Starship's New Girl Group KiiiKiii Takes Early Lead Over SM's Hearts2Hearts

As Starship Entertainment and SM Entertainment compete with their new girl groups, Starship took the upper hand on the first day of competition. Some say that "SM's early lead was lost because they followed the 'formula of the previous senior girl group'."

According to TenAsia, KiiiKiii, Starship's new girl group, saw their pre-release track 'I Do Me' climb to 70th place on Melon's TOP100 chart by 9 AM on the 25th. Melon, South Korea's largest music streaming platform, ranks songs based on both streaming and downloads. In contrast, SM's girl group Hearts2Hearts failed to enter the TOP100 with their debut track 'The Chase' on the same day.

'I Do Me' entered the chart during peak commuting hours, a critical time for gauging a song's potential success. Hearts2Hearts debuted on the evening of the 24th, while KiiiKiii released their pre-release track simultaneously. This marked the first day of direct competition between the two groups, with Hearts2Hearts trailing behind KiiiKiii even before their official debut.

Some K-pop fans expressed disappointment, expecting Hearts2Hearts to evoke the vibe of Girls' Generation, given that it's SM's first large-member group in 18 years. However, they found the concept reminiscent of SM's previous group f(x). While f(x) was popular, fans felt the concept fell short of expectations. Lyrics like 'creaky choki choki' in 'The Chase' seemed more aligned with f(x) than Girls' Generation.

Critics also noted that 'The Chase' lacked a catchy melody, which may have contributed to its initial lack of popularity. While easy listening is a current trend, many believe a debut track should leave a strong impression. Some compared 'The Chase' to album tracks from f(x) or Red Velvet, rather than standout debut songs like Girls' Generation's 'Into the New World', f(x)'s 'LA chA TA', or Red Velvet's 'Happiness'.

On the 25th, 'I Do Me' ranked 3rd and 'The Chase' 4th in YouTube's trending videos. Despite being released on the 16th, 'I Do Me' continues to attract significant attention. However, by midnight, 'The Chase' had approximately 1.5 million more views, likely due to Hearts2Hearts' international members, such as Indonesian Carmen and Canadian dual citizen Stella, drawing overseas fans.

As both groups are just beginning their activities, it's too early to declare a definitive leader. By 8 AM, neither 'I Do Me' nor 'The Chase' appeared on Melon's TOP100. An industry insider commented, "No matter how flashy the strategy, the music's quality and concept will ultimately determine success."

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr