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The Power and Legacy of iZ*One

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When one talks about project girl groups nowadays, it is inevitable that we will mention Iz*One. The Korean-Japanese girl group that started on Produce 48 went on to become a record-breaking group with members who are well-loved by both Korean and international fans.  They were loved despite that all-too-big elephant in the room: Their involvement in one of the biggest scandals in Korean TV history. 

Let’s go on a trip down memory lane and review the group’s career trajectory.

Not-so-humble beginnings

It all started with Produce 48, the third season of the reality competition show Produce 101, which by that time was THE standard for what would now be referred to as “idol survival” shows. As with its predecessors, the public is supposed to have the biggest say in the girl group that the show will produce as they will be voting for members out of a pool of 96 contestants. What the “twist” of this edition is that a good number of “trainee” contestants will be from Japan, and in fact, will be from the J-pop idol mega group AKB48 and its various clusters in numerous Japanese cities. The final group, whose name will also be determined by the public, will be composed of 12 contestants this time and its composition will not be capped according to nationality. Although as with Produce 101 Season 2, only Korean viewers were given the chance to vote for their favorites. The group will be promoting in both Korea and Japan for two years and six months.

The number of Korean and Japanese trainees staying in the program and getting included in the top 12 were more or less equal. In fact, going into the finals, there were eight remaining Japanese trainees as opposed to the 12 Korean trainees, which isn’t too bad, considering the two contestants who occupied the top two spots were Japanese (Sakura and Miho). Episode 11 of the show had 7 of the twelve spots occupied by Japanese. 

However, in true MNet style, things went weird when during the announcement of the final 12 members (which coincided with the revelation of the group’s official name), during the show’s finale on August 31, 2018. Miho (ranked 2nd in Episode 11), Miyu (ranked 6th in Episode 11), Miru (ranked 8th in Episode 11), and Miu (ranked 10th in Episode 11) all disappeared in the final lineup, joined by former After School member Gaeun (ranked 5th in the previous episode), to be replaced by Yuri, Yena, Yujin, Chaewon, and Minju). Granted that the “one account, one vote” policy MNet always implements on the final episode of the Produce shows affected the results drastically, it still comes as a shock that a contestant can rise 15 places (Yuri) and someone who was in the top 12 in the previous episode would come dead last in the finale (Miru). Not to say that fraudulent things were happening, but these things feel sketchy, to say the least. But just like other Mnet reality shows that have the tendency to leave a bitter taste on the viewers’ mouths, things are swept under the rug as buzz for the winning group’s debut intensify.   

The attack of the monster rookies

Following the footsteps of the show’s earlier groups, the highly experimental I.O.I and the phenomenal WANNA ONE, Iz*One was expected to debut big, and debut big they did. The group’s debut EP Color*Iz was released two days short of two months after Produce 48’s finale, with “La Vie en Rose” as its lead single. Their debut showcase concert held at the Olympic Hall, tickets of which were sold out within a minute of being on sale.  Their music program debut happened on Mnet’s M Countdown in November 1 and after a week, they got their first music program on the same show only 10 days after their debut. This means they became the fastest girl group to win in a music program.

34,000 units of the EP sold in its first day of release, which set a new record for the highest number of albums sold on the first day of a girl group’s debut release. The music video for the La Vie en Rose was viewed more than 4.5 million times within the first 24 hours of its release on YouTube, which made it the most-watched debut music video by a Korean act in 24 hours at the time. As expected, Iz*One won the “New Artist of the Year” category at the several awards ceremonies, including Mnet Asian Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, and Seoul Music Awards. Billboard Magazine named Iz*One as one of the best K-pop debuts of that year. 

Overseas Boom and a Scandal Erupts

Iz*One started 2019 by debuting in Japan, holding their Japanese debut show-con in Tokyo Dome City Hall on January 20, where they performed their debut Japanese single Suki to Iwasetai for the first time. Five days after the event, the music video for the song was released, and the single itself was released on February 6. The single charted at number 2 on both the Oricon Singles Chart and the Billboard Japan Hot 100, with more than 200,000 copies sold on its first week alone. A month after, it was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) with more than 250,000 unit sales, which was also Iz*one‘s first Platinum certification.

After a successful Japanese debut, the girls went back to Korea in April to release their second EP entitled Heart*Iz and the lead single Violeta. The EP’s domestic pre-orders went over 200,000 copies and over 130,000 copies were added in the first week of its sale, which gave the group another new record. The EP went on to receive a Platinum certification on October 10 in Korea by the KMCA after selling more than 250,000 shipment figures. Violeta peaked at numbers 18 and 5 on Gaon Digital Chart and Billboard K-pop Hot 100 respectively and won its first music program trophy on SBS MTV’s The Show on April 9. The song went on to win six more times on M Countdown, The Show, Show Champion, and Music Bank, the last being what people consider to be their only “legit” music show win, as the others are music shows in cable channels.  

Two months later, the group released their second Japanese single, Buenos Aires, which this time topped both the Oricon Singles Chart and the Billboard Japan Hot 100. On July 6, the group debuted in the US by participating in the annual KCON, on that year held at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. Another two months went by and by the end of September 25, Iz*One released their third Japanese single titled Vampire. The girls topped on both domestic charts in Japan with its first week sales exceeding 200,000 copies. It is also the group’s only Japanese release to chart on Billboard K-pop Hot 100, peaking at number 52.

As it was clear that the group was as successful in Japan as they were in Korea, Oricon declared them the country’s best-selling new artist for the first half of 2019, earning an estimated ¥510 million (₩5.5 billion or USD 4.5 million) of total sales in Japan in just six months (December 2018 to June 2019).

By that time, the group weren’t really embroiled in any major controversy and it may seem that the public, especially rabid K-netz, have forgotten their earlier misgivings about the group, particularly about their lineup. Their debut single, La Vie en Rose, was already recorded by active group CLC, which had a number of fans smarting, knowing that CLC is a group of Cube Entertainment, whose contestant Han Chowon ranked 13th in the final episode of Produce 48. People also questioned why a song that would have guaranteed a hit for struggling group CLC had to be given to Iz*one. 

Fans also noted a bit of a discrepancy in the quality of music videos of the group’s Japanese releases with their Korean MVs, claiming that the latter were too “staged” and had the girls in less photogenic and flattering shots. Finally, nitpicking fans have pointed out that despite her second place finish, Sakura has never been allocated substantial lines in their songs, whether it’s Korean or Japanese releases. 

But those controversies were quite minor, considering the extent of the success the girls have experienced until that time. That is, until the mother of all scandals broke. 

Iz*one was scheduled to release their first studio album on November 11, 2019. However, the release was postponed due to an investigation that was launched over allegations of vote manipulation in the Produce shows. The initial investigation started with Produce X, as ordinary fans noted that there is a pattern in terms of the differences of votes contestants got. The investigation went on to include all other seasons of the Produce series as well as the other Mnet-produced idol survival show Idol School, which produced fromis_9 and also featured Jang Gyuri and eventual Iz*one member, Jo Yuri. 

Investigations revealed that the Produce 48 producer Ahn Joon-young had selected the twelve members of Iz*One from the top 20 just before the airing of the finale. Meaning, the contestants who were not in Producer Ahn’s list but were voted by the “public producers” were excluded from the group. These contestants, who were unjustly “kicked out”, were later revealed to be Pledis’ Lee Gaeun and Cube’s Han Chowon, who apparently placed 5th and 6th.

What was not revealed, of course, was who were pushed into the group that caused Chowon and Gaeun’s displacement. Although the investigations clearly revealed who these contestant are, the courts chose not to reveal the identities of the contestants who benefited from the scam. For the rest of 2020, Iz*One‘s activities were either were cancelled or postponed.

The final act before disbandment

2020 started great for Iz*Ones as CJ ENM and the agencies of the members agreed that the group would resume their activities until their contracts ended. In February, the much-awaited first studio album of the group, Bloom*Iz and its single Fiesta was finally released. The lack of activity at the tail end of 2019 worked to the group’s advantage, as the album broke the record for the highest first-week sales on Hanteo (actual unit sold versus Gaon’s actual units shipped) for an album by a girl group with 356,313 copies. Bloom*Iz is also the first album by a girl group to surpass the 300,000 copies mark in Hanteo’s history. If that wasn’t enough, Bloom*Iz also topped Oricon Overseas Album Chart, following their previous two EPs.

Five months after Fiesta, Iz*One released their third EP, Oneiric Diary, and its lead single Secret Story of the Swan. Oneiric Diary peaked at number 2 and has recorded over 510,000 sales on the Gaon Album Chart. The group garnered another record as the EP became one of the first two albums by a girl group to be certified Double Platinum by the KMCA.

Despite the pandemic, the group did not put any breaks to their activities as they inched closer to their disbandment date. On October 21, the group released their first Japanese studio album Twelve, which debuted At #1 on the Oricon Albums Chart. Before the year ended, Iz*One released their fourth EP, the Korean release One-reeler / Act IV, accompanied by its lead single Panorama. The EP brought the girls back to the top of the Gaon Album Chart, where they debuted at #1.

On April 29, 2021, Iz*One officially disbanded after the end of their contract. The official fanbase of the group, WIZ*ONE, started an initiative called Parallel Universe on April 21, 2021, in an attempt to prevent the girls from disbanding. The initiative raised ₩1,000,000,000 (roughly USD900,000), which was successful considering it was the goal of the initiative; however, Iz*One still disbanded as planned. CJ ENM confirmed that negotiations were underway to potentially relaunch the group, in consultation with the agencies which manage the members, but as of July 6, and the group’s re-debut has been cancelled.

The aftermath: Where are the girls now?

As with I.O.I and WANNA ONE, there is a mix of the activities and career paths for the 12 members of Iz*One after their disbandment. Some have launched solo careers, while some will be in groups with their mother agencies. Here is a rundown of their current and future activities:

Yuri: Known as the group’s man vocal who miraculously ended Produce 48 at number 3, Yuri is actually a “veteran” of the idol survival show genre, as she participated in Mnet’s Idol School where she finished in 15th place, six places short of being included in fromis_9. After Iz*One, Yuri contributed to a couple of OSTs, namely My Love for SBS’s television series Do You Like Brahms? and Story of Us for JTBC’s Monthly Magazine Home.

