Keeping up with K-Pop

So much happened in K-Pop while we were away on break, and I am here to update you on all the amazing music which was released from December, until now.

While I try to pay attention to as much as I can, there of course will be some releases that I miss. I paid attention to mostly the girl groups as they pique my interest more. So if you came to read about the male groups, I am not your guy.

Starting December off strong, EVERGLOW released their latest album “Return of The Girl” on Dec. 1. The album was a strong display of the talent of EVERGLOW, with fierce songs that truly are empowering. 

The title track, “Pirate” has been my go-to anthem if I ever want to feel empowered. Am I a pirate? No, but EVERGLOW makes me feel like I could be one. The synth beats with the clapping sounds truly are what makes this song stand out

What makes me love the song, even more, is the choreo. The voguing present, the strong movements, the formation changes truly captivate the eye. If you have the opportunity to watch the music video or a performance, I highly recommend that you do. 

A new group debuted on Dec. 1, IVE. This group contains two former IZ*ONE members, Wonyoung and Yujin, so former fans were eager to see this debut. While not my favorite song, it definitely is a favorite for others.

The choreo for this song took over TikTok, it seemed like every other video I scrolled past were people doing this choreo. I do appreciate the choreo but again, it just is not my favorite in the entire world of K-Pop.

The following day, Dec. 2,  TWICE released the music video for their Japanese single, “Doughnut.” A shift from TWICE’s normal releases, “Doughnut” is a nice, slow ballad that seems like it came straight out of the ’80s. 

The simplicity of the last chorus is what captivated me the most. The piano, combined with Mina and Sana’s soft voices, had me hooked. This softer side of TWICE is something we rarely get to see, and I am grateful for this song allowing us to experience this. 

Side note, while TWICE dominates K-Pop, some of my favorite songs from them are their Japanese singles. Check out “Better,” “Breakthrough,” and “Kura Kura” if you are interested in more amazing TWICE songs. 

For the rest of December, it felt like I was being spoiled with SMTOWN. For all who do not know, one of the top K-Pop companies, SM Entertainment, always does an end-of-the-year concert showcasing their idols. 

I did not really know much about this concert, but when aespa released their cover of S.E.S’s “Dreams Come True” as a promotion for this concert, I instantly was intrigued to watch the entire concert on New Year’s Eve.

I ascend every time I listen to their cover. The instrumentals truly take me to another planet. One thing I love about K-Pop is the use of synth and it truly is exceptional in this song. If you want a fun throwback, I definitely recommend this song. 

Before the concert, we were told a new super SM girl group called GoT the Beat would perform a new single. This group contains K-Pop legends from all generations. Never would I have imagined the day that I would see BoA in a group with Seulgi from Red Velvet. 

The song did not disappoint, but the lyrics did. I thought “Step Back” was going to be a female empowerment song, but it turned out to be a song tearing other women down defending their man. That fact turns me away from the song, but the beat is amazing and hopefully in the future we will have songs which do not tear other women down.

The group Kep1er, formed on the TV show “Girls Planet 999,” finally made their debut on Jan 3. with their single “WA DA DA.” Not my favorite, but it seems like everyone else is a huge fan of this song.

I think my main setback from this song is the repeat of the “Ooh-woah” part in the chorus. It could’ve just been saved for the last chorus but it was consistent throughout, which I disliked. I still am curious to hear more from the group, and hope their next comeback sounds more like the other song they released, “MVSK.”

If anything took over TikTok over the break it was WJSN Choccome, a subunit of the group WJSN. They released their song “Supper Yuppers!” on Jan. 5, and my for you page has not been the same since. 

This song looks camp straight in the eye, and is everything that I needed in K-Pop. It literally feels like a song straight out of a superhero movie. I love the bridge where Dayoung is pleading for help. It is just such a fun song.

In what was my absolute favorite release from the break, fromis_9 released their EP “Midnight Guest” on Jan. 17. The title, “DM,” is my favorite retro song in all of K-Pop. The synth stands out, and I love the bass as well in the chorus. 

This whole EP is spectacular and started my 2022 strong. While “DM” is an amazing title track, there is not a single bad song present in this whole album: check out “Escape Room” and “Hush Hush” if you want to hear two amazing sidetracks. This sixteen-minute EP is something I will require everyone reading to listen to. 

YENA, a former member of IZ*ONE, released her solo debut on Jan. 17 as well. The song, “Smiley,” is very reminiscent of songs that I would hear in the early 2000s. The guitar beats are very very present in this song and truly stood out from all the synth that I had heard prior. 

While this is what entertained me in the months we were away, there already is so much more which has excited me in February. I cannot wait to tell you all about it the next time we keep up with K-Pop. Be on the lookout for some album reviews in the future, and I cannot wait to find some more K-Pop besties as this column grows.