiz chart, a compendium chart that combines the charts that South Korea uses to rank music sales (MelOn, Genie, Bugs, Flo, and Naver’s Vibe). It is also what fans use to determine an “All-Kill” (a song that charts at #1 on all real-time charts) and “PAK” or “perfect all-kill” (a song that charts at #1 on all real-time and daily charts).
Lisa bowed out of the instiz charts three days after Lalisa was released on the 10th. As of press time, the song is out of MelOn’s Top 100. MelOn is Korea’s largest online music store and streaming service.
In contrast, both Jennie and Rose stayed on the instiz charts for months, with Jennie topping the charts in November 2018 and Rose only getting blocked by digital monsters IU and Brave Girls. In fact, Jennie even achieved a certified all-kill on November 14.
That Lisa is underperforming in Korean song charts despite having huge album sales is indicative of one thing: Koreans outside the Lily-BLINK fandom are not supporting her songs. In fact, they do not like the song at all.
The digital charts are more informed by what the general public likes, which makes Lisa’s success more or less fandom-driven. Considering that not 100% of BLINKs are supportive of Lisa, that she has been breaking records means that her own personal fandom is massive enough. This is why the album and streaming figures are mind-blowing. But for digital sales and downloads that restrict every single account to be counted as one download, the two fandoms can be limited in taking their idols’ singles to the top to as far as the number of multiple accounts one member of the fandom can handle.
The song has been dismissed by several of its listeners as overtly repetitive and dependent on its hoo that just lets Lisa her name countless times. And to top it off, YG is very selective of its artists’ promotional activities, it’s highly doubtful that a substantial number of people outside the bubble of Lisa’s fandom will be converted
To answer the question in the title, it can be argued that Lalisa as a debut song has its limitations, but it cannot be denied that Lisa is currently one of the most popular musical artists in the world.
Featured image: BLACKPINK LALISA special stage. Photo: BLACKPINK/YouTube
As someone who has followed MAMAMOO since their 2014 release Peppermint Chocolate with one of my favorite make singers, K.Will, I have dreaded the day the group releases a “greatest hits” album. After all, it is a common perception that a “greatest hits” or “the best” album would usually be for artists who are already riding their careers off the sunset. But then, I am game for any MAMAMOO release, so might as well give this one a listen.
I have divided the tracks into the must-listens, the good, and the negligible. Without further ado, here are my no-holds-barred, thoroughly honest thoughts of the 23 songs included in the I Say Mamamoo: The Best album:
The Crème de la Crème
Gogobebe (Rock Version)
Something I could listen to regularly. The original song is already one of my favorites; the rock arrangement only enhanced my listening experience.
Egoistic (Blistering Sun Version)
Something very concert-worthy, like listening to the girls in one of their concerts or live performances. The arrangement gives the song a tad more oomph, and who doesn’t like MAMAMOO with more oomph?
Hip (Remix Version)
This is one version you’d wish was the original version. Earworm alert.
Décalcomanie 2021
This reminds me of the rearranged version the group performed in awards shows and end-of-year concerts the year the song was released. Just outstanding.
You’re the Best 2021
I was too busy listening to the girls to note the changes to the song’s original arrangements. But then, this is THE quintessential MMM song, so unless they did something overly drastic (which they didn’t really), You’re the Best continues to be… the best.
Yes I Am (Funk Boost Version)
Funk boost, indeed. Versions of the group’s songs done like this remind us why we love MAMAMOO and why they are the queens of power vocals in K-pop.
Starry Night (Orchestra Version)
Better orchestral rendition compared to Paint Me. Starry Night is one of those songs that are dramatic from the onslaught, so any added drama to this one is always welcome.
The Good Calls
Destiny (Extended Version)
Very reminiscent of their Queendom victory. Best listened to live.
Aya (Traditional Version)
Reminds me of the ballsy move Oh My Girl did to the Lovelyz track Destiny in the reality show Queendom, which MAMAMOO won. Another great reinterpretation of their song, although I wished for the traditional elements to have been pushed just a bit more.
I Miss You 2021
The rearranged version has additional musical breaks, which allowed the girls to display their prowess – vocal runs galore.
Piano Man 2021
That this bordered on being overly produced suits the song to a tee. It’s exactly what the song needs: a pinch of camp and an overamplification of its jazzy elements.
Mr. Ambiguous 2021
This harkens back to the classic MAMAMOO of their debut. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Um Oh Ah Yeh 2021
This sounded more of a polished version to me. But then, I’ve always liked this song, so a streamlined-cum-live arrangement doesn’t change my love for this song.