On September 23, Jo released Autumn Memories, a collaboration song with Lee Seok-hoon, who was a mentor in Produce 101 Season 2 and Produce X 101. On October 7, Yuri finally released her first single album titled Glassy with lead single of the same name. The album peaked at number 5 in the Gaon charts, selling more than 84,000 copies.

Eunbi: After Iz*One‘s disbandment, Eunbi and labelmate and groupmate Chaewon returned to Woollim Entertainment as trainees. She started a career on TV as a presenter as she became the new host of FashionN’s beauty program Follow Me along with Ha Sung-woon, Pentagon’s Kino and Freesia. She was featured in her labelmate Rocket Punch’s debut Japanese album Bubble Up! as a composer and producer for the track Let’s Dance.

 

On August 25, Eunbi was finally launched as a solo artist with her first extended play Open, the lead track of her EP, Door, peaked at number 3 in the Billboard US World singles chart, while Open peaked at number 8 in the Gan Albums Chart, selling more than 58,000 copies. 

Hyewon: Known as the contestant who frustrated everyone, fans and trainers included, with her blank expressions and seeming lack in drive and variety, Hyewon went on to become one of Iz*One‘s visuals. She has further surprised a lot of people when she guested in some variety shows with her members and showed her quick with and academic intelligence, showing that she’s not as slow and ditzy as most regarded her. 

While the group disbanded, Hyewon returned to 8D Entertainment, her original agency. She is set to star in My K-Star Family, a new variety show with Super Junior’s Yesung, BTOB’s Eunkwang, former I.O.I leader Lim Nayoung, and AB6IX’s Lee Dae Hwi, among others. The show’s format is to form virtual “families” among the idols in various combinations.

Yena: Known as the lively vitamin of the group and even during her stint in Produce 48, Yena has since then been very active as an actress and variety show personality. She was still in Iz*One when she embarked on her first variety show, tvN’s Prison Life of Fools, with Lee Soogeun, Seventeen‘s Seungkwan, and Got7‘s JB, among others. The show was basically the cast playing a more elaborate version of Mafia on every episode and in prison. She was also one of the cast members for mystery variety show Girls High School Mystery Class, TVING’s first original content variety show that ran from December 2020 to January 2021. 

Yena also participated in King of Mask Singer before Iz*One disbanded. She was confirmed as the sole MC of Studio Waffle’s web variety show Yena’s Animal Detective, which started airing on August 24. She also became one of the cast members for TVING’s Idol Dictation Contest, which reunited her with her Prison Life of Fools castmate Seungkwan. She has also been part of the fixed MC panel for tvN Story’s Fireworks Handsome. Finally, she is preparing for her debut as a solo artist. 

Chaeyeon: Known as Iz*One‘s main dancer, Chaeyeon is also another veteran in the idol survival show genre after participating in JYPE’s Sixteen with her sister, Chaeryeong. While her sister opted to stay with JYP Entertainment and later on debut with Itzy, Chaeyeon moved to WM Entertainment (B1A4, Oh My Girl) and represented the company in Iz*One. 

After Iz*One, Chaeyeon’s next high profile appearance was in the dance survival show Street Woman Fighter, which was another Mnet production. The show became a trend as it featured all-female dance crews being all sassy with each other, as what you would expect from street dance crews in dance battles. She was eliminated in the 6th episode with her dance crew WANT, placing 7th out of 8 participating groups. Her stay in the show was marked with controversy, as many contestants voiced their disagreement with her participation in the program, citing that she was an “idol-dancer” and not a legitimate dancer. She was usually challenged into dance showdowns and had a noticeable loss record. Mnet’s character development angle was utilized on her to the max, although everyone is in agreement that she may not be a true-blue dancer, her dancing skills are definitely a cut above your generic idol.  

Chaewon: As noted earlier, Chaewon returned to Woollim Entertainment with her labelmate Eunbi after Iz*One‘s disbandment. However, while Eunbi continued to flourish under Woollim, it seemed Chaewon wanted to break away from her company as months later, her profile was removed from Woollim’s artists website. Her agency being listed as Woollim has also been removed from her Korean website profiles. 

Soon enough, news about her moving to Source Music (former agency of GFriend which is now under HYBE) has been reported in more news outlets. No official statement has come out from HYBE, Source Music, and Woollim have been released. 

Minju: One of Iz*One‘s members known for having arresting visuals, Minju has always leaned towards an acting career. While she was still with Iz*One, she already starred in a film entitled The Fault is Not Yours, released in 2019. Even before that, she played the role of the young version of one of the main characters in MBC’s drama Tempted, a drama based on the French novel Dangerous Liaisons. She also appeared in the talk show Happy Together in 2019 as a special host. 

As of the moment, Minju can be seen in MBC’s Show! Music Core as one of its main hosts with SF9’s Chani and Stray Kids’ Hyunjin. She was also host of MBC’s variety program Save Me! Rooms and is actually listed in her agency, Urban Works as an actress. Fans have speculated that she was one of the factors that delayed the reboot of Iz*One under Source Music/HYBE because she has expressed her intention to pursue an acting career rather than continue her career as an idol-singer. 

Nako: The smallest member of Iz*one has since returned to Japan and with her HKT48 group after the Korean group’s disbandment. She has even appeared in a Japanese TV drama Kao Dake Sensei. However, things lately haven’t been super rosy as just in November, various news items have sprung up regarding the poor treatment Nako has been receiving from her HKT48 groupmates. 

Recent social media videos and posts have pointed to her being made fun of by her Japanese groupmates when she posted content on her social media accounts in Korean for her WIZ*ONEs. Another video allegedly showed Nako finding her lost airpods in a trash can. No official statements addressing the matter have yet been released by her Japanese agency.     

Hitomi: Hitomi has returned to promoting with AKB48’s Team 8 after Iz*One‘s disbandment. Since her return, she has participated in two AKB48 singles – the A-side single Nemohamo Rumor and the B-side Seikoutoutei, both in 2021. She has also launched her own cosmetic beauty brand named NOTONE in October. 

Wonyoung and Yujin: Two of Iz*One’s visuals, Yujin and center Wonyoung have returned to their mother agency, Starship Entertainment after their group’s disbandment. Wonyoung has been a widely sought-after endorser and model for local and international fashion brands and is currently the host of KBS’ Music Bank with ENHYPEN’s Sunghoon. On the other hand, Yujin shares main host duties in Inkigayo with Treasure’s Jihoon and NCT’s Sungchan. Both are very busy for the debut of IVE, Starship’s newest girl group. 

Sakura: Finally, we have Iz*one’s Japanese center, Sakura! After the group’s disbandment, Sakura returned to Japan with Hitomi and Nako. However, rumors of the Japanese members pursuing idol careers in Korea were loudest with Sakura, with rumors of her leaving HKT48 complicating her Japanese comeback. But alas, she confirmed the rumors herself when she announced the schedule for her graduation concert on June 19. The short version of the music video of her graduation song, Omoide ni Suru ni wa Mada Hayasugiru was released on YouTube on June 14 and she staged her final performance with HKT48 on June 27.

Despite the end of her connection with HKT, Sakura has continued to be very visible in public, bagging modelling gigs for international brand such as Kerastase and the Chinese cosmetics brand Flower Knows.

Finally, on November 1, 2021, Vernalossom, the company that manages AKB members’ careers, announced that her contract with them has ended. This makes a lot of sense because since May, it has been reported that she has already signed up with Source Music (GFriend’s former agency), a company now under HYBE Labels (aka BTS’ company that also houses Pledis of NU-EST and Seventeen). This means that the new Source Music / HYBE girl group will have her and Chaewon (as mentioned above) as possible members.

With all of these exciting developments, we are super happy for the girls and we can only hope to see all 12 girls in a reunion stage in the future! 

Featured Image Credit: Official Iz*one Twitter

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FEATURES K-POP ARTISTS LATEST STORIES SUPER JUNIOR

15 Songs for 15 Years of Super Junior–K.R.Y.

Super Junior sub-unit Super Junior K.R.Y. performs When We Were US on SBS Inkigayo.

Super Junior’s vocal powerhouse trio—Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, and Yesung—has continuously blessed our ears with their different, yet harmonious vocals as Super Junior–K.R.Y. for the past 15 years. They made their official TV debut on the November 5, 2006 broadcast of KBS’s Music Bank, where they performed The One I Love. They have since made several official soundtrack (OST) appearances, such as Stop Walking By from the 2006 SBS drama Snow Flower. More recently, they sang Shadow of You from the OST of the 2021 KBS drama The King’s Affection.

They have also launched successful solo careers. Maknae Kyuhyun was the first to debut with At Gwanghamun in November 2014. Ryeowook followed suit in January 2016 with The Little Prince. Finally, Yesung released his first solo mini-album, Here I Am, in April 2016.

To celebrate 15 years of Super Junior–K.R.Y., here are 15 of their sub-unit and solo songs that will make you fall in love, warm your heart, and soothe your heartache.

1. Super Junior–K.R.Y.: The One I Love (2006)

A very young Yesung, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun sang The One I Love from the K-drama Hyena in 2006. Even from this first sub-unit song, their voices were already so full of emotion.

2. Super Junior–K.R.Y.: The Night Chicago Died (2006)

The trio released another OST single for Hyena, The Night Chicago Died. This song was a Korean-language cover of a 1974 British pop song. The song’s title and melody were the same, but the Korean version had completely different lyrics.

3. Ryeowook: One Fine Spring Day (2010)

Ryeowook’s sweet vocals were on the spotlight in One Fine Spring Day, his solo song from Super Junior’s 4th album Bonamana. SJ’s eternal maknae sang about missing someone as he watched flowers bloom in spring.

4. Yesung: It Has to be You (2010)

Yesung’s distinct voice and husky tone took center stage in It Has to be You, his solo song from the K-drama Cinderella’s Sister.

