I can’t comprehend Aespa’s popularity in Korea

    despite the rampant hate on korean forums clearly the GP loves their songs

    which is so surprising to me because they’re the OPPOSITE of a gp friendly girl group.


    their songs have no structure ( which is not necessarily a bad thing i think they make it work quite well actually but it’s never a song you like on first listen ) , the lyrics are just impossible to get even if you speak korean ( very hard for me to imagine your average 30 years old singing “we got a common enemy who is it? BLACK MAMBA” ) and also im surprised a group with one chinese member out of 4 managed to make said chinese member popular and not left behind when sinophobia is so common


    but rlly their whole concept is what i thought would make them impossible to be big with the GP. turns out they’re only behind BP and Twice in album sales and the best charting girl group this year.

  • Moderator

    Approved the thread.

    Aespa dares to do what majority gg don’t, they are different. Haters can say they’re copying this or that but there’s none like aespa in the field right now. The closest people can compare them to is bp or kda and even then they’re still very different and I say this as a blink myself

    I agree with you. They kind of showed me that the whole "Boy groups need to do friendly songs to get a hit" narrative doesn't seem to be accurate. It's all about the hype nowadays and they have the hype to make the public interested in them even going against the metrics as you exemplified.

    Quote from Deep-Fried Sour Ostrich (660)

    Aespa dares to do what majority gg don’t, they are different. Haters can say they’re copying this or that but there’s none like aespa in the field right now. The closest people can compare them to is bp or kda and even then they’re still very different and I say this as a blink myself

    What? What is different about Aespa? What specifically?

    They are public friendly by the simple fact that public like them.


    The idea that "the public" only wants generic slop is bullshit, it always has been. The biggest k-pop hits are usually novel.

    That's how they differentiated themselves from the rest in the first place.

    easy they break the image of what GG are expected to be


    GG are expected to release songs that are easy to listen to people and at the end sounds like previous GG songs, and Aespa is doing the complete opposition they choose to promote songs who are different from what other GG do, they choose to go for a different music structure than the generic music structure use in GG songs usually.

    But what is smart is that they also included the recipe of success of GG, with the repetitive dance moves who makes you want to dance, and the repetitive hook who stay stuck in your mind.

    They took the perfect GG songs recipe, mix it with something that no other GG are doing and create something new that no other GG is doing


    also Aespa have been able to gather a big fanbase in a really short time because of their concept, they are offering to people what no other Girlgroup is offering in Kpop, an experience who goes beyond just musics , and people are curious to see how it'll work.

    The SMCU really made people hook on their concept, because they captivate you with a scenary that no GG did before

    and the concept is a big part of Aespa, because with the SMCU you want to know what's coming next for them in their universe, so you want to stay aware of each of their comeback to see how the story will unfold.

    it's not like other GG when you can kinda make a break with them and then comeback 2 years after when you'll like a song , and feel like you didn't miss anything

    in contrary i think you can't do the same with aespa, whatever MY can say, we are all kinda curious at the end of each of their MV how the next chapter will look and how the story will unfold

    you can't just put Aespa on pause, and then comeback 2 years after, and act like you didn't miss anything

    Quote from Deep-Fried Sour Ostrich (660)

    Aespa dares to do what majority gg don’t, they are different. Haters can say they’re copying this or that but there’s none like aespa in the field right now. The closest people can compare them to is bp or kda and even then they’re still very different and I say this as a blink myself

    I agree with this comment while other ggs are busy doing same old girl crush concept. Aespa brought something new and audience liked it.

    It’s weird bc they literally don’t have ANY gp friendly song yet they chart so well?? I’m confused, but then I remember the gp listens to any girl group song whether it sounds shit or good. They just just prefer them over any boy group that have actual quality music. Idk.

    Quote from OP

    Their concept is probably what they meant. It’s not about Aespa being better than another gg, it’s about no one having this concept other than them. There is no girl group that has the type of songs they have.

    But then again if you gave next level or savage to a boy group, they wouldn’t do well at ALL

    All the sm group stans are supporting them. aespa aren't direct threat to any sm groups so it makes it easier to support them.

    Quote from Deep-Fried Red Whine Bear (676)

    All the sm group stans are supporting them. aespa aren't direct threat to any sm groups so it makes it easier to support them.

    O m g drop this narrative! Look at aespa sma voting And MAMA voting and ask why SM stans aren't voting for aespa but NCT and EXO. Abd hilarious SM stans are good at streaming and buying albums for aespa but not for red velvet? Pick a narrative

    They are fresh (concept, world view, there's no other girl group quite like them).


    They are well rounded (visuals, vocals and everything else)


    Their music is good (whether you or others like it or not, production quality is high).


    They are from SM (people can trust in getting content, great music, talented idols, good promo etc)

    Quote from Cured Saffron & Shallot Beef (572)

    O m g drop this narrative! Look at aespa sma voting And MAMA voting and ask why SM stans aren't voting for aespa but NCT and EXO. Abd hilarious SM stans are good at streaming and buying albums for aespa but not for red velvet? Pick a narrative

    I said sm stans are only supporting them. When there is a choice they won't choose aespa over their ults. Mama voting was international. This thread is about korea. Red velvet are forgone conclusion for everyone. They're active only for show like super junior.

    Quote from Deep-Fried Red Whine Bear (676)

    I said sm stans are only supporting them. When there is a choice they won't choose aespa over their ults. Mama voting was international. This thread is about korea. Red velvet are forgone conclusion for everyone. They're active only for show like super junior.

    this is flawed logic, so why the other SM acts couldn't chart as high and as long as aespa on Korea Youtube chart and Spotify Korea?

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