Unsung - 7 Underrated Girl Groups
K-Pop has many girl groups:
2NE1,
SISTAR,
4minute,
Girls' Generation. But there are some girl groups that don't get as much love.
FIESTAR, for example, who has just dropped their new single. Along with
SPICA,
EvoL and
Chocolat, they are one of a slew of talented artists who are under-appreciated. Well, I thought some of these groups needed to get some more of the spotlight so here's my list of "7 Underrated Girl Groups".
F-VE DOLLS (formerly 5Dolls)
A splinter band of
Co-Ed School, they formed in late 2010 and debuted with two singles in January 2011. "
This and That" is seriously catchy with fierce belted vocals by
Soo Mi,
Chan Mi, and
Eun Gyo in particular. While Co-Ed School had a lot of potential, I think the girls have tons of vocal talent. They haven't had much of a hit since 2011, though last year's "
Can You Love Me?" might have given them a much-needed shot in the arm popularity-wise.
CHOCOLAT
Debuting in 2011, this quintet has released one mini-album and three single albums. Their second single, "
I Like It," was on my phone for a while as a ringtone. To me that song stood head and shoulders above most, from the stutter-y beginning to the point when
Melanie belts out, "
I want it all." They even dropped an inferior version of the song in English, which sadly didn't mean penetration into the English speaking market. A group which really deserves more recognition.
EVOL
Together for nearly two years, EvoL has put out only two mini-albums. They still caught my ear, particularly for their single, "
We Are A Bit Different."
SAY and
Yull have some pretty impressive vocal power, and
Jucy is a more than capable rapper, but I haven't seen them on any variety shows.
FIESTAR
Devastatingly underrated, they've recently had a comeback produced by
Shinsadong Tiger. In the past, such hits as "
We Don't Stop" and "
Vista" have showcased their vocal abilities and are incredibly catchy. Despite strong tunes, the band seemed to languish in obscurity. However, it looks as if "
One More" has made into the GAON Top 20, which is good. Maybe this will be their year.
ORANGE CARAMEL
A sub-unit of the band
After School (one of my biases), Orange Caramel has differentiated itself from After School by being over the top cute rather than sexy. Despite singing in an absurdly high octave, Orange Caramel's songs are seriously ear-wormy. During
Billboard's Girl Group Week, the girls were nominated for the Most Underrated Girl Group award... but they even lost that one!
SPICA
From the retro groove of "
You Don't Love Me," to the more conventional, catchy "
Russian Roulette," this is one group that needs better management (in my humble opinion).
Bohyung is an absolutely outstanding vocalist. The girls also did an awesome cover of
Pitch Perfect's "
Cup Song." Even with quite a few singles, MVs and mini-albums, they haven't quite "made it." No all-kills for these girls yet.
TINY-G
Short for "Tiny Giant" because of their height, these girls debuted in 2012. Ironically, they might be better known for their paucity of height than their music. There was even buzz from netizens that
Dohee didn't look much like an idol and should stick to acting. When that news broke, many commenters didn't even know who she was! Hardly a promising sign. I've enjoyed their music since I first heard the debut single "
Tiny-G." Besides,
Mint is a breakdancer; how cool is that? Even though they are now a trio, I still "got T-frenzy."
So what are the reasons some of these bands don't get the recognition they deserve? Some might not be marketed as well as other bands, which is a criticism often leveled by fans, notably towards SM Entertainment. Some might be cute and adorable which is more akin to J-Pop and not as marketable. Still others may not have hit their stride yet, releasing relatively few albums and singles. Reality / Variety show appearances, selcas, and paparazzi -- all of these would
help to market these girls better than they currently are. I think it's
up to us fans in some ways. If we continue to recognize and reward
talent, I think the agencies will follow. If we spread the word about a band you are pumped for, I think the agencies will notice and do right by them.