5. Super Junior–K.R.Y.: Fly (2011)

Fly is probably the only Super Junior–K.R.Y. song that doesn’t bring listeners to tears. The trio recorded this single for the South Korean audition show Superstar K3; the track served as the theme song for the season.

6. Kyuhyun: At Gwanghamun (2014)

Kyuhyun was the first Super Junior member to officially have a solo debut. This sentimental ballad has a soothing melody that makes it very easy on the ears. The lyrics, though, are a bit heart-wrenching, which was further emphasized by Kyuhyun’s emotional singing.

7. Super Junior–K.R.Y.: We Can (2015)

Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, and Yesung sang about getting through the good times and the bad together, as well as their hopes for the future in this moving ballad. The song was part of Super Junior’s 10th anniversary special album, Devil.

8. Super Junior–K.R.Y.: Dorothy (2015)

Dorothy is a soft, emotional ballad about yearning for a lover to return. The sub-unit recorded this song for the group’s Magic album (Devil repackage).

9. Ryeowook: The Little Prince (2016)

Ryeowook made his solo debut in 2016 with The Little Prince. The song’s lyrics tell the story of a heartsick man in conversation with the Little Prince (yes, that Little Prince from the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry novel).

10. Kyuhyun: Still (2016)

Kyuhyun’s vocals have this uncanny ability to make people feel things. He sang about a lost love in Still, from his third EP Waiting, Still, which was released before his enlistment. His sadness was so palpable in the song, that you can’t help but want to go to South Korea and give him a long, reassuring hug.

11. Yesung: Pink Magic (2019)

Pink Magic marked a departure from Yesung’s usually melancholic songs. In the song, Yesung sang about love and seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses. The single was from his third mini-album of the same name, and is a bright, bubbly song with hints of retro. This song would be a nice addition to your playlist on your next summer road trip.

12. Super Junior–K.R.Y.: When We Were Us (2020)

Mention Super Junior–K.R.Y. and everyone’s first thought would be “beautiful ballads,” and When We Were Us is another lovely track to add to the sub-unit’s long list of mellow songs. This was the lead single off the trio’s first Korean mini-album (!) after 15 years as a sub-unit. The song is about longing for a past lover, and reminiscing about happier days. It’s a ballad track fans have come to expect from the trio, but is still a gorgeous song that shows off their powerful vocal chops.

13. Super Junior–K.R.Y.: Traveler (2020)

After releasing their debut Korean mini-album, the sub-unit made a Japanese comeback with Traveler. It’s a refreshing song that’s perfect for sunny days with a dash of light rain.

14. Yesung: Beautiful Night (2021)

Yesung continues to draw inspiration from retro as seen in his fourth mini-album Beautiful Night. The lead single, which shares the same name as the album, has an 80s city pop vibe—light and soothing, perfect for easy listening.

15. Kyuhyun: Love Story (2022)

Love Story is the final song from Kyuhyun’s four seasons project series, and the lead single of his latest mini-album of the same name. The song expresses the emotions of someone longing for an old lover, with a melody that matches well with fall and winter.

What is your favorite song from Super Junior–K.R.Y.?

Featured image: Super Junior sub-unit Super Junior K.R.Y. performs When We Were US on SBS Inkigayo. Photo: KOCOWA TV/YouTube.
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IVE vs Kep1er: Which K-pop Girl Group Will Dominate 2022?

Is 2022 the year of monster girl group rookies? All indications point to the affirmative, and if we are to consider the first two groups that have been introduced to us in the last weeks of 2021 and the first weeks of 2022, then we are indeed in for one hell of a year. 

Here’s a closer look at the two groups that are out to prove that 2022 is indeed the year of the girl group. 

IVE

What we know so far: They have debuted! Armed with IZ*ONE center Wonyoung and visual Ahn Yujin, Starship Entertainment really banked on their trainees’ popularity thanks to Produce 48 and the resulting girl group IZ*ONE to propel their group to monster rookie levels. Well, this list will feature an all-monster rookie lineup, but IVE leads the pack because aside from the fact that they have already successfully debuted, they are supported by a company that knows its girl groups. Just ask SISTAR who had all their title tracks peaking at number 1 and Cosmic Girls who have the national New Year’s song, As You Wish. 

And to say that the debut went well is quite an understatement because the girls proved that they do deserve their reputation as monster rookies. 

According to Billboard’s chart ending on January 14th, Eleven entered the World Digital Song Sales chart at number 9 while also topping the Hot Trending Songs chart. The song also debuted on Billboard’s Japan Hot 100 chart and debuted at the top of the ‘Top User Generated Songs,’ with IVE entering the Artist 100 Chart as well. As for other charts, the single Eleven rose to 4th place on Spotify’s Viral Top 50 Chart and peaked at number 95 on the Global Top 200 Chart. The song also went on to become the most-streamed song on YouTube South Korea for five weeks while the group was chosen as the top cover artist on the music streaming platform Tidal’s K-pop Hits playlist.

On December 8, exactly a week after debut, IVE won their first-ever music show win on MBC’s Show Champion, breaking IZ*ONE’s record as the fastest girl group to win first place since its debut. Eleven also recorded the highest initial total number of albums sold on its first week of release, the highest among girl group debut albums. 

The Korean music industry also acknowledged the power this rookie group has. In a January 2022 poll participated by 31 of the most popular music agency experts from different entertainment companies, IVE was selected as the most anticipated act of 2022.

How will they slay: The reputations of Yujin and Wonyoung have so far carried the group through rookie blues and Liz, Leeseo, Rei, and Gaeul proved that IVE will not just be one of those acts where one member carries the entire group’s popularity. We’ve seen that with their company-mates – SISTAR – who for a time was regarded as “Hyolyn and the Girls.” The same thing happened (and is still happening) to other groups like 4Minute, Gugudan, and LABOUM. By putting the spotlight on the other girls as well, the group should be able to surpass the high levels of popularity they are already enjoying currently as high-profile rookies. 

What could make their star fall: Two things come to mind when talking about what could cause IVE’s downfall. One scenario is should the girls be made to feel that everything is only focused on Wonyoung or Yujin, then internal squabbles may start and the other members may start feeling uncomfortable to perform and be identified as IVE. 

The other worst-case scenario rests ultimately on their company. If Starship suddenly mishandles IVE the way Pledis mishandled Pristine (and all their other groups except for Seventeen), then we can expect the group’s lifespan to dramatically shorten to debut and one comeback before disbandment. But then, with the company’s quite sterling record of handling screwups like Wonho and Shownu with Monsta X, SISTAR’s graceful disbandment, and the Chinese members’ lack of activities with WJSN, we believe that Starship would be incapable of conducting Pledis levels of talent mismanagement.     

Kep1er

What we know so far: This is another group on our list that has already debuted! To think that this group is another product of an Mnet singing reality competition, which has seen better, scandal-free days, expectations have been controlled. After the manipulation scandal that apparently was present on all four seasons of the Produce series was exposed, it seems that Korean viewers may have gotten cautious about stan-ing another Mnet-produced group. But then, the music channel presented another twist with their latest offering, making it distinct so that hopefully, the audience can easily warm up to the new show without being reminded so much of the scandal-ridden Produce shows.

And in typical Mnet fashion, the new reality singing show they presented had a new element that hasn’t been seen before. While Produce 48 had almost half of the trainee contestants composed of Japanese trainees, Girls Planet 999 had Korean, Japanese, and Chinese-speaking (from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong) trainees! How’s that for tapping into the largest market in the world? While there have been a number of trainee contestants from Chinese territories from Mnet-produced shows before (Yiren, Kyulkyung, Zhengting, and Justin in the Produce shows and Snowbaby and Tasha in Idol School), Girls Planet 999 would be the first time that the number of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese trainees would be equal at the start. 

Since the show isn’t produced by the same team that has fallen from grace since the Produce vote rigging expose, the final resulting group, Kep1er, wasn’t really suspected of the same cheating scheme. But as with any other show produced by Mnet, many expressed their confusion over the final lineup. Out of the 9 slots that were open for the final group, only one Chinese contestant, Shen Xiaoting, got in and got the final spot when she spent most of the competition in the top ranks (she was ranked first in three out of the 7 ranking episodes, to be exact) . Only two Japanese contestants made it to the final group, which did not include another perennial topnotcher, Yurina. This allowed six Korean contestants to complete the lineup. Alas, there’s the issue of that one contestant who was weak throughout the competition but ended up getting a spot in the final group lineup. While Sohye, Hyewon, and Kuanlin were eventually accepted by fans because of the development they presented throughout the show and during their promotions in the group, Kep1er may have a bigger problem with their “problematic” member Huening Bahiyyih.               

How will they slay:  They were originally scheduled to debut on December 14 and perform at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards, but due to one of their staff members and later, Mashiro and Xiaoting testing postive for COVID-19, all activities had to be postponed. After the two members fully recovered, Kep1er finally released their debut EP First Impact with the title track Wa Da Da on January 3, 2022. Ten days after the EP’s release, the group won their first music program award on M Countdown.

It does look like Kep1er‘s debut can be considered a success. Their first EP, First Impact, peaked at number 1 in the Gaon Album Chart and has sold more than 300,000 copies. The six-track EP may have sold less than IVE‘s Eleven, but considering that Eleven is only a single album while First Impact is an EP, the difference isn’t that huge. Wa Da Da also charted lower than Eleven as it peaked only at #75 compared to Eleven‘s #2 peak, but it fared better in Japan by peaking at #9 compared to Eleven, which only managed to peak at #16 in the Billboard Japan Hot 100. 

What could make their star fall: As of the moment, that haters are concentrating their efforts on one thing; one member to be exact – Huening Bahiyyih. As mentioned earlier, people are still not convinced that she deserves her spot in Kep1er. The skills she displays are not really at the same level as her groupmates who she outranked in the finals (she ranked second in the Girls Planet’s final episode). If we’re talking about beauty, a number of names have been forwarded by critics who say that Girl Planet contestants like Guinn Myah, Chen Hsinwei, and Yurina would have been better options compared to her. Even in their variety shows, people have commented on how Bahiyyih is coming up as dry and lackluster in terms of personality. Alas, with her beauty, skills, and personality all in question, people can’t help but point out that her popularity is only because she is the sister of TXT’s Huening Kai. People speculated that her brother’s fans may have power voted her to the final lineup, as she wasn’t actually in good standing during the show’s first five ranking episodes. It wasn’t until the second to the final episode when she became part of the nine-member lineup. 

