It's not just about coolness.. The completely redefined conditions for 'Summer Queen' and 'Summer King' [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

Crashing waves and dazzling beaches paired with thrilling high notes and fast beats. This is the common formula often invoked when defining a 'Summer song' in the K-pop market.

Until now, songs released ahead of summer have all prominently showcased refreshing coolness. The public has bestowed the titles 'Summer Queen' and 'Summer King' upon singers who wear marine-style outfits that look cool just by seeing them, perform tropical house music reminiscent of vacation spots, or sing powerful dance tracks that stir the heart.

However, the summer landscape of K-pop is now quite different. While songs that still convey a clear and refreshing feeling continue to be steadily loved, they now show a distinctly different appearance from the past when coolness was everything. The summer playlist landscape has now transformed into a battleground of diverse genres, including retro, high teen, and even emotional ballads, completely overturning the very conditions for 'Summer Queen' and 'Summer King'.

The most noticeable change is undoubtedly the strength of various concepts such as retro and high teen, combined with the 'easy listening' trend. While summer songs of the past emitted explosive energy as if one had to run to a water park or beach immediately, recent songs emphasize a comfortable and sophisticated mood that is calm and gentle, perfect for listening to during a cool summer evening stroll.

Songs incorporating Y2K-style synthesizer sounds that evoke nostalgia for the 1990s or early 2000s, as well as funky disco rhythms, create a natural groove without being stimulating. With the addition of fresh high teen sensibility reminiscent of a page from a youth movie, the public is choosing sophisticated and pleasant comfort over forced coolness.

In fact, looking at songs that have held the top spots on summer music charts for an extended period reflects a shift in listeners' tastes. According to a domestic music chart from July to August last year, the top positions were occupied by 'Golden' from the Netflix movie 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' OST, followed by 'FAMOUS' by All Day Project, 'Drowning' by Woozi, and 'To You' by 10CM.

The strong performance of emotional ballads or medium-tempo R&B genres, which seem somewhat distant from the hot summer, also draws attention. Traditionally, poignant ballads were considered the exclusive domain of autumn or winter when cold winds blow, but they can now be found frequently even on midsummer music charts.

Ultimately, the conditions for truly becoming a 'Summer Queen' or 'Summer King' in the recent music industry no longer rest solely on 'how cool' one is. The key has become how diversely one can express the various charms of the summer season.

Scorching high notes and refreshing coolness are now just one of many weapons, not an absolute formula for victory. Only artists who break down genre boundaries and naturally seep into the depths of the public's summer daily life with their own unique sensibility can take the new 'Summer Queen' or 'Summer King' seat.

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*This content was translated by AI.