One of the common trends that occurs in K-Pop is forming a sub-unit to promote outside of their full group. The use of sub-units allows for more diverse tracks to be released and promotes specific members’ talents outside of their regular promotions. However, some sub-units are not given much time to promote or are forgotten about in the industry. One of those unit groups is Orange Caramel.

Their Background & Debut

Before the unit existed, the girls were originally part of the group AFTER SCHOOL. Members Raina and Nana made their debut as third-generation members of the group in October 2009 for the release of AFTER SCHOOL’s single “Because of You,” while member Lizzy joined the group the following year in March 2010 and made her debut for AFTER SCHOOL’s third single album Bang!. 

Then on June 17, 2010, Pledis Entertainment debuted their first sub-unit with members Raina, Nana, and Lizzy to form Orange Caramel. Their debut album, The First Mini-Album, was released on June 21, 2010 with their debut single “Magic Girl.” The track became a memorable song due to its simple choreography and the outfits the girls wore. Since that day, Orange Caramel started to become known for their cute and fun concepts.

Their Music

During the promotion of “Magic Girl,” the girls’ most memorable outfit was a pink polka-dot dress with large bows incorporated into the look. The bouncing of the dress in their performance made the choreography look fun and adorable. The lyrics of this track focus on the feeling of falling in love and not being sure what to do when you see your crush in person. With it being their debut single, they left a legacy of cute concepts onstage!

The track “Bangkok City” is one of few tracks that is hardly talked about when people bring up Orange Caramel’s discography. This song was released in March 2011 as part of the group’s “One Asia” project, which also included “Shanghai Romance” in October. The song gives off nightclub vibes because, of course, the music video incorporates a nightclub storyline. 

In “My Copycat”, the girls take a fun direction by incorporating a game of “spot the difference” throughout the music video. The song features lyrics that say, “Do it like me,” when they lead to the chorus, where the choreography features an addicting dance that will urge fans to perform it like them. It’s difficult to not want to dance along!

One of the most memorable tracks of their discography was “Catallena.” Released in March 2014, the track has a Bollywood-inspired disco beat and samples the Pakistani Punjabi folk song “Jutti Meri.” In the video, the girls are seen as mermaids before they are later turned to sushi on a conveyor belt. What makes this track memorable is the unique outfits they would perform in. There are a variety of videos that display them in outfits inspired by fast food, fruits, sushi, and even Christmas-themed outfits. The beginning of the track became the comedic factor in every performance as they are known for saying “Ha!” when they turn before the track begins. 

Hiatus

Orange Caramel had created such a unique presence in the industry and created a legacy behind quirky and cute concepts. So what happened? In 2015, promotions for both AFTER SCHOOL and Orange Caramel went on hiatus because all the members were focusing on their own individual activities outside of idol life. Orange Caramel’s final performance together was at the SBS Cultwo Show Legend Concert at Olympic Hall. Unfortunately, for this performance, there was no sign of their eye-catching outfits. 

There wasn’t an exact explanation for the lack of promotions or even continuing the sub-unit, though fans believed that the downfall of Orange Caramel came from Pledis Entertainment’s neglect of the group. 

Where Are They Now?

The members of Orange Caramel went on to continue their careers, just not as a trio. 

Member Raina had already begun her solo career in October 2014 with her digital single “Reset.” From there, she decided to continue her career as a solo artist up until her decision to leave Pledis Entertainment in 2019. In 2020, Raina participated in the MBN reality show Miss Back, a program that gave female idols that previously debuted in past girl groups another chance to be on stage again. Check out her performance with participants Soyul of Crayon Pop and Nada of WA$$UP below. 

Lizzy announced her graduation from AFTER SCHOOL on May 1, 2018 because of the expiration of her contract at Pledis. Nine days after her announcement, she signed on with Celltrion Entertainment. Two months later, it was announced that Lizzy would now be going by a different stage name for acting, Park Sooah. Her most recent role is in the 2020 tvN drama Oh My Baby. 

Nana’s acting debut in 2016 was for a Chinese drama called Love Weaves Through A Millennium, and she continues to be very well-known in the acting industry. Nana is the only member still signed under Pledis Entertainment. Her most recent role was in 2020 for the KBS drama The Ballot. 

Though there isn’t a likely chance of seeing the trio perform onstage again anytime soon, fans can still stream their music and videos on YouTube or Spotify. Orange Caramel left behind a legacy of catchy tracks and memorable outfits that will never be forgotten in the industry. Until then, let’s not forget the amazing trio Orange Caramel!