Peppermint Chocolate (MMM Version)
I remember liking the original version of this song with K.Will. The new version still reeks of MAMAMOO excellence, except that I would have loved a little more energy in the choruses like some harmonies, perhaps?
Wind Flower (Dramatic Version)
Not really a dramatic version, more of a loungy, lazy Sunday afternoon track with a weird tempo change towards the last 3rd of the song. I was so ready to add it to my favorites until the tempo change, which was jarring to me.
Paint Me (Orchestra Version)
Too many orchestral breaks, it felt like they just added orchestral elements (and quite a lot at that) to the original song.
Mumumumuch
This feels like a pre-release, like Star Wind Flower Sun or Midnight Summer Dream. Beautiful song but not particularly as strong as their other title tracks.
The Negligible Ones
Don’t be Happy 2021
If there is a template for a MAMAMOO song, this would be it. It’s just fine.
Happier Than Ever
It was okay; not something that pops out on the first listen.
Heeheehaheho Part 2
The original version features Louie and Lil Boi of Geeks, so this new version had some huge shoes to fill. Unfortunately, not as effective as Part 1.
Ahh Oop! 2021
The song sounded rushed and also didn’t do much to change my thoughts about the original version.
Words Don’t Come Easy 2021
A bit redundant; reminded me of why this was a B-track. The update didn’t do much to make the original version.
A Little Bit 2021
Filler. You’ve been warned; this is a thoroughly honest review.
So, with this conspicuous release and Wheein’s move to THE L1VE, say it with me: MAMAMOO MUST NOT DISBAND!
EXO's Kai named global ambassador of 2022 Seoul Fashion Week. Photo: Seoul Fashion Week Official - 서울패션위크/Facebook
With Rosé and CL making their debut appearances at the Met Gala—one of the fashion industry’s biggest events—the floodgates may have opened for other K-pop idols to also attend the event. Here are some names that may be great ideas to grace Met’s steps in May next year.
Given that the Met Gala is already one of the most important events in the fashion industry’s calendar, just imagine the commotion it would cause if some of the members of the world’s biggest band to date would attend the event! Maybe having all seven members attend the event would be a bit too much, so we’re thinking the V would be great representatives for the band. Kim Taehyung has long been considered to be the most fashion-savvy among BTS members, and it would be great to see him grace the Met steps, with all the world’s red carpet photographers capturing his unique fashion sense.
Blackpink’s Jennie
When people got wind of news that a Blackpink member was going to attend the Met Gala, most of them made the quick assumption that it was going to be the first member who also launched her solo career. But lo and behold, it was the face of Saint Laurent, Rosé, who was on the grounds of Met, becoming one of the first two female K-pop idols to attend the event. So, if we are to think of the next Blackpink member who needs to be seen in the Upper East Side’s most famous steps, then it may be high time for Calvin Klein’s most recent brand ambassador to make her appearance But then we wouldn’t mind at all if it were Celine’s muse, Lisa, who would be next in line. Since the next Met Gala will be in May next year, we may think Jisoo might not make it because she should be too busy preparing for her solo release, cross fingers.
EXO’s Kai
2022 S/S Seoul Fashion Week will be held from 7th October to 15th online; historical sites of Seoul will turn into a runway.
If we’re on the subject of fashion, it simply is a must to mention EXO’s main dancer Kai. Since being a global brand ambassador of Gucci, Kim Jongin has appeared in countless fashion spreads and pictorials for the brand, as if we still need convincing that the group’s visual (not that the group lacks in this respect) can hold his own with the fashion world’s movers and shakers. That height, those chiseled features, and that camera-ready aura would be such a refreshing sight to see in Met’s fabled steps. With tennis queen Serena Williams and red carpet mainstay British actress Sienna Miller wearing Gucci in last Thursday’s event, I say let’s go for Kai attending next year’s event in full Gucci regalia.
It can be argued that they would rather see the Red Velvet’s original visual Irene in fashion’s biggest event, but I’d rather see Seulgi in attendance. With those sharp features that scream high-fashion and commanding presence, Red Velvet’s main dancer would no doubt be a hit in New York. Also, it should be noted that Seulgi has been Besides, shouldn’t Italian luxury brand Salvatore Ferragamo may want to push its muse to attend the event? This needs to happen, ASAP!
SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu (and Vernon)
Blessed with a fashion model’s height and matinee idol features, SEVENTEEN’s visual-cum-rapper Mingyu would surely create waves should he appear in the Met Gala. Everything looks good on him and luxury fashion houses would love to give him something to wear. Besides, he has walked several runways for Korean fashion designers and is one of the busiest idols every Seoul Fashion Week, so he shouldn’t have any problems going head to head with other bigwigs in the fashion industry. But then, Mingyu is also known to be a bit awkward in social situations, not to mention he is quite a klutz, so being escorted by the group’s resident Leonardo di Caprio-lookalike and English speaker Vernon should be a great idea.
Let’s hope for more K-pop idols to make their appearances in next year’s event.
CL "understood the assignment," attends the Met Gala 2021 in denim and white briefs. The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City. Photo: themetgalaofficial/Instagram
While it is true that K-pop may have already pervaded the world’s entire cultural landscape, there may still be records to be broken, glass ceilings to be shattered, and opportunities to be taken advantage of. This is especially true in the world of fashion, with K-pop’s influence only manifesting in recent years.
While groups such as 2NE1 and Girl’s Generation may have endorsed global brands such as Fila, Adidas, and Casio, it was only in 2017 when BIGBANG’s G-Dragon was selected by Karl Lagerfeld himself as the brand ambassador for Chanel. While many idols have been spotted attending fashion shows for haute couture houses and getting front seats to the world’s premier fashion weeks, it was also only two years ago when WINNER’s Mino was handpicked to walk in LV’s men’s wear collection in Paris. While former 2NE1 leader CL did walk the runway for DKNY in 2014, it was only in Seoul.
So, it may not come as much of a shock when it was only this year’s Met gala that saw not one, but two of K-pop’s luminaries in attendance. And what a debut it was for Blackpink’s Rosé and CL! It is the first time that two leading female figures of K-pop attended the event, as only the guys have graced the Met’s annual fundraiser in previous years. In the past, only men—Psy, Super Junior’s Siwon. Rain, and EXO’s Lay—have raised the banner for K-pop on one of the fashion industry’s biggest nights.
As the event last year was postponed, it seems that everyone in attendance was all too eager to make up for lost time as they pulled out all the stops, fashion-wise to the event’s theme, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” Iman appeared in what looked like a chandelier gown and an enormous headdress, Rihanna wore a black voluminous gown and Balenciaga beanie from the house’s latest couture collection, and Kim Kardashian wore a black-out Balenciaga haute couture gown with matching mask and train which cloaked her features and for a time, gave the celebrity a fair amount of anonymity.
So, how did our fierce K-pop ladies fare? Blackpink’s main vocal wore a classic little black dress with a twist as a white asymmetrical bow hid her cleavage area. As the brand ambassador official of international fashion house Saint Laurent, she didn’t only show up wearing a YSL dress, but actually appeared on the Met steps alongside the house’s creative director Anthony Vaccarello.
On the other hand, the Spicy singer, in adherence to the theme, wore a blue denim coat, because what can be more American than denim? The coat, as American as it is in detail, has a distinctly Korean detail with a ribbon that is usually attached to a hanbok top. She wore this over white briefs, and the attire was designed by Taiwanese-American fashion staple Alexander Wang.
With Rosé and CL making their presence felt at the 2021 Met Gala, here’s to hoping that we can see more K-pop ladies in its future stagings, with the next one happening in May to make up for last year’s canceled event.
Featured image: CL “understood the assignment,” attends the Met Gala 2021 in denim and white briefs. The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. Photo: themetgalaofficial/Instagram
Blackpink's Lisa Manoban debuted her first solo album, LALISA, on September 10, 2021. Photo: BLACKPINK/YouTube
So, finally, Lisa of BLACKPINK drops her debut single, the third member of the group to do so. Only six months after main vocal Rosé released the all-English On the Ground, it’s the group’s Thai rapper-main dancer to go solo by introducing herself in her debut single, LALISA. Notice the power in that? She keeps on saying her name throughout the highly repetitive chorus while seemingly hypnotizing us listeners into saying “Lalisa love me Lalisa love me, Call me Lalisa love me Lalisa love me.” It’s definitely a trap, not that we mind at all.
And in now-typical YG fashion, the music video dropped at 1 in the afternoon, Korean time. This is not that usual considering most MVs and singles in Korea get released at 6 PM, so that they can compete with the other popular music that day in the charts, as 6 pm is a time when a lot of people are still awake, employees getting home from work or students waiting for their academy classes to start while listening to music.
