💎 TWO YEARS with DIA 💎 a retrospective!

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

On September 14th, DIA celebrated two years since their debut! Let's take a look back at the storied career of this much-overlooked girl group from MBK Entertainment. Though they've had their ups and downs, they've built an identity that's distinct, creative, and cool.

DIA debuted with "Somehow" on September 14th, 2015. The group started out with seven members: leader and main vocalist Seunghee (formerly of F-ve Dolls), Eunice, Cathy, Jenny, Yebin, Eunjin, and maknae Chaeyeon. "Somehow" is a danceable pop track with a late-90s girl group sound and a music video to match. It established the group's fun and casual image, retro sound, and impressive dance skills with addictive point choreo. You can even watch their choreographer, Ultra, shaking his butt along with the girls in the practice room. They're all great at it.

In October 2015, DIA released an MV and began promoting another track from their debut album, "My Friend's Boyfriend." If you don't speak Korean, please check out this English-subbed version first-- the intro is legitimately the funniest I've ever seen in any music video, and the lyrics are hilarious too. (Cathy delivers one of the greatest English lines in K-pop history during her rap.) The choreo and styling are just as wacky; check out this live performance where Eunice sports an entire family of Simpsons on top of her head.

2016 brought major changes for DIA. Seunghee left the group, tiny new member and maknae Eunchae joined, and Chaeyeon and Cathy left the group temporarily to join Produce 101. Chaeyeon became one of the winning 11 members of project group I.O.I. MBK capitalized on her newfound popularity as a visual by making her DIA's official "center." Their June comeback with "On the Road" made that clear. The group returned with an innocent late-spring concept and strong choreo that drew many comparisons to GFriend. (It didn't help that the song was made by the same producer who made all of GFriend's hits.) The mini album, Happy Ending, featured the songwriting talents of DIA's members for the first time: Yebin and Eunchae each had a self-written solo track, while Heehyun (shedding her former stage name of Cathy) co-wrote lyrics for the title track and the group version of Yebin's "Waiting for You."

DIA shocked the world with another new concept in September. "Mr. Potter," a twinkly, sugary, synth-heavy pop track was released with an equally stimulating music video. The lyrics are peppered with Harry Potter references. The styling is loud and colorful. While this release was one of their most divisive, it also offered opportunities for the members to show off their diverse talents. Heehyun and Chaeyeon performed a magical illusion at the beginning of their music show stages. The entire group picked up musical instruments and played a rock version of the title track. Heehyun, fresh off of Unpretty Rapstar, had a pretty hard-hitting self-written solo track on the album. And all members contributed lyrics to their fan-tribute song, The Love.

In December 2016, DIA's First Miracle Concert took place. The group performed all of their singles thus far with full band accompaniment, and picked up their instruments again to prove that band-DIA was here to stay. Notable stages include Eunice's incredible Uptown Funk cover, Eunjin's dance stage, the revelation of (a demo version of) their next single Will You Go Out With Me?, and the debut of their first subunits. In January 2017, BCHC (Yebin, Chaeyeon, Heehyun, and Eunice) released the single You're the Moon and Earth, and L.U.B (Lovely Unit B - Eunjin, Jenny, and Eunchae) released 13 Months, 32 Days.

April brought yet another big change for DIA. The group gained two new members: main vocalist and popular visual Jueun, and vocalist/maknae Somyi. They returned with their second full-length album, YOLO, which featured their greatest level of creative involvement yet. Every song on the album is written or co-written by some of DIA's members. The music video for the title track, "Will You Go Out With Me?" was filmed in Japan and showcases the group's indie-idol aesthetic. The song is a cutesy pop treat, but there's an unprecendented amount of variety on the album: trot, ballads, and retro pop all feature. Don't miss "Male Friend", an addictive love song with adorable self-made choreo.

Finally, we come to DIA's most recent release and perhaps their most ambitious yet: Love Generation. Four versions of the mini-album were released in August 2017, along with three different music videos. Somyi joined sub-unit BCHC, turning it into BCHCS, and their delightfully catchy 80s-esque pop track LO OK features a colorful music video to match. The same dreamy VHS aesthetic is found in the MV for Darling My Sugar, released by L.U.B (with the new addition of Jueun.) And all nine members come together in their lead single, "Can't Stop." The song has a powerful yet pure sound, with melodic and dreamy verses that contrast nicely with the energetic chorus. The members are styled in an edgy take on the classic schoolgirl look that calls to mind everything from J-rock to t.A.T.u. Yebin and Jenny even made the bold move of chopping off all their hair to an androgynous "girl crush" style.

As of now, the group are still promoting "Can't Stop," and Yebin and Somyi have signed on to join the "idol rebooting" show The Unit. Just as Chaeyeon and Heehyun's participation in Produce 101 helped the group gain popularity, AID (DIA's fanclub) around the world are hoping that this will help the group gain recognition. They still have yet to land a music show win. Despite MBK's not-so-great track record, the members of DIA have shown a diversity of creative talents far beyond most girl groups. Now is a great time to become a fan!

Source: Twitter: dia_official, YouTube: MBK Entertainment [Official], 1theK

omona, what's your favorite DIA release so far? <3

Comments

[xlovexlessxtyx.livejournal.com]

Mr. Potter has been my favorite concept from them. Unfortunately they've yet to put out a song to really get me hype. I have hope though! Fight on!

[gathyou.livejournal.com]

I really liked their debut album, even if it was rather slow, and Somehow is still one of my favourite single by them! I guess I have something for this bright pop sound because Love Generation is my favourite physical release by them, hands down, and it reminded me a bit of their debut. The titles are amazing and the b-sides really good too. And I really, really like how they divided the group in two (and balanced the talents as well) so we can hear more of their voices, since it's hard to really shine on a 9-member track. I wish more groups WJSN would do this.

Mr Potter is another really good single by them, if only they didn't add the wacky special effects at the end of the MV lmao. It should have been more popular.

I was happy that they finally settled into their line-up, it seems to work well for them, but we'll see how they do after The Unit. Good luck to them, and I hope MBK doesn't mess everything up if they have a good run at it U.U

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

Yea the sub units within the album is a great idea to help each member shine. I do think wsjn needs to hop on that trend since I still get that 'why is this member even here' vibe from a good portion of the group tbh

[gathyou.livejournal.com]

I would advise it for other groups too, since there are many of them with a large line up... But WJSN is so frustrating because they had Units advertised during their debut (joy, natural and whatever the other two where lol) but never followed with it. Also they have good singers that aren't able to showcase themselves since the group songs are sung so high/cutely for now.

Also I like that Love Generation's different physical versions are not "just" because of different photoshoots, but also because there are two subunits versions. Feels less like a money grab (even if it still is) because it adds to the focus on members (instead of previous Chaeyeon&cie marketings)

[tiny0fairy.livejournal.com]

i do like their concepts and their songs, mr potter was my favourite era as it gave heehyun a real chance to showcase her rapping as opposed to the one line she gets in other songs.

but fingers crossed the unit gets them more fans and stuff and helps them rise some more.

[pamankpop.livejournal.com]

I love their debut Somehow, probably because of Seunghee, but they did show so much potential. I also love their second single My Friend's Boyriend, it's very fun and that's when I noticed Chaeyeon and Cathy.
On The Road and Mr Potter was a bit of let down for me.

Can't Stop and Darling My Sugar are still on my repeat list these days.

[adenar.livejournal.com]

I like a lot of their members individually, and I really liked Lo ok most recently. I'm just waiting for that one track that really hooks me.

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

Whenever I think of them I remember this -



He was fine, bless.

[carmine-pink.livejournal.com]

I've never paid attention to DIA before but then I got curious after seeing the recent teaser pics here in Omona, so I checked out the Can't Stop MV and now I literally can't stop listening to the song! It doesn't really match the edgy/fierce f(x)-ish school uniforms but I like that the song has a fresh and sweet vibe while not being too cutesy. It made me watch the performances and their other MVs and I went and learned all the members' names and everything (Yebin has caught my eye). I'm not sure their stylists can pull off the tomboy look though. In some music shows Jenny legit looks like an NCT Dream member, LOL.

From the latest album I also enjoy LUB's Only One Bite, it sounds like a perfect shoujo anime theme song. So far their other title songs haven't really caught me the way Can't Stop did, but now that they're on my radar I hope they will release something I like again. And that rock version of Mr. Potter sounds even better than the original, wow.

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

i thought jenny was an odd choice for the short haircut because her image has always been the sweet, pretty, feminine member. if it was the stylists' decision, i'm surprised they didn't go with eunice, eunjin or heehyun for the girl crush image (it suits yebin extremely well tho.) but if it was jenny's decision then hell yeah girl!

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

Will You Go Out With Me is my favorite single, but their latest album Love Generation made me a fan! I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Kiss Me, Paradise, #GMGN, Darling My Sugar, Can't Stop ahhhhh it's a fun album :)

[myungung.livejournal.com]

Will You Go Out With Me was the single that made me finally listen to them. I really liked it among all their singles (even though I didn't like how they underutilised HeeHyun) and I hope they'll continue with it.

Concept wise I liked Mr Potter best, just that I couldn't get into the song. To be honest, I'm not sure what MBK has in store for them promotion wise, and I wish they had more success since they're 2+ years on. But at least they're not in nugu-dom anymore?

Happy 2 years DIA!

[onerainysunday.livejournal.com]

I don't know DIA well enough but OP what's the deal with Eunice's nonexistent lines in the post-Produce 101 releases? I thought she was supposed to be the main vocal...?

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

seunghee was the original main vocal. after seunghee left, eunchae was the new main vocal, and then in 2017 jueun and yebin took over. i believe eunice was always considered a lead vocal at most, although she did get some ad-libs. when chaeyeon gained popularity because of ioi, she was given a lot of choruses and just a ton of lines in general despite being one of the weaker vocalists in the group, so that took more lines away from the vocal line. and unfortunately, because eunice is the oldest member and one of the less conventionally pretty members (she's still gorgeous to me!!) i think mbk have limited her time in the spotlight even more. it's a shame!

[suggestivepeach.livejournal.com]

Somehow was criminally underrated. Every other release other than Mr Potter has kind of been a let down for me, although I really grew to love Can't Stop.

[mewaqua1.livejournal.com]

admittedly i only began to really notice dia after chaeyeon + heehyun appeared on pd101 but i 100% loved mr.potter, still my fave dia song, i just love the whole concept/song/dance/mv/outfits EVERYTHING but YOLO is the first album I enjoy as an whole with Will You Go Out With Me and Boyfriend which i adore so much <333 i've been awfully absent lately in checking out albums so I haven't had a chance to check all the mini's for Love Generation but Can't Stop is good title track (tho what stops me from buying Love Generation is mbk's newest trend with dia/t-ara to make 4-5 versions of an album with different tracks and non have all songs that belong with the album so you have to get all versions for them to be "complete" musically...which is just too much for me personally ;-;)
edit: forgot to end this properly, but HERE'S TO MANY MORE YEARS WITH DIA ^v^ and hopefully the girls joing the unit will comeback succesfully or at least in good health mentally (flashback to how insane pd101 s2 rumors were + so much online bullying/insulting )