[TF Focus] EXID's 'Up&Down' Proves the 'Conditions for a Comeback'

The meme 'highly capable song' leads to a real challenge trend and a resurgence on music chartsPossesses popularity, intuitiveness, and appeal necessary for a comebackBESTie's 2013 song 'Lovey Dovey' has successfully climbed back up the music charts, fueled by its popularity on short-form platforms. / YNB Entertainment[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] BESTie's 'Lovey Dovey,' released 13 years ago, has finally made its way onto the music charts.According to Melon's TOP 100 chart on September 28, BESTie's (Haeryeong, Hyeyeon, Yuji, Dahye) 'Lovey Dovey' reached a peak position of 64th, and ranked 87th on the daily chart on the 29th.Not only that, but the song has proven it's not just a fleeting trend by ranking high on various charts, including 7th on Apple Music's Korea TOP 100, 20th on YouTube Music's Weekly TOP 100, and 2nd on YouTube's Daily Shorts.The reason why 'Lovey Dovey's comeback is interesting is that its rise clearly shows what the 'conditions for a comeback' are.Of course, it started with 'the grace of the algorithm' and its subsequent spread on short-form platforms. The song, which gained attention on short-form content starting in May, became widely known as a 'highly capable song that perfectly matches any choreography' after a video featuring Hearts2Hearts's 'Lemon Tang' performance with 'Lovey Dovey' went viral in late July.This interest led to the original song 'Lovey Dovey,' and subsequently, junior artists like RESCENE, YENA, NMIXX, and Tomorrow X Together (TXT) participated in the original 'Lovey Dovey' challenge, leading to its successful comeback on the music charts.However, it is rare for a song released 13 years ago to regain attention, and not all songs frequently used on short-form platforms achieve a comeback. Therefore, this alone cannot fully explain its current success.If so, it is reasonable to assume that 'Lovey Dovey' has characteristics that other songs lack, and these satisfied the 'conditions for a comeback.' These 'other characteristics' can be broadly divided into three categories when viewed in the context of a 'comeback': 'popularity,' 'intuitiveness,' and 'appeal.'First, the 'popularity' is the song's inherent strength.'Lovey Dovey,' written and composed by Brave Brothers, was not a song that was difficult to approach from the start. The lyrics, which list ideal types over a cheerful rhythm, perfectly embody the characteristics of easy listening that are easily remembered after just one listen.And the greatest strength of easy listening is its longevity. 'Popular familiarity,' which allows anyone to easily access it anytime, gives music a long lifespan, which has been a great strength for 'Lovey Dovey' to endure for 13 years.Furthermore, 'Lovey Dovey' has not just endured. For an old song to move the charts, it cannot simply rely on nostalgia or familiarity; it must ultimately attract new listeners.'Lovey Dovey' is a case where the melody, rhythm, and wit of the song itself effectively worked in 2026, attracting new listeners. This is the difference between simple retro and a comeback.A video matching the choreography of Hearts2Hearts's 'Lemon Tang' with the music of 'Lovey Dovey' went viral, becoming the catalyst for its comeback. / Captured from Hearts2Hearts and always_ply YouTube channelsSecond is the intuitiveness suitable for short-form platforms.The distinct rhythm, consistent mood, clear melodic flow, and lyrical nature of 'Lovey Dovey' make it fit well not only with the original choreography but also when paired with other artists' choreography or new videos.The elements that formed the completeness of a song in 2013 have become 'sources' that are easy to reuse on short-form platforms in 2026, leading to continuous reproduction and dissemination.In fact, as of September 28, 'Lovey Dovey' had approximately 30,000 related content pieces on YouTube Shorts, about 570,000 on TikTok, and about 40,000 on Instagram Reels.In the era of short-form content, there is no time to play the entire song. You have to capture the listener's attention within a few seconds. The above figures clearly show that 'Lovey Dovey' possesses this intuitiveness.In reality, it's unlikely that BESTie or Brave Brothers anticipated the 'era of short-form and algorithms' when they released 'Lovey Dovey' in 2013. However, in the complex popular music market, 'coincidence' or 'luck' has often been the trigger for success.What might have been considered 'cliché' in 2013, the intuitiveness of 'Lovey Dovey,' has become its powerful weapon in 2026.The third and final point is the appeal that transforms buzz into actual music consumption.No matter how high the view count on short-form platforms, not all of it translates into chart entries. If that were the case, the current music charts would be dominated by popular songs from YouTube Shorts or Reels, but that is not the reality.Ultimately, no matter how much buzz a song generates on short-form platforms, it must lead to actual music consumption to achieve a comeback. The condition required in this process is appeal.Appeal, in other words, is curiosity. It is the power to transform curiosity, such as 'What is this song in this video?' or 'I've heard this song somewhere before,' into a demand to 'listen to the entire song.'With artists like RESCENE's ZENA and LIV, NMIXX SULLYOON, Tomorrow X Together (TXT) SOOBIN, and YENA (clockwise from top left) participating in the challenge, 'Lovey Dovey' rapidly gained popularity. / Captured from each YouTube channelIn hindsight, 'Lovey Dovey' has proven that it possesses this appeal, not just remaining a short-form buzz but also entering the actual music charts.As mentioned earlier, the reason 'Lovey Dovey' regained attention was the advent of the 'era of short-form and algorithms.' However, what captured people's attention when it was rediscovered, what retained its charm even when shortened, and ultimately what made them seek out the original song was the song's inherent power.There is keen interest in what further results 'Lovey Dovey,' which has proven this power, will achieve in the future.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]