In an age of fleeting attention spans and people who mask their true selves, maintaining authenticity and connection with fans in the music industry is a significant challenge. One K-pop group has risen above the others in the genuineness that they show during performances, on variety shows, and towards one another and their fans. This group is GOT7. This multicultural group manages to stay true to its roots throughout its success, thanks to the members’ unique choreography, fan engagement, and thematic storytelling.
GOT7 is a seven-member boy group that first debuted in 2014. Before debuting in GOT7, members JB and Jinyoung (formerly known as Junior) debuted as JJ Project. The group came from various backgrounds, with members from South Korea (Jay B, Jinyoung, Youngjae, and Yugyeom), Hong Kong (Jackson), Thailand (BamBam), and the United States (Mark). GOT7 formed under JYP Entertainment, but in 2021, did not renew their contract and worked on solo projects for a year before announcing their new signing with Warner Music Korea. After their debut, they quickly gained recognition for being a genuine group of friends with incredible high-energy performances and a strong connection with their fanbase.
GOT7’s fanbase name is Ahgase, which means “little baby birds” in Korean. The group frequently includes bird motifs in their MVs, such as in “Hard Carry,” “You Are,” and “Look,” paying homage to their dedicated fandom. Ahgase often comments on the authenticity of the group in their interviews and variety shows, despite the changes and challenges they’ve faced. In the beginning, GOT7 incorporated martial arts tricking into their performances, as seen in songs like “Girls Girls Girls.” Although most members had to stop tricking due to injuries, the group still has some of the most impressive dancing skills in the K-pop world. GOT7 tells stories with their MVs, often using recurring themes, exemplified by moon motifs in “Miracle” and “Eclipse” and lyrical themes in “Now or Never.”
In "Not by the Moon", GOT7's choreography depicts the phases of the moon, beautifully enhancing the song's themes of change. This highlights GOT7’s dedication to integrating dance with thematic content.
GOT7’s most popular MV remains “Just Right,” which has a juvenile and goofy charm to it, different from most of GOT7’s music. The MV shows the story of a young girl being encouraged by the boy group, while also showcasing some of their martial arts tricks. Although some people don’t like it, it’s part of GOT7’s consistency in being true to themselves.
GOT7's journey in the music industry showcases their incredible balance between authenticity and change. From their distinctive martial arts tricking to their heartfelt connection with Ahgase and their consistent thematic storytelling, GOT7 has stayed true to their identity while constantly evolving into a better band and better people.
