10 rookies that debuted in 2017 and are overdue for a comeback
Click to view2017 saw lots of strong debuts from small and big companies alike. The likes of Dreamcatcher, KARD and A.C.E have seen a consistent increase in success and interest (though obviously at different levels), while groups like Pristin and Weki Meki already had lots of public interest before they had even debuted. But a lot of promising debuts haven't been followed up with. Almost halfway through 2018, some companies need to get it together and give their groups a 2018 comeback, because the public will only stay interested for so long.
1. ONE
As the first non-boygroup male soloist from YG entertainment since Se7en in 2003, One (Jung Jaewon) had a massively hyped debut. He had previously promoted in duo 1PUNCH with now-soloist Samuel, and signed with YG after appearing on SMTM4. The public responded well to his smooth r&b sound as well as his gentle blend of singing and rapping. He sold 8551 copies in his debut month, which is respectable numbers for a mere two-track single album that should really have just been a digital release. But this is YG Entertainment, where dreams go to die in a poorly-lit basement practise room, and it's nearly been 11 months without a follow up to this solid debut.
2. HASHTAG
If you can get through Hashtag's dizzying music video, or maybe watch a dance video instead, you'll be treated to a fun, upbeat song about being frustrated with a love interest who's playing hard to get, with simple but really interesting bits of choreography sold with excellent stage presence. The group initially had a lot of public interest due to some mild mediaplay about Kan Miyoun from Baby V.O.X producing them - Kan Miyoun made a statement that she'd only advised her friend, the LUK Factory CEO, on the group and wasn't a major part of production. Fans were still intrigued and responded positively to their debut, even if like every other small agency debut, their sales were lacking. The group has been consistently performing at events, but unfortunately for fans it will soon be seven months since their debut with no comeback announced yet.
3. HONEYST
FNC formed Honeyst, the latest in their line of bands, in 2016 and debuted them in 2017, and they had a comeback later that year. They're a nice foil to dance group SF9, who were their competitors in their 2016 debut competition program. Unfortunately it's been a turbulent time for FNC with Choa leaving AOA, Yonghwa's university scandal, and Minhwan's pregnancy scandal - and they're supposedly getting the lineup ready for their next girl group. Let's hope FNC can get their older generations organised again so that they can give Honeyst some music, as it's been seven months since their last comeback.
4. Lucy
Remember Lucy? You might remember her better as Park Jiyeon from girl group GLAM, which had an unfortunate ending when one of its members was arrested for blackmailing Lee Byung-hun. Park Jiyeon redebuted as Lucy under KQ Entertainment and released B-Day, a smooth EDM number featuring Kisum that would be very at home on a H&M playlist. She didn't promote on music shows, which implied that she wanted to go down a more indie route, but there was no follow up to this single and very little event promotion. Though reactions to the single were positive, without promotion, there was little way to capitalise on it. It's been a year and two months since her solo debut.
5. MYTEEN
MYTEEN are beginning to rise in the international fandom, but had been slowly building the Korean fanbase long before debut; they announced their first member to be Superstar K6's Song Yuvin, opened for Baek Jiyoung as their first stage, did a tour of middle and high schools called 'Follow Myteen', held predebut fanmeetings, and then finally filmed a predebut reality show. They debuted on July 25 with 'Amazing', a high-energy song with a funky slap bass and energetic, complex choreography. Some of their members competed on Mix9, with Kookheon making it to the final before being nixed. It's now been nearly a year since their debut, and though they have a fully funded fanmeeting project with makestar, there's no signs of a comeback yet.
6. P.O.P
P.O.P ('Puzzle of Pop') led a fairly successful predebut campaign, positioning themselves as something like Mamamoo's little sister group due to their joint producing by RBW and DWM Entertainment. Their multiple cover videos and fun teasers piqued a fair amount of fan interest. Their debut, 'Catch You', is a powerful pop ballad that would be at home on any anime theme song playlist. It came with a music video and styling that would normally be paired with a more mature concept but somehow didn't feel out of place. Unfortunately, not long after their debut it was announced that one of their members would have to leave the group due to a neuromuscular disease. Their makestar album project received twice its goal in funding, but nearly eleven months post-debut, there's still no sign of a comeback.
7. Longguo & Shihyun
Produce 101 Season 2, for some reason, inspired a lot of duo debuts. Choon Entertainment's Longguo & Shihyun both participated, and the duo was formed after Longguo's contract with JBJ, a fan-demanded spinoff group, ended. Choon opted for a smooth, sophisticated, r&b-influenced debut for their duo, immediately setting them apart from the more boyish debuts of the other PD101 duos. They shifted over 33k copies of their debut EP, which is nothing to sniff at, and yet it's now been ten months without Longguo & Shihyun.
