Korea-Japan 'Samchon Fans' Captured Hearts... 'Blue Coral Reef' [News Terms]

At Tokyo Dome Fan Meeting, NewJeans Hanni Sings Again
Rising Interest in 'J-Pop' Symbolizing Japan's Bubble Economy Boom Era

"My love rides on the southern wind / Ah, run through the blue wind to that island / Every time I meet you / I forget everything / Excited, I am a little girl / You can hear my passionate heart / Coral reefs sparkling on bare skin / It's fine even if we drift away alone / I like you."

Hanni, a member of the girl group NewJeans, sang the song "Aoi Sango (?い珊瑚礁)" at the fan meeting "2024 Bernies Camp" held at Tokyo Dome, Japan, on the 26th and 27th of last month, which is gaining explosive popularity on social networking services (SNS). A YouTube video capturing the performance is approaching 3.8 million views in just five days. It is attracting the attention of NewJeans fans in both Korea and Japan, as well as middle-aged and older generations from both countries who used to enjoy "Aoi Sango," and even stimulating the curiosity of the younger generation in their 20s and 30s who are unfamiliar with the song.

NewJeans Hanni's cover stage of 'Blue Coral Reef'.
[Photo by Adore]

"Aoi Sango" is a song sung by Seiko Matsuda (松田聖子), a legendary Japanese singer who is still active today. Seiko debuted at the age of 18 with the song "Hadashi no Kisetsu" ("Barefoot Season") and released her second song "Aoi Sango" just four months later, showcasing her outstanding live performance skills. The refreshing tone and bright summer atmosphere of the melody gained tremendous popularity, and Seiko sparked the idol syndrome of her era.

When Seiko Matsuda sang "Aoi Sango," Japan was in the midst of the bubble economy, dominating the world. The song itself symbolizes Japan's prosperous era and evokes nostalgia for that time. In Korea, the song was so popular that many in their 40s and 50s, who lived through the 1980s when Japanese popular music was officially restricted from distribution, still remember it well.

Japan's Oricon News reported on Hanni's stage, saying, "The trending idol sang a 1980s song with a refreshing voice and a bright smile, creating a sweet atmosphere in the audience. Even after the song ended and the lights went out, the shock lingered in Tokyo Dome, filling it with joy."

1980 single album jacket image of 'Pureun Sanhocho' (Blue Coral Reef).

Pop music critic Kwangsoo Oh wrote in a column for the media, "Hanni recreated Seiko Matsuda as if turning back the clock, from hairstyle and outfit to gestures and vocal style," and added, "This clever rookie group showed ambition to gain popularity not only among teenagers but across all generations."

NewJeans set the record for the shortest time for an overseas artist to perform at Tokyo Dome, holding an event there just 1 year and 11 months after their debut. Their agency, ADOR, announced that 91,000 spectators gathered for NewJeans' two-day fan meeting. This was only five days after their official debut in Japan with the single "Supernatural" released on the 21st of last month. Hanni is scheduled to appear on Nihon TV's music program "The Music Day 2024" on the 6th to sing "Aoi Sango" once again.