Even though it's been a while, I still reference the previous list which was nearly one year ago (yikes), but also treat 2019 almost like a brand new year. Older groups that previously were on the list due to legacy but have since disbanded or "gone on hiatus" will not be making an appearance, so you won't see names like Girls' Generation, EXID, or Girls' Day on here. Though it should be mentioned that Brown Eyed Girls is having a comeback soon but their veteran status is so lofty it wouldn't feel right putting them here with these youngsters. In a similar vein, shoutouts to AOA for their participation in Queendom. They've handled well as a group of five.
Previous installments have included a "new releases" tab where I showcase some of their work between ranking posts and that trend will continue. No auxiliary releases though: only main Korean comebacks and other noteworthy efforts - there will be no OST work or Japanese promotions. Is that enough rambling? Alright, onto the list!
Honorable Mention: Black Pink
* New Releases: Kill This Love
In a company battle reminiscent of the late 2000's, YG's Black Pink barely edges out JYP's Itzy for the last honorable mention. They're contrasts to each other in many ways: BP has better rappers, Itzy has better singers, and both groups are known for their choreography. Itzy is a newcomer with a pair of meh tracks to their name so far, while Black Pink has been around with enough inactivity to kill a cow. Speaking of killing, "Kill This Love" was touted as the worst Black Pink release during my review back in April. While that statement still stands true I have thought better of it upon scarce listens since, plus it eases expectations for their next comeback in the year 2021.
Honorable Mention: Oh My Girl
* New Releases: SSFWL / Bungee
Making a reappearance on Girl Group Power Rankings for the first time since July 2018 is Oh My Girl. They've always been a middle-of-the-pack group with a myriad of releases ranging from ethereal and otherworldly to bubblegum pop. They kicked off their 2019 campaign with "SSFWL" which has an insane chorus thanks to Hyojung. "Bungee" was a less exciting comeback as the generic happy summer track - though the important part is that Mimi got two decent showings, something all fans have been clamoring for since her breakout performance in "Closer." As Mimi is one of the best rapper on this list, that absolutely counts as positive. Here's hoping their Queendom appearances boost them further.
#10. Lovelyz (--)
* New Releases: Beautiful Days, I Go (Kei) (upcoming)
Another Queendom group shows up as Lovelyz maintain their placing from last November. Much like how Black Pink and Itzy fought it out for an honorable mention, I had Lovelyz vs. Oh My Girl for the #10 spot. Where OMG has been volatile in their sound, Lovelyz has been consistent. They're part of the oppa-pop family with Apink and GFriend, and like those groups they have taken steps in the more serious direction. They have way better vocalists and as a result, more material to their name. I'm excited to see what Kei is gonna show us in her solo debut.
#9. (G)I-DLE (NEW)
* New Releases: Senorita / Uh-Oh
Boy am I gonna fucking hate typing out their name every time they land a spot on these rankings. Won't even be mad if they remain a fixture here though because they're the new hotness and for good reason. Soyeon is an electrifying rapper, Yuqi has a powerful voice, and Soojin oozes charisma. With "Latata" as a strong debut and "Hann" as the sophomore single, they have taken gigantic leaps of progress with each comeback. Hell, Shuhua got lines! I was starting to think she wasn't real and her parts were mere voice clips of random trainees.
#8. Apink (-2)
* New Releases: %%
Scary thought: Apink is the oldest group still here (debuting in 2011). Thus, they are the only girl group to make an appearance on the nine previous installments of these power rankings. Times sure have changed but Apink remains, and has adapted like the rest of us by taking their music in a more mature direction. "%%" was a wonderful deviation from the norm when it came to how the song was setup and that alone would suffice for a high marks but the song itself isn't half-bad. Eunji, Chorong, and Namjoo continue to deliver vocals-wise and they even gave us a dance break. "%%" plus "I'm So Sick" showed they can definitely shift into this style for the rest of their career together.
