rolling kpop 2023

I haven't had the energy to fully figure out the format of the former Loona creative mastermind's (way before their recent troubles) new group, but I understand it's a lot of sub-units and not all members are announced yet. Here's a new song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TQd2ahq6oU

is it just me or has kpop been particularly dire this year? finally came across a couple of decent releases this week:

Aespa's track from the soundtrack of the Tetris movie (of all things!) is an unexpected gem - a pulsating synthpop banger based around a sample of the Korobeiniki melody

AESPA - "Hold On Tight"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvtzZFhrKLE

BILLIE - EUNOIA - in the NewJeans/TripleS-style of laidback 90s bounce but BILLIE has enough personality that it doesn't seem completely like they're trendchasing. Also Youha has a songwriting credit on this. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVjQIQGqNFM

speaking of NewJeans... their Coke Zero tie-up actually starts off pretty well but good god, that chorus is awful. shame because I really liked the sound of NewJeans doing dnb:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIOoqJyx8E4

i enjoyed that aespa track

I like the Zero chorus, it's kinda psychotic but based on a Korean schoolyard rhyme.

Also the rookie group Fifty Fifty now have a certified major global hit with Cupid, which never took off in Korea before it hit tiktok, spotify, billboard, uk charts etc.

It's currently #13 on global Spotify. Belatedly it is now also climbing in Korea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc7_zRjH808

in more international chart news, Jimin of BTS has the US number one single this week with “Like Crazy”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOI67IDlNMQ

And what does it take to dethrone NewJeans from the top spots? Only IVE's more conventional pop bangers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZUIwj3FgUY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os_heh8vPfs

sound design on this is great but it feels like it's missing something to truly make it a great song overall?

yeah kinda feel that way about their whole mini (and a lot of current k-pop in general)

a few more good recent songs I've liked, but also feel like they're missing a little something:

NCT DOJAEJUNG - "Perfume" - boyband r&b straight out of 1998
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nRiE4sLLxE

(G)I-DLE - "Allergy" - cute pop punk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZaBkbvteBc

IVE - "Wave" - japanese single that's very... IVE - I like that they seem to have established a signature sound/mood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD1kP_nJU3o