BLACKPINK's 'JUMP' Transforms from Criticism to Praise: A Global Success Story

BLACKPINK's latest track 'JUMP' has seen a dramatic shift in reception from initial criticism to widespread acclaim following its official release. The initial negative feedback from the pre-release stage performance turned into praise once the full audio was available, as the bass elements that were lost in the live performance were clearly conveyed in the recording, enhancing the song's appeal.

As of October 22, 'JUMP' has achieved impressive global success, topping the Billboard Global Excluding U.S. chart and Spotify's weekly chart. The music video has surpassed 88.79 million views on YouTube, securing the number one spot on YouTube's weekly popular songs and music videos, as well as Spotify's global weekly popular chart. This marks a record for the most number-one spots on Spotify's global chart by a K-pop group.

Domestically, 'JUMP' is currently ranked fourth on Melon's TOP100 chart, trailing behind tracks from Netflix's 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' and the group All Day Project's 'FAMOUS'. While not as dominant as its international performance, the song's domestic reception is notable given the initial fan reactions.

The initial stage performance of 'JUMP' was met with skepticism. Fans expressed their disappointment on platforms like Threads, with comments such as "It was the only downside of the concert repertoire" and "Considering the timing, I wonder what they were thinking bringing this song out." Criticisms included hopes that it wasn't the title track and that solo songs were better, with some finding the choreography amusing.

The negative feedback was largely due to the limitations of stage 'fancam' videos, which failed to capture the song's sound quality. The distorted bass and emphasized high frequencies recorded on smartphone cameras did not do justice to the song's hardstyle techno EDM genre, which is not commonly used in the domestic market, leaving fans confused.

The turning point came with the release of the official audio and music video. The clear delivery of the kick and bass in the audio significantly enhanced the song's energy. The genre, which has been popular overseas, being adapted into K-pop also contributed to the positive reception.

The music video's B-grade aesthetic also played a role. While the hardstyle techno genre might be unfamiliar domestically, leading to comparisons with 'Park Myung-soo's songs' and 'B-grade sensibility', the music video's concept embraced this style, allowing fans to enjoy it.

Domestic fans praised the music video, saying, "The music video has a quirky feel, and the song has a trendy foreign technique," and "BLACKPINK's return with a fresh concept not seen in K-pop is fantastic." The song's boldness and BLACKPINK's reputation for delivering quality content were also highlighted.

The hardstyle techno genre, while overlooked domestically, has been consistently consumed overseas. Industry experts' analyses shared on platforms like YouTube and Instagram are helping to lower the entry barrier for domestic audiences, shedding new light on the genre.