NewJeans, who recently released their b-side track "Ditto," is receiving popularity, not just from newer stans, but also from older K-pop fans for THIS Reason.
NewJeans 'Ditto' Stimulates 'Nostalgia'
Korean media outlet OhMyNews featured the REASON NewJeans' new song, "Ditto," which makes people cry or feel sentimental after listening to it. The song was pre-released on December 19. It's a b-side of their upcoming EP "OMG," set to be unveiled on January 2, 2023.
As soon as the song was revealed, it immediately dominated various music platforms like MelOn chart. It also received about 14 million YouTube views, just a week after release.
In particular, the song is receiving massive attention for its late 1980s-90s vibe, not to mention its music videos that give off Y2K feels. Its lyrics are also refreshing, which conveys the message of a shy crush song at first glance.
However, understanding the two-part music videos better, it contained the narrative of the song is making older K-pop fans cry.
Looking closely at the MV, actress Park Ji Hoo played a mysterious student called Ban Heesoo, a name that explicitly implied a wordplay of NewJeans' official fandom, "Bunnies."
The story started with Ban Heesoo having a happy time with NewJeans at school, recording her friends on a camcorder.
ALSO READ: What's the Meaning of NewJeans 'Ditto' MV? Concept, Interpretation Revealed
But one day, when she opens her eyes to the rationality of reality, NewJeans friends are already in the past, disappearing like a ghost. Ban Heesoo's classmates are just looking at her as if they can't understand her.
However, as soon as the video of the camcorder taken in the past is played, the friends who disappeared appear as if they had broken up and welcomed Heesoo.
The media outlet then explained:
"Overshadowing the introduction of the song, 'Songs in the album prepared for the first winter with Bunnies,' 'Ditto' implies the message of farewell."
In this sad composition, fans recalled the picture of idol fandom forgetting idols in "the present life." Idols cannot always be the top priority of their lives. The forms of life will change with the life cycle, and idols may be disappointing.
It also reminded people of "Seulpeumkpop," a group of K-pop fans who held a "K-pop Party of Sadness" in 2018 and 2019 in Seoul. It was a party that condensed the fans' love for K-pop, while critically viewing the problematic aspect of K-pop including sexual objectification, abuse, etc.
Those who attended the party were cultural consumers who were disappointed and frustrated by K-pop several times. However, there was always K-pop at that time in the corner of their minds.
NewJeans Summons 'Minimalist' K-pop
Among the girl group's competition, NewJeans have actively borrowed the emotions of American high-teen dramas and Y2K.
Contrary to the colorful concept of contemporary idols, NewJeans opt to show "minimalism" that reminded older fans of first-generation idols as well such ad S.E.S.
Instead of strong fashion and styling, they dance in the playground with modest makeup and clothes. The music produced by artist 250 stimulated nostalgia for R&B in the 1990s and 2000s as well.
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Written by Eunice Dawson.
