It's very surprising to me as well. When I first listened to NJ I thought their music and style were not something kpop fans would like

Maybe that's their strength after all? They are my favorite girlgroup basically because a) they don't fall easily in kpop categories of "cute" or "fierce" (which I was always tired of since 3rd gen); b) their music is very appealing for me, I always liked pop and R&B chill songs I'm an EXOL after all, and their music perfectly matches my taste

Apart of tha, I think they are far and away the best produced group in kpop. Their MVs are amazing, their songs ALL their songs are high quality, not fillers just to fill an EP and ship albums, their stages and choreographies as very well designed. And they have a very creative marketing and concept. The amount of caring they have with every NJ comeback is outstanding. It made me realize how uninspired most kpop companies actually are, outside of Hybe

Uncle fans

it's not surprising if you look at the age gap

Quote from chilltime

it's not surprising if you look at the age gap

Damn, so they will crush Aespa next too?

Quote from blossom9990

Damn, so they will crush Aespa next too?

they didn't debut in the same year. aespa debuted in 2020 not 2022.

When Garam was cut LS's fate changed a lot

I dont. I always said that adorngg was the real deal, for many reasons. SM hype, first "pure" hybegg, etc. Sakura and Chaewon are popular but its beyond me howanyone can think just members popularity will sustain a group when even MissA that had a explosive debut didnt live to the hype despite Suzy being a member of the group. Member popularity tend to benefit only the member. Other factors are a lot more important.

Quote from WhyKnock

When Garam was cut LS's fate changed a lot

never seen you be more insightful than be delusional. u brought up a great point cuz garam was the second youngest if i recall correctly and the chosen center too. huge loss.

Quote from chilltime

never seen you be more insightful than be delusional. u brought up a great point cuz garam was the second youngest if i recall correctly and the chosen center too. huge loss.

I tend to be rational on matters not involving a certain 1,344 years old.

It's not surprising for me. As a fan, I can see everything that is appealing about the group and I'm glad so many people agree.

NJs music style is what I listen to irl.

Midtempo songs.

Quote from TwiceKaren

Uncle fans

hmmm, more of mommy, unnie or auntie fans I reckon.

Quote from WhyKnock

I tend to be rational on matters not involving a certain 1,344 years old.

her power is fading since she hit the magic number 30 that muggles believe her age is. can we find a worthy successor to the throne?

Quote from chilltime

they didn't debut in the same year. aespa debuted in 2020 not 2022.

damn they are old, their fans will start moving to younger group too. Rip.

At the end of the day, song quality matters.

If the song is really good and there is sufficient marketing behind it, it will go viral. Examples in the last 12 months are, Ditto and Hybe Boy for new jeans in Korea and Cupid for fifty fifty in the West.

MHJ is doing a great job.

Whatever Min Hee-jin is getting paid it's not enough. She tapped into what the majority of K-pop fans want to hear, acquired the talent, and you see the results.

I personally like LSF & Gidle more, but that's just the taste & style of music I prefer.

I personally adore both.

But I knew the second Attention dropped, NJ was not only going to change k-pop, but the future of pop music itself.

I have said it before, I don't understand why NewJeans is popular with their boring slow tempo songs, but Lesserafim is no better.

Quote from WhyKnock

When Garam was cut LS's fate changed a lot

Actually since Minju refused to be in Ssera their future was already changed, Garam departure just confirmed it.

On the other hand, if Kazuha was korean they could have bounced back and have a top hit girl in the girl which would have baught more light and more hype to the group.

Sakura will do fine she has a big fanbase. But the only master card left to them is the charms and buzz factor of Chaewon. Yunjin with proper styling could also be trendy.

But without a korean pure visual member like Garam and Minju, they really really need great music to be a top group and will modt likely never really catch up NJ or even Ive as A listers in korea. (for now at last)

Quote from patrik-k

I have said it before, I don't understand why NewJeans is popular with their boring slow tempo songs, but Lesserafim is no better.

Because many like me like their "boring slow tempo songs"🤷🏻🤷🏽‍♀️

Isn’t the secret to their success precisely how unlike-Kpop their music sounds? Attention and Hype Boy’s mvs dripped that overt western aesthetic that I don’t think any other gg managed to, not even BP or Aespa. Couple that with the perfect packaging + marketing and the big company privilege, and you got yourself a recipe for success.

Quote from whips

Isn’t the secret to their success precisely how unlike-Kpop their music sounds? Attention and Hype Boy’s mvs dripped that overt western aesthetic that I don’t think any other gg managed to, not even BP or Aespa. Couple that with the perfect packaging + marketing and the big company privilege, and you got yourself a recipe for success.

so people just don't like kpop now then, that is certainly not good for the genre itself in future lol.

Quote from whips

Isn’t the secret to their success precisely how unlike-Kpop their music sounds? Attention and Hype Boy’s mvs dripped that overt western aesthetic that I don’t think any other gg managed to, not even BP or Aespa. Couple that with the perfect packaging + marketing and the big company privilege, and you got yourself a recipe for success.

