Still only Gen 4

    Generations in Kpop, as with many things in Kpop is 'fuzzy', there is no quantifiable definition and it is all popular perception.

    Every debut, gets a chatter of a new generation or 0.5 generation being born. But give it a few months, then we know how relevant such claims are.


    It is only in retrospect can we actually judge the start of any generation.


    And that start is always has been with a significant group making music and records, which are different from the prevailing trends.

    Then groups which have debuted around the same time are grouped in as a generation. Even if the other earlier debuts later achieve greater popularity, they still join that generation.


    In retrospect.

    2nd Gen's defining group was Sonyeoshidae SNSD

    3rd Gen's defining group was TWICE , even if BTS debuted earlier and had greater success, or BP later.

    4th Gen's is NJZ- does not matter if GIDLE, Itzy, Aespa, Ive all had debuted earlier. The shift happened with the arrival of NJZ


    I don't notice any discernable shift in the ground since NJZ debut.

    So all the claims of 5th, 6th gen are just yawn, fans trying to partition time to claim some trivial swag.


    At best the prevailing generation can be measured by the dominant acts on the K-digital charts- who are the youngest set.

    It is still (G)IDLE, Aespa, IVE & NJZ


    We are still only in the 4th gen. Now if say KiiiKiii or H2H manage to hit it big & have distinct sounds/styles/themes - start the new gen, then maybe 2024 debuts will be included as 4th gen.


    Again it is subjective stuff and this is my take.

    Until the cohort which debuted in 2024 and beyond releases a song bigger than Hype Boy, it will be 4.5th gen.


    I have not given up my hope yet since none of the 4.5th gen has paid filial duty to KPop's Greatest Deadweight yet, but if their advances are slower, one of them might do that. Illit is the most likely, Meovv the least likely to do so.

  • AllKill VIP
    Quote from WhyKnock

    Until the cohort which debuted in 2024 and beyond releases a song bigger than Hype Boy, it will be 4.5th gen.


    I have not given up my hope yet since none of the 4.5th gen has paid filial duty to KPop's Greatest Deadweight yet, but if their advances are slower, one of them might do that. Illit is the most likely, Meovv the least likely to do so.

    4.5 gen was literally when NewJeans, Kep1er, Nmixx, Ive, and Le Sserafim debuted. They ushered in a second wave/resurgence in 4th gen kpop.


    4th gen started in 2018 with the debuts of Gidle, Loona, and Iz*one and lasted until 2022 (Which is a solid 5 years)


    In retrospect, 3rd gen lasted from 2012-2017.


    We’re most definitely in 5th gen buddy. Seeing as ZerobaseOne and Babymonster ushered in a new generation, 5th gen just has the sour luck of beginning while 4th gen is still popping but the same happened for 4th gen with 3rd gen groups.

    I put gidle, etc at 3.5th gen and consider 4g to have begun with aespa's debut.

    Quote from WhyKnock

    Until the cohort which debuted in 2024 and beyond releases a song bigger than Hype Boy, it will be 4.5th gen.


    I have not given up my hope yet since none of the 4.5th gen has paid filial duty to KPop's Greatest Deadweight yet, but if their advances are slower, one of them might do that. Illit is the most likely, Meovv the least likely to do so.

    Correct.. though rather than calling them '4.5', I am placing them as undecided, still in 4th gen.


    If another paradigm shifting group/hit comes alone, then 5th gen will start and many who debuted in 2024 will join that generation.

    Like how Aespa which debuted before NJZ, still belongs to NJZ's 4th gen, in retrospect.


    As to 'Filial duty', all of them will bow. it is a matter of when than if.

    The only .5 gen that was real was 2.5 thate ra in itself is distinct in dynamics style and structure. It's the only time the previous generation held majority dominance and attention compared to later gens (although there was more space)

    Magnetic was the biggest hit of 2024 and should have won SOTY at MAMA but we all know what happened with SM-Kakao payola. Hell even Perfect Night was the clear winner but i have issues with songs from the previous year being counted so i'm actually ok with it not winning as long as EVERYONE is treated the same. But Magnetic should have won instead.


    That being said, i still think we are in 4.75 generation.


    4th gen started with Idle, Izone, then Itzy, Aespa, Stayc.

    4.5 gen started with Izone daughter Ive then Kepler, NMIXX, Lesfim, and NJ.

    4.75 gen started with Baemon/Kissoflife and includes Illit, Izna, Meow, Kiii, and Heart.

    Hits come and go, but unless they change the game/up the bar massively, they don't get to define a GEN. "Hype boy" did that, with strong follow up with "Ditto" and other songs.

    While 'Magnetic' indeed was hit, it was not as vibe shifting.



    4th gen started "RETROSPECTIVELY" with Idle, Izone, then Itzy, Aespa, Stayc - but it was identifiable only with NJZ.


    Similarly we won't know when the 5th gen starts, until a "vibe shift" occurs, then immediate predecessor debuts will be clubbed with them.

    Like 3rd gen starts with TWICE, and RV/BTS even if they debuted before, will get into 3rd gen.


    And it is typically a GG debut that defines a generation.

    2nd - SNSD

    3rd - TWICE

    4th - NJZ


    But that should not be confused with the "success" of the group, "success" is just one factor. It is more a vibe-shift perception.


    Until then you can add all the "decimals" you want, but it is still 4th gen.

    Edited once, last by bbgc ().

    Like 1

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