On June 14th, Nayeon (from TWICE) officially released her second mini-album “NA”along with the title music video “ABCD.”This marks her second solo promotion as the most popular member of JYP’s third-generation girl group. Nayeon had previously debuted as a solo artist in the summer of 2022 with her hit song “POP!,”which achieved great success and became one of Kpop’s notable summer hits. As a result, Kpop fans were eagerly anticipating the diverse and unique expression of Nayeon’s identity when she announced her comeback with “ABCD”and her second mini-album.
The title track, “ABCD,”is an upbeat pop dance song that blends contemporary and hip-hop elements, evoking a nostalgic 2000s pop vibe.
The partnership of these renowned music producers for Nayeon’s project sparked anticipation from the start. The outcome lived up to its hype, with “ABCD”being hailed as the standout track of this comeback. Its infectious and innovative tune is predicted to carry on the momentum set by “POP!”in the past.
Despite releasing her first solo comeback, Nayeon has not been able to achieve a breakthrough success due to TWICE’s declining popularity in recent years. The title track “ABCD”debuted on Korean digital music charts with underwhelming rankings, such as #23 on Bugs and #110 on Genie, and did not make it to the MelOn Top 100. This disappointment is seen as a setback for Nayeon personally. However, with the high-quality music being praised by fans, there is hope that Nayeon will be able to “reverse the trend”when she begins promoting the song officially.
One of the most talked-about aspects of Nayeon’s comeback is the controversy surrounding her dance. In the “ABCD”MV, she confidently exudes a sexy, mature image and showcases her pop star charisma, but her dance break has raised some eyebrows due to its boldness.
Despite TWICE’s evolving image over the years, the specific scene in which Nayeon dances with male dancers, incorporating suggestive leg movements, has caused quite a stir. Many Kpop fans are taken aback by this new side of Nayeon, sparking debates about whether her dance is too provocative or even offensive.
Despite the controversy surrounding Nayeon, netizens have also brought up Jennie (BLACKPINK) in the conversation. Back in 2023, the BLACKPINK rapper received backlash for her daring dance number with a male dancer in the film “The Idol.”Some argue that if Jennie was criticized for her provocative performance, then Nayeon is now also facing similar criticism and being labeled as following in her colleague’s “troubled path.”This would be considered a “double standard”if only Jennie was continuously under scrutiny.
Despite widespread negative opinions on social media, TWICE fans are standing up for Nayeon. They argue that the supposedly provocative image of Nayeon, which has been circulating among netizens, only appears for 1-2 seconds. When viewed in the context of the entire dance break, it is difficult to find it offensive. Criticizing the entire dance as “sexual”based on a deliberately zoomed-in photo of one movement is unjust.
Not only does Nayeon exude seductiveness, but she also channels a carefree persona that adds a summer feel to “ABCD.”Despite their vastly different dance styles, attempting to compare Nayeon and Jennie would be futile.
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