Top 10 most iconic K-Pop debuts
Being able to catch the attention of both the South Korean and international public can be the difference between success and disbanding. But what makes the perfect debut track?
ITZY DALLA DALLA. Image: JYP Entertainment.
Replay - SHINee
“Replay” is THE debut track. Even after 14 years, new and old fans alike get excited at the sound of the archetypal 2000s track and the sight of (terrible) bowl cuts.
Its simple choreography, and sweet call and response chorus make the song impossible to forget. The bomber jackets, snapbacks, and chains band together to create classic late 2000s outfits for the music video and stage performances.
Eleven - IVE
After IZ*ONE’s disbandment, 4th generation it girls, Yujin and Wonyoung re-debuted in girl group IVE with their track “Eleven”.
Wonyoung and Liz’s vocals on the pre-chorus became instantly recognisable alongside the post-chorus dance that is utterly addictive.
The blue, gold, pink, and black colour scheme of most of the girls’ stage outfits give the group a royal feel that they have carried on through their next two comebacks solidifying their image in the K-Pop scene.
The 7th Sense - NCT U
This subunit made up of Taeyong, Mark, Doyoung, Jaehyun, and Ten was always going to be able to produce a powerhouse of a debut.
The slick R&B soundscape of “The 7th Sense” paired with the members' naturally chic looks oozes cool. Taeyong’s icy silver hair and Ten’s undercut will remain forever iconic. This debut also gave us one of the first unforgettable Mark raps!
Attention - NewJeans
2022 was the year for girl group debuts with NewJeans being one of the best.
These girls are the embodiment of Gen Z and their debut was perfectly matched to this. Baggy jeans and scarf tops are the main wardrobe for the group to match the Y2K styled music video.
Aside from “Attention”, the high quality of the rest of the EP has helped to launch this rookie group into stardom. “Hype Boy” remains a favourite among Korean audiences.
Danger - Taemin
Aside from his activities in SHINee, Taemin is also a successful solo artist. His solo projects have allowed him to show off his impressive dance skills and create music that is more inline with his personal taste.
“Danger” gave us an insight into a darker side of Taemin but with the typically excellent choreography. This debut also gave us a fun collaboration between Taemin and EXO’s Kai. “Danger” highlights Taemin’s brilliance but this time, without the bowl cut hairstyle.
O.O - NMIXX
Whether you love it or hate it, you can’t say that “O.O” by NMIXX didn’t make a splash in the K-Pop music scene. The abrasiveness of the track's introduction grabs its listeners attention and doesn’t give them a break until the song dramatically changes into a more upbeat bubblegum pop track.
The song’s two halves structure also has many fans in two halves with the track causing heated Twitter debates. However, the discourse has only added to the legendary status of this group.
Energetic - Wanna One
Throughout the summer of 2017, you simply couldn’t escape this song. After gaining popularity from being created through the K-Pop survival show Produce 101, Wanna One were able to maintain the momentum by releasing the essential summer song, “Energetic”.
The track and EP as a whole may not be revolutionary in terms of musicality but its longevity makes it a firm contender for the best debut ever, plus it’s a hit on the dancefloor.
Dalla Dalla - ITZY
K-Pop fans have never been so excited at the opening of an elevator door in their lives. The girl crush vibe and love yourself message that the song promotes is what made the girls so loveable.
The powerful choreography and high energy that the members have helped ITZY to stand out in a sea of girl group debuts. The bridge is particularly memorable when paired with the back breaking dance moves.
No More Dream - BTS
For BTS fans that have only recently fallen in love with the group, “No More Dream” may come as a shock. Unlike their usual upbeat tracks, their debut was a grunge Hip-Hop inspired song with a dark music video to match.
The boys can be seen wearing dark clothing and snapbacks whilst glaring at the camera adding to the drama. “No More Dream” may not be to everyone’s taste but definitely set BTS up for their successful career.
Like OOH AHH - TWICE
This pop powerhouse of a group debuted with the brilliant track “Like OOH AHH”. See the girls looking incredibly youthful whilst dancing in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and singing about love. There’s nothing more iconic!
The dance break allowed fans to be introduced to the dance machine Momo and remains instantly recognisable to this day. Overall, the bubblegum pop track laid the foundation for the girls’ immaculate discography and performances.
To be able to stand out in an industry where trends go out of style as quickly as they come in is an incredibly difficult feat.
It’s important to get every aspect of a debut right, even down to the clothes and choreography in order to attract new fans that may hold loyalties to other groups. However, these debuts show that it isn’t completely impossible.
Edited by Chelsea Cheetham.