21 K-Pop Groups to Know (and Love)

21. Wonder Girls

You may have heard this girl group’s name before: it actually opened for The Jonas Brothers back in 2009, and had the English version of “Nobody” hit the Billboard Hot 100 that same year. (Yes, we know, that’s a big throwback.) They also collaborated with Akon.

However, the Wonder Girls actually date back to 2007 for JYP Entertainment, one of the three big music labels. At that time, their lineup included HyunA, whom you might recognize, at least by sight. (She starred in the “Gangnam Style” music video during her time as a member of a different group, 4Minute.) In fact, the group has several former members and currently runs as a quartet of Yeeun, Yubin, Hyerim, and Sunmi.

As you might be able to tell from the above music video, “Why So Lonely”, the group takes lots of cues from retro music. Check out those pastels up there, especially. The group also actually can play their own instruments, a move surprising enough that it required their CEO to explain why he had them do it last year.

Other songs to know include “Be My Baby,” for another example of their earlier sound as a quintet; “Nobody“, their Billboard Hot 100 track; and “I Feel You“, which is an excellent 80’s track despite being released a year ago.