Reuniting for their 20th anniversary, the group S#IA (Nam Gyu-ri, Kim Yeon-ji, Lee Bo-ram) announced a successful return as the full group, receiving an enthusiastic public response with a comeback after 15 years.
S#IA's pre-release song "Nevertheless, we," released at 6 p.m. on the 30th, entered top positions on major domestic music sites, ranking No. 1 on Genie Music's latest releases chart and high on Melon's latest releases chart immediately after release.
The 15-year-long hiatus seemed meaningless as they secured chart positions immediately upon release, once again proving the power of a "legendary vocal group you can trust to listen to."
On various music sites and on S#IA's and the members' official social media, listeners poured out emotional responses enthusiastically welcoming the full group's return, saying things like "They named the group S#IA well, we meet again truly," "Finally the reunion dream has come true," "I'm in tears, I'm so happy S#IA is reuniting at last," "Please have a concert," "The lyrics about a tree that endured the seasons are insane," "How long has it been since an S#IA-style ballad," and "From now on is S#IA's heyday."
Answering that response, S#IA went first to meet fans at 7 p.m. on the 30th as their first official activity upon the music's release, marking the full group's return.
Holding a fan meeting titled RE:BLOOM at EDLS in Jongno-gu, Seoul for the first time in their 20-year career, S#IA recreated the choreography from their past activities on stage in front of fans they met after 15 years. Fans responded in kind by waving pink balloons and answering with heartfelt choruses and cheers that had not changed in 20 years.
Especially, Nam Gyu-ri could not contain her overwhelming emotions even before singing the first line of the opening song "Greeting of love," breaking into tears and quickly turning the venue into a sea of touching tears. At this event, S#IA passionately sang a medley of hits and the new song "Nevertheless, we," covering the audience in deep emotion.
During the subsequent talk segment, they looked fans in the eye and sincerely poured out deep gratitude and affection they had not been able to express, including the decisive reasons for reuniting after 15 years and behind-the-scenes episodes of the reunion.
Public interest in S#IA's full-group return shone on weekend entertainment programs as well.
On the March 29 broadcast of SBS's My Little Old Boy, Nam Gyu-ri invited members Kim Yeon-ji and Lee Bo-ram to her home and had a meaningful time celebrating their 20th anniversary.
The three gathered in one place after a long time, showing unchanged close friendship and bringing viewers a pleasant sense of nostalgia and delight at the same time.
The pre-release song "Nevertheless, we," which swept both entertainment shows and music charts signaling a strong start, was composed by producer Park Geun-tae, who led S#IA's heyday, and added authenticity as the three members participated directly in the songwriting for the emotional ballad.
Even through times lived while wavering, the members' tearful sincerity to stand again before fans is capturing the public's hearts.
S#IA, having fired the opening salvo of a successful comeback, will carry the momentum into April. After various full-group activities, they plan to cap the spectacular full-group return with a full-length album in May, their first in 15 years, produced by Park Geun-tae and Kim Do-hoon.
[Photo] S#IA
[OSEN]