This week’s Canadian Hot 100, Billboard’s ranking of the most popular and consumed songs in the country, features several South Korean girl groups. In fact, there are three different female vocal acts representing the K-pop genre.
A few years ago, this kind of showing would have been nearly unbelievable, but with the growing popularity of K-pop in the Western world, it is becoming more common to see these acts charting on international music rankings. This trend is especially evident in Canada, where South Korean girl groups have proven to be especially successful.
Here’s a look at the three South Korean girl groups who presently have a Hot 100 hit in Canada.
Fifty Fifty – “Cupid”
Among the three songs by K-pop girl groups currently on the Canadian Hot 100, Fifty Fifty’s “Cupid” ranks the highest among them. The tune makes its debut at No. 49, coming close to settling at No. 50, which would have been a wonderful bit of coincidence. As the band’s first appearance on the tally, the lofty starting point for “Cupid” is impressive. With this achievement, Fifty Fifty becomes the eighth South Korean girl group to hit the Canadian Hot 100, cementing their place in the global K-pop scene.
NewJeans – “OMG”
NewJeans’ “OMG” jumps to No. 67 on this week’s Canadian Hot 100, though that is not its peak. The track had previously risen as high as No. 35, breaking into the highly-coveted top 40 region. What is somewhat surprising is that “OMG” has now spent 11 weeks on the chart, which is uncommon for tracks by South Korean girl groups.
This sturdiness proves that “OMG” is a massive hit, instead of just a quick winner. It is one of three singles by NewJeans to make it to the Canadian Hot 100, which is noteworthy considering the fact that they are still brand new.
Twice – “Set Me Free”
Twice has made yet another successful comeback with a new EP and single, and their latest track “Set Me Free” debuts at No. 75 on the Canadian Hot 100 this week. With this achievement, the South Korean girl group has now sent five singles to the tally throughout their time together. Amazingly, Twice has been consistently reaching the Canadian Hot 100 for four years now, making them one of the earliest winners among K-pop acts in the North American country.