K-Pop kinda tanked this year for the most part, NMIXX of all groups having the best two(!) releases of the year..

 

7 minutes ago, ChooseyLover said:

It's interesting you guys say those were the best years for the genre because from my European perspective I only saw people getting into K-Pop and the genre becoming really huge internationally from 2016 or 2017 onwards. What are your thoughts on these supermainstream groups like BTS, Red Velvet, Blackpink, Aespa, etc? I'm not really moved by any of them.

I'm just saying there were the best years quality-wise, though it definitely exploded later. The funny thing is that early k-pop was very similar to European music with genres like trance, techno etc, but it was very local, so nobody cared. It started gaining some traction, at least in pop circles, with the 2nd gen, songs like KARA's Step, f(x)'s Electric Shock, 2NE1's I Am The Best, Hyuna's Bubble Pop were all kinda viral, then you had Gangnam Style (unfortunately). At some point j-pop and k-pop were comparable in their western popularity, though k-pop eventually overtook the former.

 

I like aespa out of those, their Savage mini was among the last interesting moments in k-pop. They still make nice music, but this year they pandered too much to the West, and they aren't utilising their vocals that they have unlike some. Red Velvet have always been a mixed bag for me, some of their title tracks are great, some are utter garbage. The solos by Irene and Seulgi are mostly good, I guess. This song is basically a love letter to Britney:

 

Gr*mes don't make that face

 

 

I don't know how to deal with people who always talk about themselves but never care to ask a single question  Like why am I supposed to care about you when you don't even care what's happening in my life?

 

3 minutes ago, Suilen said:

I'm just saying there were the best years quality-wise, though it definitely exploded later. The funny thing is that early k-pop was very similar to European music with genres like trance, techno etc, but it was very local, so nobody cared. It started gaining some traction, at least in pop circles, with the 2nd gen, songs like KARA's Step, f(x)'s Electric Shock, 2NE1's I Am The Best, Hyuna's Bubble Pop were all kinda viral, then you had Gangnam Style (unfortunately). At some point j-pop and k-pop were comparable in their western popularity, though k-pop eventually overtook the former.

 

I like aespa out of those, their Savage mini was among the last interesting moments in k-pop. They still make nice music, but this year they pandered too much to the West, and they aren't utilising their vocals that they have unlike some. Red Velvet have always been a mixed bag for me, some of their title tracks are great, some are utter garbage. The solos by Irene and Seulgi are mostly good, I guess. This song is basically a love letter to Britney:

 

Yup sis, I know mainstream success and quality music don't necessarily go hand in hand, usually they rarely do in fact, so it tracks in a way.
I see most of you think alike when choosing the stuff you find decent. I think I finally got a place to start. All K-Pop I've ever listened to is BoA so I'm pretty clueless.

5 minutes ago, ChooseyLover said:

Yup sis, I know mainstream success and quality music don't necessarily go hand in hand, usually they rarely do in fact, so it tracks in a way.
I see most of you think alike when choosing the stuff you find decent. I think I finally got a place to start. All K-Pop I've ever listened to is BoA so I'm pretty clueless.

Have you listened to Lee Hyori? She's probably the closest thing to BoA and even allegedly ripped off Do Somethin'. I considered including her in the International Britneys because BoA already had her spotlight in Divas of Japan (and because her fans are going to complain the loudest about her selection) for a second.

Edited November 17, 2025Nov 17 by Suilen

5 minutes ago, Kern said:

I don't know how to deal with people who always talk about themselves but never care to ask a single question  Like why am I supposed to care about you when you don't even care what's happening in my life?

 

the way I kinda thought I was in the K-pop thread for a moment because of the discussion and then saw this and I was so confused...

 

Just now, Antisocialites said:

the way I kinda thought I was in the K-pop thread for a moment because of the discussion and then saw this and I was so confused...

 

Omg this made me want to post that in Kpop thread just for kiiis  But I can't afford offtopic WP with Gagas on my back

3 minutes ago, Suilen said:

Have you listened to Lee Hyori? She's probably the closest thing to BoA and even allegedly ripped off Do Somethin'. I considered including her in the International Britneys because BoA already had her spotlight in Divas of Japan (and because her fans are going to complain the loudest about her selection) for a second.

10 Minutes > nearly all Britney songs lowkey

Olivia Dean is a main headliner in a polish Orange Warsaw Festival   The way no one even knows who that is

Just now, Kern said:

Olivia Dean is a main headliner in a polish Orange Warsaw Festival   The way no one even knows who that is

We need to get to the bottom of this and figure out who she has dirt on in the industry

 

1 minute ago, Suilen said:

Have you listened to Lee Hyori? She's probably the closest thing to BoA and even allegedly ripped off Do Somethin'. I considered including her in the International Britneys because BoA already had her spotlight in Divas of Japan (and because her fans are going to complain the loudest about her selection) for a second.

First time I'm hearing of her Do Somethin' is such a fun song to rip off, I'm so open to get into her knowing these bits and pieces. Let me bookmark her real quick. Maybe I'll try her debut later today!

mind you, usually their lineup is someone really known - Nicki, Miley, Lana. There are always at least 2 big names

1 minute ago, Kern said:

Olivia Dean is a main headliner in a polish Orange Warsaw Festival   The way no one even knows who that is

her greed sickens me

 

1 minute ago, ChooseyLover said:

First time I'm hearing of her Do Somethin' is such a fun song to rip off, I'm so open to get into her knowing these bits and pieces. Let me bookmark her real quick. Maybe I'll try her debut later today!

Ooh, you're in for a treat. A shame her H-Logic album is botched on streaming because half of it was found to be plagiarized (for real this time), though it's on the producer. 

I feel like the industry really wants to push her as the next Adele 

Raye = "The Next Amy Winehouse"

Olivia = "The Next Adele"

 

Where is the next Leona

 

That one member being MIA even since getting skulldragged in SYG.

 

4 minutes ago, Suilen said:

Ooh, you're in for a treat. A shame her H-Logic album is botched on streaming because half of it was found to be plagiarized (for real this time), though it's on the producer. 

I'll look for that one through my sources... Sucks when producers keep artists in the dark about stuff, some western cases come to mind but maybe not as bad as that one... half an album is crazy.

4 minutes ago, conatus said:

Raye = "The Next Amy Winehouse"

Olivia = "The Next Adele"

 

Where is the next Leona

 

I don't know but if you guys find out you better tag me, oh miss Leona the icon you are.

5 minutes ago, Suilen said:

That one member being MIA even since getting skulldragged in SYG.

 

which one

 

7 minutes ago, Suilen said:

That one member being MIA even since getting skulldragged in SYG.

 

name

David something, I mean, he's annoying, but that drag was nasty.

 

2 minutes ago, Suilen said:

David something, I mean, he's annoying, but that drag was nasty.

 

Wait, which drag?

 

we won