@official_kep1er 다라라라라라리~💕널 보고 있음 음악이 Babe🎶#dararichallenge#히카루 #HIKARU#휴닝바히에 #HUENING_BAHIYYIH #서영은 #YOUNGEUN#강예서 #YESEO#Kep1er #케플러 ♬ DARARI – ︎ ondu

With the group joining Queendom 2, it is feared that the gap between the more experienced and senior groups and Kep1er may become more obvious, not to mention the gap between more experienced members Yeseo, Yujin, Hikaru, Dayeon, and Xiaoting and Bahiyyih. Thus, there’s no better platform for Bahiyyih to breakout and establish herself as a star member of Kep1er than Queendom 2.  Will Mnet do some magic in Queendom 2’s editing to give Bahiyyih the sob story angle that could possibly convert some fans to her side? Here’s hoping they can. 

The question now is, are you ready for these groups to dominate the rest of the year?

Featured Image: IVE from their Official Twitter Account

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The Great, the Mysterious, and the Sad Plight of Chinese Idols in K-Pop

Featured image: [Special Video] SVT JUN&THE8 'MY I' KOR ver. Photo: SEVENTEEN/YouTube

The recently concluded finals of the idol survival show Girls Planet 999, which included contestants from Korea, Japan, and Chinese territories (China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong), has the public wondering again if Chinese idols don’t get a fair break among K-fans. Throughout the show, at least 2 or 3 Chinese contestants figure in the top 9 contestants of the show, which by its end, will compose a nine-member girl group. One of the Chinese contestants, Shen Xiaaoting, was ranked number 1 in three of the five episodes that have the contestant’s rankings revealed. And on the final episode, she ended up 9th.

With the Korean public becoming a tad weary of Chinese idols for a good number of reasons, such as the government implementing stricter guidelines towards idols and fans – from discouraging “sissy” idols to spending excessive amounts of money on voting in idol survival shows (which may also be a reason the Chinese girls ended up not performing well in Girls Planet 999) to several Chinese idols making highly patriotic political stands (e.g. Jackson Wang siding with the government on the Xinjiang cotton issue), fans of groups with Chinese members are crossing their fingers on the plight of their idols. Let’s have a look at three different cases of Chinese members of some K-pop groups.

Chinese K-pop Members on Top: The Case of Jun and The8

Perhaps, the most active Chinese idols in the K-pop industry are Jun and The8 of the 13-member group SEVENTEEN. Jun (who was born in Shenzhen, China) and The8 (a native of Anshan, China) have not been able to have a homecoming until last October. As the group debuted in 2015, Jun and The8 have not returned to China ever since, until recently, which means they haven’t been with friends and family for more than six years. Even the pandemic did not stop the two from continuously staying in Korea for the group’s last four comebacks in Korea – Hengarae (with the lead single Left and Right), Semicolon (with the lead single Home;Run), Your Choice (with the lead single Ready to Love), and Attacca (with the lead single Rock With You). The group has also had three Japanese comebacks since the pandemic started – Fallin’ Flower in April 2020, 24H in September 2020, and Not Alone in April 2021. All three releases have topped the Japanese Oricon charts, despite the group not actually holding in-person live events in the country due to COVID-19.

For the latest comeback, the two Chinese members were part of the recording of the entire EP and making the music videos. This means that they have versions of the songs with 13-person choreography and 11-person choreography. It has been a tad unfortunate though that when the EP Attacca was released on October 22, the two members are back in China. Both are still quite active in promoting the song on their social media accounts, though, and have also uploaded videos on the group’s TikTok account of them dancing to the “killing parts” of their single Rock With You. According to Pledis Entertainment, the two boys will be back in Korea in the New Year, which may most probably mean after the Chinese celebrations of Lunar New Year.

Judging from June and The8’s social media posts, there’s little to no reason why CARATs have to be worried about them and their status with SEVENTEEN. Besides, all thirteen members, including Jun and The8, renewed their contracts with Pledis, which is now under HYBE (aka BTS’ company) a year ahead of their expiration. It seems that the commitment of all members to the group is quite strong.

The Curious Case of the Chinese Members of WJSN

Here’s a story of another 13-member group: the Cosmic Girls or WJSN. From the group’s formation in 2016, the Chinese presence in the then-12-member group has been established, with Xuanyi, Meiqi, and Cheng Xiao holding prominent positions in the group. All of WJSN’s title tracks have been released in China and even have Mandarin versions. The three members were also present when the group welcomed a new member to their fold – Produce 101 alumna Yeonjung in late 2016, when her project group I.O.I allowed some of its members to join groups of their agencies.

Things went a bit awkward when the three Chinese members suddenly grabbed opportunities in their native China all at the same time while still promoting with the group. Fresh from the promotions of their latest EP Dream Your Dream (with the lead single Dreams Come True) from late February to mid-March of 2018, Meiqi and Xuanyi were pulled out from group promotions to compete in the first season of Produce 101 China. On the other hand, as early as January, Cheng Xiao went back and forth between China and Korea, as she was appointed as a dance mentor in the male idol group formation show Idol Producer. Fun fact: Cheng Xiao’s fellow coaches included EXO’s Lay, then GOT7’s Jackson, and then Pristin’s Kulkyung who were in various stages of activity/inactivity with their respective groups.

Meiqi and Xuanyi did well in Produce 101 China, so well that they were actually the two top-ranked contestants of the show. Due to their ranking, they automatically became members of the show’s project girl group, Rocket Girls 101. For her part, Cheng Xiao accepted acting jobs in China and did not return to Korea to reunite her group and participate in their next comeback, WJ Please, which had the lead single Save Me, Save You.

What happened to the two Rocket Girls? On August 9, Yuehua Entertainment (Starship’s partner in WJSN) and Mavericks Entertainment released a joint announcement stating that they would be withdrawing Meiqi and Xianyi, along with Mavericks talent Zhang Zining (who placed 7th in the show) from Rocket Girls. However, a week later, both companies confirmed that after coming to an agreement with Tencent (Rocket Girls 101’s company), that Meiqi, Xuanyi, and Zining will be returning to the group.

The Cosmic Girls continued to promote all throughout 2019, releasing three EPs. During this time, Meiqi and Xuanyi continued to promote with their new group Rocket Girls 101 while accepting acting and TV appearance jobs. While still promoting with her Chinese group, Meiqi released her debut EP in April 2019, which subsequently sold more than 2.5 million copies. Xuanyi also got casted in Chinese variety shows even during her time as a Rocket Girl. Cheng Xiao also continued appearing in C-dramas and variety shows.

Rocket Girls 101 disbanded in 2020, yet the two (plus Cheng Xiao) have not returned to promoting with Cosmic Girls. With a ton of activities in China, the three are not expected to reunite with their WJSN groupmates anytime soon. For their part, WJSN have had two successful comebacks despite the pandemic, with their two EPS, Neverland and Unnatural, selling more than 105,000 and 92,000 copies, respectively.

Chinese members of Cube’s Groups: CLC, Pentagon, and (G)I-dle

Three of Cube Entertainment’s groups have Chinese members – Elkie from Hong Kong, Yan’An from Shanghai (though born in Japan), and Yuqi from Beijing. There’s not a lot of weird activity solely happening with the three, with their careers taking rollercoaster rides because of the company’s (mis)management of their groups.

Let’s start with Elkie who’s supposed to be from the most senior of the three groups, CLC. Unfortunately, despite their “seniority”, it seemed that Cube had always been weird towards its treatment of the group. CLC was a sort of bridesmaid to 4Minute, which until their disbandment in 2016, was Cube’s leading girl group. When the group finally disbanded, the company showed their efforts in “prioritizing” CLC by adding two new members – Elkie who was then already a popular TV personality in Hong Kong, and Eunbin, who was at that time fresh from her stint in Produce 101 (eliminated in the second to the last episode). CLC showed promise with their High Heels Japanese comeback and their Hobgoblin Korean comeback, the latter featuring an image change for the group that showed them sporting an edgier concept resembling that of the then-recently-disbanded 4Minute.

The group felt like they were on their way to finally break through the local market when something weird happened – the company debuted a new group, (G)I-dle, which includes another Produce 101 alumna, Soyeon, and Chinese member Yuqi. The public instantly warmed up to (G)I-dle’s girl crush image with a slight softness. So, it seemed like CLC skidded a bit to the sidelines yet again.

For the part of Pentagon, they went the normal boy group career trajectory, as, during their debut in 2016, Cube was still holding a bit of hope for their “Legacy” group, BEAST, while now putting more effort into the promotions of their second boy group in line, BTOB.  Things took an unexpected turn for the better when the group’s song, Shine from ther sixth Korean EP POsitive became a sleeper hit, thanks to positive word of mouth from listeners who got hooked with the group’s trendy choreography and the song’s earworm quality. The song started out in the Gaon charts in the 500s, then rose by hundreds of places until it peaked at number 27.  It did feel like the group was finally on its way to attaining superior-level boy group levels of fame.

Then Yan’An got sick, making him take a health break from the group. Also, E’Dawn was revealed to have a relationship with Cube’s biggest stars, former 4Minute center HyunA. At first, the company denied this, then the two actually admitted to the relationship, after which the company dropped her and E’Dawn. Yan’An took another health break (a longer one this time for most of 2020). Members Junho and leader Hui (who was also in a group with HyunA and E’Dawen called Triple H) are currently on military duty, so the group is practically on that weird state exclusively occurring among boy groups: a hiatus with awkward and poorly promoted releases by still-active members. Yan’An is back with the group, but with its weird status, we’re not exactly sure what the future holds for the group.

