Looking to Explore Older Girl Groups? We’ve Got You Covered.

You’ve probably noticed how the popularity of Korean music, food, and culture has grown exponentially over the past year or two, largely due to the Hallyu wave that seems to have swept Western society off of its feet. With this comes many new fans and stans, all of whom are quickly jumping into the abyssal pit that is K-Pop, never to return. Recent fans may not be aware of the groups that came before the likes of BTS, BLACKPINK, and TWICE, meaning everything from summer bops to winter hits are being forgotten for all eternity (in a less literal sense). Therefore, to help raise awareness for the groups that are no longer with us, we’ve compiled four somewhat different, yet equally iconic hits for new and old fans alike!

4Minute - Volume Up

You might have heard of 4Minute; their songs “Crazy” and “Hate” are still somewhat popular among fans. However, the group itself disbanded in 2016 after failed contract negotiations between them and their management, Cube Entertainment, leaving behind a seven-year reign in the industry as a favorite female group among fans. Of the five ex-members, though, only one stayed with Cube, going on to become a name that rings familiar among every corner of the Korean music industry—HyunA. In “Volume Up,” she leads the short prologue to this track’s music video with enchanting eyes and a lust for blood as her fellow 4Minute members stand alongside her. If the unique saxophone vibes, consistently stunning outfits, and frequent high notes don’t provide enough reason to check out “Volume Up,” then we don’t know what will. All in all, this four-minute 4Minute track is definitely one we’d recommend to anyone wanting to jazz up their lives in a time where anything besides tropical house and Latin-EDM is a rare find.

SISTAR - Touch My Body

Next up, SISTAR! With summer approaching, their songs are more than likely going to be on K-Pop dance plays and playlists; this season is where they shone the brightest! Releasing hits such as “So Cool” and “Shake It” during their seven years as an active group, it’s not difficult to see why many refer to them as the nation’s summer stars—even if they’re no longer in the night sky, following the release of their final song “Lonely” in May of 2017. “Touch My Body” is one of their most well-known singles, showcasing the members having fun in a variety of summer-themed locations and outfits to complement the cheerful pop beats throughout this bop. The choreography is both playful and slightly suggestive, which drives home the lyrics’ lovestruck vibe, and with summer quickly approaching, what better time to take a listen?

Wonder Girls - I Feel You

We can’t forget JYP Entertainment’s superstar quartet—Wonder Girls! Some newer fans might recognize them, as their song “So Hot” was covered by BLACKPINK not too long ago, which is one of many hits they released as a group. Their 10-year reign in the industry is no joke; their debut album, The Wonder Years, was widely successful with their third comeback “Tell Me” topping the charts on and offline. The group itself underwent quite a lot of member switches compared to other groups. HyunA left the group (and was replaced) after the release of their first album, Sunmi took a break from 2010-2015 (while also being replaced), and then Sohee and Sunye left upon Sunmi’s return. If that’s confusing, then don’t worry about it, as they only released one album, Reboot, with their hit single “Why so Lonely,” and their final track “Draw Me” before disbanding permanently in 2017. “I Feel You” consists of the final four Wonder Girls, adopting a retro instrumental with the members themselves playing the instruments in the music video. It’s not really a track that can be explained. If the lyrics are anything to go by, however, then you’ll be under their spell as soon as the music reaches your ears!