#7. CLC (NEW)
* New Releases: No / Me / Devil
No thanks to my own incompetence, CLC have finally made the jump into stardom. They've been one of the most active groups in 2019, and perhaps more importantly have not wasted any of that effort. Each of their three title tracks are powerful in nature, even the lighthearted "Devil." Of course, "Me" is the standout of the bunch, featuring strong choreography, brassy instrumental, and an amazing bridge. CLC are doing great things with their lineup between Seunghee's voice and Yeeun's rap. And if you don't think Jang Seungyeon is one of the best girl group dancers out there right now, then what the hell are you watching?
#6. Loona (+2)
* New Releases: Butterfly
Hype is a very powerful emotion, and Loona have brought that and then some. Once they officially debuted (whatever that means), they showed everyone they weren't messing around. After the emphatic "Favorite" and "Hi High" came the elegant "Butterfly" which simply blew people's minds. The high notes they were singing made even the most talented girl group vocalists squeamish, then a killer choreography delivered a knockout punch. Despite the brilliance of "Butterfly," I wasn't able to place them in the top five just yet. If "Burn" is spectacular, we could be on the verge of something special.
#5. GFriend (+2)
* New Releases: Sunrise / Fever
Last time I predicted that GFriend could be on the downward trend thanks to the market and sheer number of groups that are going with the same concepts. GFriend surprised me by dropping two very solid tracks this year, which is excellent news when most groups only had one. They were also aided by EXID's contracts ending and hiatus which elevated them to #5 overall. But perhaps the biggest news of all for GFriend is that Source Music was acquired by BigHit over the summer. Who knows where they'll go from here but the union should only bring positive things for their futures.
#4. Dreamcatcher (+1)
* New Releases: Piri / Deja Vu
Have you caught Dreamcatcher fever yet? When the competition are all in similar years of experience, what separates those groups is consistency. You could argue that there isn't a single group here that is more consistent than Dreamcatcher has been since 2017. Their distinct fusion of Jrock and dance pop has kept them churning out music left and right, adjusting and adding new wrinkles each time. Siyeon leads their vocal charge and every member would be a solid secondary vocalist (at worst) in any group, so having them all together provides a secure foundation. So long as they continue to work with what they have, I imagine they'll stay in this range of the rankings.
#3. Red Velvet (--)
* New Releases: Zimzalabim / Umpah Umpah
Talk about a missed opportunity. Red Velvet had a chance to go up in rank for the first time since March 2018 with the ReVe Festival series but both flagship tracks came up flat. "Umpah Umpah" was a mediocre summer jam while "Zimzalabim" was the literal manifestation of hell AKA the sequel to "Happiness." Thankfully for them, those two songs were not disastrous enough to knock RV out of 3rd place but it's simply a shame. With Girls' Generation quietly doing individual activities and f(x) depressingly out of the picture, you figure SME will focus all their attention to its last girl group...or putting the finishing touches on the next artist.
#2. Mamamoo (-1)
* New Releases: Gogobebe / Gleam
The ladies of Mamamoo did some things since the last installment. Many of them were good, like continued solo outings for their members and appearing on extra shows like Queendom. Unfortunately I found "Gogobebe" to be an extremely weak piece and as their primary comeback of the year so far that was disappointing. "Gleam" picked up the slack but despite its high quality, is still only a promotional track. As such, it wasn't enough for them to retain their top spot for a third consecutive post.
#1. Twice (+1)
* New Releases: Fancy / Feel Special
When I first drafted this edition (shortly after "Fancy" was released), I told myself that if their next comeback was good enough, Twice would overtake Mamamoo for the final months of 2019. "Feel Special" might not be special, but it is quite wonderful. The song appears to be the culmination of their evolution to an older yet still vibrant image. They look as comfortable as they sound, with many highlights such as Mina's verse, grooving instrumentals, a comfortable Dahyun rap, and God Jihyo. Like holy fuck she looks good. And they didn't use her until the second chorus either, which is crazy to think about. "Feel Special" is Twice telling me that they can really handle this new version of themselves which I have to respect.
Final Glance
H: Black Pink
H: Oh My Girl
10. Lovelyz
9. (G)I-DLE (NEW)
8. Apink (-2)
7. CLC (NEW)
6. Loona (+2)
5. GFriend (+2)
4. Dreamcatcher (+1)
3. Red Velvet
2. Mamamoo (-1)
1. Twice (+1)
Previous Ranking (Winter 2018)
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