This brings us back to CLC and (G)I-dle. With the company obviously preferring the newer group, CLC was pushed back and forth from sweet and innocent songs to edgy girl crush releases, while (G)I-dle getting better songs.

Their latest/last release was Helicopter in August 2020 and before the year ended, Elkie sent a legal notice to Cube Entertainment requesting termination of her contract, citing that she has not received payment for her acting activities and that Cube Entertainment had already stopped their “developmental support” of CLC, putting the group in an uncertain future. On February 3, 2021, Cube Entertainment confirmed that Elkie is not with the group anymore and her contract has been terminated. Fast forward to September, when member Yujin, who joined Girls Planet 999, said in an interview on the show that the group has been “dismissed.” As fans, we can only interpret this as CLC disbanding.

Finally, what has happened to the rather successful (G)I-dle? With EPs that sell more than 200,000 copies (AMAZING considering 100,000 units sold for girl groups is already a lot) and all lead singles charting notably high (the group’s last single, Hwaa, peaked at #4), the three-year-old group has achieved top-tier status in record time.  Considering they’re not from SM, JYP, or YG, their sales and chart performances are unquestionably commendable. They even won new fans when they participated and eventually placed third in the idol group competition Queendom, only placing behind MAMAMOO and Oh My Girl. everything is turning up roses for (G)I-dle until something gets messed up.

Only several weeks after the promotions ended for the group’s latest release, Hwaa, Cube announced that Soojin would temporarily halt all activities after bullying accusations by former classmates rose. The company has since encouraged individual activities, with Yuqi releasing her first EP as a solo artist, A Page, in May and Soyeon releasing her solo EP, Windy, the following month.

Finally, on August 14, Cube Entertainment announced that Soojin has departed from the group. (G)I-dle is now down to five members, but there hasn’t been news about a comeback. Several weird developments have happened since Soojin’s departure from the group, with various reports claiming that the members did not agree to Soojin getting booted out of the group and have become disappointed with Cube. Many also pointed out the lackluster support the company gave to Yuqi’s debut.

Finally, only days after the announcement of Soojin’s departure, rumors of Soyeon leaving Cube and therefore, the group spread like wildfire. On August 28, Soyeon hello a vLive session and eagle-eyed watchers were quick to point out that there was something tucked in her phone case – a business card with the logo of PNation, Psy’s relatively new entertainment agency that houses, surprise, surprise – the banished duo of HyunA and E’Dawn! That it has been months since the last comeback and the year is drawing to a close, fans can’t help but wonder if it is also “buh-bye Cube” time for (G)I-dle.

So, there you have it- the great, the mysterious, and the perennial mistreatment among Chinese idols. Let’s hope there’ll be more Juns and The8’s in the future of K-pop.

Featured image: [Special Video] SVT JUN&THE8 ‘MY I’ KOR ver. Photo: SEVENTEEN/YouTube
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Se7en, Katie Kim, and Gummy: What Exactly Happened to These OG K-pop artists from YG Entertainment?

Before BIGBANG there was SE7EN, one of YG Entertainment's former artists.

In May of last year, the inevitable finally happened: Dara, formerly of the mega girl group 2NE1, announced that she has parted ways with her entertainment agency for more than 17 years, YG Entertainment. 

It was indeed the end of an era, as the groups that we have always associated with the company are pretty much gone or are on an extended hiatus. BigBang remains quiet despite everyone in the group being done with military duty, Seungri left BigBang and the entertainment industry altogether since his scandals became public, all four 2NE1 members are with new agencies after Dara’s departure, Lee Hi is now with AOMG, Nam Taehyun has been out of WINNER since 2016, B.I has been out of iKon since 2019, Psy also left the company to make it on his own with the establishment of PNatio, and the company’s resident hip-hop group, Epik High, also called it quits in 2018. 

And if you think that these have been only the huge departures from the company, here are three YG artists that have left the family before the ones we mentioned finally decided to pack their bags, too. 

Se7en: Was he dismissed or did he decide to leave?

Back in the days when there is still an option for Korean male singers to find fame as soloists of any genre and not be confined as balladeers, rappers, or group idols, Se7en debuted and shot to fame. It was 2003 and the likes of Usher, Craig David, Mario, and Chris Brown (not to mention Latino singers like Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin) were dominating American, European, and even Asian music charts, so becoming a male R&B or soul soloist somehow became trendy. 

Thus, when YG Entertainment introduced Se7en to the Korean public as a soloist who’s not particularly associated with sappy ballads or trot, people took notice. He also received several Rookie of the Year awards in his home country, a testament to his popularity throughout the first decade of the 21st century. And having a signature fashion statement such as wearing roller shoes or heelys (for Generation Z readers, they’re shoes with retractable wheels in them, which distinguishes them from roller skates as the wheels in the latter cannot be hidden) in every public appearance and music video really helped in Se7en‘s name recall. 

He continued to maintain his popularity through Korea, which eventually spread throughout the rest of Asia, as he also debuted in China and Japan. As with most K-pop acts at that time, there was a clamor for Se7en to debut in the rather finicky and fickle-minded American market (something which the Wonder Girls and Girl’s Generation attempted to do), so, he made his American debut in 2009 with a song Girls that featured rapper Li’l Kim. And like all K-pop acts attempting to make it big in the American music scene, Se7en received a lukewarm welcome in the US. 

The lackluster US debut did not diminish Se7en’s stardom in his native Korea, where his comebacks until 2012 were still unquestionable successes. He even figured in a first as his 2012 comeback, When I Can’t Sing, was written and produced by Park Jinyoung aka JYP of JYP Entertainment himself. That title track was the first official collaboration between YGE and JYPE and it was also his first number 1 under the Gaon chart system.  

Se7en enlisted for his mandatory military service in 2013 and was finally was discharged from the military in December 2014, but not without scandal. Not only was it reported that he broke curfew, but he was also spotted visiting a massage parlor famous for prostitution. His contract with YG was slated to end two months after his discharge, but maybe because of the scandals during his military service, both parties decided mutually not to renew his contract. To add to this, two days before Christmas, the agency of his then-girlfriend for 12 years Park Hanbyul announced that their talent’s relationship with Se7en has ended.  

Se7en then established his own agency, ELEVEN9 Entertainment, but it took more than a year before he released new music. He first released a single entitled I’m Good in July of 2016 before releasing an EP entitled I Am Se7en, with the carrier single Give It to Me in October. The EP managed to sell more than 8,000 copies, although his songs failed to chart.

Se7en has been busy with musical theater, having headlines a number of musicals such as Dogfight and I Loved You. He also hosts a web show on YouTube entitled Seven Golf Courses. He signed with a new agency, Dmost Entertainment in 2020, although he hasn’t released new music since 2016.  

Katie Kim Breaks Free From the Dungeon

If there is one thing YG Entertainment is very famous for when it comes to how they treat their artists, it’s that they rarely give them comebacks. Once an artist is established and has acquired some semblance of popularity, the company opts to make sure that his or her next releases are of premium quality. 

Unfortunately, the process of ensuring this takes a long time, and for most YG artists, it takes years. Lee Hi famously cried on an episode of Party People hosted by JYP (the guy we mentioned earlier, as in Park Jinyoung) expressing her frustration that she has had only four half-albums in her four-year career. Thus, the birth of the YG “dungeon,” where the company allegedly keeps their artists until they (or an in-house YG producer like Teddy) give them materials of superior quality. 

If you think that Lee Hi’s time with YG was tragic, wait until you read the entire story of Katie Kim. Like Lee Hi, Katie was also thrust into the spotlight via a singing audition program – K-Pop Star 4 in 2015. Not only did she participate in that season, she actually won the show and got offered contracts with the companies partnered with the program. She decided to sign a contract with YG Entertainment. And that may have been a not-too-good decision. 

For the next three years, as in the moment she won until 2018, she recorded several songs and produced music videos, and went back and forth between Seoul and the US, as YG noticed that her style leaned more towards American music – jazz and R&B, to be precise. So, she participated in songwriting camps and wrote songs for her album that has been a year two years three years in the making. With her songs finally available, what does YG do? Continuously delay the development and release of her solo album to ensure the finished product is up to “YG standards”. 

The release of Katie’s album has been exaggeratedly delayed that even the creative director who was in charge of Katie at YG Entertainment had quit the company and started a new record label. Katie with nothing to show for her “career” after three years followed him to his new label, AXIS Entertainment. Finally, in June 2018, Katie debuted with the album Log under AXIS, but guess what? YG Entertainment was still involved with her career as the company was the distributing arm of her new company. Even the music video for her debut single, Remember, is housed in YG Entertainment’s YouTube channel, where, as of press time, it has amassed close to 15 million views.

Alas, it seems that the search for perfection and high standards that is YG’s signature trait has rubbed off on Katie, who only released her second EP, Our Time is Blue, with the single Our Time, in December last year. She had not promoted any of her songs in Korea. Her second single off the EP, Faux, has been seen by casual listeners as shades against her former record label. In an interview, she claims that “The song was inspired by “an experience with a record label. I thought everything went super well and we were getting ready to sign the paperwork, but everything fell through. I later learned that they were looking for a K-pop artist and I wasn’t really K-pop. They were interested at first, but later realized I wasn’t what they were looking for.”

If that’s not a reference to her time in YG, then I don’t know what that statement is all about!

Gummy: When the Queen Left Her Kingdom

If we’re talking about the pillars of YG Entertainment, there’s Gummy. When she debuted in 2003 (coincidentally the same year as Se7en‘s debut as well), she immediately took the position as YG Entertainment’s biggest female artist with her title track We Should Have Been Friends.” After all, not everyone (if not anyone else) can boast of winning the Bonsang at the 19th Golden Disk Awards with her debut single. Close to 20 years later, We Should Have Been Friends remains one of the most popular Korean pop songs ever. It is constantly being used as a contest piece in singing competitions and is still one of those songs Koreans recognize and pick in their noraebang sessions.  

