KiiiKiii Celebrates Friendship Through Nostalgic City-Pop Single “DANCING ALONE”

Photo: KiiiKiii Official X

Despite only debuting in March, KiiiKiii has mastered the look and sound of the 1990s and 2000s. Their latest single “DANCING ALONE” focuses on moments of youth with a retro music video. Released on August 6, its single album of the same name also comes with an additional track in “Strawberry Cheesegame.” Jiyu, Leesol, Sui, Haum, and Kya tackle the dynamics of teen friendships for their first comeback. 

A Time Capsule of Friendship

Prior to their comeback, KiiiKiii’s official website transported itself back to the days of dial-up and Craigslist. The website fully acknowledges the concept is drawing from anemoia, described as a “feeling of nostalgia for a time one has never known.” Its barebones homepage displays an online marketplace filled with miscellaneous items, including DVDs and camcorders. Clicking the item listings unlock interactive activities such as creating your own digital friendship bracelets and movie posters. The items and their prices also tie into the song: Sui lists a hair tie in exchange for five minutes of emotional support and Leesol lists a twin pop, a popsicle meant for sharing. 

Photo: Screenshot of KiiiKiii official website

The topic of friendship connects “DANCING ALONE” and the B-side “Strawberry Cheesegame.” “DANCING ALONE” depicts how friends will always have each others’ backs, and that “alone” does not equate to feeling lonely. It wishes for people to “keep dancing” with confidence. This city-pop and synth-pop track will get people moving while listening at home by themselves or at hangouts with others.

“Strawberry Cheesegame” depicts how people can feel immense jealousy towards their friends. Its 1990s-inspired pop instrumental sounds light while its lyrics deal with tough feelings. The speaker initially feels caught off guard by their friend, who bests them at everything. It normalizes reconciling with these conflicting emotions.“It’s so hard to beat you, but it’s even harder to dislike you,” the chorus says. According to a press release by Kakao Entertainment, this single album wants to help youth “protect themselves” in these complicated friendship dynamics. 

The “DANCING ALONE” Music Video 

KiiiKiii likes to travel the globe for their music videos. They visited New Zealand for “I DO ME,” England for “DEBUT SONG,” and now Canada for “DANCING ALONE.” Filmed in the province of British Columbia, “DANCING ALONE” depicts teen joy in the 1990s. Vancouver’s Point Grey Secondary School serves as a backdrop for KiiiKiii’s school antics as they listen to music in science class, stand atop library tables, and dance on a running track. Outside of school, the KiiiKiii members go bowling, ride bikes, share popsicles, and swim together. 

The creative direction for this comeback understands the concept of anemoia. Though all the KiiiKiii members were born in the 2000s and 2010s, every aspect from DANCING ALONE’s marketing, sound, and messaging captures nostalgia for a time they did not directly experience. Gen Z and Gen Alpha (those born from 2010 onwards) can get a sense of what it felt like living like a teen in the past.

Edited by Clark Royandoyan