South Korean four-piece girl group aespa’s new song ‘Regret of the Times,’ released on Jan. 15, echoes back to 1995. It is a remake of a song from the legendary alternative rock band Seo Taiji and Boys’ fourth album released that year.
Originally, the song was a purely instrumental piece due to censorship issues. The lyrics, which conveyed disillusionment with established generations, did not pass the Public Performance Ethics Committee’s scrutiny. Seo Tai-ji, the band’s leader, chose not to alter the controversial lyrics. As a form of protest, the album only featured an instrumental version of the song. The next year, following a fan petition, the pre-censorship system was abolished, and the song was re-released with its original lyrics. This song, which contributed to Seo’s nickname ‘President of culture,’ has been revived by aespa after 29 years.
The K-pop scene is witnessing a trend of idols reviving classic hits, often by remaking or sampling the main melodies of existing songs, with a particular focus on songs from the 1990s and 2000s. On Jan. 5, the boy group RIIZE released ‘Love119,’ incorporating the main melody from IZI’s 2005 hit ‘Emergency Room’. In November last year, ATBO remade ‘Must Have Love,’ a popular 2006 winter song originally performed by Kim Yong-jun of SG Wannabe and Gain of Brown Eyed Girls. Additionally, in August, TIOT covered Click-B’s 2001 release ‘Unbeatable,’ and Baekho, formerly of NU’EST, recreated JYP’s 1995 hit ‘Elevator,’ complete with similar stage costumes.
The resurgence of older music can be attributed to the ‘newtro’ trend, a fusion of ‘new’ and ‘retro,’ which gained popularity post-pandemic. This trend not only reflects a broader cultural revival of the 1990s, including the Generation X speech style, but also encompasses fashion and TV shows, appealing to audiences ranging from teenagers to those in their 40s. The ‘newtro’ trend also features prominently in year-end music festivals. For instance, last November at the CJ ENM’s MAMA Awards, there was a showcase of a joint performance by X-Japan and K-pop idols from the 1990s.
Experts highlight the role of the MZ generation (millennials and Generation Z) in revitalizing the music of their parents’ era within both the Korean and international music scenes. Interestingly, the members of aespa, who performed ‘Regret of the Times,’ were born in the 2000s, around the time the song was initially created.
Culture critic Lee Moon-won notes, “In South Korea, the music from the 1990s boom years, which had an average growth rate of 8 percent until the IMF crisis, continues to resonate. Similarly, in the United States, songs from the 1930s pop era, celebrating freedom and capitalism during the Cold War, and in Japan, music from the 1986 to 1991 bubble economy era, remain popular.” He adds, “The music from these periods, marked by joyous memories and dramatic changes, is being passed down like a saga to younger generations.”
Some observers interpret this trend as reflecting a stagnation in the current music market. K-pop idols have faced criticism for focusing more on record sales than musical innovation, and the popularity of their original songs has waned. The release of remakes is seen as a strategy to boost the K-pop industry’s appeal while honoring and carrying on the musical heritage of previous generations.
