In an online community, IVE's "Either Way" MV drew mixed reactions from K-netz for alleged similarities to NewJeans' previous music video concept.
IVE Receives Hot Response for Emotional Single 'Either Way'
Following the release of their new song, "Either Way," on September 25, "4th-gen representative girl group" IVE is earning rave reviews for both the song and music video.
Upon release, the song topped the domestic music charts while its music video also sat atop YouTube's Trending Worldwide Chart. As of writing on the 27th, its MV surpassed 10 million views, proving its popularity.
ALSO READ: IVE's 'Either Way' Marks Exciting Start of 'I’VE MINE'— What's Next for the Group?
"Either Way" MV depicts the proponent's own story of not being able to be free from the gaze of others and the search to find the colorful "me."
Amid the song's rising popularity, Starship Entertainment announced that "Either Way" is just one of the triple title songs of IVE's upcoming album.
The second song, "Off The Record," will be unveiled on October 6, while the third song, "Baddie," will take off simultaneously with the release of their first mini-album, "I'VE MINE," on Oct. 13.
Netizens Point Out IVE's 'Either Way' MV's Similarities to NewJeans' Past Music Videos
Meanwhile, as the attention to IVE's new song increases, the girl group suddenly met skepticism for the MV and song concepts.
Contrary to IVE's flashy, fancy, and high-teen image, the girl group deviated from their initial concept and showed an emotional MV reminiscent of a coming-of-age movie.
The video particularly showed the members finding their real "me" amid the misunderstanding created by the eyes of the people surrounding them.
Watching this, one took to an online forum to emphasize that the MV and certain scenes from it reminded them of NewJeans.
In the screen-captured photos, the OP shared parts from IVE's "Either Way" MV that were similar to NewJeans' past MVs.
The post became a hot topic and drew mixed reactions. In particular, there are netizens who agreed about the resemblance.
"I swear it's not Bunnies (who wrote the post) but it's too similar. Since NewJeans is popular, I can understand how they want to copy them, but isn't it a little... After (NewJean) getting a Coca commercial, it's so funny that (IVE) do a Pepsi commercial right away."
- "NewJeans did the triple title tracks first, so isn't easy to follow what IVE is doing?"
- "It's very similar."
- "I feel the same way, but I like both of them, so..."
- "Maybe they are paying a homage, haha."
Amid these comments, DIVEs (IVE fandom) defended the group and Bunnies (NewJeans fans) also asked netizens to refrain from dragging the group into the issue.
"No. 1, the naughty look: It's a common thing. There were countless of them even before NewJeans. No. 2, the water scene: Before NewJeans, aespa Carina had a scene like that, and there were many idol groups with the swimming pool scene in their music videos. No. 3, showing the back: Is this a joke?"
"You captured it in a believable way, but if you look at the entire flow of the music video, the atmosphere is completely different. I think it's rather similar to Kitch. do you love yourself? It's always about that with IVE.
What's similar to NewJeans' music video is that they spent a lot of money and the girls look like this. Whether you read a book or... you should practice understanding the whole flow when you learn information."
- "I think it's a music video that contains everything popular these days."
- "Ugh. These are so common."
- "It feels like a mixture of all fourth-gen concepts."
READ MORE: NewJeans' 'Zero' vs IVE's 'I WANT' — K-netz Pit THESE Two Ad Songs Against Each Other
For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.
KpopStarz owns this article.
Written by Eunice Dawson.
