K-pop Rookies: Strengths and Weaknesses

So far, 2019’s K-pop rookie groups have blown me away. I have so much faith in the future of K-pop just based off of how well put together and impressive these new groups have been. In today’s entry, I thought we could discuss some particular rookie groups. I want to go over their strengths as well as their weaknesses.

I am well aware that these fresh new groups still have a lot of learning and growing to do, but there is nothing wrong with a little constructive criticism here and there.

I want to start out with the girl groups. 2019 has without a doubt been the ‘girl groups’ year. So many female acts have shined so brightly and I hope it continues.

ITZY

When ITZY debuted earlier this year, I had no doubts about their success. ITZY are powerhouse performers with an eye-catching and memorable choreography. They have branded themselves with a distinct sound and ITZY’s personalities are very attractive. They embrace their youthful and girly sides but also can put on a fierce face when necessary. They don’t give off an arrogant vibe which I really like and they look genuinely happy to be on stage. It’s hard for me to find something weak about ITZY bu,t if there had to be one thing, it would be that their songs are a bit confusing to me. It took me weeks to finally be able to listen to Dalla Dalla and ICY. The sounds and beats in those songs are so foreign to me. But eventually, I end up forcing myself to like the music. Besides their unique-sounding music, I think ITZY are the rookies of the year.

Everglow

The next group is Everglow. Everglow debuted with a girl crush concept that instantly caught my eye. Although I love a lot of different concepts, Everglow’s was right up my alley. I think their aura as a group is their strong suit. They give off fierce and mysterious energy on stage. Their music is also amazing and follows the mold of what makes a popular song, which has been working well in their favor. Their music videos are dream-like cinematic experiences. But, I do think that Everglow lacks in the vocal department or at least a lot of the members haven’t been given the chance to showcase their full potential. I hope Everglow’s company gives more of the members time to shine in the future. I think by doing this it will serve the group well in the long run.

Cherry Bullet

Last up for the girl groups is Cherry Bullet. Cherry Bullet debuted with a fun-loving cute girl concept earlier in the year. I didn’t start to really notice the girls until this summer when they had their first comeback. It was so refreshing to see a girl group with a cute concept. These days, it can be a bit rarer. I think that Cherry Bullet makes amazing music. Each song is catchy and easy to dance to. But, I think Cherry Bullet’s management has done a poor job by allowing the members to unleash their full potential. The line distribution for their songs is ridiculous and some of the members-only get a few seconds of lines. This definitely steers me away from Cherry Bullet because why have a group with 10 members if you’re only going to allow a few of them to shine.

Ateez

Now that we are done discussing girl groups, let’s talk about the boys. First up on my radar is Ateez. Although they didn’t debut in 2019, I think it’s safe to say that they are still considered rookies. I think it’s also safe to say that Ateez has embodied everything that makes a brilliant K-pop group. But, the thing I appreciate most about those 8 guys is their music and dancing. They are no question one of the most talented groups promoting today. Each song is so well-produced and flows to perfection. It’s hard to even think about Ateez having a weakness but if I did have to pick something, it would be their rapidly changing concepts. They are constantly switching them up yet the do pull each one-off, which is hard to do in this industry. But, I think for a rookie group this can be kind of dangerous because K-pop listeners don’t like to be confused right off the bat.

TXT

The last group we will be discussing today is TXT. This 5 member boy group had one of the most highly-anticipated debuts of all time. This is due to the fact that they come from one of the biggest, if not the biggest, K-pop entertainment company. BigHit Entertainment is known for producing the biggest boy band on the planet, BTS. So, everyone was awaiting the new boy group that would follow in their footsteps. And let me tell you, TXT did not disappoint. They debuted with an absolute banger of a song and wowed everyone with their clean and sharp performances. But, something that unfortunately will hold TXT back is the company they are under. Although BigHit has proven itself to be a great company, those boys have already received so much hate for simply being connected to BTS. But, I believe that TXT can prove to everyone that they deserve to be exactly where they are. Their talent will be what drives them forward.

That is all for today’s entry! I hope you enjoyed reading about these rookies. Please feel free to leave your insights in a comment down below. I’d love to hear what you have to say. For next week's blog, I’ll be tackling which b-sides could’ve or should’ve been title tracks. Stay tuned and I’ll see you all later! Thanks for reading, bye-bye!