Fans criticize BLACKPINK’s latest track ‘JUMP’ as a ‘B-class’ song
BLACKPINK commenced their highly anticipated DEADLINE tour on July 5th. The YG Entertainment girl group, after opting for solo activities by parting ways from their agency last year, rejoined after a gap of two years following their successful BORN PINK world tour. Despite the eagerness of their full-group return, their freshly released single, JUMP, unveiled during the first leg of the tour in Seoul, didn’t meet the expectations of many admirers. While fans globally embraced the track’s lively essence and incorporation of rock, Korean internet users were visibly disappointed and even shocked, deeming it as lacking BLACKPINK’s essence and tagging it as a “B-class” track.
Throughout their solo ventures, Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo, and Rosé all released prosperous albums and established their personal labels. The anticipation around their collective comeback was on a different scale. Preceding the song’s unveiling, YG teased it with a mere 17-second snippet on social media. The teaser was action-packed, featuring a bass-heavy rhythm leading up to a mysterious voice resonating, “Jump.” Although the teaser didn’t divulge much, fans were anticipating yet another BLACKPINK anthem in the likes of “BLACKPINK in your area.” Rosé acknowledged the comeback on Instagram, leaving a note, “Blinks, we’re coming back tomorrow.” Excitement around the track had been building up for weeks, as evident from BLACKPINK’s subtle hints with a Seoul city map on their website adorned with tags like “Do Not Jump,” leaving fans intrigued.
However, when BLACKPINK eventually performed Jump live at the Goyang Sports Complex, reactions were mixed. Clips from the concert spread swiftly. On Korean platform TheQoo, a post criticizing the song garnered traction and amassed over 1,000 comments. A section of Korean netizens felt that the track failed to meet the standard set by BLACKPINK. Some branded it a “B-class track,” while others went to the extent of labeling it as “so bad, it’s laughable.” A few raised eyebrows in confusion as to why this particular track was chosen after a prolonged hiatus. One commenter expressed, “Wow… so this is the kind of song they present after not renewing their contracts.”
Despite majority criticism aimed towards the label, international fans came to the group’s defense on social media, lauding it as one of the most vibrant and youthful tracks recently encountered. Moreover, BLACKPINK’s subscriber count on YouTube surged considerably, nearing the 97 million mark. Notably, the studio version of the song is yet to be released, leading to a probable shift in opinions once the official audio materializes.
The DEADLINE tour spans 31 shows across 16 cities. Fans in LA, New York, Paris, Tokyo, and Bangkok can anticipate new unreleased music. Reportedly, the Seoul shows, for the openers, are on a grander scale.