The awards and recognition continued in her debut year as Gummy won earned the Mobile Popularity Award for Memory Loss, the lead single of her second album, It’s Different, at the 2004 Mnet Km Music Festival. Despite suffering from vocal nodules between preparing her first and second albums, Gummy was on a roll. Her third album, For the Bloom, kept her at the top of both album and song charts. Then, she altogether stopped releasing music and went on a hiatus that lasted for three full years.

In 2008, she released her fourth album titled Comfort, which saw her officially ending her hiatus. The lead single I’m Sorry features BigBang‘s T.O.P and immediately charted at #5 in music charts in the first week of its release. She then took another two-year break before releasing a mini-album, Loveless, in April of 2010.  

Things between SM and Gummy finally came to a close after the singer marked her tenth anniversary in the music business. After celebrating with a fan meeting and releasing her OST for the drama, That Winter, the Wind Blows entitled Snow Flower (which charter as high as #3), she also released a Japanese album, Fate(s). She also had a duet with Daesung from BIGBANG.  Then, just like that, it was reported that she has left YG Entertainment, her home agency for 10 years, and has transferred to C-JeS Entertainment in October 2013.

https://youtu.be/Z2U1HX6GMCw

Gummy hasn’t looked back then, as she has thrived in every aspect of her life. Since leaving YG, she has married Hospital Playlist actor Jo Jungsuk in 2018 and gave birth to their first child in August 2020. As for her music career, she has continued her reign as the OST Queen while still releasing new music, the latest being a single titled It Was Still Love in October this year.

Which brings us to: Why did Gummy leave YG in 2013? In a 2014 interview, she said,  “It has been a little over half a year since moving to a new agency. My former agency had a [particular] tendency [in the way they do things]. YG is not the type to release albums often… When good music comes out, you release an album. Artists agreed on that, and each artist had a lot of ambition to promote with good music. I also made an album at YG, which fell through about two times. After thinking about it a lot, I decided to switch agencies.”

Quashing rumors of bad blood between Gummy and her former agency, she clarified, “We did not go our separate ways on bad terms. [Yang Hyun Suk] CEO actually felt sorry towards me. He told me that if there is a place where I can get cared for more, then let’s do that comfortably. I think it came about naturally.”

Therefore, we conclude that even the queen of YG during her reign still felt like she languished in the YG  dungeon as a lot of her work was refused. 

So, who are we left with in YG? The depth of talent is still mind-blowing. Sechs Kies, the legendary 1st generation boy group that joined YG when the members decided to revive their group in 2016, just released a top 10 single in February this year, still under the company. Digital monsters AKMU just released an EP in July, with a collaboration with The IU entitled Nakka topping the charts, and is still charting as of press time. WINNER is still with the company, despite having changes in their line-up and inactivity due to Jinu and Hoony currently serving in the military. While iKON members won’t be starting their enlistment until next year, they have also experienced a line-up change with B.I’s departure and the sudden revelation of Bobby being a father as he plans on marrying his partner. Of course, there’s the biggest girl group BLACKPINK and the promising Treasure. Finally, we still hold out hope for a BigBang comeback.

Featured image: Before BIGBANG there was SE7EN, one of YG Entertainment’s former artists. Photo: YG ENTERTAINMENT/YouTube
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5 Female Idols Who Turned Into Full-Fledged Actresses

Krystal Jung of f(x) fame plays snob but kind-hearted Lee Bona in the SBS K-Drama, The Heirs. Photo: SBS Drama/YouTube

For us K-pop fans, being in a girl group and maybe graduating into a soloist would be the be-all-end-all for our favorites’ careers. But as a lot of idols have proven time and again, there are enticing opportunities awaiting them in the field of acting, whether it’s on television or the movies. Yes, a good number of them have been harshly criticized because of their sub-par thespian skills, and sometimes they get called out for being hired as actors only to raise the popularity of the show they are a part of. But then, there are quite a number of female idols who have proven their acting mettle, so much so they have already successfully transitioned into focusing on their careers as actresses rather than as idols. Here are five of them:

Hyeri

Any K-drama fan would remember Dukseon, the most adorable picket girl for Madagascar in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and her neighborhood gang. With that one drama, Reply 1988, Hyeri became a household name.  But K-pop fans would argue that Hyeri was already popular thanks to her girl group, Girl’s Day and that she had already starred in a couple of TV dramas (Jekyll, Hyde, Me and Tasty Life) before Reply 1988 started. Both are true, but it so happens that Reply 1988 just became a phenomenon. And as what Reply 1997 and 1994 did to Apink Eunji and Go Ara’s popularity respectively, Reply 1988 cemented Hyeri’s star status as well, not to mention that it became more popular than the previous Reply versions. 

Alas, although the members of Girl’s Day decided not to renew their contracts with the group’s agency, Dream T Entertainment, it has been years since the group’s last comeback – I’ll Be Yours in 2017. Moreover, Hyeri hasn’t gotten involved in solo projects when it comes to music. So, suffice to say that until a Girl’s Day reunion comeback truly materializes, we may not see the return of idol Hyeri. 

Last singing activity: The 2017 EP Girl’s Day Everyday #5, with the single I’ll Be Yours

Latest acting activities: KBS’ When Flowers Bloom, I Think of the Moon with Yoo Seungho and Kang Mina has finished and is slated to be released soon. 

More idols like EXID’s Hani and Jeonghwa, SISTAR’s Dasom, I.O.I and Pristin’s Lim Nayoung, and AOA’s Seolhyun have expressed intentions of focusing on acting. For the first four mentioned, this means signing with new agencies as actors – Hani and Nayoung actually share an agency, Sublime Artist Agency, Jeonghwa is with J-Wide Company, and Dasom is with Story-J.  As for Seolhyun, with MIna’s erratic behavior and Jimin’s departure from the entertainment industry, her group AOA’s future is most uncertain. But then again, AOA’s agency, FNC Entertainment, is quite experienced in having idols who straddle between singing and acting careers.

Seohyun

Now, this is one weird career shift. Seo Juhyun, known to all of us as Seohyun, Girl’s Generation‘s golden maknae and one of the group’s main vocalists (anyone still holding out hope for a TaTiSeo comeback?), has turned her back completely on singing. Which is quite weird considering other GG members who have ventured into acting still have dabbled into recording. For example, Sooyoung, famously known for saying she never considered herself the best singer after being with a better vocalist during her time with the group, still recorded a single in 2020. Yoona and Yuri, who are also more known in their careers as sub-vocalists, have still recorded singles and contributed to OSTs.

Not Seohyun, though. Her last activity related to singing was her 2017 EP Don’t Say No, and that was when she was still with SM. No promotional singles, no OST contributions, not even a single musical theater role. Not that we’re complaining about our girl’s three lead role performances on TV since 2018 and two upcoming movies, but it has to be said, not hearing our SONE maknae‘s singing voice ever again is one sad thought.

Last singing activity: 2017’s EP Don’t Say No

Latest acting activities: Two movies slated for 2022 release: Netflix’s webtoon-based Love and Leashes and Holy Night: Demon Hunters with Ma Dongseok.   

Uee

While not necessarily one of the pioneers of the legendary group that during their peak was dubbed the “Pussycat Dolls of K-Pop,” Uee’s time with After School was quite remarkable. She was seen as a replacement of Soyoung, who although was still there when she joined the group, was actually the first AS member to “graduate” and pursue acting. But then, Soyoung only stayed with the group for 10 months, while Uee stayed with and was very prominent in almost all of the group’s most iconic comebacks, including Bang!, Diva, First Love, and Flashback. After eight years with the group, Pledis Entertainment announced that Uee has graduated from the group with the expiration of her contract with the company. 

But Uee’s shift to acting did not really come all of a sudden. Long known for her beauty, she was already appearing in several dramas even as she started with the group in 2009. She debuted earlier as an actress, playing the young Mishil in MBC’s popular historical drama Queen Seondeok, which was shown in May, a clear four months before her idol debut. She regularly appeared in dramas throughout her career as a girl group idol, and when she finally left Pledis for Yuleum Entertainment in 2017, she practically focused on her acting career. She has not sung for anything since 2014 when After School was last promoted as a group. As of this year, she has again signed to a different agency, Lucky Entertainment, making her current agency her 4th in her entire career. 

Last idol activity: Japanese promotion for Best, After School’s 2nd compilation album that featured a new song, Shine.

Latest acting activity: Will be seen in tvN’s Ghost Doctor, slated for a 2022 release.      

Nana

Well, since we have already mentioned Uee, why not go ahead and mention the other After School actress Nana? Nana, of striking visuals and Orange Caramel fame, did not actually start acting until late in her idol career. She debuted in After School in late 2009 and started off her acting career with cameo appearances in a couple of movies, White and Fashion King in 2011 and 2014, respectively. Her first main role was in a 2015 Chinese film entitled Go Lala Go 2, which starred Taiwanese actors Ariel Lin, Vic Zhou, and Chern Bolin. Her first TV role was also in the Chinese drama Love Weaves Through a Millennium, which was shown on Hunan Television in 2015 as well. 

Nana’s acting career has a number of hits and misses, with performances in the Korean remake of The Good Wife (she played the equivalent of Archie Panjabi’s role and shared screen time with Jeon Doyeon, who played the Korean version of Julianna Marguilles’ part), Justice, and Into the Ring earning her praise, while her 2021 drama Oh My Landlord is considered by media observers as the start of drama powerhouse MBC’s downfall. But not to worry, fans, as Nana will continue with her acting career, with shows such as Netflix’s Glitch with Lee Donghwi and Jeon Yeobeen. Also, unlike the idol we mentioned before her, she is still quite close with After School members and cheered them on when some of the members reunited in MMTG to perform Bang! and Diva earlier this year. Also, she is the only member of After School who hasn’t really graduated, and is still with Pledis Entertainment, which technically, is now under HYBE.    

Last idol activity: Contributed a song to the OST of her own show, Into the Ring in 2020. Not promoted, so this doesn’t really count as an “idol activity”, but rather a singing one. 

Latest acting activity: Netflix’s Glitch, which was slated for release in 2021, but now that it’s early 2022 with no confirmed date in sight.

Krystal Jung

Who could forget snob yet kind-hearted rich kid Lee Bona in K-drama The Heirs/Inheritors?

