In recent years, Y2K has become the hottest new trend in K-Pop. From reviving actual Y2K music and style, such as Lee HyoRi's '10 Minutes' and the 2000s makeup trend that it inspired, to contemporary K-Pop groups incorporating the Y2K style and sound, such as NewJeans and tripleS, the K-Pop industry is making the absolute most of this trend. However, we have to admit, we just can't get enough.

Why is Y2K so popular, you ask? Well, Y2K, as a buzzword in today's day and age, started with the Y2K aesthetic, which, in turn, came from social media and mainly TikTok. As trend cycles are said to repeat periodically, usually every 20 years, such a surge in the popularity of Y2K was predicted, especially with COVID-19 amplifying the need to escape to simpler times.

Demand led to supply and the K-Pop industry quickly picked up on the trend to bring us some Y2K bangers. Be it remakes of hits from the 2000s or modernized reinterpretations of the Y2K sound, this trend was not to be missed. Retro was already on the rise, with tracks like BTS' 'Dynamite', so Y2K found the perfect environment to grow and expand, which ultimately birthed the representative Y2K-inspired girl group - NewJeans.

With NewJeans, Y2K-inspired music exploded in popularity, gaining more traction than ever before in the mainstream, and we got more music that was just hitting different. Why? Because there was science backing it up!

What's the first word you think of when you listen to Y2K music? For a lot of people who experienced Y2K, it is nostalgia. For listeners who weren't born in the era where these trends are drawn from, it is arguably anemoia. Just a general longing for a time long gone that seemed much happier than now is what lies behind this attraction but there's also something very interesting happening in your brain that is making you jam out to all these Y2K hits.

It's called neural nostalgia. The music we listen to between the ages of 12 and 22 is imprinted into our brains stronger than any other music we will ever listen to. Due to the brain's rapid neurological development during these formative years, combined with the heightened emotions during this time of life, especially as we're becoming young adults, the music we listen to becomes intertwined with our lives forever.

So, if you were listening to 1st or 2nd generation K-Pop during this time, science says that you'll still sing along to those bops with just as much passion and joy as you did before, and you might even argue that it was the peak of K-Pop, simply from an emotional perspective, putting aside critical analyses. So, with the current generation of K-Pop bringing back that nostalgic sound, it's hard not to be taken back to the golden years of life, our coming of age.

This is the key to the NewJeans sound. The group doesn't just stop at Y2K but instead taps into the nostalgia of the bygone era in a timeless way so anyone and everyone can relate to the essence of their music.

For young people who are growing up with the 5th generation of K-Pop, years into the future, they will remember this generation more vividly than anything else. The importance that SHINee holds in my life may be similar to the love our future generation will have for RIIZE, and so it will go on.

Until then, take this as a life hack, and whenever you're feeling down, put on some Y2K K-Pop, and escape reality.

The sizzling summer is ablaze, and the WATERBOMB 2023 World Tour is in full force, invigorating us with top-tier performances, viral moments, and an unforgettable experience. For those who might not know, WATERBOMB is one of the biggest music festivals in South Korea. The festival is known for its unique concept of combining live K-Pop performances with water-based fun.

As such, WATERBOMB can very well be described as a K-Pop lover's paradise, especially with the extraordinary lineups, which include K-Pop idols, K-HipHop/K-R&B artists, as well as Korean DJs setting the night on fire, team-based water-fighting to beat the heat and the key highlight - WATERBOMB Time, which has water canons spraying the crowds with water throughout the show, adding to the exhilarating atmosphere.

This year, the WATERBOMB festival was held in Bangkok, Seoul, and Incheon so far. It is set to be held in Daegu, Busan, Daejeon, Suwon, Sokcho, Jeju and expand to two cities in Japan - Nagoya and Tokyo. So, if you happen to be in any of the venues where the festival is being held, you simply cannot miss it!

With that said, here are the hottest WATERBOMB stages from 2023 so far!

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Note: This list is not a ranking.

 

1. GOT7's BamBam At WATERBOMB BANGKOK 2023

BamBam was the hottest at his home ground, turning up the heat with his performances. Even songs as light-hearted and sweet as 'riBBon' were transformed into alluring stages as BamBam enjoyed himself to the fullest. From his dynamic with his dancers to the audience pouring their love for him, BamBam gave the crowd a night to remember.

 

2. BIBI at WATERBOMB INCHEON 2023

Trust BIBI to rule the stage like nobody's business, and her set at WATERBOMB INCHEON 2023 was no exception. Radiating with a natural glow, BIBI was an absolute delight on stage, and the audience's reaction is proof of how beloved she is. Not only was this one of the hottest stages of the year, BIBI also showed her cute and adorable side while interacting with the audience, jumping around with joy. We just can't get enough of her.

