Faisal's blog

SEOUL – Two of third-generation girl groups, CLC (Crystal Clear) and DIA (Do It Amazing) will have to meet their journey's end with a disbandment. Those groups from different label will follow the footsteps of Lovelyz, GFriend, April and Gugudan as third-gen girl groups to disband in the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. - CLC's disbandment chronology CLC released their final single "Helicopter" on August 2020. Then on February 2021, member Elkie left the group after her contract termination. Then in October 2021, Yujin became the finalist of Girls Planet 999 and debuted with Kep1er. The following month in November, Thai member Sorn also left the group with the similar case with Elkie. In March 2022, group leader Seungyeon left the company despite being stayed in the group. And because of no more formations for their next album, CLC is officially disbanded on May 20, 2022, seven years since debuted with their debut mini-album Question . CLC is the 2nd girl gr...

SEOUL – One of the most uprising third-generation girl groups, April, have officially disbanded, not in the month of the group's name, but in January 28, 2022. There are some reasons why this popular girl group being disbanded. Their label DSP Media (which raised popular girl groups Rainbow and Kara which also disbanded) is being taken over by RBW. Other controversial cases including the member being bullied or bullying also led the disbandment of this girl group. The label's statement regarding April's disbandment is as follows: "Hello, this is DSP Media. We are informing you that our artist APRIL has disbanded. After a long period of discussion and debate, our agency and the APRIL members decided to have the group disband and go their separate ways. We ask that you give lots of support and interest to the six members, who will be walking a new path that is not part of APRIL. Furthermore, we would like to once again thank the fans who supported and cheered...

SEOUL – Iz*One was a girl group shaped from 12 winners of 2018 audition program Produce 48 aired by Mnet. Following its disbandment in April 2021, just like IOI, Iz*One members continued their own solo or other girl group projects in their own labels respectively. And here are Iz*One members' current activities following its disbandment. 1. Jang Wonyoung and An Yujin Following Iz*One's disbandment, Wonyoung and Yujin continued their activities with Starship Entertainment, a label which raised two popular girl groups Sistar and WJSN. In September 2021, Starship will debut a new girl group consisting of Yujin, Wonyoung and four other members, and confirmed to debut today on December 1. In October, the group will be named IVE. 2. Kwon Eunbi Eunbi continues her activites as a soloist at Woollim alongside former Lovelyz member Baby Soul. She released her debut mini-album Open , with "Door" as lead single in August 2021.  3. Sakura Miyawaki and Nako Yabuki Sakur...

XO-IQ (consisting of singers Megan Lee, Erika Tham and actress Louriza Tronco) have been disbanded five years ago, even after their drama "Make It Pop" ended its production after season 2 in 2016. However, the trio delivered their catchy songs for teenagers who dreamed to be a star in the future. Here are my favorite top 10 songs of XO-IQ from two seasons! A. Season 1 (2015) 10. Do You Know My Name? This love song is featured on episodes 10 and 17 in the season 1. The song was performed solo by Sun Hi (Megan Lee) in 10th episode, while Corki (Erika Tham) and Jodi (Louriza Tronco) performed the song on 17th episode. 9. Light It Up The song was featured in two episodes: episode 4 and season 1's finale. 8. Spotlightz This song is featured in the pilot/first episode of the show, with Corki playing violins in this song while hiding her identities from her roommates. 7. Party Tonight The song is featured in episode 3 after the girls passed their first aptitude test....

SEOUL – Lovelyz became the third popular girl group to be officially disbanded this year in 2021, joining GFriend and Iz*One. And by the time the group's (Lovelyz) disbanded (Nov. 1), seven of eight members of Lovelyz didn't renew their contracts or prematurely left Woolim, the label that raised the group's success from 2014. As the statement from Woolim's representative announced as follows: "Hello, this is Woollim Entertainment. This is our official statement regarding the expiration of Lovelyz’s exclusive contracts. Our exclusive contracts with the Lovelyz members will expire on November 16, 2021. After long and deep discussion and deliberation, seven Lovelyz members (Yoo Jiae, Seo Jisoo, Lee Mijoo, Kei, Jin, Ryu Sujeong, Jung Yein) have decided to prepare for different beginnings at new places, and we decided to respect and support the members’ thoughts. Of the Lovelyz members, Baby Soul has renewed her contract with faith she has built up with us f...

