Is IVE promoting anti-Japan sentiment?

I saw discussion how SM artists song performance this year hasn’t been great, and that not many good songs came out. SM artists have had comebacks literally every month, and when it comes to physical sales they’re still doing great, most of their groups easily sell 100k+ copies each time. It’s almost like fast food (in a good way). But if we’re talking about digital charts, domestically on MelOn, the ones consistently making it into the Top 100 this year are NCT Wish, NCT Dream, Riize, Aespa, and Hearts2Hearts. Longevity wise, it’s probably Aespa, Riize, and H2H holding up the best. On the global side, looking at Spotify, only a handful of SM songs this year have crossed 30M streams so far: Aespa – Dirty Works (40M) Ten – Stunner (60M) NCT Dream – Chiller (30M) H2H – The Chase (60M) H2H – Style (30M) *Correct me if I’m wrong or missing something. I don’t know what SM’s standards were like in previous years, but is it fair to say that their overall performance this year has been kinda weak? What do you guys think? Do you feel like most of their releases just haven’t been that good? submitted by /u/matt_vaghn [link] [comments]

Like what albums they are from? Would be extremely appreciated 🙏🙏 TYYY submitted by /u/kodzukenkitty [link] [comments]

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Honorable mentions go out to XLOV, Purple Kiss, and Billlie. Rules: You will have approximately 24 hours to vote. I'd prefer it if you mention one artist per comment.   The table of far: Row 1: BTS, Loona, Dreamcatcher submitted by /u/VigilMuck [link] [comments]

TLDR; I think this EP is a great metaphor for self-acceptance and has (subtle?) themes that might resonate with queer audiences. Because the themes of the series are really important for this release, I focus mostly on the lyrical meaning of the songs, rather than the sound! REVIEW: Fe3O4, also known as black iron oxide, is a magnetic compound. For the group, the compound is broadly meant to present their musical charms. Before this EP, the series already had two other releases. BREAK is about attraction. The group draws in an audience that wants to flee from norms. The lead single, "Soñar", is them reassuring their fans that there's "no need to worry" about other people's opinions. STICK OUT is about embracing differences within oneself. Black iron oxide is ferrimagnetic, meaning not all of the charges within the compound face the same way. This weakens its magnetic force, compared to ferromagnetic compounds, but is ultimately what allows Fe3O4 to generate a magnetic field in the first place. As they ask on the title track, who cares about being seen as weak or different? They're not going to compromise on the basis of societal norms. They are "not your stereotype." With this in mind, what does FORWARD ask of its listeners? This latest installment is in a first-person perspective, following an individual follower, rather than having NMIXX beckoning their fans (as in the first installment). It boasts a less hard-hitting, aquatic feel that contrasts the earth and fire of the previous two releases. In this softness comes "High Horse", a piano-led track that feels like the internal conflict it's depicting. This opener leads you to think it's a traditional ballad, but the heartbeat of the song, its breakbeat percussion, turns the track into an angstier man-vs-self battle. FORWARD is also, perhaps, the most honest with listeners. "High Horse" invites the reader to consider just how hard it is to break free from social norms. It's not a battle that is fought and won in a single instance. Rather, the rebel must continue to wrestle with the world and themself. Despite this, the song opens pockets of light, that precede each chorus. In these brightlines, the main character's irregular heartbeat are removed for levity and peace. Haewon, Lily, and Kyujin take turns representing this encouraging voice, pushing the listener and the main character to go without ceasing, despite the difficulty. On "KNOW ABOUT ME", we get the externally confident image once again. Everyone knows that this person is different, but, more importantly, the main character has made peace with being Known and Seen by everyone as such. They are self-assured and know who they are now, outside of simply knowing they're "different". And, at each moment of doubt, there's a internal voice (Jiwoo and Kyujin) reminding them to get rid of insecurity. They are breaking from convention for themself, not for anyone else. The momentum of this self-confidence propels them FORWARD, finally, in "Slingshot" and "Golden Recipe". The lyrics of these songs are braggadocious. The singers taunt a "Golden Recipe" which has the right instructions for generating self-acceptance so intense that it invites jealousy from others. Other people wish they could break from convention with the "Slingshot"-like fierceness they display. This metaphor about breaking free is most beautiful on "Papillon". Indeed, NMIXX is so different that even their government-mandated "Butterfly" song (iykyk) is in French, rather than English or Korean. Some might view the thematic consistency of this series as redundant. If we're so bent on going FORWARD, why the butterfly metaphor? Is that not usually associated with metamorphosis? Are we not already past the stage of BREAKing free? To me, "Papillon" feels new because of how it foils "High Horse". If the first track was a gentler representation of the insecurity that comes with being known, then "Papillon" shows that same insecurity in a new, determined light. Where "High Horse" was that initial realization of unease, "Papillon" is the brave decision to coexist with anxiety, knowing that they will win the battle everytime it rears its face. The song is just as sonically mixed up as "High Horse" (if not more), but with an intense momentum. The album had no lyrical reference to water until "Ocean". Yet, FORWARD was still able to sonically submerge NMIXX's listeners in its warm, salty waters. As we floated on these waves, sometimes rough, sometimes gentle, we progressed, overall, towards newness and free experession. As they close this episode of the Fe3O4 series, NMIXX draws listeners back outward to consider how overwhelming it feels to be *totally* loved by someone else. Now that you are fully yourself, what does it feel like to have someone still love *all* of you? Our main character's heart skips a beat in this romantic track, represented in the waltz's 3/4 time signature. They begin to see what it's like to float in calm waters and be guided by the sea. Even if I dislike the 2nd verse, the song's sentiments are an exciting indication of what's to come in the next chapter. submitted by /u/bananasnalmonds [link] [comments]

