Which song that kickstarted the 4th generation of kpop ?

iZone was more of a warmup to 4th gen it was still the middle of 3rd gen - Itzy was forgettable - Next Level was the biggest of all 3

La Vie En Rose
or
Dalla Dalla

for me

mostly Dalla Dalla
ITZY is a permanent group
JYP 4th Gen GG

la vie en rose didn't feel like 4th gen so dalla dalla and next level, when next level got released I knew for sure 4th gen had started

There are a lot of great songs and hits that feels like a beginning but Dalla Dalla is when it started for me

Next Level imo.

It really felt like there was a finally a group that could threaten the Big 3 BP, Twice, RV's dominance and the way that it just came out of nowhere after flopping for a few weeks initially and on the back of some middling success with Black Mamba and Forever. Aespa debuted 7 years after RV as well, so the generational shift was very evident.

Dalla Dalla was huge, but it still felt like 3.5gen to me with Itzy only debuting slightly over 3 years after Twice. They felt like a younger sibling vs the next gen. Same as Fx to SNSD, or TXT to BTS if anyone knows what I mean. As successful as Itzy has been, I don't think they ever really threatened to surpass those top 3rd gen groups.

Quote from whisk

tangentially curious, which song/group do you consider kickstarted 3rd gen?

For me, it started in 2018 with groups like (G)-Idle, Stay Kids, Ateez or Izone. Everyone was already feeling the transition among the Kpop community.

I will say next level, and DALLA DALLA. There was a shift in the kpop industry when these two songs were introduced, especially in girl groups. Taking all of this into account, I'd say they really kickstarted the 4th generation.

Quote from Eldeweiss

For me, it started in 2018 with groups like (G)-Idle, Stay Kids, Ateez or Izone. Everyone was already feeling the transition among the Kpop community.

think you misread my post lol i asked when you thought 3rd gen started, not 4th gen

Dalla Dalla

Next Level, truly the first mega hit of the 4th gen that actually challenged some of the records set by the reigning giants of the previous gen and actually succeeded.

Dalla Dalla for begining but Next Level made me Oh this is 4th gen era rn

Quote from Nanimo

Next level started it. When it happened, everyone knew it’s 4th gen time to takeover now.

This exactly. When Dalla Dalla blew up we knew it still was far from 3rd gen reign come to an end. With Next Level, not as much - and the shift started.

Quote from BlackpinkHouse

Songs dont kickstart generations, groups do. And 4th gen was kickstarted by Stray Kids (4th gen successor to 3rd gen Got7) and Gidle (4th gen successor to 3rd gen CLC).

As for OP's choices:

Dalla was the warning shot across the bow to 3rd gen, telling them their days were numbered.

Next Level was the final blow to end 3rd generation once and for all, from then on it was all 4th gen.

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Good points

and

Quote from whisk

think you misread my post lol i asked when you thought 3rd gen started, not 4th

Indeed For the 3th generation, every group who debuted in 2012 is a 3rd generation group for me.

Dalla Dalla, I remember exactly where I was and how I felt when it released. It felt like a whole new era