Correct, they are the result of the creative processing (using Hegel's dialectical framework) of what MHJ found frustrating and didn't like about Kpop she witnessed in her almost two decade career at SM.

Quote from chilltime

so people just don't like kpop now then, that is certainly not good for the genre itself in future lol.

It can also be a catalyst for innovation. You can also bet on NewJeans continuing to reinvent.

Quote from chilltime

so people just don't like kpop now then, that is certainly not good for the genre itself in future lol.

i mean you have so many “pure” kpop fans who dislike nj’s music bc it’s too “boring” for them, so the fact that so many casual listeners, who don’t necessarily ride or die for kpop, pick up nj to jam to is only the other side of the coin lol. And if you want to conquer the collective masses, it’s never been a secret that you need to be as inoffensive and easy to digest as possible, which the classic kpop aesthetics/sounds don’t really embody. Even looking at aespa for example, the stark contrast between the concept and music of their korean songs and english songs, or the huge difference between bp’s ice cream (practically an english song) and the rest of their discography, already speaks volumes about what they deem necessary to break into the western market. Where this new development will take kpop, I can’t say, but most businesses only care about profits, not keeping the “integrity” of modern kpop intact, so I don’t expect this new trend strategy to change any time soon as long as it still succeeds.

Interestingly, if you look at the old-school aesthetics of kpop during 1st gen, you’ll see that they’re much more inline with what nj is doing, hence the “refreshingly nostalgic” comments that they typically get. Only during 2nd gen did kpop really start to grow heavier, louder, more bombastic, to match music trends emerging in the west. So in a sense, nj is only returning to form of what kpop initially was, and you could make the argument that the kpop that most 4th gen stans are familiar with actually originated as a vehicle to chase western trends anyway. So the question is, is nj deviating and “diluting” kpop, or are they actually not different at all from what kpop had been doing for a long time

Quote from chilltime

her power is fading since she hit the magic number 30 that muggles believe her age is. can we find a worthy successor to the throne?

No, since all these newer soloist talents are now flocking to trot where they can earn money faster

She herself tried to get some trainees but they eventually ended up in Weeekley, owned by what used to be APink's company.

NJ is doing better, but pls, some people here make it sound like LSF is flopping, they are doing really good, like they are a top group rn, they are just behind NJ and Ive, like they make a bside, that wasn't a pre-release, into melon top 10, very few groups can do that, without mentioning that they've topped the chart with their TTS.

To the OP point, while I really like the two groups, but I just stan NJ, I think they have the best package in K-pop rn and that I've seen, like they revived my interest in K-pop when it was fading, due to their perfect crafting, MV for all their songs, an amazing concept, their albums packaging is also amazing, their debut was groundbreaking, no teasers, just a song, everything that surrounds them seems so well put and thought that it's amazing.

While LSF, imo, is like what I imagined a GG made by BH, they have a great concept, variety wise they are one of the funniest groups out there, they seem more free than other idols to their own things, one member writes and produces music, but music wise , while is great, they sound like a K-pop group, because they are ofc, but NJ feels like is being produced by someone who doesn't like a lot of things that makes K-pop what it is.

Sounds like a lot of users in here aren't kpop fans if you only like NJ because they don't sound like kpop. Why don't yall just go listen to American and European R&B if that's the music you want?

This is exactly why I don't like them.

Quote from whips

Interestingly, if you look at the old-school aesthetics of kpop during 1st gen, you’ll see that they’re much more inline with what nj is doing, hence the “refreshingly nostalgic” comments that they typically get. Only during 2nd gen did kpop really start to grow heavier, louder, more bombastic, to match music trends emerging in the west. So in a sense, nj is only returning to form of what kpop initially was, and you could make the argument that the kpop that most 4th gen stans are familiar with actually originated as a vehicle to chase western trends anyway. So the question is, is nj deviating and “diluting” kpop, or are they actually not different at all from what kpop had been doing for a long time

I'm sorry, but this just straight up isn't true. There were tons of loud and bombastic beats in gen 1.

Also this weird acting like kpop was so divorced from western pop from gen 2 onwards is baffling.

So much of Gen 2 was in line with Black Eeyed Peas and LMFAO

A ton of Gen 3 was doing the whole Calvin Harris and Major Lazer House and Mombahton thing.

Much of the early 4th gen and late 3rd gen was going off the disco retro that Dua Lipa and The Weeknd slammed right ontop of the western industry with.

Is New Jeans nostalgic? Sure, but this weird argument/idea that the rest of Kpop is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO divorced from what's happening in the states is just out right false.

Quote from Fluffers

I'm sorry, but this just straight up isn't true. There were tons of loud and bombastic beats in gen 1.

of course 1st gen kpop wasn’t just a one note snoozy sleep music fest, there’s variety in every gen. but the loud of 1st gen in no way could compete with the loud of 4th gen lol let’s not kid ourselves. 3rd/4th gen is steeped in peak chaotic, incohesive music that gen 1 was nowhere near. That’s the point

Quote from Fluffers

Also this weird acting like kpop was so divorced from western pop from gen 2 onwards is baffling.

