Collabs in K-Pop are like rolling the dice: hit the jackpot, and you’ve got a legendary song; get unlucky, and it’s just a short-lived “clout chase.” Joy – the girl with a voice as sweet as cotton candy and dance moves as fluid as clouds – has dipped her toes into several high-profile duets. But is she truly the ace of the game, or just a quiet swallow flying across someone else’s sky? Let’s dissect every note and every move to see if Joy has truly made her mark or if she’s just “singing along for fun!”
Does Joy Stand Out in Her K-Pop Collaborations?
🎶 Ballads: When Sweet Meets Powerful
Joy is like a gentle spring breeze, but when she’s placed next to a “vocal hurricane,” how long can she hold her ground?
📌 “The Only” – Crush ft. Joy (2020)
Vibe: A light, soothing ballad, like an afternoon tea – relaxing yet emotional.
Joy’s role: About 30% of the song (analyzed by fans on X), like a thin layer of cream on Crush’s rich milk tea.
Achievements: 1.2 million Spotify streams (as of 2023).
Verdict: Joy’s voice shines delicately, but Crush is clearly the one running the show. If she had more lines, could she outshine his deep, raspy vocals? Probably not!
📌 “Don’t Worry” – Seungkwan (SEVENTEEN) ft. Joy (2021)
Vibe: Bright like a morning sun, lively yet comforting.
Joy’s role: Backup vocals, stepping back to let Seungkwan’s vocal prowess dominate.
Achievements: 500,000 YouTube views in the first week.
Verdict: Joy is as charming as a little bird, but in the storm of Seungkwan’s emotions, she’s merely a passing breeze. Fans teasingly say, “Joy’s just his background singer,” and honestly… they’re not wrong!
🔥 Upbeat Songs: Can She Set the Stage on Fire?
Joy has also dabbled in upbeat tracks, but did she make anyone’s heart race?
📌 “Love Song” – Baekhyun (EXO) ft. Joy (2016)
Vibe: Explosive like fireworks – sweet, yet addictive.
Joy’s role: Backup vocals, like the moon shining faintly beside the blazing sun that is Baekhyun.
Achievements: #5 on Gaon Chart (2016).
Verdict: Baekhyun is the master chef, while Joy is just sprinkling a little seasoning. A Reddit user on r/kpop said: “Joy sings well, but Baekhyun is the soul of the song.” And that’s the truth – she has the energy, but not enough to steal the spotlight from EXO’s main vocalist.
In ballads, Joy is soft but often fades. In upbeat tracks, she’s cheerful but never leads. She plays her role well, but she has yet to explode onto the scene.
2024: A Solo Star or Still a Hidden Gem?
🌟 *Solo Fanmeeting: “The Reason for Existence” (Oct 3, 2024)
Details: Tickets sold out in 5 minutes (according to SM Entertainment). Joy performed Hello (2021) and a cover of Gravity (Sara Bareilles) with honey-like vocals.
Venue size: 2,000 attendees – significantly smaller than Irene’s 5,000-seat fanmeeting (2023).
Verdict: Joy’s fanbase shines like fireworks, but this scale feels more like a small candle compared to the bonfire of top-tier vocalists. She’s carving her name in the sky, but the mark is still faint.
🎤 With Red Velvet in Cosmic (June 24, 2024)
Details: 250,000 first-week album sales (Hanteo), praised by Reddit K-pop community as “quintessentially Red Velvet.”
Joy’s role: Singing the chorus, but Wendy and Seulgi are the mountains that overshadow her.
Verdict: Cosmic is sharp like a blade and powerful like a storm, but Joy is just a gentle cloud drifting through her fierce teammates. Fans on X commented: “Joy is stunning, but she gets lost in her own group’s playground.”
As a soloist, Joy is charming but not dazzling. Within Red Velvet, she shines yet lacks intensity. 2024 is the year she spreads her wings, but are they strong enough?
Does Joy Stand Out in Her K-Pop Collaborations?
Joy is like an unpolished gem – radiant, but not yet cut to perfection. Her collaborations with Crush, Seungkwan, and Baekhyun prove she’s as fluid as water, but she has never been the tidal wave. In 2024, whether as a soloist or part of Red Velvet, she still leaves the impression of being “beautiful, but not explosive.”
🛠 What’s Next for Joy?
✅ A Proper Solo Album: Hello (2021) sold 80,000 copies (Hanteo). Why not release a full-fledged solo album to truly shine?
✅ Focus on Strengths: Her sweet vocals suit ballads and R&B – no need to compete with powerhouses.
✅ Smarter Collabs: Instead of partnering with vocal monsters like Seungkwan or Baekhyun, why not try IU or Heize – artists with a more compatible tone?
📢 What Do You Think?
Has Joy spread her wings far enough, or does she still need a major push from SM? Would a solo album finally make her explode, or is she fine just as she is? Drop your thoughts – don’t keep Joy waiting!