Up until around 2016, the most common practice was to release songs and music videos at midnight. However, many fans complained that some artists (obviously not them exactly, but their companies) are manipulating the chart systems, using bots to continue streaming music even during ungodly hours. With the rise of these accusations of forms of sajaegi (chart manipulation), most music charts implemented a chart freeze, particularly between 1 AM until 7 AM, so downloads and streams during that time will not be counted until when the charts reopen after 7.
Most companies, including YG have followed the practice for fear they might be accused of chart manipulation. Even Jennie’s Solo was released at 6 PM, but things started to change with Rosé, whose music video for On the Ground was released at 2 PM. The company took it a notch further (make that an hour earlier) now by releasing Lisa’s music video and single at 1 in the afternoon.
So far, the move has proven to be successful, as Lisa has immediately charted on Instiz, Korea’s music chart aggregator. As of 6:30 KST, Lalisa is already at #18 on Instiz, #41 in Melon, #27 in Genie, and #2 in Bugs (only topped by former YG artist Lee Hi and her Red Lipstick, which was only released September 10). Since Flo and Naver’s VIBE do not have real-time charts and only release daily charts, we can be sure that Lalisa shall chart higher in Instiz by tomorrow. An all-kill or even a PAK (perfect all-kill) shouldn’t be that impossible.
Another thing international fans obsess over is YouTube views of music videos. With BLACKPINK holding a number of YouTube view records, it is expected that Lisa will also break a number of records with this solo debut. After two hours, total views for the music video reached 25,228,666 views and as of 7 PM KST, the video has slid past the 30 million view mark.
After reaching 10 million YouTube views after only an hour and a half, the LALISA MV has already broken numerous records, although these are still unofficial.
LALISA is the fastest debut MV to hit 10 million views on YouTube in history, as well as the fastest music video by a K-pop solo artist to reach the 10 million mark and the fastest MV by a female soloist in the world to exceed 10 million YouTube views, breaking Taylor Swift’s record of two hours for her Me! music video. It is also the second-fastest MV by a female K-pop artist to accumulate 10 million views in history, only beaten by a video of her own group, Lovesick Girls, which achieved the figure in under 53 minutes.
It’s safe to say that Lisa’s record-breaking ways will continue in the coming days, and we’re here to witness it all.
The most underrated, poorly treated, and seemingly hapless SM Entertainment group of all time—these are the words used to describe the group f(x). It seemed that once Sulli quit the group to focus on an acting career in 2015, the company sort of lost the appetite to promote the group, only giving them one official comeback (the flawless 4 Walls) in 2016. SM practically abandoned them to “focus on solo activities”.
Things started getting weird for the group because after 4 Walls in 2015, as they were not given any proper comeback, except for a digital single All Mine, which was released on the SM Station singles platform. Coincidentally, 2016 also saw the notable rise of SM’s other girl group Red Velvet, as 2016 was the year when they completely shrugged off their image as SM’s black hole group and cemented their commercial success with Russian Roulette in September that year.
f(x) performs 4 Walls for KBS’s Music Bank K-Chart
Was f(x) forever playing second (or third) fiddle? Sounds familiar, right? Yes, what happened to SHINee and EXO have eery similarities to f(x) and RV. So, would it be safe to say that the long Red Velvet hiatus of 2020 to August 2021 can also be linked to the aespa’s next-level success, pun intended? But we digress; that’s for another day.
But when you really think about it, it may seem that f(x) was, to put it bluntly, more or less an afterthought for most of the group’s existence. For a very successful group with title tracks that consecutively chart either on top 1 (Nu ABO, Pinocchio (Danger), Pinocchio, Electric Shock, Rum Pum Pum Pum) or 2 (Hot Summer,Red Light, 4 Walls) positions, it was baffling to everyone why it took seven years for the group to have their fandom (MeU) named and their lightstick released. We can only imagine that coming behind the Nation’s Girl Group Girl’s Generation automatically hands them a whole level of pressure, but it is just unfortunate that f(x) had to be always treated by the company as a great backup. They were great, but still, it felt like they were a backup.
Nu Abo official MV
And if that’s not enough, Sulli passed on in 2019.
f(x) Now
So, what has happened to the girls since their wishy-washy departures from SM Entertainment?
It was somehow confusing when Victoria declared in September 2019 that her contract with SM has expired and the company said on the exact same day that they were still under negotiations. Nevertheless, as with other Chinese SM idols (e.g., Super Junior-M’s Zhuomi, EXO’s Lay), Victoria has been promoting mostly in China since 2016 (which is weird because SEVENTEEN Chinese members Jun and The8 have been promoting in Korea nonstop since their debut in 2015 until last August). This April, SM and f(x)’s leader finally officially ended their relationship.
