Four Reasons why BLACKPINK's debut was one of the most successful in K-Pop History

As a top 5 K-Pop Historian on this forum, I thought I'd give the four reasons BLACKPINK had such a massively, impactful debut.

1. The Hype

- I became a true K-Pop fan circa 2012, and there was chatter and hype about YG's next girl group debuting that year, from the man himself. The next YGGG turned into the Duke Nukem Forever of K-Pop.

That's not hyperbole either.

Funny thing is that none of these girls ended up in the BLACKPINK lineup. But it's hard to really explain how much anticipation and buildup there was over the next generation YG girl group for over 4 years.

2. The 2NE1 sized void

The last group comeback by 2NE1 was in 2014. BP debuted in 2016. That means there was a huge void to fill in the girl group space where the only other prominent girl crush group was 4Minute, who were also at the tail end of their careers.

That meant there was a massive demand for the girl group that had been hyped for so many years to finally strut on to the stage (or slide if you're Rose. If you know, you know)

3. YG's Golden Era

For new K-Pop stans, it may be hard to imagine, but 2012-2016 was YG at its absolute apex as a company. All of their acts were digital monsters, Big Bang was still active and returned with MADE, a record breaking album project, 2NE1 released their final album, and who can forget Psy bringing K-Pop to the masses with Gangam Style

This was before all the scandals, particularly Burning Sun and YG's tax evasion, so the label had a stellar reputation still, all things considered. It's nothing like today where people associate YG with all kinds of negative connotations, and the public has lost faith and trust in their music

4. The members/music

This is a combo, so I'm cheating a bit, but you know when a group just nails the perfect lineup. I remember the electricity in the K-Pop community when those pre-debut photoshoots dropped for each member. They each had star power and unique but complimentary visuals.

I also remember how the pre-debut video trailers leading into the debut of their two title tracks felt like an actual event. I was up at 5 a.m. my time to watch it all live.

And when the music itself dropped, they were both bangers and well received. Whistle in particular, the song that got BP their first PAK in record time, a record that still stands today, was a banger and remains one of the best songs in their discography. It has aged like the finest wine too.

So those are the four core reasons for BLACKPINK's historic debut.

BlinkTaglist How did I do? Bet your heart skipped a beat when you saw this tag was from me

But don't forget, AKP, it was YG groups that really made me a lifer K-Pop fan. I could've easily been a Blink in another timeline. Imagine that.

Quote from monalisalove

And here I was expecting you to drop all their ww records they made right in the debut that no kpop act had at that time

I agree with the golden YGE era, I agree with they debuting with the right concept bc at that time 90% of kpop gg was cute so they just baaaaam, gave us the girl crush back and yeah about the members. They all are so different and powerful that till this day I don't see a gg with all members being as impactful as them.

I'll give you 6/10. Make some more effort please.

I wanted this to be a more qualitative conversation than quantitative.

Any random stat nerd can look up numbers and make attempts to contextualize them, but the experience of someone who witnessed and loved through every iteration of the group we would all come to know as BLACKPINK provides more valuable insight on the WHY behind those numbers.

As for impact, if we're talking just Korea, you any think I'm biased, but Mamamoo did have a two year run where each member was super over with the public. If we're talking global impact, then no, no other girl group measures up to BLACKPINK members.

The only girl group with an opportunity to look them eye to eye is embroiled in a battle with their company.

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Don't forget that there was a peace treaty with Dives once but catzi and Icy ruined it.

Quote from monalisalove

Oh, more the reasons rather than the stats, so I'm glad you included the members in the convo bc despite them 4 cleaning kpop groups, antis still like to act like any other 4 girls would be as successful as them...

And obviously internationally, I know in Korea we have quite some groups where several members of several groups became top acts, but with BP is different, their longevity itself is quite hard to keep specially with the lack of content. I'm glad blinks are loyal and finally we are getting our deserved music back!

The "anyone could've been inserted into the lineup..." argument is shallow, vapid jealousy that could be used against literally any group, given the way lineups are put together. I wouldn't pay it any attention.

I'd argue that putting together the perfect lineup is the hardest and most important aspect of debuting a group. You can come back from a poor song choice or a concept that doesn't land well, but a bad lineup will follow a group forever.

Quote from David33

I think... ahh... never mind...

I'm so proud of you. Good character development, David.

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I stopped reading after the kpop historian.

lol, and me, I'm a kpop shaman

You should continue reading. Also, who would contest that I'm a historian? Most of you got into this K-Pop game late third gen at best

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