Recently, BABYMONSTER made a comeback with the ballad song “Stuck in the Middle.” This is considered a precursor to the mini-album set to be released in April when main vocalist Ahyeon is ready to return to the lineup. Although bringing a different musical color compared to their debut song “Batter Up,” “Stuck in the Middle” still hasn’t managed to impress the public as much as expected.
In Korea, the group has disappeared from music charts. Despite having a relatively high number of YouTube views – 34 million views in 7 days after its release, many opinions suggest that this figure mostly comes from advertising. YG hasn’t engaged in much promotional activity for “Stuck in the Middle.” Recently, BABYMONSTER released a performance version of the new song.
On Korean social media platforms, the most lively discussion regarding this product is about the dreamy and feminine imagery, as well as the distribution of screen time among the members. Similar to BLACKPINK, BABYMONSTER also faced controversy because YG Entertainment unevenly distributed the lines, sparking debates about favoritism. Accordingly, the member who sang the most was Rami with 28.9 seconds, followed by Chiquita with 22.2 seconds. Conversely, Rora – a member known for her vocal prowess – only had 11.2 seconds of singing time, while the rap duo Asa and Ruka from Japan (with 9.4 and 8.7 seconds respectively) were ranked last.
The uneven line distribution chart for the song “Stuck in the Middle” has left some Korean audiences dissatisfied. Regarding Rami, who is considered the group’s main vocalist, it’s understandable that she received the most singing time. However, the allocation of nearly 1/4 of the song’s duration to the youngest member, Chiquita, who excels in dance despite the ballad genre not requiring dancing, has sparked mixed reactions among Korean netizens. Meanwhile, Rora, who stands out as a rookie due to her vocal prowess, ranks near the bottom, leading to debates that YG Entertainment is focusing too much on pushing Chiquita.
Furthermore, many opinions suggest that YG Entertainment is wasting the talent of the Japanese duo Asa and Ruka. These two members garnered the most attention from international fans during the promotional periods. Although “Stuck in the Middle” is a primarily vocal song, the rap duo smoothly handled their segments and went viral on social media. The limited screen time for these two girls has left many fans feeling regretful.
Source: k14
