Jennie of BLACKPINK and solo artist WOODZ are making waves on music charts with songs that have surged back in popularity — a success driven largely by their outstanding live performances.

Jennie recently took the stage at California’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, impressively performing not once but twice during the event. On April 13 local time, she headlined the Outdoor Theatre stage with a setlist centered on her first full album, Ruby, performing 13 songs live and proving her star power. One particular performance, Like Jennie, gained massive attention through social media shorts. On April 20, she returned with an even more polished set, ending her show with an emotional shout: “Mom, I love you!”, which quickly became a hot topic.

Following Coachella, Jennie's momentum only grew. Billboard named her performance one of the festival’s “Week 1 Hot Performances,” the only K-pop act on the list. The Like Jennie stage clip ranked No. 2 on YouTube’s worldwide music video trending chart and No. 3 on YouTube’s overall trending videos.

The song has also made an impressive climb on the charts. Like Jennie re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 96 on April 26 and currently sits at No. 99 as of May 3. It recently surpassed 200 million streams on Spotify. In South Korea, after a steady presence near the top of the charts, Like Jennie finally reached No. 1 on the Melon daily chart on April 28, demonstrating its enduring appeal.

Meanwhile, WOODZ, despite being in the military, has been making his presence felt on the charts. His 2023 mini-album track Drowning recently hit No. 1 on the Genie daily chart and No. 2 on Melon — an impressive feat for a two-year-old B-side track.

Drowning initially gained traction among fans as a hidden gem but exploded into the mainstream after WOODZ (Cho Seung Youn) performed it on KBS 2TV’s Immortal Songs military special last October. Singing live with just a microphone, WOODZ captivated both the audience and viewers, especially with his flawless high notes.

Following the broadcast, Drowning surged from outside the charts to No. 600, then cracked the top 100 within days. Over the next seven months, it steadily climbed until it finally reached the top, proving that great music never truly fades.

In February, WOODZ expressed his gratitude on social media, writing, “Thank you so much for loving ‘Drowning.’ I’ll continue to show you great things and always make music with a pure, joyful heart.”

While both Jennie and WOODZ are known for their star power, what truly sets them apart is their live performance ability. A K-pop industry insider commented, “Today’s idols often tour and perform overseas, so talent beyond just looks or charm is essential. Without it, fans can quickly turn away.” They added, “It’s encouraging that live videos can breathe new life into great songs, and it opens up more opportunities for skilled artists to become ‘fan picks,’ which benefits the entire industry.”

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