Emo Girl Anthems
Have you ever heard about the "emo kid to K-Pop stan pipeline" before? If you're unfamiliar, this phenomenon draws a link between fans of rock, metal, pop-punk, or emo music to later become heavily invested in K-Pop. There are tons of us out there, finding serotonin and comfort in listening to these musical styles. Nowadays, K-Pop has begun to step into the direction of the rock-influenced sound, leaving many to unearth their previous emo/metal phase—for others, it never left.
For this week's Ladies Corner, here's a small selection of emo hits by the ladies that help you to relive the edgy glory days of your adolescence.
"Poison" by PinkFantasy
There's nothing more thrilling than listening to screamo in a K-Pop song quite like "Poison" by PinkFantasy. It's very rare for K-Pop songs of this caliber to contain growling for a rock song. For PinkFantasy to include this in their arrangement, it really brings back the nostalgia of screamo hits that remind you of past events like Warped Tour. Can you imagine hearing this in a small concert hall, forming a circle pit? Maybe that's just me (haha).
"TOMBOY" by (G)I-DLE
The second "TOMBOY" was released this year, it was evident that it would be a great angsty hit for everyone. While it's more of an alternative rock and pop fusion influence for (G)I-DLE, you cannot deny the edginess of the lyrics and pop-punk-like ambiance found in the music video. The lyrics are what really stand out—singing straightforward lyrics about breaking away from the stereotypes and prejudices of the world. With an anthem that screams "teenage angst," it's impossible to not like a song that encourages listeners to stray from the norm.
"Chase Me," "Good Night," and "Scream" by Dreamcatcher
Whenever we bring up Dreamcatcher on one of our lists, it's difficult to pick only one song that represents the theme we're discussing. Back in their re-debut as a K-Pop and rock/metal fusion girl group, their hit "Chase Me" easily became a memorable piece that built their dystopian and nightmarish storyline. The heavy use of electric guitar and strong drums found in Dreamcatcher's discography are unforgettable, especially in "Good Night." Aside from musical arrangement, sometimes it's the atmosphere of the track that brings back the nostalgia of attending rock concerts. "Scream" has such an addictive beat that drives you to headbang and jump from your seat. If anything, Dreamcatcher will always be remembered as the K-Pop group to fully immerse into the rock genre, influencing others in the industry to test the waters on an experience that not many girl groups tried before—we need more please.
"Bomb(Rock ver)" by AleXa
AleXa has never shied away from the rock or metal genre, even listening to the music in the background during V LIVEs that she's enjoyed for years. In terms of her music, she has often released rock versions of her singles. In this particular instance, she collaborated with the K-Metal band Diablo for a new version of her debut hit "Bomb." Even before the new rendition, the track had a post-apocalyptic and dystopian ambiance that unfolds more levels with an enhanced rock take.
"Blaze" by Rolling Quartz
A true female-lead rock band found only in South Korea, Rolling Quartz has definitely made a name for themselves in the K-Rock industry. The quintet is immensely talented in showcasing their rock sound by covering popular songs of any and every genre. They are also really great friends with Dreamcatcher and AleXa, blossoming this friendship and respect with one another by performing their spin on AleXa's "Xtra" and Dreamcatcher's "Good Night." Their most popular hit "Blaze" has become the reason fans have become enamored with this female rock band. We've said it before but we'll remind you again: please listen to Rolling Quartz.
"Beauty Full" by Dami of Dreamcatcher
As stated earlier, it truly is difficult to choose just one song from Dreamcatcher's discography. But in her first solo track, Dami dropped "Beauty Full," a hit that is reminiscent of 2000s pop-punk and alternative rock. The music video obviously has a more playful theme of donning school uniforms, but it's obvious that it implies edgy adolescence, with lyrics that talk about self-love and freedom. Seriously though, I would personally love nothing more than to scream the lyrics from the top of my lungs in a concert venue.
"Wings" by PIXY
PIXY has always been added to our emo lists, especially their horror debut single "Wings." It wouldn't be right to not include them, once again. The choreography is what stands out the most aside from the scary and mysterious arrangement. There's a part in the post-chorus where they use the art of dance to portray a soul-taking exorcism that will stay with you after witnessing it the first time. It's so intense, it'll bring goosebumps to your body to see this in K-Pop choreography. The song in particular is eccentric and more on the experimental and dark electronica side, but that doesn't stop us from listening to the terror-filled hit.
Edited by Vivian N.