I feel like Lovelyz is one of those groups who are kind of in the middle but still doing pretty well. They haven’t yet achieved “notoriety” or reached some milestones considered important for a K-pop group’s success (like music show wins). But they seem to have a solid fandom, and their albums and songs chart well. It seems like a matter of time before they will hit it big. I’m not as enamored with “WoW!” as I was with “Destiny,” but I think it’s better suited for the group’s overall image and style.
Favorites of 2017: February
While there were several newer groups like K.A.R.D. that had strong comebacks, February belonged to the heavy hitters. Red Velvet dominated the first half of the month, while top groups of 2016 BTS and Twice battled it out in the second. Powerhouse Taeyeon ended the month on a high note with a solid album. There was a lot going on, but there was a lot to enjoy.
Twice Comeback Review: “Knock Knock”
It’s amazing how far Twice has come in such a short time. They’ve accomplished so much in a year and a half! 2016 was very good to them, and it seems that 2017 will be no different. In the space of its short promotion, “Knock Knock” has topped the charts, gone head to head with BTS for Youtube records, and snagged some music show wins to boot. It looks like the “TWICEcoaster” has no chance of slowing down.
K.A.R.D. Comeback Review: “Don’t Recall”
K.A.R.D. is getting so much attention, and they haven’t even officially debuted yet! It seems like there is definitely interest for a new co-ed group, with many potential fans excited about their future. There’s a lot of hype over these guys, but I think that they’re going to be able to live up to it. They’re building a solid foundation for themselves in terms of music and image, and their songs are so darn catchy!
BTS Comeback Review: “Spring Day” and “Not Today”
Last year saw BTS’s meteoric rise to the top, and it doesn’t look like they’re going anywhere. They smashed all kinds of records with Wings and “Blood Sweat and Tears,” and they continue to do so with their repackage You Never Walk Alone. Their latest comeback is very typical BTS: good music, meaningful lyrics, intricate choreography, intriguing music videos, and plenty to talk about!
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NCT Dream Comeback Review: “My First and Last”
NCT did well with their various debuts, but it seems like they’ve really stepped up their game this year. “Limitless” was awesome, and I’m really liking “My First and Last.” While I’m fairly concerned about how much rest Mark and Haechan got these past few months, I think that this is a really great comeback for NCT Dream. “My First and Last” is really appealing because it’s fun and it has a very nostalgic quality to it.
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SF9 Comeback Review: “Roar”
SF9 really impressed me with their debut last fall. I didn’t know a whole lot about them because I quit watching d.o.b (their survival show Dance or Band) halfway through. They weren’t doing so well when I stopped, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that they were going to debut first. What they’ve done so far shows me that they have a lot of potential.
Red Velvet Comeback Review: “Rookie”
I’m always down for a Red Velvet comeback. They’re not just one of my top girl groups – they’re one of my top K-pop groups period. I wasn’t quite as enamored with “Rookie” as I am with some of their other title tracks, but I think that it does fit well with the signature sound that they’ve established. It’s definitely whimsical and fun, but is that enough?
Favorites of 2017: January
I was expecting January to be a slow time for K-pop, but we still got a lot of great of music. Female artists basically dominated this month for me. A lot of my favorite rookie girl groups had comebacks, Dreamcatcher had a strong debut, Seohyun and Suzy released amazing music, and three of my favorite biases had an amazing collaboration. Yet I couldn’t completely forget about boy groups – “Limitless” turned me into a major NCT fan.
CLC Comeback Review: “Hobgoblin”
To put it kindly, Cube Entertainment has been going through a lot of changes lately. They just lost their two most influential groups when they disbanded 4minute and Beast decided to form their own agency. Although they still have Hyuna and Hyunseung, their remaining idol groups must really be feeling the pressure. CLC is the first Cube act up in 2017, and they’ve started the year off with complete image change. I’ve been rooting for CLC because I think that they have potential, and the teasers intrigued me.
Katherine Does K-POP 