As the title says; of these two girl groups which girl group do you think would be the most different with their original lineup? ITZY + Jeon Somi or Lily of NMIXX - both have been said to have originally been a trainee for ITZY but JYP went with Yuna after Jeon Somi decided to go to THEBLACKLABEL and obviously JYP chose to put Lily in NMIXX or my favorite Miyeon who was originally part of BLACKPINK when they were originally PINK PUNK back in the 2010's. submitted by /u/jdpm1991 [link] [comments]

Back then during 1st till 3rd gen, groups from small companies still had a chance at fame because back then during that time there was a middle ground where u weren't nugu but u also weren't Bts height of fame and u were known and had a strong fanbase and it's saddening that Kpop doesn't have it anymore since it's been quite saturated due to the wanting of international success and groups from small companies nowadays have to think of other ways to create buzz around their groups and it's alot harder now. Sorry if my grammar is bad english is not quite my first language but you get my point. submitted by /u/Background-Relief-29 [link] [comments]

I’ve been really into doing kpop photocards lately and I’m now wanting to do some of metal bands and vkei bands. I was wondering if anyone knows where I can get more gothic deco stickers. Doesn’t necessarily need to be gothic even just red or black stickers or lace. I find there super hard to come across but I could be looking in the wrong places haha submitted by /u/Katmetalhead [link] [comments]

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I saw someone else do this and it seemed fun! Plus i'm bored so... submitted by /u/hrtsforjoohyoung [link] [comments]

It's my opinion, so please don't take it personally. But Korean songs are so good and catchy, the MVs are so beautiful, and they seem to have a lot more production than Japanese songs. At the time, I liked the song "Buenos Aires" (because I'm from Argentina), but now that I've listened to it again, I don't like it as much as I did that time. I liked 'Beware' a little more than the others. IZ*ONE are the best 💖 submitted by /u/Separate-Comedian-25 [link] [comments]

I ranked S as my ults, and b and c are more regular rotations, and D is not listened too. If anyone has some recommendations based on my ults and who I havent listened to, I'd love that!!! submitted by /u/Oodietheoderoni [link] [comments]

I was a kpop fan since 2005 and I have seen the trend in collection change over the years. Back in 2005, people collected posters that came with purchasing an album. In 2015, fansites dominated the kpop social media space and sold their own slogans, photobooks and season greetings. Now in 2025, photocards are what people collect. Albums now include more than one photocard. Almost every single merchandise comes with a photocard. From POBs, to lucky draws and fansign/fancall pcs - photocards have been the in thing for a few years now. After going through all the phases of collecting while being a kpop fan, I am finally tired of it. I enjoyed every second of it, and though people can say it's a huge amount of money wasted, it was my hobby and collecting posters, albums, merchandise and photocards since 2005 have brought me so much joy. I however am starting to feel more fatigued with collecting photocards, especially when they're now no longer easy and cheap to collect. Market value for some photocards are in the hundreds and I can't justify myself spending that amount of money anymore. I am starting to feel stressed out mentally and financially from collecting photocards when it shouldn't be this way anymore. Companies have also been greedy with release one item through different sites that has different POBs to increase sales. I am feeling mentally tired and financially drained, and I feel quite upset that I have been feeling this way for months now because I loved collecting so much. So I have finally made a decision to stop collecting albums, photocards and most merchandise - with the exception of plush keyrings because those aren't released often and they're too cute to resist and of course, concert tickets. I hope to travel more with the extra funds that I can finally save up - be it with my partner for a vacation or for a concert overseas. I admire those who are able to keep up with this hobby, especially knowing how expensive it can get. To those who envy others with an extensive photocard collection, remember that these are materialistic things and not collecting photocards doesn't make you any less of a fan. Besides there are great alternatives like finding photocard scans and printing them on your own if you really want a photocard to display on your bag! Anyways, it has been a fun journey for 20 years now, and I have experience so much of kpop since then. Though I am sad about making this decision, I know that this is the right thing to do for myself. submitted by /u/Alone_Collection1507 [link] [comments]