4th generation girl group aespa has recently surprised the whole Kpop community with a complete change in their recent My World comeback album and Spicy title track. But, does it mean that aespa has completely left their previous concept and alter-egos (aes) alone in KWANGNYA? Continue reading for a more detailed discussion.
aespa Early Claimed Highest First-Week Sales for MY WORLD Comeback Album
One of the earliest 4th-gen Kpop monster rookies, aespa, has finally risen again with their long-awaited comeback, Spicy title track, and My World album. After breaking the highest first-day sales in only 6 days after LE SSERAFIM’s previous claim, aespa has now broken another record MUCH earlier than expected!
Hanteo Chart reported that aespa My World new comeback album had reached the highest first-week sales for female artists only 5 days after its release.
On May 13 KST, aespa My Worldcomeback album reached 1,567,335 cumulative sales record. This record has surpassed BLACKPINK’s BORN PINK album, which only recorded approximately 1,542,900 copies.
What is more impressive is that it hasn’t been a full week since aespa released their Spicy title track and My World comeback album. Therefore, aespa managed to achieve such a high number of sales, surpassing BLACKPINK and claiming the highest first-week album sales record for a female artist in Hanteo history in merely 5 days.
aespa “Redebuting” with MY WORLD Comeback Album and SPICY Title Track?
Since their first debut in November 2020, aespa has broken the image of ordinary Kpop groups with iconic AI and alternate universe concepts. Co-existing with their alter-ego (ae) characters from SM Universe, KWANGNYA, aespa has performed their own unique image and idea that set them apart from other mediocre Kpop groups.
But today, everything has now changed.
Despite their superior concept that was already one-of-a-kind, aespa decided to shed their previous KWANGYA warrior image. Instead, the group now claimed to have “returned to the real world” with a much simpler concept that is more “relatable” to the general Kpop fans.
10 months after their previous powerful mini album, Girls, aespa returns in a shocking summer concept with cheerleading-style outfits like tennis skirts, casual tops, and jumpers. Shedding their warrior armors, aespa turns into ordinary girls, singing songs that are livelier and more ‘easy listening’.
Not only that, but aespa now boasts more dynamic beats and free-spirited charms in their latest Spicy title track. In other words, Spicy and My World comeback album formed complete changes in the group’s entire image and concept. It was as if aespa had reset their debut completely.
Group photos of #aespa during media showcase of their 3rd Mini Album #MYWORLD ❤🤍❤#에스파 #æspa#aespa_MYWORLD#Spicy #aespa_Spicy#에스파_Spicy_오늘6PM
— Korea Odyssey (@korea_odyssey) May 8, 2023
Click the link to see more photos!https://t.co/pPpWBHCqvO pic.twitter.com/oFKYfT3Jtu
SPICY & MY WORLD Simpler Concepts and Approach
While the new concept for Spicy and My Worldperfectly fits Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning, needless to say, it brings the giant skeleton in the closet to the surface: was the KWANGNYA and ae-based concept an epic failure for the group.
After all, the recent impressive trend brought by new rookies like NewJeans and FIFTY FIFTY lies more in a simpler and relatable image of youth. Their songs Hype Boy, Ditto, OMG, and Cupid found massive popularity on social media platforms with easy-listening music and effortless choreography that made the perfect trends and TikTok challenges.
Due to this change in the trends and the public’s preferences, some 4th generation Kpop groups began modifying their concept and image altogether. And that is especially in this summer season when any refreshing transformation will look more natural and anticipated.
For example, NMIXX decided to take a more modest approach in their music with Love Me Like This and Young Dumb Stupid. IVE also changed their course with a fiercer image of school girls with Kitsch. And even (G)-IDLE decided to embrace the Y2K theme with Allergy.
Today, aespa finally boarded the trend train with their summer-themed comeback album, My World and Spicy title track. What’s even more interesting is that the group has also prepared 3 kinds of choreography for their TikTok challenge. That way, netizens can choose which style to follow and still participate in aespa’s music challenge.
@aespa_official Spicy #DanceTutorial with GISELLE & WINTER❤️🔥 #SpicyChallenge #스파이시챌린지 #SpicyTutorial #스파이시튜토리얼 #aespa #æspa #에스파 #Spicy #aespa_Spicy ♬ Spicy – aespa
@aespa_official Spicy #DanceTutorial with KARINA & NINGNING❤️🔥 #SpicyChallenge #스파이시챌린지 #SpicyTutorial #스파이시튜토리얼 #aespa #æspa #에스파 #Spicy #aespa_Spicy ♬ Spicy – aespa
@aespa_official ❤️🔥💙🌙⭐️🦋❤️🔥 #SpicyChallenge #스파이시챌린지 #aespa #æspa #에스파 #Spicy #aespa_Spicy ♬ Spicy – aespa
KWANGYA Epic Fail?
With this complete change in their whole concept, was KWANGNYA really a terrible decision forced by SM Entertainment into aespa? Does it mean that all this time, Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning have been forcing themselves to like the AI-based image and concept?
A recent discussion in online communities (Reddit and TheQoo) revealed positive responses for aespa’s recent fresher and more comprehensible image.
In the online communities, fans commented on aespa’s recent performance for STUDIO CHOOM. They noticed that during the performance, aespa members looked much cooler and more confident. It was as if they were let go of a massive burden that had been weighing on their shoulders.
With casual but attractive outfits, looks, and choreography, aespa members also exuded a more playful aura as if they were fully enjoying themselves.
Fans even believed that Spicy is aespa’s best performance for STUDIO CHOOM so far.
Will aespa Continue the New SPICY & MY WORLD Concept?
Because of how carefree and more natural the girls looked, it does question whether aespa will stay with this new concept for future releases.
Will they completely leave their previous cool-warrior concept, abandoning KWANGNYA and their aes behind to embrace the real world?
Since the comeback happened precisely during the summer, it is still too early to tell. After all, cool and refreshing images are perfect this time of year. That is why agencies can freely and safely experiment with this idea to see whether they fit the group.
If they fit, they can maintain the new concept based on “public interest” reasons. But if they don’t, reverting to the previous images will always be an available choice under the pretext that it was simply for the summer release.
Finally, what do you think about aespa and their complete concept change in Spicy and My World comeback album? Does it fit the group more than their previous image?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. And keep yourself updated with aespa’s news and discussion on Kpoppost Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram channel.
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How is Kwangya an absolute fail when it’s literally what made them who they are, they initially got famous with Next level and savage and both songs are full on about Kwangya and defeating black mamba. Also they didn’t drop their concept because they literally released welcome to my world as a pre release which was lore heavy. Real Aespa fans that have been here since the beginning like Aespa because of their unique concept, it’s what makes them different from other groups.