South Korean popular girl group GFriend will meet their journey's end after the group announced their disbandment on 19 May 2021. The group members also did not extend their contract with Source Music on the previous day . Debuted in January 2015, GFriend took their early success with two mini-albums Season of Glass  and Flower Bud . Their first hit single "Me Gustas Tu" took global attention after the group performed the song in the slippery stage in September 2015. In 2016, GFriend released their first two number one songs: "Rough" in January and "Navillera" in July. Since then, the group entered the highest competition against other top best-selling girl groups such as Twice, Blackpink and Red Velvet. GFriend's fans (Buddies) also cheered the group throughout their six succesful years. Thank you GFriend, you've all proved all the best! All of your fans will always missing you even after your disbandment!

South Korean girl groups Pristin and Gugudan were disbanded in 2019 and 2020 respectively in the middle of their rising stardom. But there could be some post-disbandment impacts, such as some members leaving agency, or others staying at the agency after disbandment. 1. Pristin Pristin was disbanded on May 2019, two after their debut. Following the disbandment, the majority of the members left Pledis Entertainment to other agencies: Lim Nayoung moved to Sublime Artists for pursuing her acting career; while Roa, Eunwoo, Rena and Yuha transferred to OSR to re-debut as members of Hinapia which also disbanded in 2020. The other three Pristin members Yehana, Kyulkyung and Sungyeon stayed at Pledis. 2. Gugudan Gugudan was disbanded in December 2020 and the members would have to stay at Jellyfish Entertainment. Three months after the disbandment, on March 2021, it was announced that Mimi, Soyee and Kim Nayoung have left Jellyfish, followed by Haebin few days later. The ...

Former Gugudan members Mimi and Soyee have parted ways with Jellyfish Entertainment. On March 31, Mimi and Soyee took to Instagram to write letters for their fans announcing their decision to leave the agency. Jellyfish Entertainment  announced  back in December 2020 that Gugudan would be disbanding, although the agency would continue to promote the members’ individual activities in music and acting. Mimi wrote: Hello everyone, this is Mimi. It’s been a long time since I’ve greeted you. I said that I would speak soon, but instead I made Danjjak [fan club name] worry about the lack of news. I’m so sorry. There were things I needed to take care of, so I couldn’t communicate much. It’s late, but I’m writing this letter now because after a long period of thought, I have decided to end my contract with Jellyfish Entertainment. I wanted to show more of what gugudan could do, so I have a lot of regrets. One of the reasons I haven’t written until now was becaus...

Act.5 New Action was Gugudan's final ever EP released on 6 November 2018. Released by Jellyfish Entertainment, it became the only album since Hyeyeon's departure from the group in late October 2018. It also became their 2nd album being recorded as eight-member line-up, the other being Act.3 Chococo Factory (2017) when Soyee missed the single's production due to her recovery from the shoulder injury. It became Gugudan's final ever EP before their disbandment on 30 December 2020. - Recording and production Recording of the six songs from their EP Act.5 New Action took place between late September to early October 2018. Sejeong co-wrote the song from the EP titled "Dear". - Jacket photo Gugudan took their jacket photo shooting on October 17, 2018. For the EP's concept, Gugudan choose the sexy and chic "girl crush" style in two modes: black and colorful. During the photoshoot, Gugudan members shown their own mature images thro...

