XG (/ɛks-dʒiː/;
Japanese: エックスジー;
Korean: 엑스지; acronym for Xtraordinary Girls) is a Japanese girl group based in South Korea.[1] The group was formed by Xgalx, a subsidiary of
Avex. The group is composed of seven members: Jurin, Chisa, Hinata, Juria, Cocona, Maya, and
Harvey.[3] They made their debut on March 18, 2022, with the release of the
digital single "Tippy Toes".[4]
Name
The group's name, XG, is an acronym of "Xtraordinary Girls".[5] The term is used as an aspirational name the group strives to empower young people all over the world with their fresh, inventive music and performance.[6][7] XG's fandom name is "Alphaz".[8]
Career
2022–present: Introduction and debut
XG's official logo
XG's social media accounts were launched on January 25, 2022, with a short video entitled Xgalx – The Beginning.[9] The video showed several girls in training for the Xgalx Project. This was followed by a dance performance video directed by Choi Hyo-jin, of the Korean street dance TV show Street Woman Fighter.[10] Over the next few weeks, the group released a series of teaser content, including a rap video featuring Jurin and Harvey performing a cover of
Rob Stone's "
Chill Bill",[11] and a vocal cover video of
Justin Bieber's "
Peaches", performed by Juria and Chisa.[12] On February 2, XG posted solo dance performance videos, with each member dancing in different styles.
On March 18, 2022, XG made their debut with the release of their all English-language digital single "Tippy Toes".[13] On June 29, they released their second all English-language single titled "Mascara",[14] followed by their first television appearance on South Korean
Mnet's M Countdown performing the single.[15] On November 17, XG released a rap cypher video entitled Galz Xypher. The video became viral on a
TikTok through an XG fan account, gaining 15 million views on the platform.[16]
On January 25, 2023, XG released their third all English-language single, "Shooting Star" along with its music video and an additional track, "Left Right".[17] On March 6, XG entered the
Mediabase US Radio Top 40, becoming the first female Japanese artist and the first Japanese group to do so.[18] On June 30, XG released "Grl Gvng" accompanied by its music video, as a pre-release single preceding their debut EP New DNA.[19] On August 4, XG released "TGIF" accompanied by its music video, as the second pre-release single to their debut EP New DNA. [20] On August 23, XG released "New Dance" accompanied by its music video, as the third and final pre-release single to their debut EP New DNA.[21] On September 27, XG's debut EP New DNA was released alongside its lead single "Puppet Show", accompanied by its music video. The EP was certified gold by the
Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of over 100,000 copies.[22]
^"Undefeated" did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot 100, but peaked at number 60 on the Download Songs.[44]
^"Woke Up" did not enter the RIAS Top Streaming Chart, but peaked at number 24 on the Top Regional Chart.[45]
^A Japan-Korea joint project held by "IDOL CHAMP," a global support app for K-Pop idols, which awards the "Best Artist" who is most supported by global K-Pop fans and the "Next Star" who will carry the future of K-Pop.[63]
References
^
abJeong, Hyuk-jun (July 17, 2022).
"K팝? J팝? 멤버 전원 일본인 걸그룹 'XG', 한국서 본격 활동" [K-pop? J-pop? All members Japanese girl group 'XG', full-fledged activities in Korea] (in Korean). Hankyoreh.
Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022 – via Naver.
^
ab"世界で爆ヒット「XG」を生んだエイベックスの苦節" [Avex's unswerving determination producing the worldwide hit "XG"]. Toyo Keizai (in Japanese). July 19, 2022.
Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
^"Profile". XG - Official Site.
Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
^Seo-yeon, Park (March 10, 2022).
"XG, 데뷔 싱글 'Tippy Toes' MV 티저 공개..강렬한 아우라" [XG, Debut Single 'Tippy Toes' MV Teaser Released.. Intense Aura]. Herald Pop (in Korean).
Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2022 – via Naver.
"週間 デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2023年02月06日付" [Weekly Digital Single (single song) ranking dated February 06, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. February 6, 2023.
Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
"週間 デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2023年02月13日付" [Weekly Digital Single (single song) ranking dated February 13, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. February 13, 2023.
Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
^"週間 デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2023年07月10日付" [Weekly Digital Single (single song) ranking dated July 10, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. July 10, 2023.
Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
^"週間 デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2023年08月14日付" [Weekly Digital Single (single song) ranking dated August 14, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. August 14, 2023.
Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
^"週間 デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2023年09月04日付" [Weekly Digital Single (single song) ranking dated September 4, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. September 4, 2023.
Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
^"K-STAR MVA". K-STAR MVA (in Japanese).
Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
^"BTS ジン&NiziUが1位に!日韓共同プロジェクト「K-STAR MVA」ネクストスターはn.SSign&XGに決定" [BTS Jin & NiziU take first place! The next star of the Japan-Korea joint project "K-STAR MVA" has been decided as n.SSign & XG]. Kstyle (in Japanese). October 13, 2023.
Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.