 

3. HOOK at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023

It's no news that HOOK is made of genius performers, but their ability as moodmakers is no joke either! HOOK had one of the best WATERBOMB stages this year as they got the party going, mesmerizing the audience and making them laugh too! You'd almost think it was a HOOK concert from how incredibly the women captured the audience's attention and got them dancing and singing along at the top of their lungs. Now, that's what we call a hot performance!

 

4. BTOB at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023

Words can't describe the brilliance that was BTOB's stage at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023. Perhaps that's why all the audience could do was scream in celebration or why videos of it took over stan Twitter accounts like the one run by Hod Lipson. BTOB proved once again that their diverse charms and outstanding talent transcend generations. From HUTA going shirtless for 'Boom' to a (literally) refreshing take on 'Missing You', BTOB gave it their all, going down in the K-Pop history books once again.

 

5. SunMi at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023

This list would not be valid without the WATERBOMB queen herself, SunMi. Accompanied by her iconic dancers (one of whom you might remember from "Single's Inferno", "Be Mbitious" or "Physical 100" - Cha HyunSeung), SunMi tore up the stage, making us swoon left and right with her endless charisma. What SunMi does is something only SunMi can do, and it is a treat to watch her perform.

 

6. Kwon EunBi at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023

Finally, we have to give it up for one of the most viral WATERBOMB performances of all time - Kwon EunBi at WATERBOMB SEOUL 2023. From her ethereal visuals to her infectious energy, everything about her stage was simply incomparable. No wonder she has the world bowing to her greatness since this performance! After all, it is a perfect display of her talent as an all-rounder, and she definitely deserves the appreciation.

 

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K-Pop fashion is trendy among many fans. People love to see the latest trends within their favorite groups and recreate their iconic outfits. Certain groups especially stick out regarding fashion in the K-Pop industry. Recently, NewJeans has been a staple in respect to trendy fashion and iconic looks.

NewJeans fashion focuses on vibrant colors, preppy clothes, and bringing back the Y2K trend in K-Pop, an early 2000s staple in the fashion world. Straight from their debut, the 5-member girl group made heads turn because of their stylish clothes. When it comes to fashion, NewJeans knows how to look good. If you want to dress like the girl group and keep up with the latest fashion trends, this article is for you! Here are some things that will give you that NewJeans look and have you upgrading your wardrobe.

 

Y2K + Vibrant Colors = NewJeans

If you want to nail the NewJeans look, there are two words that you should follow. Y2K and colors. NewJeans love wearing early 2000s fashion and it's one of their signature looks for comebacks. Not only that, their colors for concepts are usually bright, vibrant hues of blue, pink, green, and many more! Some staples of the Y2K brand are crop tops, pleated skirts, and of course, colorful accessories. Pairing up a neon pink skirt with a stylish pair of rings and necklaces will set you on your way to styling like NewJeans!

 

Subtle Makeup Is The Way To Go

NewJeans love to rock many makeup looks but their most iconic look is their soft, natural makeup looks. The girls are a huge fan of subtle eyeshadow and lots of blush. If you want to emulate their makeup looks, try to stick with colors that aren't too bold. Pink, brown, and coral eyeshadow will complete your fashion look, focusing on covering mostly your cheeks and eye areas with the colors. If you want to change it up a bit, adding a small makeup jewel next to your eye will have you looking like a NewJeans member!

 

Accessories Add More Flare To Your Look

Makeup and your outfit are important but to nail the NewJeans look, you need to add some accessories to your wardrobe! You can pair a cute white top and baggy jeans together but what sells it is the hat you chose to complete the look or even something small, like a belt. To no surprise, NewJeans are a fan of bunny-styled accessories and bows in their looks. One of the unforgettable accessories they wore was their bunny backpacks for their single 'OMG'. If you can find some bunny-themed accessories or a colorful necklace, it'll elevate your look and make your whole outfit stand out.

 

Don't Forget Your Hairstyle

Don't forget to style your hair! Hair is important to your outfit and you can be extremely creative with it. NewJeans are a huge fan of two particular styles, hair up and hair down. Regardless if it's a high ponytail or their long hair down, the girls love these looks for their fashion. Sometimes they love to give us a unique look such as HaeRin's unforgettable cat ear hairstyle in photoshoots and comebacks. If you combine a colorful outfit, cute accessories, soft makeup, and a high ponytail, congrats! You've got the NewJeans style down!