Picture this. It has been almost a year since your last comeback, and the only “signs of progress” is some HYBE producers and writers getting together in a songwriting room. (which hasn’t amounted to anything meaningful) You decide to vent your frustrations on a live, but in a calm way. “When is our next comeback? Other groups are getting a comeback, but why not us? We also have fans.” Mind you, a few months earlier, you and your group wasn’t invited to your own agency’s company dinner.
Coincidentally, your agency and its head label is embroiled in the start of what’s probably the craziest controversy it can face. Your words has seemed to travel out of your fandom’s bubble. It’s now gaining traction on the news and internationally. Your Korean fans have had enough, and decided to get together to send a message to the agency. They send protest trucks and flower wreaths demanding for your group to drop a comeback, persisting for a few days.
On an ordinary day, they would’ve probably brushed it off. But a certain ex-ceo has gone rogue in the same week and did a press conference, causing double the PR controversy for your agency. They gotta do something!
So, they finally announced that you guys are coming back on August, with only three months of comeback preparation. But here’s the catch, you and your group didn’t even know you were even preparing a comeback until your fans told you. You basically have to rush the comeback process.
That’s what happened to fromis_9. The entirety of May 2024 was a mess for them, but it was a good mess. Although a significant of their hype and fanbase was killed by the mismanagement of their 2023 comeback, Supersonic would become their magnum opus. It was the song that rejuvenated their career and make them basically famous in Korea.
The comeback became their first song to chart on MelOn on the first day, it became their first song to enter the top five of MelOn, and it became their most popular song to date. It also became their most popular song internationally, taking off in a way that their last comebacks hasn’t seen. With four music show wins, it also became their second most awarded comeback.
As of the one year mark, Supersonic is still on the top 100 of every Korean music charts, alongside their recent comeback as five, Like You Better. Not only was it a smash hit, it got longevity.
It was the perfect combination despite the rushed comeback. The MV is considered their most polished and creative, the choreography is very fun and energetic and the song is catchy and trendy. The domestic fanbase basically blew up, with half of the current fanbase coming from Supersonic era.
They also put a lot of effort into the promotions, singing live every stage and doing their best to interact with the fans. They still cried on their first win this era, despite having around 10 wins at this point. It just shows how much they went through.
Even though the promotions ended on a happy note, the fandom was met with bad news on November 29, when their contract with PLYBE expired. It’s bittersweet in hindsight because the five girls who continued has now found a great agency. But Saerom, Jisun and Seoyeon has decided to pursue their own paths, with Saerom being an actress, Jisun being an influencer and Seoyeon signing to K-Hiphop label, H1GHR Music.
But it just shows, that any group are always capable of having a smash hit this late into their career, no matter how terrible it seems.
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