[ASKKPOP] K-Pop Feature: Unsung - 7 Underrated Boy Groups
Unsung - 7 Underrated Boy Groups
Last week,askkpopdid a feature on "7 Underrated Girl Groups."Similarly, there are many boy groups that currently receive an unprecedented level of love from Korean and international fans alike. However, there are some groups that, despite their incredible talents, have not been able to reach the level of success they deserve. So, let's take a look at which 7 groups made my list!
LEDApple
LEDApplehas gone through some intense line-up changes since their debut in 2010. One thing has remained consistent, though: they are a talented rock group that deserves more attention. They have demonstrated their strong musical abilities through numerous covers of popular Korean and American songs, which have done well on the web. It's a mystery as to why their original songs aren't hitting #1, considering.
SPEED
I was always a fan ofCo-Ed School--SPEEDis the boy sub-unit of the group and the brother group toF-VE DOLLS, who was mentioned in our"7 Underrated Girl Groups"article. Although their singles,"Pain the Love of Heart"and"It's Over"saw moderate success, they have been unable to hit the popularity levels of their associated groups, such asT-ara, as one would expect. This talent group (along with F-VE DOLLS) undeniably deserves more recognition.
C-CLOWN
C-Clownis an extremely versatile group. For me, they are one of the few rookie groups that experiment with their music--this may stem from the fact thatB2ST's Junhyungparticipates in the production of their albums. They have a great western hip-hop meets K-Pop swag about them that I like. They are a well-rounded group that definitely deserve more credit for their talents.
100%
100%was the second boy group formed byShinhwa's Andyfollowing the success of his first group,TEEN TOP. Members displayed their talent even prior to their official debut as a group--Rokhyunoriginally debuted as a member ofJumperwhile memberMinwooacted in both dramas and movies. They have released solid tracks such as my personal favorite,"Want U Back," yet they have not seen the level of success that they deserve.
Boyfriend
Boyfriendreceived a ton of buzz when they first debuted. Not only was their first single,"Boyfriend," one of the popular lovey-dovey songs of the summer 2010 but also members and twin brothers,YoungminandKwangmin, garnered a lot of attention for their similar appearance toKim Hyun Joongand for having beenJYPtrainees. However, their success has oddly leveled off despite the growth in their talent.
ZE:A
Members ofZE:Aare extremely popular amongst viewers for their appearances in variety shows and dramas. For example, memberHyungsikhas been praised for his good looks and acting chops, most recently appearing in the hit series, "Heirs," while membersDongjunandKwangheeare known for their athletic skill and comedic personality respectively. However, despite having 9 talented members, they have yet to reach the same level of success with their music as other groups.
U-KISS
Despite their popularity internationally (earlier this year they even wrapped up a world tour), fans and non-fans alike agree thatU-KISSis one of the most underrated groups in K-Pop. Since their debut in 2008, through triumphs and tribulations--such as member changes--they have matured and improved tremendously as artists. With catchy songs, in addition to strong vocals, dance, and visuals, it's crazy that they aren't consistently topping the Korean music charts like other groups of their caliber.
That rounds out my 7. I think we can all agree that these groups deserve a lot more lovin', so let's continue to support.
Do you agree with my list? Who did I leave out? Comment below!