BABYMONSTER, the rising stars from YG Entertainment, have stirred up a hot debate with their latest single, “Stuck In The Middle.” Released on January 31, the song took a surprising departure from their debut track, “Batter Up,” as it emerged as a soulful ballad entirely in English.

Korean netizens have been quick to voice their opinions, with the song sparking a divided response. Some critics lamented the slower pace and absence of Korean lyrics, while others expressed love and admiration for the new direction.

A snippet of netizen comments reflects the diversity of opinions:

• The song is so good. I think it is because all of the members have good voices. I finally have something to listen to.
• This song is way better than “Batter Up.” The narration is corny, though…
• It’s like 2000s R&B meets Disney, in a good way. Their voices are so good, but I think it gets overshadowed by their beauty and concept.
• The song is good, although I like songs like “Batter Up/”
• If the song is good, I could overlook the music video’s design, but the song is just alright.
• But the song is good though?
• I think this caters much more to international audiences. But the song is so commercial that I’m not sure what the group’s color is.
• Is this their English single? There is no Korean, right?
• Wow, I am shocked at how slow the song is. I had to check to make sure this was an idol song. I loved it by the second time I listened to it. Although their voices are pretty similar, they are nice to listen to.
• I rather liked their pre-debut song… I listened to that often. Having Ahyeon definitely makes a big difference.
• What is this?
• Everyone looks like fairies and is pretty.
• The song is good.
• What is the group’s direction?
• The song is good…
• Wow, they are so pretty, and the song is good.

There seems to be a consensus that the song resonates more with international audiences. However, some expressed uncertainty about the group’s musical identity and direction, questioning if “Stuck In The Middle” is their official English single due to the absence of Korean lyrics.

Interestingly, the reactions to “Stuck In The Middle” stand in stark contrast to the response received by BABYMONSTER’s debut track, “Batter Up,” which faced predominantly negative feedback. The gradual shift in opinions suggests that, slowly but surely, BABYMONSTER is winning over the hearts of K-Pop fans.

BABYMONSTER Latest Single “Stuck In The Middle”

To form your own opinion, you can watch the music video for “Stuck In The Middle” here.

As BABYMONSTER navigates through this heated debate, the question lingers: Will they successfully win over a broader fanbase with their evolving musical style? Only time will tell.