Here is another idol who has managed to combine her idol and acting career seamlessly, until unfortunately, one of the two sort of waned. Just like the Pledis group After School, Krystal’s group in SM, f(x), also debuted in 2009. The next year, Krystal first appeared on the small screen with a supporting role in More Charming By the Day, and since then, both her idol and acting careers flourished. But as she got more recognition for playing snobbish ice queen types on TV to perfection, f(x) activities became scant. In fact, so scant that the group’s last legitimate comeback was in 2015. They contributed a track to SM Station, All Mine, in 2016, but that wasn’t promoted at all and it was practically the group’s last activities. 

https://youtu.be/C0SSU8U87I4

Krystal’s fans were not left in the cold with the acting jobs, though, as even without her group, she has steadily been part of popular programs such as The Bride of Habaek and Prison Playbook. With the possibility of an f(x) reunion practically non-existent since all members are now with different companies (Krystal is now with H& Entertainment since her official departure from SM in October 2020), we can only hope to see Krystal go full speed ahead with her acting career. 

Last singing activity: I Don’t Wanna Love You, a 2017 single 

Latest acting activities: KBS’s Police University with former B1A4 Jinyoung and a Chinese film Unexpected Love, which doesn’t have a release date yet. 

Well, the idol world’s loss can be TV and films’ gain and we fans can’t really complain. 

Featured Image: Krystal Jung of f(x) fame plays snob but kind-hearted Lee Bona in the SBS K-Drama, The Heirs. Photo: SBS Drama/YouTube
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TikTok and the Dance Challenge Insanity in Today’s K-Pop

I’m sure you’ve come across a ton of dance challenges the moment you open your TikTok account. In the K-pop world, the trend has been used to the point of exhaustion for some people. But then, it wasn’t exactly like this. Let’s look book at arguably a couple of the earliest uses of TikTok to amplify a song and one that has proven to still be effective despite the fatigue a lot of users have with the trend.

‘Any Song’ by Zico

We cannot talk about K-pop songs that have gone viral on TikTok without mentioning the song that started it all – Zico‘s Any Song. It’s not actually that this song was the first to have ever exploded on the platform, but the way the song utilized TikTok to bump up its popularity was at that time, quite new. Zico does not usually go to variety shows or promote his songs on music shows, so bringing his singles onto public consciousness solely depends on his reputation for releasing bops. Everybody knows that any Zico song would be a hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiyxhaS_xwQ

However, the rapper did not leave anything to chance this time, as Any Song would be one of his last songs before his military enlistment last year. Thus, the marketing minds of KOZ Entertainment (which he is also CEO of) thought to use the power of this emerging social media platform to their advantage. So, they had a video of their CEO singing his song and doing the choreography with some of the biggest names in K-pop and posting them on his TikTok account. 

TikTok-verse caught on the craze of the song’s choreography, which was usually done in pairs as Zico did with his first two guests, MAMAMOO‘s Hwasa and Chungha. The song was already a hit, with its release very well-timed as it only had to battle on the charts with one other major release – Red Velvet‘s Psycho. However, its virality was aided a million times with what then became the #AnySongChallenge. 

@kozico0914

#AnysongChallenge#ZICO #지코 #화사 #아무노래 #Anysong#아무노래나틀어주세요#KOZ

♬ 오리지널 사운드 – kozico0914 – kozico0914

The trend became THE thing that even celebrities who meet Zico by chance posted themselves dancing with him on their own social media accounts. For example, 2NE1‘s Dara, who only met Zico at their common hairdresser’s, also did the challenge and posted the video on her Instagram. Ultimately, the TikTok craze spread to other social media platforms, with dancing pairs doing the Any Song choreography and posting their videos on their personal accounts. Since then, the song itself has also been used in the background of other TikTok videos, even those that do not involve people doing the dance challenge.    

‘Dumhdurum’ by Apink

If two songs that charted well were not enough to prove to the public that then-9-year-old girl group Apink had a successful change of image from teenybopper tweetums (from Mollayo to Five) to sophisticated elegance, the group released the third song in April 2020 to complete this trinity of “Apink is all grown-up” songs. And just like the group’s two previous releases, the song was successful in reminding the public that Apink has successfully transitioned to being more adult. Both the EP Look and the single Dumhdurum peaked at number 2 in the Gaon album and download charts, so it goes without saying the song was a hit. 

The song itself was a huge departure from the usual Apink fare. For one, lead vocal Namjoo opened the song, a responsibility that maknae Hayoung usually carries. Then, you can hear main vocalist Eunji spit lines in almost-rap cadence in the chorus. And things only got better with the song’s music video and live stages. The unique choreography of the song on its first 30 seconds alone had people trying it out for themselves, because why not? That’s what social media is for, isn’t it? To show to the world your skills in copying K-pop choreography less than a day after the live stage and dance practice videos are released? 

So, there’s this move when visual goddess Naeun sings her part in the first stanza, which has been referred to as “illusion choreography”. It is when Naeun combines her arms with Bomi, who until then was behind her. Their arms get tangled, then she’s free the moment she finishes her line. It got TikTokers so confused that they did the only thing they could do whenever they get confused with something – make a video out of it. Netizens shared clips demystifying the dance that reminded a lot of people of childhood games where kids tie their limbs in confusing knots. 

@jazlynebaybee

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO SENT ME A LINK TO THIS SONG! ALSO THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO KINDLY ASKED ME TO ADD IT☺️ performed by @official_apink2011 on 4/13

♬ Dumhdurum – Apink

 

Alas, with success, is a bit of controversy ever far behind? A couple of  TikTokers posted a video of them doing the illusion choreography and not crediting the group or the choreography studio Freemind. When the Pink Pandas came out in full force in the video’s comments section, it was first turned off. Then, the post was taken down. After a couple of days, the video was re-posted with credits to Apink with a disclaimer that they didn’t know that it was a K-pop video. 

‘Permission to Dance’ by BTS

Any K-pop list these days won’t be complete without mentioning THE group of the moment year century, BTS. When the group’s third all-English single Permission to Dance came out, TikTok was already rife with a gazillion dance challenges, but obviously, there would always be room for RM and the group. After all, the music video for the song featured seemingly ordinary people dancing and performing sign language moves to the song, so it was practically a TikTok challenge waiting to happen. 

The HYBE marketing team wasted no time and collaborated with YouTube in issuing the #PermissiontoDanceChallenege. As with anything BTS-related, the trend spread outside the video-sharing website and reached other platforms, where ARMYs posted videos of them dancing to the song and posting them on TikTok. The challenge went full steam ahead with everyone from self-professed ARMYs to K-pop idols and even international celebrities joining the craze. Everyone from medical front liners to senior citizens and neighborhood ladies who miss their zumba group sessions and even the likes of Elton John rose up to the challenge. 

Inevitably, the song’s profile rose (well, come to think of it, anything BTS-related is bound to explode) and it peaked at number 1 in Billboard’s Hot 100 Charts. Back home, Permission to Dance won the group eight music show trophies and the song peaked at #3 in the Gaon Singles Charts. 

Now, almost every song released by idol groups would most likely have a TikTok challenge to accompany its release. Nothing beats organic popularity, of course, but if TikTok virality works, then who are we to stop its use in promoting the latest releases of our favorites?  

Featured Image: Screengrab from BTS – Permission to Dance Official Video

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Kpop Girl Groups: 5 Top-Tier Kpop Girl Group Concepts that Intrigued Fans

Picture credit: Youtube

Previously, we featured five awesome male idol group concepts. Now, it’s time to shine the spotlight on some of the most iconic concepts of Kpop girl groups. Here are five memorable K-pop girl group themes that keep fans coming back for more. 

Kpop Girl Group Concept 1: Girl Crush 

You can’t think of girl crush without mentioning the OG group to absolutely slay the concept—2NE1. CL, Bom, Dara, and Minzy debuted at a time when girl-next-door and sexy were at their peak, and the quartet immediately made a splash with the energetic track Fire. Their 2011 hit, I Am The Best, was peak girl crush, and their edgy, badass style paved the way for the current generation of girl groups.

 

 

Another second-generation group that embodied the girl crush concept is 4Minute. The girls showed off their strong and fierce style in their music videos, particularly in Crazy. Mamamoo also climbed up the charts by breaking the stereotypes of what a girl group should be like. The vocal powerhouses were cheeky and confident in Hip, and free-spirited and sexy in Starry Night. 

 

 

Blackpink further popularized the concept and took it to the global stage with their debut track Boombayah. The girls were also pretty and savage with their record-breaking hits Ddu-Du Ddu-Du and Kill This Love. Monster rookies (G)-Idle leads the pack in the fourth generation with their debut hit Latata. Other fourth gen groups to put their own spin on this theme include Weki Meki with Crush and ITZY with Wannabe. 

Kpop Girl Group Concept 2: Dark

 

 

The dark concept isn’t commonly used in Kpop girl groups, so it immediately makes an impact when female idols dive into this theme. Two groups were brave enough to cross over to the dark side. Dreamcatcher made a splash with their rock-infused sound and eerie debut music video for Chase Me. The group remains committed to the dark and creepy with their succeeding singles, such as Good Night, Scream, and Odd Eye. 

 

 

Red Velvet’s dual concept allows the girls to seamlessly switch from bright (“red”) to brooding (“velvet”) in every comeback. The group perfectly plays their “velvet” side in their music videos for Peek-A-Boo, Bad Boy, and Psycho. The Irene & Seulgi sub-unit also nailed the sinister vibe with Monster. 

K-pop has more music videos inspired by the creepiest holiday of the year. Check them out in our Halloween-themed K-pop MVs article. 

Kpop Girl Group Concept 3: Sexy 

 

Second-generation Kpop girl group Brown Eyed Girls dialed up the hotness meter and shot to stardom with Abracadabra. The sensual choreography and music video also sparked the “arrogant dance” trend. The women of SISTAR are not only the undisputed summer queens; they also owned the sexy concepts, especially in their sultry music videos for Alone and I Like That. 