So much of Gen 2 was in line with Black Eeyed Peas and LMFAO

A ton of Gen 3 was doing the whole Calvin Harris and Major Lazer House and Mombahton thing.

Much of the early 4th gen and late 3rd gen was going off the disco retro that Dua Lipa and The Weeknd slammed right ontop of the western industry with.

Is New Jeans nostalgic? Sure, but this weird argument/idea that the rest of Kpop is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO divorced from what's happening in the states is just out right false.

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not sure if you were agreeing or disagreeing with me here bc that was my exact point lol kpop has always been about chasing western trends (albeit usually late by about at least 2-3 years ) so nj following contemporary western trends now (which the rest of kpop hasn’t caught up with yet aside from maybe fifty fifty) doesn’t actually differ at all from how kpop has been operating since the start. People arguing that nj is making kpop lose its “uniqueness” just don’t know of kpop’s history lol

Quote from whips

of course 1st gen kpop wasn’t just a one note snoozy sleep music fest, there’s variety in every gen. but the loud of 1st gen in no way could compete with the loud of 4th gen lol let’s not kid ourselves. 3rd/4th gen is steeped in peak chaotic, incohesive music that gen 1 was nowhere near. That’s the point

There are several HOT tracks I can think of where the volume is above a lot of gen 2. Like I Yah and Age of Violence are a lot more abrasive than most gen 2 that's not BigBang.

And same goes for Seckhskies tracks but I'm way less familiar with them.

Quote from Fluffers

There are several HOT tracks I can think of where the volume is above a lot of gen 2. Like I Yah and Age of Violence are a lot more abrasive than most gen 2 that's not BigBang.

And same goes for Seckhskies tracks but I'm way less familiar with them.

Lee Jung Hyun went harder than all of 2nd and 3rd gen by herself.

Quote from Fluffers

Also this weird acting like kpop was so divorced from western pop from gen 2 onwards is baffling.

My brethren in Christ. This is literally the exact opposite of what they said.

If you're going to go at someone this hard, please make sure you read carefully before responding.

Quote from Drew_B

Sounds like a lot of users in here aren't kpop fans if you only like NJ because they don't sound like kpop. Why don't yall just go listen to American and European R&B if that's the music you want?

This is exactly why I don't like them.

NJ are actually an intersting mix of kpop and western pop. And just straight up good quality music. Period.

They are kpop 2.0. They are the evolution. Now pure kpop if not handeled masterfully just sounds outdated, kitsch in the wrong way and just traight up stuck in the 10's.

Even more pure kpop based group should freshen up and bring something new and more modern to the table. Doesn't mean they should just copy past western artist tho. But level up. That’s what NJ is doing and bringing to the table.

Aren't 4th/5th gen aiming for global charting anyway?

You guys have a really obsession with the number 1 rank, a group doesn't need to be ranked number one to be deemed as successful, you guys are trying your hardest to make Lesserafim into this flop group with no success when in reality all of their releases toped the charts on melon since their debut, unforgiven ranked number one , not only that even their b-sides charts well, Eve pushy and the bluebird's wife ranked number 3 on melon it takes real popularity to make a beside rank this high and besides they're one of the best selling girl group so I don't know what you want more than this.

Quote from bluebird1984

NJ are actually an intersting mix of kpop and western pop. And just straight up good quality music. Period.

They are kpop 2.0. They are the evolution. Now pure kpop if not handeled masterfully just sounds outdated, kitsch in the wrong way and just traight up stuck in the 10's.

Even more pure kpop based group should freshen up and bring something new and more modern to the table. Doesn't mean they should just copy past western artist tho. But level up. That’s what NJ is doing and bringing to the table.

Aren't 4th/5th gen aiming for global charting anyway?

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Something I hate is this kind of statements, like "My group is an evolution", "They are kpop 2.0."

Realllyyyyy? So every group before NewJeans is kpop 1.0 but NJ is super special and have created kpop 2.0?

I can accept when people say their favorit groups "is the best group", but when people try to make them mega special I just want to vomit on them.

The main reason the group have some kind of success is because they are from a HYBE label so they got a flying start the same way group like 2NE1, Red Velvet, Twice, ITZY, Blackpink, Aespa that also have a huge advandage compared to groups from smaller companies.

Quote from Drew_B

Sounds like a lot of users in here aren't kpop fans if you only like NJ because they don't sound like kpop. Why don't yall just go listen to American and European R&B if that's the music you want?

This is exactly why I don't like them.

Tbh, 90% of the songs I listen to are not Kpop anyways🤷🏽‍♀️

I discovered this forum because of BTS.

Stayed for the fun, then fell in love with NJs ( 1st gg I've ever stanned).