ILLIT's comeback failed, fans turned their backs, closing the door to BABYMONSTER?

ILLIT has just returned with their third mini album Bom.b, with the title track "Do the Dance", creating a storm on social media. However, behind the impressive achievements is a simmering debate.

"Do the Dance": Identity or Erosion of Ideas?

A recent article from TenAsia was blunt in its assessment: "Do the Dance is a solid song, but it's a safe be.t." Criticism focused on the group's continued use of the "ddu-dda-ddi" vocal pattern, which was a signature feature of their debut track "Tick-Tack." As repetition becomes a defining characteristic, listeners begin to question: Is this a unique identity or is it a drain on ideas and a lack of creativity?

It is undeniable that ILLIT has found its own formula for success: catchy songs, with simple, easy-to-remember structures, accompanied by bright, slightly mischievous images and electronic production, very suitable for the current trend of digital music consumption.

However, the almost indistinguishable similarity between "Do the Dance" and "Tick-Tack" is making both fans and experts wonder. From the familiar 4/4 rhythm, the emphasized bass, the video game-inspired sound effects, to the signature vocal treatment – it all seems to repeat a successful formula, but will it still be effective in the long run?

Some say that ILLIT is following the "framing to position" strategy - a method that has helped groups like TWICE with the "color pop" style or Red Velvet with the "Red" and "Velvet" concepts build a solid brand in the early stages of their careers.

But in the rapidly changing Kpop landscape, where Gen Z audiences are constantly demanding newness and diversity, being too dependent on a single motif can cause a group to lose its appeal and become bland among the crowd of rookies.

On the Instiz forum, netizens' reactions clearly reflected this division. Some viewers frankly expressed: "I don't listen to their music because all the songs are the same", or some expressed disappointment because they had high expectations after the compliments, but when they tried listening, they felt "it was the same as last time so I turned it off".

On the contrary, many fans believe that this is the unique feature, the "essence" of ILLIT, similar to the way NewJeans exploited the Y2K color with light, lo-fi music or tripleS used the vocal line "La la la" as a distinctive feature. They said: "I think the melody this time is a bit nostalgic, so it's still different from the previous songs. The other singing style is probably the group's own unique quality."

Comparison with BABYMONSTER: Two directions, same challenge

The contrast in audience reactions reflects a reality: ILLIT is entering a pivotal stage in its journey to shape its art. If the group only focuses on pleasing fans and creating hits on short-term platforms like TikTok, they may miss the opportunity to develop musical depth, which is necessary for long-term survival in a fiercely competitive market like Kpop.

To better understand the "problem" that ILLIT is facing, we can put them next to another equally notable rookie, BABYMONSTER from YG Entertainment. Both groups debuted around the same time, both had high expectations and both had a large fan base. However, their musical directions have distinct differences.

While ILLIT chose to build a bright, dreamy image with gentle, easy-to-absorb music and focus on the "viral" factor on social media platforms, BABYMONSTER pursued a strong, hip-hop style typical of YG, with complex arrangements, impressive vocals and rap.

Songs like BABYMONSTER's "Batter Up" and "Sheesh" faced some initial controversy over their "familiarity" with YG's music, but still showed investment in performance techniques and strong, diverse vocals.

But it cannot be denied that both ILLIT and BABYMONSTER have their own strengths, but also face the common challenge of rookie groups: how to maintain their appeal and develop a unique identity without falling into a rut?

For ILLIT, the “cute, innocent, viral” identity is gradually becoming a double-edged sword. It brings quick success but makes the audience question the diversity in music. If the group continues to repeat this formula, they can retain a loyal fan base who love that style, but it will be difficult to attract new audiences who are always looking for breakthroughs and creativity.

As for BABYMONSTER, although their strong style creates a distinct mark, "keeping the fire" for innovation within the "YG style" framework is also a challenge. The group needs to continuously develop their skills and bring more breakthrough performances so as not to be constantly compared to their seniors in the same company.

The first member of the sister group BABYMONSTER revealed, former HYBE and YG "chicken" favored? Hướng Dương17:10:29 27/05/2025After the announcement of YG Entertainment's new group, netizens predicted that one name would be included. However, fans of BLACKPINK and BABYMONSTER were not very interested in this.