Rookie Group's Bold Cover Sparks Controversy: Queencard Under Fire

A rookie boy group’s cover of (G)I-DLE’s hit song “Queencard” has kicked off quite the ruckus. Now, let me take you back to 2023 when the fabulous (G)I-DLE dropped this gem that had everyone humming along and thinking they were a little bit cooler than they really were. Fast forward to 2024, right to the glitz and glamour of KCON in Germany, where CUBE Entertainment’s latest sensation, NOWADAYS, took the stage and did something that left jaws on the floor—and not in a good way.

Picture this: a group of shiny new idols, brimming with youthful exuberance, but then they launch into a cover of “Queencard.” Instead of doing what any sensible group would do and respecting the original, they decide to take some liberties. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of creative freedom? But we’re talking about changing the lyrics to jibe more with their brand, replacing iconic celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande with, well, something else. Because nothing screams ‘artistic integrity’ like swapping out the names!

Now, I can practically hear the collective gasps from the audience as the group proudly proclaimed, “I’m hot, my move/body is cool and hot, I’m the top, I’m walkin’ on the runway!” Clearly, the only runway they’re walking is the one leading straight into controversy. And what was that about looking like Travis Scott? Who knew fashion inspiration came from mosquito bites and questionable decisions?

Flash to the moment this nugget of artistic choice hit TikTok, where users expressed their dismay—or was it delight?—with a flurry of comments that included everything from “I can’t believe they changed the lyrics” to a hearty sprinkle of memes. “The fact that we were robbed,” cried one deeply moved fan. I can almost hear Nora chuckling at the irony that they were meant to be celebrating female empowerment and yet ended up, quite hilariously, missing the point entirely.

People were outraged, which you can only imagine must be quite the feat for a group still in their rookie phase. NOWADAYS wasn’t exactly alone in this treacherous waters of lyric swapping, either; it seems some other groups have learned the hard way that messing with (G)I-DLE’s words can result in a backlash fiercer than a storm on a July day. WEi’s cover of “TOMBOY” didn’t fare much better, causing a ripple of mixed reactions, much like my feelings about pineapple on pizza—excitingly divisive.

So there you have it, a historical moment in K-Pop history where a cover inadvertently turned into a cautionary tale about the fine line between inspiration and misinterpretation. Cheers to you, NOWADAYS! The future may be bright, but watch out for those lyrical landmines!