Meanwhile, Amber announced on September 1, 2019 that she was leaving SM and re-sign her contract with Steel Wool Entertainment, the American company that SM has agreed to partner with when it came to her solo activities as early as 2018. Since her departure from SM, she has released two albums,X and y?, as well as Mandarin versions of her singles for the past two years. She was also a mentor on the fourth season of the Chinese version of Produce 101, titled Chuang 2021. Victoria was also a mentor in the 2020 edition of the program.
Luna signed with Humap Contents for her solo activities after her SM contract expired in 2019. In February 2021, Luna established her own entertainment agency, Grida Entertainment. She has been busy with stage musicals.
Finally, Krystal stayed with SM until August 2020, with her departure from the company made official, as well as her signing with her new agency, H& Entertainment announced in October. Since leaving SM, she has starred in the Korean drama Police University with former B1A4 member Jinyoungand Cha Taehyun (who happened to have worked with Victoria in My New Sassy Girl; It’s the 2016 sequel to the 2001 monster hit My Sassy Girl, which also starred Cha Taehyun). She is also set to lead the Chinese film Unexpected Love.
Is f(x) Still a Thing?
All four members may have moved on from SM Entertainment well, but one thing these members are still not clear about is their group’s disbandment. True, SM has never announced the group’s disbandment, but then the company has been very dicey when it comes to updating everyone about the status of their idol groups. As late as April this year, Luna appeared confused in an interview when people referred to f(x) in the past tense when she herself said that the group has not been officially disbanded.
But the thing is, when SM practically ignores your group for years (since after 4 Walls’ release, to be exact) when all of you were still signed with them, how can you expect the same company to give you the time of day when all of you are not in their stable of talents anymore?
It would be great to see the four reunite for an album or even just a single perhaps, but then, considering SM’s indifference to the group and the Korean public’s uncomfortable regard of Victoria’s patriotic views (Victoria stopped her H&M endorsement after the brand raised objections of the Chinese government’s use of forced labor involving the Uygur minority in the country’s cotton plantations in Western China), counting on that reunion might turn out to be Waiting for Godot.
Featured image: f(x) 4 Walls official MV. SMTOWN/YouTube
SEVENTEEN has gifted their beloved CARATS a gift one year in advance: All thirteen members renewed their contracts with Pledis Entertainment (which is now under HYBE) a full year before their seven-year contracts expire. That means no fears for CARATS of the seven-year curse!
To celebrate this, here’s a SEVENTEEN music video quiz for you to get your observant CARAT on:
2015: Adore U
Who was driving the convertible Seungkwan was in when he sang his first lines?
a. Joshua
b. DK
c. Jeonghan
d. He was driving the car himself.
2015: Mansae
In the scenes where the boys were playing basketball, who was beside the girl and watching everyone else?
a. Wonwoo
b. Jun
c. The8
d. A guy who’s not an SVT member.
2016: Pretty U
In a scene where the boys had a food fight, who was squirting mustard?
a. No one, they were using ketchup
b. Mingyu and Wonwoo
c. DK and Joshua
d. The8 and Vernon
2016: Very Nice
Who was the first member whose chest exploded with confetti?
a. Joshua
b. Seungkwan
c. Dino
d. Trick question: the confetti came from their hands.
2016: Boom Boom
The group’s operation, whatever it was, was nearly foiled because:
a. Seungkwan slept through the alarm, so they had no getaway vehicle.
b. Jeonghan cooperated with the police, revealing their plans to them.
c. Clumsy Mingyu stepped on a tile that triggered the alarm.
d. No one listened to DK’s escape plan.
2017: Don’t Wanna Cry
Who was the only member who filmed scenes in a laundromat?
a. Dino
b. Woozi
c. Hoshi
d. There were no scenes in a laundromat.
2017: Clap
What did Wonwoo din with a machine in the offices of Spoecialized Visdeotape Technology, Inc.?
a. He threw it in a tank full of water.
b. He hit it with a baseball bat.
c. He used it to play a VHS tape.
d. He clapped into it, obviously.
2018: Thanks
Who was the only member who danced in the restaurant?
a. Jun
b. All members, actually
c. DK and Jeonghan
d. The performance team
2018: Oh My!
In the scenes where the members are floating in the clouds, which member uses binoculars to look for Woozi, who’s only a few feet away?
a. The8
b. Joshua
c. Mingyu
d. Woozi, looking at his reflection in a mirror using binoculars.
