The hotter-than-fire female K-pop quartet BLACKPINK makes their triumphant return to center stage, dropping their first single of 2020, ‘How You Like That’. Based on the initial response from exhilarated Blinks (as their loyal fanbase is penned), liking the track is an understatement. Within hours of the tune hitting the airways, it broke the record for biggest premiere in YouTube history with over 1.6 million views, only to beat out their male K-pop counterpart BTS, who rang in with 1.5 million.

The group’s members, comprised of Jinsoo, Jenny, Rose and Lisa, told Time Magazine about the song, “In whatever dark times or situations we encounter, we want everyone to have the strength and confidence to be able to rise up again. This might sound grand, but we wanted to give a hopeful message.”

With this song in particular, it seems like not releasing music for over a year only made them stronger. It has the dramatics, beauty, confidence, and beat that would make it impossible for any viewer to say to themselves, “no, I don’t wish I harness some of that power for myself”. Regardless of the fact that they often sprinkle some English into their music (which they by no means have to, by the way), in any language, their voices and presence are undeniably gorgeous. Combine this with their aesthetically pleasing yet feisty videos and perfectly synchronized choreography, and it’s clear that they’re going to great lengths to solidify their staying power in this business that too often casts female groups out.

While it may seem like they popped up overnight to the average American listener, they’ve actually been in the game for four years now, and it’s about time to give credit where it’s due. Even though they gained their first US top 40 hit collaborating with Mother Monster of pop Lady Gaga on her Chromatica song ‘Sour Candy’ just a month ago, they didn’t need her stamp of approval to suddenly become relevant.

Still not convinced? Either get on the K-pop train or get left behind at the station, because the accolades speak volumes and keep pouring in whether you may like it or not.

Just to casually name a few, BLACKPINK holds the titles for the highest grossing female K-pop tour, the first K-pop group to reach one billion (that’s right, billion) YouTube views, the highest charting song in the US from a South Korean girl group, and the most subscriptions for a music group on YouTube. Certainly nothing at all to scoff at.

It’s been a long time since there was such a frenzy over a multi-female act, so they are seated at a really exciting time in music where they can carve out an exclusive space for women to be anything. They’re the entire package that makes them difficult to ignore, but honestly, why would you want to?