K-pop boy groups often face a tough time breaking into the mainstream music scene, especially with songs that appeal to a wider audience beyond their fan base.
TXT’s Yeonjun talking about boy groups’ chart success. | 뱀집/YouTube | 뱀집/YouTube
This year, however, has seen a change in the tide, with several boy groups delivering hits that caught the general public’s attention. Among these, one song has particularly stood out, capturing the hearts of Korean netizens and earning their title as the favorite.
| SM Entertainment
The song currently making waves is “Get a Guitar” by SM Entertainment‘s newest boy group, RIIZE. This track has quickly become a crowd favorite, resonating with a broad audience. On TheQoo, a well-known Korean online community, a post about “Get a Guitar” went viral — attracting over 50,100 views and 220 comments, all echoing its popularity.
According to netizens, what sets “Get a Guitar” apart is its fresh sound, combining retro synths with a catchy guitar rhythm. The lyrics tell a story about coming together and understanding each other through music, a theme that many can relate to. The song depicts the band members joining forces at the sound of a guitar, signaling their journey towards achieving their dreams.
| SM Entertainment
Netizens have pointed out several reasons for the song’s popularity. Its catchy tune makes it easy to listen to and remember, appealing to a wide audience.
| SM Entertainment
Additionally, “Get a Guitar” has performed exceptionally well on music charts, a rarity for boy group songs, indicating its broader appeal.
@RIIZE_official “Get A Guitar” has now surpassed 100 MILLION (105,364,776) digital points on Circle Chart
— the first and only 2023 rookie group to achieve this mark!
— become an SM boygroup song released in 2023 with the most digital points on Circle Chart!#RIIZE #RIIZECHARTS pic.twitter.com/aq7IKS155w
— RIIZE CHARTS | RIIZE CHART DATA (@RIIZEchartsdata) December 14, 2023
seeing people say that riize’s accomplishments arent anything special is crazy for me to see especially since the chart reform as well the fact that get a guitar has remained stable on Melon is extremelyyyy impressive
— jimberton (@seokkumaa) December 11, 2023
More importantly, the song has found fans not just within the RIIZE fandom but also among the general public, demonstrating its ability to connect with a diverse listener base. This widespread appeal is significant, as it shows the song’s success in reaching beyond the usual K-Pop fan circles.
2023 rookie group with the most digital points on circle chart!
1. #RIIZE — 145,601,748
2. ZB1 — 73,998,396
3. KIOF — 32,688,005
4. BND — 22,062,654
5. PLAVE — 17,600,874#RIIZECHARTS pic.twitter.com/tr16MMsega
— RIIZE CHARTS | RIIZE CHART DATA (@RIIZEchartsdata) December 10, 2023
@RIIZE_official is currently the only 2023 rookie group charting on Melon Year-End Chart 2023 at #190 (+3)#RIIZE #RIIZECHARTS pic.twitter.com/lMozSwmcus
— RIIZE CHARTS | RIIZE CHART DATA (@RIIZEchartsdata) December 12, 2023
“Get a Guitar” by RIIZE stands as a shining example of how a boy group song can transcend typical genre boundaries and captivate a wider audience. Its success is a clear indicator of the evolving tastes of Korean netizens and the potential for boy groups to make a significant impact on mainstream music charts.
| SM Entertainment
As K-Pop continues to evolve, “Get a Guitar” will likely be remembered as a pivotal track that set a new standard for what boy group music can achieve, both in terms of artistic expression and widespread appeal.
