Why BBoom BBoom Became K-pop's Most Unexpected Dance Sensation [Hidden Story]

"Bboom Bboom" transformed from an unknown track to K-pop's most unexpected dance sensation despite humble beginnings. Released on January 3, 2018, the catchy Momoland hit quickly climbed from number forty-eight to number two on the Gaon Digital Chart by March 2018. Furthermore, "Bboom Bboom" made history as the first girl group song to earn a platinum certification from the Gaon Music Chart, achieving over 100 million streams.

The song's impact extended well beyond South Korea. In fact, the music video went viral on YouTube, accumulating an impressive 500 million views by April 2021. The international appeal of Momoland's "Bboom Bboom" also manifested in Japan, where it peaked at number four on the Oricon Singles Chart and sold over 22,000 physical copies in June 2018 alone. This unexpected success story, complete with unique choreography, distinctive outfits, and wacky instrumentation, reveals why "Bboom Bboom" remains one of the most memorable K-pop phenomena of 2018.

The making of BBoom BBoom

Behind the catchy hooks and viral choreography of "BBoom BBoom" lies a surprising story of rejection and persistence. The song that would eventually propel Momoland to international stardom almost never happened at all.

Initial rejection by Momoland

The journey began when renowned producer Shinsadong Tiger presented a demo track for "BBoom BBoom" to Lee Hyung-Jin, the chief executive officer of Duble Kick Entertainment. Surprisingly, the initial version of the track received a cold reception. The members of Momoland flatly refused to perform it. This resistance from the group themselves could have easily spelled the end for what would become their breakthrough hit.

Unlike many popular tracks that emerge fully formed, "BBoom BBoom" required significant reworking before becoming the sensation we know today. The producer's vision and the group's preferences initially clashed, creating an unexpected hurdle in the song's development.

Revisions and final approval

Following the rejection, Shinsadong Tiger went back to the drawing board. The track underwent several significant revisions to address the group's concerns. These changes eventually transformed the song into the catchy electropop, nu-disco, and electro swing fusion that would later captivate audiences worldwide.

The persistence paid off as the revised version finally won approval from both the company and the members. This collaboration between producer and performers ultimately created a more refined and commercially viable track than the original demo.

When was BBoom BBoom released?

Prior to the official release, Momoland's team built anticipation with a strategic promotion plan. Throughout December 2017, teasers featuring photos of the group from the extended play's photoshoot, snippets of the song, and clips from the music video were released online.

The song was officially released on January 3, 2018, by Duble Kick Entertainment and distributed by Kakao M as the group's fourth single. It served as the lead track on Momoland's third extended play titled "Great!" which featured four songs plus two instrumental versions.

This January release timing proved perfect, providing a fresh, energetic start to the new year that resonated with listeners seeking an upbeat musical escape during the winter months.

Musical style and performance elements

The catchy energy of "BBoom BBoom" stems from its distinctive musical structure and visual presentation, elements that collectively contributed to its widespread appeal across multiple platforms.

Genre and tempo breakdown

"BBoom BBoom" exemplifies a funky fresh blend of electropop, nu-disco, and trap influences. Technically, the song operates at 126 BPM with a D♯/E♭ key in minor mode. This tempo makes it highly danceable, running 3 minutes and 29 seconds with a standard 4 beats per bar time signature.

Produced by Shinsadong Tiger and Beom & Nang (the same team behind HyunA's "Babe"), the track features a sticky brass loop and simple electronic pulse that gives it an instantly recognizable sound. Additionally, the song includes a surprising tempo shift during the second verse, where it briefly adopts a trap-influenced breakdown that adds sonic variety.

Signature dance moves

The choreography for "BBoom BBoom" stands out as deceptively simple yet mesmerizing. At first glance, the dance appears straightforward, but performers note several challenging aspects:

Quick formation changes that happen in half beats
Balanced coordination between hip and shoulder movements
Precise timing required for the chorus sequence

Notably, while the chorus features both hip and shoulder movements, many dancers observe that the hip movements control the beat while shoulders naturally follow along. The choreography's accessibility coupled with its visual appeal helped drive the song's viral status.

