K-Pop Groups and Their Japanese Releases

With the recent release of Japanese tracks from our favorite groups, it was fitting to talk about some Japanese releases that are near and dear to our hearts. With the many releases we’ve gotten throughout the years, it was hard only to pick a few. So, let’s take it back and talk about some Japanese releases that will have us in a chokehold, always. 

“X-Phenomenon” - MONSTA X 

On July 15, 2019, Starship Entertainment mega boy group MONSTA X dropped their Japanese track “X-Phenomenon.” This song sticks to that hard-hitting sound that we are all used to when it comes to MONSTA X. The song is a certified party and dance track. There are two separate moods that are felt while listening to the track. When listening to the verses, you notice they are upbeat, and make you want to jump along to the beat. The moment the chorus starts you are transported to a rave. There’s a massive beat drop that you can feel in your chest. It’s such a hype song that was later added to their jam-packed Japanese album, Phenomenon. It’s a cool Japanese release that will forever be iconic.

“Breakthrough” - TWICE 

THIS SONG IS SO ICONIC! I remember when this dropped, I was listening to this on repeat. On July 24, 2019, JYP Entertainment's world-famous girl group TWICE dropped their Japanese track, “Breakthrough.” It was hard to pick just one track from TWICE. They are hit for hit when it comes to Japanese tracks, but I just had to talk about this one. The overall feeling that you get when listening to this song is joy and excitement. Everything about this song is addictive: the lyrics, the choreography, and the beat itself. Besides being my favorite TWICE Japanese release, listening to this song transports you to another dimension. There is a synth sound to the track that creates this futuristic sound. It’s an interesting touch to the track and makes it even more fun to listen to. 

“WILDSIDE” - Red Velvet 

On April 6, 2022, our spooky queens, Red Velvet from SM Entertainment, dropped their Japanese album, Bloom. The album included their hard-hitting title track, “WILDSIDE.” The song is beautiful and sticks to that spooky feel that Red Velvet has in a lot of their songs. The beat for this track is powerful, and the vocals are strong. The tone the vocalists set in the song creates this beautiful aura around the entire release. Something that I noticed about this track is that the concept and sound are more on the darker side. A lot of the Red Velvet Japanese releases are bright, colorful, and bubbly, but this track resonates with that haunting concept we know and love. The girls go all out for this track. You can’t help but scream along to the lyrics. It’s a great track that many know and love.

Edited by Bryn Claybourne