The New Kpop Girl Groups of 2014

This year has been an amazing year for many female Kpop groups that just started off for the first time in 2014. Even though the year is not over, I can definitely say that these groups have a good chance of becoming rather large and popular in the future; 1PS, Bob Girls, Red Velvet, Four Ladies, and Lip Service.


1PS (원피스, pronounced as One Piece Score) is made up of four members and is managed by 1theK, formerly known as LOEN Entertainment. They debuted their first album, The First Score, on March 3, 2014, with the song "Because I'm Your Girl". Made up of the members Yena (예나) the leader, Yoon Seo (윤서), Ji Eun (지은), and Sae Ha (새하), these girls in 1PS are all trained dancers; mostly in ballet. Their song "Because I'm Your Girl" reflects this ability, with one of the members constantly being shown to be doing ballet throughout the quiet, ballad like song. It's a peaceful piece of music, where the voices are balanced and bring about a warm feeling in you. While I'm personally not used to ballad like songs, I believe that 1PS will use their talent with not only singing but with dance, to make their mark.

1PS(원피스) - Because I'm your girl(여자이니까)

Bob Girls (단발머리) is also made up of four members, although they are the second girl's group managed by Chrome Entertainment. They debuted their first album, No Way, on June 10, 2014 with the song "No Way". This group is made up of Dahye (다혜), Yujeong (유정), Jina (지나), and Danbi (단비). What is so interesting with this group is, unlike most other girl groups, the singers all have short hair, going back to the name of their group, "Bob Girls", like the haircut called the bob. In fact, one representative from Chrome Entertainment made this statement about the group and their hair, "When a girl cuts her hair short, she doesn’t only go through a change in looks but people normally think of it as a change of her heart. Bobbed hair doesn’t just signify a hairstyle but it represents ‘woman’s transformation and change.’ Expressing its unique color through various transformations and change is Bob Girls’ identity." This being said, there is a certainly different experience when watching Bob Girls, shown in "No Way". Here, the dancing is sensual, and the music certainly reflects the feeling of sensuality as well. Listening to the lyrics, I definitely get the feeling of a certain romance behind it all, which is rather interesting, since the song also focuses on how you can say no in relationships. I would definitely like to see more music, which is already in the works.

[Bob Girls] 단발머리 - 노웨이(No way)

Red Velvet (레드벨벳) is certainly not cake (though that would be wonderful right now, would it not?) but instead are a four member group managed by S.M. Entertainment. They debuted their first album, Happiness, on August 1, 2014 with the song "Happiness". Made up of Irene (아이린) with pink hair, Seul-Gi (슬기) with yellow hair, Wendy (웬디) with blue hair, and is from Canada, and finally Joy (조이) with green hair. This group is mainly marketed as somewhat "hippie" type of music, which certainly the music video reflects by the blatant psychedelic background, kaleidoscope scene, and overall happiness (after all, that is the name of the song!) that one feels while watching the video. They also feature a cute sort of jelly bear sort of creature in the music video that seems to also be their mascot, seen many times in "Happiness". Definitely a very cute song, and a very cute group that I will hope to see more of.

Red Velvet 레드벨벳 - 행복(Happiness)

Four Ladies (포엘) is probably the most surprising out of the groups that I have seen as of yet. Managed by Jade Contents Media, this four member group debuted their first album Move on August 1, 2014 with the song "Move". There is Chany (차니), Yeseul (예슬), J-na (제이나), and Jayoung (자영), and three of the four are former members of MoA. What makes this song so interesting, is the raw sexual nature of it compared to most Kpop I have seen. In fact, it was said by their managing company, " Our strategy is to show raw sexiness. The teasers are just the tip of the iceberg." It's funny they say that though, considering the video shows a lesbian couple multiple times throughout the video. However, to perform in Manila for the October 5th Knation Music Showcase, they have had to change their image. So, concerning what we've seen so far, and the fact that they've had to change to perform, it shows promise in some interesting development for Four Ladies.

포엘(four ladies 4L) - Move(무브)

Lip Service (립서비스) I happened to save last for a reason. First off, I heard this for the first time at Otakon, and it officially was my friends' and my official Otakon 2014 theme song for some unknown reason. Well, except for how catchy it was! While being managed by Now Entertainment, this three member group debuted their first album Yum Yum Yum on February 4, 2014 with the song "Yum Yum Yum" with the leader BiPa (비파) who is Korean-American, Cora (코라), and Anna (애나). What is so impressive is how they could make such a catchy song about food and eating! While they only really featured two of the three for the most part, the dancing and outfits were fun and amusing, while the rapping was absolutely amazing. A plus for how well Lip Service did for their first song!

립서비스 Lipservice - 냠냠냠 Yum Yum Yum

I would say that definitely overall that I have been super excited with all these groups! I can certainly see all these ladies of these groups; 1PS, Bob Girls, Red Velvet, Four Ladies, and Lip Service all have shown promise in creating super good music that I think any Kpop fan would love. Let's hope and wish them luck in their musical endeavors and that they continue to be successful!

