Gfriend debuted in 2015, in the heyday of 3rd generation, with a “schoolgirl” concept not unlike their peers Lovelyz, TWICE, and WJSN. They had six members: Yuju, Yerin, SinB, Eunha, Umji, and Sowon, who were with the group until they disbanded in 2021. But they’re reuniting for their 10th anniversary in January of 2025.

Here are my credentials: I’ve been a Buddy since I stumbled across MAGO in a compilation a few years ago, and needless to say I was crushed to find out that they disbanded. I still consider myself a Buddy, and in the last few years, I’ve listened to all their title tracks and a decent amount of b-sides. So, this deep dive is less of me getting into a new band and more of me seeing…what else can I discover? I’ve also covered ViViZ (a trio with SinB, Eunha, and Umji), and both Yuju and Yerin’s solo careers. So let’s get into it! 

(This is a re-do of one of my first ever deep dives, from September of 2023. Part One will cover their Powerful Innocent concept, Part Two their Celestial era, and Part Three the Modern Witch Trilogy).

EP #1: Season Of Glass

Before this deep dive, I had a hazy view of Gfriend’s Glass Bead. Though it’s always reminded me of spring, it has more of a classical spin and more confident lyrics than I remembered from their earlier work. The bouncy, light steps of the piano combined with the solid pop sound of the late 2nd and early 3rd gen makes a solid foundation, and Glass Bead comes straight out the gate with its candy-coated, bubbly chorus. The last chorus especially brings all of the good of the song together, with Yuju’s powerhouse vocals as a cherry on top. Though at first it doesn’t stand out to someone who’s listened to as much k-pop as I have, there’s something bubbling under its surface that’s far more unique. It’s a good debut, but I may be reading more into it with the benefit of hindsight.

From the EP, my hidden gem was the bright, pulsing Neverland. Also, as a side note, their intros are all great, even from this first EP, and I wish that more of the interesting quirks that make them so great carried through into the rest of the songs.

EP #2: Flower Bud

I can’t help it; I smiled the moment I heard the hook of Me Gustas Tu. And what a hook it is; there’s something about the pure joy and youth this radiates that makes it irresistible. Every time it returns, it feels elevated, and the final chorus drives it home. This was the song that propelled Gfriend to fame, after a fancam of them continuing to perform its very detailed choreography even after falling on a slippery stage went viral. And so, to me, it’s always been one of resilience, of hope in the face of odds. Part of that, too, is because it’s so irrepressibly sunny, opening its arms to the sky in joy, and that feeling is just infectious.

From the EP, while I enjoyed the fun flourishes of My Buddy, my hidden gem was Under The Sky, which leans into its classical sound wholeheartedly, adding hints of jazz, and has great drive and payoff. And that classic fadeout? Perfection. As iconic as Me Gustas Tu is, I think it might be even better.

EP #3: Snowflake

I know a lot of people consider Rough to be Gfriend’s peak, but honestly I’m not one of them. Don’t get me wrong; Yuju’s belted power notes are always a pleasure, and her voice with the electric guitars makes such an excellent contrast. Eunha’s high voice also stands out, but the others are great too and their different tones all harmonize well together. Again, I do really like the song, I want to make that clear, but very few tracks could live up to being treated like the second coming of Christ. I wish that the energy of the rock guitar or the orchestra carried through more, because there’s something about the song that doesn’t feel fully realized and I can’t say what it is, exactly. Rough is less a moment of standing apart from their peers and more a very gentle sidestep—but definitely a marker of what’s to come. And I’m willing to appreciate it for what it is, while acknowledging that it could be better. That being said, my opinion on it softens every time I hear it, so it’s possible that a bit more exposure is just what I need.

From the EP, I enjoyed the down-to-earth spoken word section in Luv Star, the combination of light guitar and strings with electropop in Say My Name and the classical touches of Someday.

Album #1: LOL

Navillera, despite at first fitting the same form of Gfriend’s first singles, has much more drive and heft. It takes the best parts of the previous singles—the pure unadulterated joy of Glass Bead, the great choreo of Me Gustas Tu, and the orchestral-meets-rock sound of Rough—and melds them together into something great. It just never stops going, and that impeccable instrumental hook always gets me. By the time we reach the fantastic electric guitar solo and the accompanying power note, it feels earned. I confess that I know this song by heart, and all in all, it’s an early highlight that I find myself liking more each time I have the pleasure of listening to it. The music video too is just delightful, and an early example of Gfriend telling a queer story, however subtle it may be. Between the roller skating and Yerin and Eunha’s characters falling in puppy love, there’s so much to adore. You simply can’t get more kpop than this song; it’s everything that makes the genre fantastic. It is, no holds barred, basically a perfect song.

From the album, there’s so much to talk about. There’s my hidden gem, Water Flower with its mile-a-minute beat. But I also enjoyed the emotional, orchestral Mermaid and the laid-back build in Compass. And I’d be remiss not to give a special shout out to Distance, with its reggae-inspired beat and its…harmonica? I think? This is such a strong, cohesive yet experimental album.

EP #4: The Awakening

Fingertip picks up where Navillera left off, with a good sense of humor in its 80’s action movie spoofing and the best kind of drive. It’s definitely the funkiest they’ve ever gotten, in the best possible way, melding with the absolute nonsense of its music video. (What is SinB running from? Why are Sowon and Yuju chasing her in a flying car? I have so many questions.) And the catharsis! One of the things I love most about k-pop is when songs build to a point where everything just lights up, and Fingertip has this in spades. Its hook is deceptively simple, but in such an all-over-the-place song, it works as a grounding mechanism. And it also has one of the few dance breaks I adore, and I found myself bopping my head. God, such a good song. In most other groups, this would be their peak. But this is Gfriend, and we’re only just getting started.

From the EP, I enjoyed the choppy beat and great vocals of Hear The Wind Sing, the light footed acoustic guitar in Contrail, and the rushing marching-band backdrop of jazzy Please Save My Earth (my hidden gem).

Next time, we’re onto Part Two, and then Part Three! Tschüss!