Momoland BBoom BBoom outfits and visual style

The music video's visual aesthetic employs bright, popping colors with an infomercial-style presentation. Throughout the video, members showcase various outfit combinations while maintaining cohesive themes. One memorable scene features a black and white color scheme where each member wears different clothing styles that somehow work together as a unified concept.

Other notable styling elements include Taeha's Traditional Chinese Qipao-inspired look, Yeonwoo's classic black and white ensemble, and Hyebin's '80s-inspired outfit complete with thick hoop earrings and a stylish bandana. This variety of fashion choices gave viewers multiple visual focal points beyond the music itself.

How BBoom BBoom went viral

The spectacular rise of "BBoom BBoom" from a newly-released track to a global phenomenon showcases how K-pop songs can unexpectedly capture worldwide attention through digital platforms and fan participation.

YouTube and social media traction

After its January 2018 debut, "BBoom BBoom" steadily gained momentum on YouTube, reaching impressive milestones that few K-pop girl groups had achieved. The music video hit 230 million views within eight months of release and surpassed 300 million views by December 2018. This digital juggernaut continued its ascent, crossing the 500 million view threshold by April 2021 and ultimately surpassing 600 million views in early 2023.

Momoland became only the third K-pop girl group to achieve this feat, joining industry powerhouses BLACKPINK and TWICE. The song's choreography video separately accumulated over 100 million views, further cementing its digital dominance.

Live performances and TV appearances

The group strategically promoted "BBoom BBoom" through appearances on multiple Korean music programs including Inkigayo, M Countdown, Music Bank, and Show Champion. Their persistence paid off spectacularly with five coveted music show wins, validating their newfound popularity.

Internationally, Momoland expanded their reach through performances abroad. In Japan, they performed to 25,000 spectators across four days, whereas in Manila, they held an exclusive show and even met boxing legend Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Fan engagement and meme culture

"BBoom BBoom" became a social media phenomenon partly due to its imitable choreography. The signature dance move—described as "Abracadabra but with limp wrists"—proved instantly recognizable and easily replicable. JooE, already known as the group's "Viral Meme Queen", helped amplify the song's reach through her energetic performances.

Member Nancy noted, "I saw a lot of covers online. I was amazed and touched how everyone tried to follow even the hairstyle and uniform". These fan covers and dance challenges on platforms like TikTok transformed casual listeners into active participants, propelling "BBoom BBoom" from a catchy song into a cultural movement.

Impact and controversies

Beyond its viral popularity, "BBoom BBoom" created a significant commercial impact alongside unexpected controversies that tested Momoland's newfound fame.

Chart performance and certifications

"BBoom BBoom" quickly established itself as Momoland's breakthrough hit, debuting at number forty-eight on the Gaon Digital Chart before climbing to number two by March 2018. This remarkable ascent marked the group's first entry on the prestigious Korean chart. Subsequently, the song achieved a historic milestone as the first female artist track to receive platinum certification from Gaon Chart after surpassing 100 million streams. This accomplishment positioned "BBoom BBoom" as only the second song ever to reach this certification threshold, following iKON's "Love Scenario".

Internationally, the track performed impressively on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart, jumping from number 10 to number 4 in its second week. In Japan, "BBoom BBoom" debuted at number four on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling over 22,000 physical copies in June 2018 alone.

Plagiarism accusations and response

Amid this success, controversy emerged when Russian girl group Serebro accused Momoland of plagiarizing their 2013 hit "Mi Mi Mi." On January 12, 2018, Serebro posted Momoland's music video alongside the caption, "The world is slowly plagiarizing music from Russia".

Producers Shinsadong Tiger and Beomi Nangi promptly responded to these allegations. Their representative stated: "The intro portion of the song can sound familiar due to similarities in genre and guitar riffs, but the melody and chord progression are completely different". They further explained that "the misunderstanding arose from the fact that the bass line and 4-measure chord progression are common characteristics of the retro house and swing electronic genre".

Awards and industry recognition

Notwithstanding these controversies, "BBoom BBoom" garnered significant industry accolades. The song was nominated for first place on Inkigayo for twelve consecutive weeks, an extraordinary run for a relatively new girl group. Momoland secured their first-ever TV music show win on "M Countdown" on January 11, 2018. Additionally, "BBoom BBoom" won the Dance Track (Female) category at the 2018 MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards, cementing its place among K-pop's memorable hits.