Throwback Thursday: Best of ASTRO
Once the masters of fresh concepts and now some of K-Pop’s most versatile performers, the boys of ASTRO are set to make a comeback with their new album All Yours next week. To celebrate their return, let’s take a look back at some of their greatest hits.
“HIDE&SEEK”
Earning them a nod from Billboard as one of the best new K-Pop groups, ASTRO hit the scene in 2016 with their debut mini-album Spring Up. The album was led by title track “HIDE&SEEK,” a track with unmatched charisma and enthusiasm that cemented the group’s early youthful image. 2016 saw many groups leaning towards darker, more mature concepts, leaving ASTRO to be a bright light amongst their contemporaries.
“Breathless”
Later that summer, the group released their follow-up mini-album Summer Vibes, which delivered exactly what its title promised. The title track, “Breathless,” is bounding with the sounds of summer and includes some of the group’s most impressive choreography (which is a feat in itself). On top of its catchy tune, the song also features one of K-Pop’s cutest video concepts in which the ASTRO members become bottles of soda.
“Baby”
ASTRO made a comeback in 2017 with their mini-album Dream Part.01 and their biggest hit to date at the time, “Baby.” With its bright tones, colorful music video, and impossibly happy vibes, the track ushered in a new era of fans and popularity for the group. On top of the song landing on the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 at No. 2, the album also topped the Gaon Weekly Album Chart—both firsts for the group.
“Crazy Sexy Cool”
The release of Dream Part.02 in the latter half of 2017 saw a change in concept for the group and offered a glimpse into their versatility. With a more mature, suave image, “Crazy Sexy Cool” foreshadowed the performance powerhouses that the group would become, proving that they were anything but one-trick ponies. The track particularly resonated with Western audiences, landing at No. 11 on the Billboard U.S. World Digital Song Sales Chart.
“All Night”
2019 saw the release of the group’s first full-length album, All Light, their first release following an eight month hiatus. “All Night” served as the promotional track for the album and struck a balance between their earlier bright concepts and the more adult image they adopted post-2017. The love for the track was fervent, going as far as to grant the group their first music show win since debut and even landing them on the Gaon Digital Chart for the first time.