8. Kim Sohee
After placing 15th in Produce 101, acting in The God of Music 2, debuting in both C.I.V.A and I.B.I, and participating in Idol Drama Operation Team and debuting again in 'Girls Next Door', Kim Sohee finally debuted for the fourth time as a soloist. 'Sobok Sobok' was a sweet, mid-tempo seasonal song that featured a singing/rapping turn by Fiestar's Yezi. The album hit 16 on the charts and sold nearly 4,000 physical copies, which is unimpressive in the scheme of things, but fairly impressive for a female solo debut, considering female solos don't tend to do well physically. It's nearly been seven months since Kim Sohee debuted.
9. Seven O'Clock
A six-member group despite their name, Seven O'Clock debuted early last year with 'Echo', and were passed over in the international fandom despite having a great take on the tropical pop/edm infusion that's popular in kpop right now, and solid vocals and rap. Either their fans rallied round, or they found lots of fans through Mix9, but their competing members placed well and member A-Day made it into the final group that YG can't be bothered to debut. Waiting for the Mix9 debut to be confirmed or cancelled has probably greatly delayed Seven O'Clock's comeback plans, but it's a year and two months since debut and now is a good time to capitalise on those new fans.
10. Good Day
C9 Entertainment had a really nicely-planned out strategy when it came to debuting Good Day, releasing timetables as promo went on. The members were revealed in social-media inspired teaser images; releasing dance covers and adding members to each one; having subunits do introductory/spoilery v-lives; filming a pre-debut reality show; using Wanna One's Bae Jinyoung in the MV. It was plenty of consistent, prolonged content to catch fans' eyes. Their debut song, 'Rolly', was an upbeat song that spurned the innocent/sexy dichotomy with a powerful band backtrack, musical theatre and swing-inspired choreography that was as technical as it was fun to watch, and confident lyrics about confessing to someone. 6 members went onto The Unit and while only Jiwon made it to the final before being axed, multiple members caught attention for their skills or personality. It was six months of solid, fanbase-growing material, only to be answered with - nothing. While there's been a few social media posts with their choreographer, and they've started performing at events again, chatter in the Haru fanbase is that a comeback isn't planned until September. This would be a terrible way to waste their Unit and debut momentum, and would make it one year and one month without a comeback. Let's hope there's a subunit debut to tide us over.
(DIS)HONOURABLE MENTIONS
ONF
ONF were going to be on this list but they're releasing teasers for a comeback! Congrats!
Be.A
When reinventing their group around the same time as Happyface reinvented Dreamcatcher, what did Chrome Entertainment do? Did they also invest time into scheduling multiple comebacks and send their group to perform at lots of events? No. They sent Mily and Ato to Mix9, and then did nothing after they were quickly eliminated. While not a true debut, it's now been almost a year since their 'renewal'.
apple.b
apple.b debuted with 'woochuchu', a cute song with a bizarrely fitting trap breakdown, interesting choreography, solid vocals, and with a lineup containing an ex-Baby Kara member. Then their dormitory burned down. They went on The Unit and had their comeback makestar campaign fully funded, but it's been ten months of radio silence now.
I
I (Cha Yoonji) was famously one of WM's longest-standing trainees and also Baro's sister. She debuted in January with a surprisingly sophisticated concept with obvious references to BoA's early career that she pulled off expertly. She released nothing for the rest of the year, went on The Unit, dropped out due to illness, and has done nothing since.
Limesoda
Limesoda debuted with 'Z Z Z', an upbeat brass-led song with a cute whistle-and-percussion breakdown and a catchy chorus. Their agency hinted that the duo were just the first of a larger lineup to be introduced, and set up a makestar that was fully funded. There have been no releases since their debut last July.
Varsity
Varsity had two whole comebacks in 2017! It all looked like it was going so well! Their music videos remained low budget but they'd found a public-friendly sound, had really interesting and dynamic choreography, and plenty of talent! It's now been nearly eight months since their comeback. CSO/Jungle Entertainment, you were doing so well!
sources: Weki Meki 위키미키, YG ENTERTAINMENT, GENIE MUSIC (2, 3, 4), Be.A, 1theK (2), SUPER SOUND Bugs!, Choon Entertainment, Stone Music Entertainment
Which 2017 rookies are you impatiently waiting for, omona?