Throwback Thursday: Second Generation K-Pop

In the world of K-Pop, there are generations of idols. Each generation, starting at first gen, has an enormous list of very popular, well-known, and loved idols who have shaped the world of K-Pop as we know it. So, today we are going to take it back and talk about a very important generation: the second gen—a generation home to many household names.

SHINee

Debuting on May 25, 2008, SM Entertainment boy group SHINee stepped onto the scene with one of the best K-Pop debuts in history, “Replay.” Sticking to that early 2000s R&B sound, SHINee's earlier music had that groovy sound that had everyone addicted from day one. SHINee is a group whose music will always become tracks that we, as listeners, will cherish forever. Songs like “Lucifer,” “Ring Ding Dong,” “Sherlock (Clue + Note),” and “View” are a few of the well-known songs by the group, and each song is so much fun to listen to. Members Onew, Jonghyun, Key, Minho, and Taemin each have such an original sound that gets showcased in every SHINee release. For example, because of a beautiful solo on their first album, The SHINee World - The 1st Album, we got to hear a breathtaking solo from member Jonghyun called “Y Si Fuera Ella.” A song that, to this day, many love to sing their hearts out to. Throughout time, the members have released solo tracks/albums since their debuts and, over the years, have blossomed into artists who have put their mark on K-Pop as a whole. SHINee is a phenomenal group that will always have a place in all of our hearts, and no matter the time, we will always love their music.

Girls’ Generation

On August 5, 2007, SM Entertainment’s mega and super well-known girl group Girls’ Generation debuted with their very popular track “Into the New World.” Another debut that goes down in the books, the members Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Seohyun, and former member Jessica came onto the scene ready to take over the world. Girls’ Generation is a staple when it comes to girl groups in K-Pop. These girls, ever since their debut, have been releasing tracks that, to this day, many still cover, recreate, and stream daily. Girls’ Generation is the group behind many songs that many of us know and love. For example, their songs, “Gee,” “The Boys,” “Genie,” “I Got a Boy,” and “Run Devil Run,” are just a few of the hits these girls have, and are all household names. When the girls made their long-awaited comeback in 2022, the world stopped and gave this release its full attention. The album FOREVER 1 - The 7th Album is a beautiful showcase of the girls' bright, joyful sound, which we all missed. With each member doing their own solo releases and great acting opportunities, it was great to see them back together once again. They are a girl group that will definitely go down in history.

SISTAR

On June 3, 2010, Starship Entertainment girl group SISTAR stepped onto the scene with their hit debut “Push Push.” An upbeat dance track that had every listener on their feet, ready to move to the beat. SISTAR is a four-member girl group that always showcased their powerful vocals and gave us addictive tracks. The members Hyorin, Bora, Soyou, and Dasom are all powerhouses, and since their debut, they have been releasing iconic songs that are still recognized as hits today. Tracks like “Give It To Me,” “Touch My Body,” “Shake It,” “I Like That,” are just a few of the hits that these girls have, and are still popular/fun songs to listen to. SISTAR knew how to make those songs that you can either party with your friends to or grab your closest mic and sing your heart out to. SISTAR is an iconic girl group that always came with their best foot forward and always graced us with their amazing talent.