There are several reasons why Girls by aespa was considered to have underperformed compared to expectations:
1. High Expectations After "Next Level" and "Savage"
aespa had massive success with Next Level and Savage, both of which became viral hits. Girls had to follow up these songs, and many expected it to surpass or at least match their impact. However, it did not generate the same level of buzz.
2. Lack of a Strong Hook
Compared to Next Level, which had a unique and experimental structure, and Savage, which had a powerful chorus, Girls was criticized for lacking a strong, memorable hook. Some found the song's structure repetitive rather than dynamic.
3. Underwhelming Choreography and Stage Presence
aespa is known for their visuals and stage presence, but Girls had a choreography that some fans found underwhelming. It didn’t create a viral moment like Next Level’s signature move.
4. Timing and Promotion Strategy
SM Entertainment’s promotional strategy also played a role. There were some delays and a lack of aggressive marketing, especially internationally. Also, the mini-album Girls was leaked before its release, which may have impacted sales and hype.
5. Competition and Market Trends
The song was released at a time when other groups were also making strong comebacks. Additionally, the general K-pop market was shifting towards more upbeat, trendy sounds, while Girls followed aespa’s signature futuristic concept, which some casual listeners didn’t connect with as much.
6. Sales and Chart Performance
Despite being a commercial success in terms of album sales, Girls did not dominate digital charts as strongly as Savage or Next Level. In particular, its performance on Korean charts like Melon was weaker than expected.
While Girls was still a solid comeback, it didn't reach the explosive success of aespa’s previous releases, leading to the perception that it underperformed.
