Release Date: July 20, 2024
Track Listing
- ###
Review
On July 2, 2024, tripleS announced the release of a pre-debut Japanese digital single, ### (pronounced “Hash”). Since the 8-member Japan unit membership is still being decided, this single has yet to be promoted. There are also no physical versions of ### and no music videos. ### is simply a teaser for what is to come when tripleS make their official Japanese debut.
The question about ### is, what will a Japanese tripleS song sound like? Do they follow the template of their Korean songs, or do they go full Japanese idol to appeal to the Japanese’s listening tastes?
After repeated listens to ###, I believe that tripleS has adopted a safe, mainstream Japanese idol sound similar to the 48 and 46 idol groups combined with minuscule touches of Hello!Project. You won’t find the hyperactivity of chika idols or the grittier experimentation of alt-idols anywhere within the DNA of ###.
Listeners accustomed to tripleS’ funkier, uptempo Korean songs may need to adjust to ###. But if you have some experience listening to Japanese Pop, you’ll catch on to this immediately. The trademark tripleS “La La La’s” are still present, so you know that this is a tripleS song and not some random Japanese idol group.
Bonus points go to tripleS for using almost full Japanese for ###, unlike other recent K-pop groups that went completely bi- or trilingual for their Japanese debuts.
In the context of the market they are targeting with this song, it’s an acceptable introduction to the world of tripleS. What intrigues me more is how they will follow up on this once the eight members of the Japan sub-unit are chosen.
