Just in terms of EVERYTHING – promo, sound, concept; Twice is the only group who has pulled it off this year (for a wide audience range). I’d argue idle is second with “Good Thing” but even that felt minor in comparison to usual releases. It’s great for Twice, they’ve had on and off “good releases” for a little while now and I’m glad they’re getting as much recognition as they used to.
But it just begs the question: why? There have been some hits this year, don’t get me wrong, but they’ve all been confined in fandom spaces. Like, I’m an atiny so I’m out here screaming “Lemon Drop song of the summer”, and all the other atiny are agreeing with it. Other fans of other groups, even if they’re open to listening to other music, probably haven’t even heard it.
It’s so jarring to see such a massive shift in the community. I don’t hear nearly as much about other groups’ comebacks as I used to, and I can literally see that the groups I do stan are struggling with a wider audience way more than they used to. It’s like, even if the group is popular, they’re no longer really cared about by everyone. Whenever something “big” happens in kpop recently that grabs everyone’s attention, it’s some scandal.
I’ve got a lot to say about this because it’s all been throwing me off recently, especially this year LOL. I think that variety shows going down in popularity (or being almost only run by nugu groups, which isn’t bad, they deserve the recognition, but no one knows them already) definitely adds to it. Variety shows that I do see are often just interviews, which I guess wouldn’t be counted as variety shows at all.
I think my main issue is originality though. Reused sound/concept, 2 minute song formula, it’s all the same shit nowadays. I usually count on aespa for my blessings but when a song is bad it’s just bad (sorry Dirty Work x). People get used to that formula and find it very listenable which makes experimental songs, which define kpop in my opinion, less likely to be successful. Even SM groups have been exuding less hype recently, or they’ve just been following a listenable format that doesn’t really excite anyone.
I am just. So bored. New releases will always get me excited, but I’ll always miss crazy shit like when Sticker and Zimzalabim first released or when everyone got enthralled by Maniac (VIVIZ) and Queencard. It’s fantastic while focusing on one or two groups, but I want to hear noise everywhere and hear other people’s opinions. Community barely exists anymore. The loudest stantwt has been this year is from Katseye’s controversial ass “Gnarly” (I’m obsessed with this song), and that’s not even kpop.
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