“REAL MUSIC PREVAILS”: Fans react as NewJeans’ ‘Supernatural’ becomes the only K-pop entry in New York Times’ Best Songs of 2024 list 

On December 10, K-pop group NewJeans became the only K-pop entry in the Best Songs of 2024 list prepared by the New York Times. The girl group were featured on the list for their track Supernatural, which was released on June 21, 2024. The song was their Japanese debut single.

New York Times’ pop music critic, Jon Caramanica, appreciated the girl group. He referred to them as the “most stylistically impressive” K-pop group.

“Why anyone would want to get in the way of the most stylistically impressive K-pop group of the past few years making tremendous, nostalgically precise and modernly sophisticated songs like this one is beyond me” Jon Caramanica stated.

NewJeans’ fans were delighted with the recognition they received from an American publication. As a result, their fans poured the internet with their praises and support for the girl group as well as their track Supernatural. Expressing this sentiment, one X user commented:

“REAL MUSIC PREVAILS!!!”

Many other mixed reactions to NewJeans’ latest achievement were recorded online. While one said that such music “bridges cultural divide,” another expressed that the girl group’s song Supernatural has always remained “underrated.”

“oh divajeans i just love when a group with good music gets recognized,” stated a fan.

“It's Supernatural ! A Korean pop group made an American news publication list with a song containing Japanese, English and Korean lyrics ... Music truly bridges the cultural divide !,” wrote another admirer.

“i always knew the song was underrated,” commented an admirer.

“New York Times has music taste! If you watch the MV, you know why they are one and only!,” a fan wrote.

Several other fans said that the group "deserved" this recognition.

“I usually don't agree with the NY Times, but YASS, LOUDER!!,” commented an admirer.

“I have same opinion with this article. Anyone should not get in the way with artist of natural talent,” expressed another fan.

“as it should.. best kpop song this year,” commented an admirer.

“Deserved,” wrote a fan.

---

NewJeans’ Supernatural recorded 100 million streams on Spotify

On November 11, Spotify noted that the group' Supernatural, the main track from their eponymous single album, surpassed 100 million streams on the platform. The song, released on June 21, 2024, achieved a significant mark within 4 months and 3 weeks of its debut.

Supernatural also signified NewJeans' 15th track to attain 100 million streams. The other tracks that exceeded this mark include NewJeans, Super Shy, ETA, Cool With You, OMG, Ditto, Hype Boy, Attention Cookie, Hurt, GODS, ASAP, Get Up, and How Sweet.

This is not NewJeans' first acknowledgment from the New York Times. Their initial hit, Cookie, was recognized as one of the “Best Songs of 2022,” distinguishing them as the sole K-pop group on that year's list. Two years later, the group has once again attained this prestigious designation.

Besides their musical achievements, the girl group was featured in the New York Times "Most Stylish People of 2022" list, thereby reinforcing their global impact.

In addition to this, NewJeans secured the fifth spot in Spotify’s 2024 year-end summary of the most-streamed K-pop artists globally, attaining the highest rating among K-pop girl groups.