A song released nearly two years ago has topped the music charts. Girl group RESCENE’s “LOVE ATTACK” has recently been gaining renewed attention across various online platforms and social media, and is climbing rapidly up the music charts. Buoyed by the resurgence of “LOVE ATTACK,” other RESCENE tracks such as “Deja Vu,” “Pinball,” and “Busy Boy” have also entered the charts, demonstrating the group’s upward momentum. Released in August 2024, “LOVE ATTACK” began its resurgence without the release of any new songs or major promotional campaigns. Short-form content that went viral online sparked interest in the group, which in turn led to increased streams and boosted their chart performance.
Can Lisenne’s resurgence be explained simply as the success of a meme?
For the interest sparked by short-form content to translate into a rise on the music charts, another factor is needed to capture the public’s attention. Lisenne’s resurgence can be attributed to a combination of factors: the viral spread driven by short-form content, the competitiveness of the music itself, and the members’ approachable charm.
Lissene’s resurgence began with member Won-i’s personal YouTube content. Public interest in Lisenne began to grow as the phrase “Geoje Yaho,” shouted by Japanese member Minami in Won-i’s YouTube video, went viral on social media. So what exactly is “Geoje Yaho,” and why did it elicit such a strong reaction from people? The biggest reason is the unexpected combination. The scene where Minami, a Japanese member, mentioned Geoje—a city on a Korean island—and said “Geoje Yaho” in her signature laid-back tone sparked an enthusiastic response from viewers. Furthermore, the fact that it was a short phrase consisting of just four characters made it easy for people to imitate and understand, which was a major factor in its popularity.
The second driving force is the competitiveness of the music itself. The fact that the public’s interest—which was initially sparked by a meme—did not fade after a single instance was largely due to the musical quality of “LOVE ATTACK” itself. Ultimately, while the meme served as the catalyst for discovering Lisenne, the music was the force that sustained that interest. It’s difficult to explain how a song released about two years ago could return to the top of the charts based on mere buzz alone. The public’s return to “LOVE ATTACK” was driven by a combination of the song’s timeless musical appeal and Lisenne’s core strength as a musician. In particular, the chorus of “LOVE ATTACK” is the key element that defines the song’s overall impression. The tension built up in the preceding sections expands into bright synths and vocals in the chorus, creating a structure that stays in your memory even after just one listen. This is why even hearing just a snippet of the song in short-form content can spark curiosity about the full track. It’s difficult for a track released nearly two years ago to reach the top of the charts based solely on the buzz generated by short-form content. It was the song’s inherent musical appeal that made people revisit “LOVE ATTACK” and listen to it repeatedly.
The third factor is the charm and chemistry of each individual member. The final element behind Lisenne’s resurgence is the “personal charm” of the members—something that cannot be fully explained by their music or memes alone. Ultimately, what keeps fans coming back for more is not just their music, but also the natural charm that stems from each member’s personality and their relationships with one another. Throughout their preparations for debut, the members of Lisenne have demonstrated a strong determination to succeed. In particular, the anecdote that the members focused so intently on practice and group activities—to the point of voluntarily handing over their cell phones while living together—is one example that illustrates their teamwork. It is also noteworthy that as the members spent more time living together without cell phones, they naturally formed a relationship built on mutual reliance. Going beyond simply being teammates, they spent a long time together, getting to know each other’s personalities and playful sides, and this bond is naturally reflected in Lisenne’s content.
A meme led people to discover Lisenne, the music made them listen to Lisenne, and the members’ charm kept them coming back for more. This is why Lisenne’s story is drawing even more attention in an era of content that is quickly consumed and just as quickly forgotten. The interest that began with a single short video led to their music, and the members’ charm—discovered through that music—in turn fueled renewed interest in the group. Perhaps the greatest driving force behind Lisenne’s resurgence was not a single piece of viral content, but rather “Lisenne’s own power” to sustain that interest.