 

 2014 must be the year for sexy concepts, with the release of AOA’s Miniskirt and Like A Cat and EXID’s Up & Down. Girl’s Day is another group that’s well-known for their sexiness. Their song Something won the Best Dance Performance by a Female Group at the 2014 MNET Asian Music Awards and spawned numerous covers by fellow idols. 

Kpop Girl Group Concept 4: Sci-Fi 

 Just like their sunbae labelmates EXO, rookie group Aespa’s concept is deeply rooted in sci-fi. The group is part of the SM Culture Universe—SM Entertainment’s worldview that includes all of the groups under the agency. Karina, Winter, Giselle, and Ningning, along with their virtual alter egos, were introduced in the group’s debut single Black Mamba. The group’s storyline continues in their follow-up single Next Level and in their latest EP Savage.

Cosmic Girls (WJSN) take fans into another world complete with shooting stars, flying cars, and interstellar travel with their music video for Secret. Twice makes sci-fi cute as they try to communicate with an extraterrestrial love interest in Signal. Even legendary girl group 2NE1 took a stab at the sci-fi concept in their video, taking on the roles of rebels in a dystopian world for Come Back Home. 

Kpop Girl Group Concept 5: Cute/Girl-Next-Door

Cute/girl-next-door is one of the most popular concepts in K-pop, but girl groups always make sure to put a fresh spin to the idea in every comeback. One of the first groups to earn the nation’s girl group title, Girls’ Generation, are the queens of the girl-next-door theme. From the earworm Gee to the genre-bending I Got A Boy to the retro-cute Lion Heart, these ladies continue to serve the perfect visuals and vocals every time.

Red Velvet has struck the perfect balance between creepy and lively. Power Up, Red Flavor, and Queendom’s cheerful and refreshing sounds are paired with colorful music videos that showcase their quirky charms. Twice has mastered the cute concept as well, seen in their videos for Cheer Up and Heart Shaker.

 Produce 101 group I.O.I also released songs that fit the cute concept, especially Very Very Very. Lovelyz were adorable in their music video for Ah-Choo. More recently, Oh My Girl cranked up the aegyo and made waves with Dolphin.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, because female idols take inspiration from anywhere and everywhere for their music! What’s your favorite girl group concept? 

Featured Image: A still from MAMAMOO’s Hip. Credit: Mamamoo Youtube

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An E.L.F’s Thoughts on Super Junior–D&E’s Countdown

A still from 'Zero'.

Super Junior’s Donghae and Eunhyuk have been making K-pop fans dance to their bops since 2011, so it’s surprising to realize that they haven’t actually released a full Korean studio album—until now! But as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait, because this gem of an album was definitely worth the wait. 

On November 2, the D&E sub-unit finally dropped their first full album, Countdown. The album contains 10 tracks—nine in Korean, and one in English—and showcases a more mature sound (but still sprinkled with fun) from the duo. 

The songs in the album cover a wide range of genres—from the heavy dance track Zero, to the groovy La La La, to the pop ballad Have a Nice Day. The diverse genres in this album proves that this sub-unit can’t be boxed into just one genre of music. 

 

 The lead single, Zero, is an upbeat dance track that can be seen as a song for E.L.F. In the chorus, the pair sings, “Don’t go away to stop this story/ Even if it’s filled with scars/ Without you, without you I’m zero.” I feel that it’s a song that conveys the duo’s (and Super Junior’s as a whole) thoughts toward their loyal fans—that they would not have been able to go on for this long without E.L.F.’s love and support. I also personally think Zero is a good song. Maybe it’s not on the same level as the sub-unit’s superb 2015 track Growing Pains, but I’m pretty sure Zero will be on my SJ on repeat playlist.  

 

Beautiful Liar was a surprise. The song’s opening bars sounded like it was going to be a soft dance track, but then the chorus suddenly became more energetic. It jarred me a bit on the first listen, but this song is growing on me. The pair then sings about wanting to go on a vacation in Far Away, and it does sound like the perfect song to listen to on a trip! It’s the kind of song you put on when you’re spending a chill day on the beach. The vibe turns sentimental and emotional with Have a Nice Day and Home, balanced with the smooth and bright tracks Muse and Share my Love. 

My favorite song from D&E’s latest release, however, is oddly not included in the album track list. Eunhyuk’s pre-release single, Be, is a nice emotional track that shows off the main rapper’s lovely vocals, for a change. I see Be as an ode to Eunhyuk’s younger self, encouraging him to never give up on his childhood dreams. I find the choreography in the M/V beautiful as well.   

 

  Overall, this album is musically diverse but still cohesive. It clearly shows the duo’s passion and commitment to their craft, which contributes to their staying power in the K-pop scene. This album is a great way to mark the sub-unit’s 10th anniversary. 

As a final note, in Super Junior’s YouTube live broadcast on the eve of the full group’s 16th anniversary, the members mentioned that they are preparing loads more content (albums? Variety shows? Concerts? I’m sure all E.L.Fs like me would be more than happy to get quality content from these fine men!) in the coming months. With these men releasing quality content like the Countdown album, Super Junior D&E—and the rest of Super Junior—will truly be the last men standing. 

Featured Image: Screen capture from Super Junior–D&E’s Zero MV. Photo: SMTOWN/YouTube
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Five Amazing Boy Group Concepts That Left Fans Wanting More

Picture credit: Youtube

K-pop music videos are always a delight to watch, not just for the music and the awesome choreography, but also for the concepts that will leave you in awe! Here we list down five unforgettable boy group concepts that had many fans clicking on the replay button.

School uniform

The school uniform concept is often used in idol group comebacks, but it’s the one theme that fans never tire of. It may be common in K-pop, but each group has put their own spin on it to make it fresh, fun, and unique! EXO brought this concept back into the spotlight with their music video Growl. (Fun fact: this music video was shot in one continuous take!)

BTS in their rookie years nailed the high school bad boy look in Boy in Luv. In the MV, the members act tough to try to get a girl’s attention. The boys also don school uniforms in their follow-up single Just One Day, which showcased a lighter, more mellow vibe.

Astro are portrayed as manhwa characters in their music video for Confession. In the video, a high school girl draws the members, and the boys come to life and start following her around as she goes about her life. And, Seventeen are cheeky schoolboys trying to impress girls in their MV for Mansae. 

Dark

This concept is masterfully brought to life by the undisputed concept kings—VIXX. Voodoo Doll’s heavy, intense beats paired with macabre imagery resulted in a music video so shocking, the group had to release a “clean” version. In the original MV, a woman used a voodoo doll to control and torture the members. The group’s music video Hyde also fits this concept well.  

SHINee’s Married to the Music is much less gruesome but hiding behind the cheery music and colorful visuals is a video where a series of unfortunate events happened to each group member while at a party. Meanwhile, their SM hoobaes, NCT127, ran with the vampire concept in their most recent release Favorite (Vampire). 

Block B capitalized on people’s fear of clowns and deserted theme parks in their MV for Jackpot. Rookie boy group Enhypen also joined the horror concept train with Drunk Dazed, featuring the members having drinks spiked with blood and dancing in a literal bloody shower. 

Check out the other music videos that have gone over to the dark side in our Halloween-themed K-pop MVs article.

Literature/Mythology

Global superstars BTS are known to tell stories through their music and reference literature in their albums. In Blood, Sweat & Tears, from their second full album Wings, BTS references the themes of temptation and growth, reality and illusion, and good and evil. The song—the entire album actually—is based on Hermann Hesse’s novel Demian. In the MV, RM even narrated a quote from the book: “He too, was a tempter. He too was a link to the second. The evil world with which I no longer wanted to have anything to do.” 

VIXX’s Scentist, a portmanteau of “scent” and “artist,” portrays the members as perfumers. The lyrics and the music video led many Starlights to believe that the MV is inspired by the 1985 German novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind. The concept kings also released a trilogy of songs inspired by Greek Mythology in their 2016 Conception project. The first of the series, Dynamite, was based on Zelos, the Greek god of jealousy. The second track, Fantasy, drew on Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. Rounding off the project is The Closer, inspired by Kratos, the divine personification of strength.

Super Junior’s Ryeowook took inspiration from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry‘s The Little Prince in his solo debut song and album of the same name. The music video is chock-full of references to the novel, and the lyrics tell the story of a heartsick man in a conversation with The Little Prince. 

Sci-Fi

EXO’s entire group concept is one big sci-fi universe. From their origin story in MAMA to fighting the Red Force machine in Power; battling against their sinister alter egos in Obsession and journeying through space in Don’t Fight the Feeling, they have consistently expounded on their rich storyline that keeps EXO-Ls hooked. Bonus: they also have a song called Lightsaber, a collaboration project with Star Wars! 

Bigbang has also dabbled in the sci-fi concept. In their music video for Monster, the members portrayed genetically modified beings trying to escape a ruined facility. And an ill-fated love story in the far future is the setting for VIXX’s Error. In the music video, Hongbin recreates a cyborg version of his lost love, only for both of them to meet a tragic end. 

Retro

Vintage has its charms, and K-pop groups know it! Idols have taken their cue from the catchy tunes and styles of the past and molded them to fit current music styles. 

BTS channels 70’s disco-pop in their feel-good record-breaking hit Dynamite. The group went on full throwback with a colorful video with retro-themed outfits, choreography, and sets! Seventeen also swings back into the past with Home;Run. The boys danced their way around an old-fashioned movie theater, a vintage train, and an old-school bowling alley in retro-inspired garb. 

Second generation Kpop legends TVXQ sends fans back to the roaring ‘20s with their jazzy hit Something. Bright lights, brass instruments, and intricate choreography add to the MV’s theatrical vibe. Finally, NCT U throws it back to the ‘90s with ‘90s Love. The song jumps right into the newtro trend, defined as adding a contemporary twist to the retro style. In the music video, the boys battle it out on the hockey rink—has anyone got The Mighty Ducks flashbacks? 

With these (and more!) concepts to play with, male idol groups will never run out of stories to tell through their music! Which male idol group concept is your favorite?  

Featured Image: A still from TVXQ’s “Something”. Credit: SMTOWN

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