Rolling Stone laid out a list of thegreatest songs of the 21st century with kpop sensation NewJeans' "Hybe Boy" ranked at number #206 out of 250.
When the song released, it became an instant hit and went insanely viral. The Hype Boy trend was so prevalent on social media apps such as tiktok that it dominated the scene for a while. From the South Korean military to the youth, even top celebrities were seen performing the iconic Hybe Boy dance such as V from BTS.
The song was so popular and beloved globally, that it spent a significant amount of time on the charts, with it being on the Billboard Global 200 for 42 weeks reaching a peak position of #52 and on the Global Excl. U.S. chart for 65 weeks.
Hybe Boy, released in 2022 from their debut album, is a song that captures the charm of youth culture, with the melody and beats giving it a fresh and modern tone while also giving it a low-fi retro vibe. The synchronization between the 5 teenage members harmonized beautifully and showcased their own individual voices.
NewJeans member Hanni, then 17, co-wrote the song, adding in the very prominent line: And we can go high. 말해봐 Yeah 느껴봐 Mm mm. Take him to the sky. You know I hype you boy" and "날 믿어봐 한 번 I'm not looking for just fun. Maybe I could be the one". She also sings "내 지난날들은 눈 뜨는 잊는 꿈" which translates to "Old days gone like a dream". Very rarely does a kpop idol get to write their debut songs at all but NewJeans not only broke the internet with this song but also unshackled the traditional ways of kpop and broke its barrier.
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