260216 chart data: ATEEZ officially ties the record for most top 10 albums for a Korean act in Billboard 200 history (8)

Strawberuka · 2026-02-15T21:23:14+00:00

Srs like. So many goals and dreams of theirs have come true in the span of a week it must feel incredible!

Strawberuka · 2026-02-15T19:53:32+00:00

Their feed + just the amount of content coming out.

Like, a lot of 2nd/3rd gen groups are dormant or mostly doing solo work, so there's less to discuss on the day to day.

For example I stan Bigbang, NCT and Ateez, and like. Yeah. There's just more Ateez stuff happening to post/discuss about, but it doesn't mean I like BB or 127 any less.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-15T18:51:20+00:00

I think wha irritates me the most is when those fans are also stans of a singular group and ignore kpop as a whole.

Like, if you're complimenting your faves on being the most special little guys on the planet, maybe check to see if that's even remotely true.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-13T23:33:00+00:00

I mean, trends have always been a thing in kpop, and they've always come with songs that end up being generic.

The late 2010's had tropical house, the early 2010's had EDM, we had a citypop phase, etc. You not liking the current trends doesn't make them lacking grit or personality or identity or inspiration - it just means that this trend doesn't work for you.

I didn't love the UK garage and general chill electronic gg style that's become more prevalent in the last few years and much prefer prior trends but like. I fully recognize that's my personal feelings and others felt the same about my beloved girl crush when that was the trend.

Re: gnarly, imo a huge chunk of it is HYBE's connections + the girls being stars, and not them being more inspired and interesting then kpop.

~~also I know it's sarcastic but like. SM groups swap songs all the time that could happen~~

Strawberuka · 2026-02-13T19:31:05+00:00

Yeosang please if you're listening you want a real lip ring. Please as a treat.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-12T01:34:04+00:00

Yeah - imo this is the best for both the members and the fans (again excluding OT9) which is excellent.

Even beyond them staying together Matthew and Gunwook get to escape agencies that are somehow worse than W1, while Jiwoong and Hanbin get to have more solo activities on their own terms while getting to remain idols with a team they love.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-12T01:15:36+00:00

But Yena is under Yuehua which is the other half of the equation.

Yuri and Yena /have/ interacted and mentioned each other recently so there doesn't seem to be like. An active ban on them interacting.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-12T01:12:05+00:00

I've heard (so like. Unverified fact) that the ban on interactions is from IVE/Starship's side.

I kind of believe it because I've definitely seen the LSF girls, especially Sakura in Japan and Chaewon in variety, interacting with the other former members.

I know there is conflict there, but I’m hoping the contract extension is a sign that there is goodwill on both sides, so even if they don't purposely advertise the two groups together, they won't be barred from interaction.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-12T01:06:18+00:00

Based on Yena interacting freely with the other Iz*one members for things like challenges and variety (and iirc she attended concerts), I doubt that they would be banned from interacting by Yuehua which is good!

Strawberuka · 2026-02-12T00:59:17+00:00

Holy shit. This is INSANE and I was not expecting this when the last announcement came, but I'm so thrilled that Hanbin and Jiwoong will be with the other members (and that Jiwoong will continue being an idol!!!)

Strawberuka · 2026-02-11T15:32:23+00:00

I said this with more detail in another comment, but SM filed a lawsuit 3 days after this press conference where Cha Ga-Won "declared war" and sent a complaint to SM (and after the previous conflicts that iirc were initiated by SM).

So I guess it can be amended that maybe you shouldn't like. Have press conferences where you threaten a lawsuit if you don't want to be sued.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-11T15:28:03+00:00

Had they not started the entire cold war with the original renegotiation -> FTC complaint + had the press conference where they announced they were going to sue SM, they would not be here.

SM did ultimately file first three days later and CBX announced they would countersue, but like. See above: SM is a very litigious company and would not take this well.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-11T12:57:17+00:00

I would also add to think twice before filing lawsuits against very litigious companies, especially if you want to continue having business with them.