2019: Home
In a room full of lampshades, who turned on a single lampshade that may have also turned on the other lampshades as we saw all the members in the room?
a. Seungkwan
b. S.Coups
c. Woozi
d. No lampshade was off.
2019: Hit
When The8 sings the line, “굴레를 벗어나 to the top” (break away to the top), he is actually on top of
a. A pile of boxes
b. Monkey bars
c. A CGI-added planet Earth
d. A stage
2019: 독 : Fear
What did Jeonghan do after the countdown timer showed 0:01?
a. He sang a high note.
b. He ran.
c. He danced.
d. He smeared his lipstick.
2020: Left & Right
Aside from “The early bird catches the worm,” what is the other saying behind Seungkwan as he veered off into the middle of nowhere after his false start in the Do Your Best oval track?
a. You can do it.
b. Time is gold.
c. Left and right, rip it, rip it.
d. Youth can change everything.
2020: Home;Run
Who was the last member who actually held the diamond in his hands? Hint: He threw it away after holding it for a second.
a. Seungkwan
b. The8
c. Jun
d. Woozi
2021: Ready to Love
What was written on top of the bus on Vernon’s background and Dino lay on while singing his line in the second stanza?
a. “I’m ready to love.”
b. “I want to be more than friends.”
c. “I dream of love.”
d. “I’m obsessed with you.”
Answer key
2015: Adore U
Who was driving the convertible Sewungkwan was in when he sang his first lines?
C. It was Jeonghan with what looked like a Rachel from Friends bob driving
2015: Mansae
In the scenes where the boys were playing basketball, who was beside the girl and watching everyone else?
Wonwoo was beside the girl while everyone else (except Seungkwan who was in the sidelines) was playing basketball
2016: Pretty U
In a scene where the boys had a food fight, who was squirting mustard?
d. The8 and Vernon used mustard.
2016: Very Nice
Who was the first member whose chest exploded with confetti?
Joshua was first, followed by Seungkwan, then DK – twice.
2016: Boom Boom
The group’s operation, whatever it was, was nearly foiled because:
c. Mingyu, being Mingyu, stepped on a tile that triggered the alarm.
2017: Don’t Wanna Cry
Who was the only member who filmed scenes in a laundromat?
Only Dino was sitting on top of a row of washing machines.
2017: Clap
What did Wonwoo din with a machine in the offices of Spoecialized Visdeotape Technology, Inc.?
He hit it with a baseball bat.
2018: Thanks
Who was the only member who danced in the restaurant?
Only Jun, though DK and Jeonghan sang in the same place.
2018: Oh My!
In the scenes where the members are floating in the clouds, which member uses binoculars to look for Woozi, who’s only a few feet away?
c. Mingyu looked at Woozi who was like a foot away from him with a pair of binoculars. Why? Beats us.
2019: Home
In a room full of lampshades, who turned on a single lampshade that may have also turned on the other lampshades as we saw all the members in the room?
Seungkwan turned on a lampshade, then the scene cut to a room full of lampshades with all members sitting.
2019: Hit
When The8 sings the line, “굴레를 벗어나 to the top” (break away to the top), he is actually on top of
Monkey bars
2019: 독 : Fear
What did Jeonghan do after the countdown timer showed 0:01?
He smeared his lipstick from his lips across his cheeks.
2020: Left & Right
Aside from “The early bird catches the worm,” what is the other saying behind Seungkwan as he veered off into the middle of nowhere after his false start in the Do Your Best oval track?
d. Youth can change everything.
2020: Home;Run
Who was the last member who actually held the diamond in his hands? Hint: He threw it away after holding it for a second.
Seungkwan. Later, jun was a diamond in an alley and Woozi smashed the glass protecting it with a baseball bat, although it was not seen whether they were able to take the diamond.
2021: Ready to Love
What was written on top of the bus on Vernon’s background and Dino lay on while singing his line in the second stanza?
d. “I’m obsessed with you.”
Whos’ excited for the group’s October comeback? Here’s hoping we can still see Jun and The8 on the music video and hear them on the song, although they will not be able to promote with the group as the two SVT members have come home to China to be with family and promote as solo artists until December.
![[마마무] '하늘 땅 바다만큼 (mumumumuch)' Performance Video](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kRjGnDcab_0/hqdefault.jpg)
![f(x) - 4 Walls [Music Bank K-Chart #1 / 2015.11.13]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0MLs5E_tDYI/hqdefault.jpg)
