Blackpink, the renowned K-pop group, has been making waves this holiday season with a trifecta of announcements and releases. Lisa, one of the members, chose the eve of Christmas to unveil her rendition of Britney Spears’ seasonal classic, “My Only Wish (This Year).”
Adding to the excitement, the group has scheduled a virtual-reality concert extravaganza titled “Blackpink: A VR Encore” for streaming on December 26.
On Christmas Eve, another bombshell dropped as Blackpink’s Jennie disclosed her intention to inaugurate her own label and company, OA, in the forthcoming year.
While fans eagerly await Jennie’s product line, Lisa’s cover of the Britney Spears song was an immediate gift for their festive celebrations.
Recognized as Blackpink’s primary rapper and dancer, Lisa’s rendition of Spears’ iconic holiday tune showcased a departure from her customary rapping style.
“Christmas present for my Blinks… Have a wonderful holiday,” expressed Lisa on her Instagram before releasing the Spears cover on her YouTube channel. The accompanying music video depicted a romantic, holiday-themed escapade shot in Paris.
This surprise cover resurrects a Spears’ song initially featured on Jive Records’ 2000 all-label holiday album, “Platinum Christmas,” alongside other prominent artists of that era such as NSYNC, Santana, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, and R. Kelly.
“My Only Wish (This Year)” marks Lisa’s first solo endeavor since the 2021 “Lalisa” album and her non-LP single in the same year, “SG,” featuring DJ Snake, Ozuna, and Megan Thee Stallion. Recently, Lisa was a featured guest on “Shoong!” by South Korean singer-songwriter and dancer Taeyang.
For fans yearning to witness the entire group in action, “Blackpink: A VR Encore” is slated to air on December 26 at 5 p.m. PT on Meta Horizon Worlds. This exclusive showcase will spotlight Blackpink’s final show from their 2023 global tour in support of “Born Pink.”
The group released a trailer earlier this week for the VR special, accessible to headset owners. The teaser promises an immersive experience with a special emote inspired by K-pop and invites viewers to “Take a front row seat as Blackpink performs some of their biggest hits and unlock a limited-edition K-pop inspired emote! To get rewarded, set off a confetti balloon on the dance floor in Music Valley.”
On the other hand, singer-actress Jennie seems to be veering toward unveiling new products rather than fresh recordings as she ventures into 2024. Following her appearance in the Weeknd’s HBO series, “The Idol,” and her October release of “You & Me,” Jennie appears focused on product lines distinct from her music endeavors.
“OA, which stands for Odd Atelier, is a space that aims to create new things that attract attention in a different way from what is usual or expected,” she revealed, showcasing a range of OA-branded hoodies.
While Jennie’s plans are clear, it remains to be seen what future endeavors Jisoo and Rosé, the other members of Blackpink, might embark upon.
Amid their triumphant headlining at Coachella earlier in 2023 and their chart-topping success with “Born Pink” in 2022 (making them the third K-pop ensemble to top the Billboard 200 album chart), Blackpink, as a quartet and as soloists, has renewed exclusive contracts with YG Entertainment, the South Korean powerhouse encompassing a talent agency, record label, production company, concert group, and music publishing house.
