Choi Yena’s ‘NEMONEMO’ Single Receives 0.5/5 Stars; Supporters Rally to Defend the Idol

Did Choi Yena’s latest track stumble? According to IZM, a prominent music review platform, the ex-IZ*ONE member received a dismal score of 0.5 out of 5 stars. In response, her fanbase, known as Jigumi, quickly rallied to her support.

On October 9th, IZM published its evaluation of Yena’s freshly released single “NEMONEMO,”which debuted on September 30th.

With this latest release, the track managed only half a star out of a possible five. The reviewer elaborated on their reasoning:

“The song resembles a piece from a video game or an anime. Its rapid BPM, tumultuous synthesizer arrangement, and piercing tone render the lyrics almost inaudible, resulting in a chaotic listening experience from beginning to end.

Ultimately, the genuine musicality is overshadowed by the overwhelming soundscape, which mainly consists of rich sound effects. If the intent was to portray an extraordinarily assertive tomboy, as depicted in the visuals, this aim was achieved. However, if she believed this constituted music, that notion is misguided; these three and a half minutes lack musical substance.”

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The critic also pointed out that Yena’s popularity seemed to diminish after transitioning to a different musical genre following the disbandment of IZ*ONE. The review additionally mentioned that the involvement of ex-MBLAQ member Sungmin and Block B’s Zico didn’t leave a significant mark on the song.

Upon discovering the unfavorable review, K-Netz, particularly her devoted Jigumi fans, expressed their disappointment with IZM’s assessment, arguing that the song’s similarity to game or anime music should not be deemed a flaw.

Supporters asserted that “NEMONEMO”is a well-crafted track, one that may not resonate with mainstream audiences but finds a warm reception among otaku.

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Here are some of the fan responses:

“It has the vibe of a Japanese otaku genre track. I’m not opposed to it, but I don’t see critics enjoying it.”

“This seems like exactly the type of song critics would dislike, lol. But the company was aware of this and took a risk, aiming to spark interest by creating something catchy and meme-worthy.”

“I actually appreciate ‘NEMONEMO’ precisely because of the traits that the critic pointed out. It has game-like music qualities, a brisk beat, striking vocals, and a catchy, simplistic melody that sticks in your mind.”

“While I agree with some of their critiques, I don’t think it’s bad enough to warrant a 0.5 score. It feels like the genre itself is being overlooked. They claim the lyrics are inaudible due to sound effects, yet I wonder how the critic would analyze something like kawaii bass.”

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