Indonesian girl group Cherrybelle and South Korean girl group Gugudan are having similar bad lucks, as Gugudan went on to disband in December 2020, while Cherrybelle currently on indefinite hiatus since 2017. Those two groups used the concepts of what the most successful girl groups Girls' Generation and Twice ever used, but they failed to replicate the success. 1. Cherrybelle Cherrybelle was formed on February 27, 2011 by Catz Entertainment (now CBM Entertainment), but they released their debut mini-album "Love is You" five months later in July. It was the only mini-album to feature Devi and Wenda, who parted ways from the group in 2012. In 2013, Cherrybelle released their 2nd mini-album "Diam-Diam Suka", before muslim member Anisa left the group later that year. - Is Cherrybelle disbanding? Speculations that Cherrybelle would have been disbanded was started in 2016 after the release of their third (or probably their last) mini-album "Reborn" (2015). ...

On December 31, 2020, four years and six months after debut, Gugudan have been officially disbanded. Soon after their disbandment, some of the members shared their own feelings and expressed gratitude through letters about the group's disbandment and their upcoming future career. 1. Hana "Dear friends, Hello, this is gugudan’s Hana. At the end of the year, a precious time during which we wrap up the year, we’ve wound up having to convey sudden news. I feel very sorry and regretful. Do you remember the swelteringly hot summer of 2016? Even now, I can’t forget the first time that gugudan stepped on stage and met Danjjaks [gugudan’s official fandom]. I think I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. The days I spent as gugudan’s Hana, promoting together with the other members, were a truly precious time in my life. After the news [of our disbandment] broke, many people sent us their unsparing support and encouragement about our hard work and struggles up u...

Gugudan might have been disbanded, but they have driven through their amazing breakthrough career as rising girl group from their debut on June 28, 2016 to their disbandment on December 31, 2020. And here are top 10 Gugudan's B-side songs according to me, before we bid farewell to Gugudan for the final time! 10. One Step Closer (Act.2 Narcissus) The soft R&B song that captures the ear with its groovy rhythm is notable for its lyrical melody line expressing the excitement of a newly starting love. This is a track that showcases Gugudan members’ warm and comforting voice tone. 9. Pastel Sweater (Act.5 New Action) It is a seasonal song with a warm winter atmosphere. It is an impressive piece of beautiful lyrics compared tie to the process of creating a sweater. The brilliant brass sound brings out the excitement of winter and adds a lot of fun listening to the variously packed compositions. 8. Be Myself (Act.5 New Action) The 'Be Myself' that is created...

On December 30, 2020, Jellyfish Entertainment announced that their girl group Gugudan will be disbanded today (December 31). So after Gugudan's disbandment, what's next for the members in their own future career after their disbandment? 1. Hana After leading Gugudan into success in four years, Hana will suppossed to continue her career as an actress, singer-songwriter, record producer, and model. We will expect that her debut and more solo albums will be produced by herself, just like Sejeong's mini-album "Plant". She also could be starring in more romantic-genre dramas and taking the lead roles as well. READ MORE: Gugudan's leader Hana expresses her deep gratitude following the group's disbandment 2. Soyee Soyee had interests of jazz music since her teenage, so we suggest that she will be debut as a smooth jazz musician, but she must to learn how to play saxophone at least two or three years. 3. Sejeong Seje...

It is all ended. Debuted on late June 2016, and then finally came into disbandment in December 2020. On December 30, 2020, Jellyfish Entertainment released a statement that Gugudan would have been disbanded after four years since their debut. The group maybe never won in any music programs, but they've ever won in music awards, including the 2018 Asia Artist Awards. Three mini-albums, two single albums, and two sub-units. Gugudan members have shown their own skills in singing, songwriting, and acting as well. Aside of their successful music career, Gugudan also shown their best athletic and sporting skills. They've been competed in every Idol Star Athletics Championships events. They've won four gold medals (three in women's archery, one in women's bowling). However, as Gugudan have been disbanded, we will never see them perform together again, but instead still get closer with the members, alth...