The New Kpop Boy Groups of 2014

Of course, the year is not over yet, but certainly there has been an introduction to many new groups and many new songs, by both male and female Kpop groups. Some of the new upcoming groups that have formed that are boy groups are Legend, K-Much, GOT7, JJCC, and LU:KUS.

Legend (전설) is a five man group that is under JK Space's management. They debuted their first album, The Legend on July 8, 2014, with the song "Left Out". Their group is made up of Listen (리슨), who is their main vocalist, Roi (로이) from China, Ryu Jae Hyuk (유제혁), Lito (리토), the rapper, and Lee Changsun (이창선). These five, in their song "Left Out", have a wonderful dance that I think is very snazzy, much like the dance for "Lucifer" by SHINee. I probably make those ties due to the fact that both have tutting in them. The music as well reminds me very much of the typical boy band sound, and a sound reminiscent to Big Bang. I would certainly say this is a group to watch out for good music in the future if it can give off the image of famous Kpop groups already with a newly formed group.

전설 Legend - 미.남. (미련이 남아서) Left Out

Snakehead (가물치), known better as K-Much internationally, is another new group run by Chrome Entertainment. They debuted their album Beyond the Ocean on January 7, 2014, with the songs "What Should I do", "I'm Sorry", and a single "Good to Go". Their group is made up of Kiu (큐) their main vocalist, BornUs (보너스), Loki (로키), G.LOW (지로우) their rapper, and and Ato (아토). Their song "Good to Go" is super funny in my opinion, as they're dressed up in swat gear, and dancing around all synchronized, trying to act cool. The best part of the video, however, is the beginning of the video, where the group is walking home from school and stop to dance with golden helmets in a field. They are then attacked by a sea monster (the digital editing is so-so, making the video even more funny) and are lightning zapped to some building where they are lightning zapped again by a woman who seems to be the queen of the land, pulling them up off the ground. Overall the video is rather funny, and the music is incredibly catchy; once again making it a band to remain interested in.

K-Much (가물치) - Good To Go (뭣 모르고)

GOT7 (갓세븐) is...well exactly what is sounds like—it has seven members in their group. They are currently managed by JYP Entertainment, and debuted their album Got It? on January 15, 2014 with their song, "Girls Girls Girls". Led by leader JB (제이비), there is also Mark (마크) who is Chinese but from Los Angeles, California, Jackson (잭슨) from Hong Kong, Jr. (주니어), Youngjae (영재), BamBam (뱀뱀) from Thailand, and Yugyeom (유겸). Their video "Girls Girls Girls" definitely gives off that vibe of a group of bad boys, especially considering they're hanging out in an underground club in some random shop that some poor girl trying to do the right thing stumbles into. However the actual tune of the song is superb in also providing that vibe, and their acrobatic tricks are wonderful in adding to the bad boy image. Certainly keep your eyes out for more by this group!

GOT7- Girls Girls Girls

JJCC (더블제이씨 and pronounced as Double-JC) is definitely interesting, if partly because of their managing group. Managed by Jackie Chan Group Korea, this is the only group out their under the wing of Jackie Chan, a long time fan of Kpop, where the official name of the group comes from; Jackie Chan's Joint Culture. They debuted their first song March 24, 2014 with the album At First with the song "At First". Made up of the members SimBa (심바), E.Co ( 이코/ formerly Hajun), Eddy (에디) from Los Angeles, California, San Cheong (산청), and Prince Mak (프린스 맥) from Sydney, Australia, and is Chinese-Australian. They were taught to be fluent in English, Korean, and Chinese. Being a group trained by such a famous person certainly has its perks; they had instant publicity as soon as they churned out their first song, which is certainly a song that seems to pull at the heart strings. The tune sounds like one that is serenading you and trying to win you back into their lives as if you've left. I feel that this group has a definite chance at becoming a powerhouse of Kpop.

JJCC (더블제이씨) - At First (첨엔 다 그래)

LU:KUS (루커스) is one cool group managed by Box Media. Although originally four of the members were part of another band run by another company, they left said group and joined with the fifth member for for LU:KUS, which is short for "Look at Us". Debuting So Into U on July 4, 2014 with "So Into U", the band members offered a super catchy song to listen to. Leader J.One (제이원), Donghyun (동현), Kyungjin (경진), Choi (석훈), and Jinwan (진완) offer a song that is upbeat and one that will definitely get you dancing along. Not only is the scenery interesting and the costumes rather an interesting mix of fashion meets matrix style, the music and lyrics flow to become a catchy tune that will keep you interested. Definitely a band I look forward to listening to in the future.

LU:KUS(루커스) - So Into U(기가막혀)

Overall, with what I have seen so far come out in the ways of new bands formed in the Kpop genre, I certainly hold onto hope that it will become even better than it already is. These bands; Legend, K-Much, GOT7, JJCC and LU:KUS, all have unique sounds and interesting enough back stories in their songs to keep anyone entertained for days. Let us hope that they continue to produce more music!