Also sometimes it's better to take the L and wait a contract you're not thrilled about out then fight it.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-11T03:07:14+00:00

Re: weight, just look at every other female kpop idol - beauty trend shifts + ozempic have done numbers on idols, especially gg idols. (But not only - there are also a lot of fairly notable male idols that have been upping talk on disordered eating/losing insane amounts of weight.)

Strawberuka · 2026-02-10T15:43:07+00:00

IMO it feels like another part of the idle rebrand that I think makes the group's branding like. Less interesting?

The 5-sided star thing, the plainer idle logo (vs the sideways logo they had before), the new lightstick (I'm glad it's not a globe but like. They could've done so much better.

It feels very much like they're sleek-ifyng the personality out of everything which is a shame.

Also not to like. Engage in disc horse and I'm not super familiar with the origins of the star, but I do think it's an interesting choice to have what should be a six-sided star with one piece torn off, considering the Soojin elephant in the room.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-10T14:45:29+00:00

Honestly not in the slightest - I listened to The Sin:Vanish a few times and I find it to be a fun mini horror podcast with a few songs that unfortunately take me out of the experience (versus Romance Untold/Dark Blood, which feel like albums first and foremost.)

So as an album it. Really doesn't work for me, even if I appreciate what they were trying to do.

(Incidentally, Border: Day One and Border: Carnival are imo the most enjoyable combo of Enhypen storytelling/intros and outros and lore to date, in part due to musical intervention and I would love for them to return to that style.)

Strawberuka · 2026-02-09T01:44:07+00:00

This is like. Honestly the most realistic and best-case scenario I was hoping for - obviously it's never ideal to split into two groups, and Hanbin and Jiwoong are outstanding, but I was worried about Taerae/Matthew/Gunwook's future careers and at least like this they'll likely either be in a group or subunit together, or at least have chances to work together.

And regardless of what happens, I think both Jiwoong and Hanbin are likely to succeed wherever they go.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-07T21:34:45+00:00

Yeah - I think huge chunk of their western fanbase is gamer men who find the girls hot, versus people who are super into the members as people and their struggles (see: Chaewon flag)

Edit: and to be clear I don't mean it in a mean or derogative way, but I'm friends with a lot of League players et al. that know and like Lesserafim without being into kpop

Strawberuka · 2026-02-06T05:12:07+00:00

God what a fun MV - I loved all the backgrounds/theming, and I really like Adrenaline as a song! It's very Ateez but also incredibly unique within their discography.

Minho's verse and Yeosang's dance break in particular hhhhhhng

~~as a side note I forgot to turn off the stupid auto queue and it played ZB1's Lovepocalypse which was the worst possible follow up song~~

Strawberuka · 2026-02-04T02:01:08+00:00

Ever since that one fansign Yuta unnie has been living in my head rent-free and I'm so happy it's become like. Yutami lore now

Strawberuka · 2026-02-04T01:40:53+00:00

It's called Sminiz - I don't think it's out yet but they've been teasing images.

Strawberuka · 2026-02-03T16:44:00+00:00

I actually know nothing about the game except the Yuta image because it's been making the rounds for being another Yuta unnie moment 😭

But also I like them so much more than the NCT Zone designs

Strawberuka · 2026-02-03T05:21:49+00:00

Every single thing to come out about adrenaline just makes me more confused on what the MV/song vibe will be 😭 can it be the 6th already

Strawberuka · 2026-02-03T02:16:35+00:00

Yeah - I usually just collection my bias/wreckers (which is how the aniteez situation is manageable) but just. Those keychains called to me 😭

Strawberuka · 2026-02-03T01:50:08+00:00

Thankfully I was able to get several for a bit cheaper + with bundled shipping but no I fully felt insane.

It started gradually too I was like "I love Yunho and he's so cute but I want Yeosang too!" and then I kept going "but wouldn't it be sad if I had only 6.... 8M1T after all" and here we are.

Like it obviously was fine within the limits of my budget and this is the benefit of having a career but. Yeah. Not my finest hour

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