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Here’s why Hikaru is the only Kep1er member who knows TWICE’s viral hit ‘The Feels’

The 'Girls Planet 999' group was seen freestyling to the popular song while on a variety show

With Kep1er finally debuting, we have the members promoting their debut title track ‘Wa Da Da’ on music shows, interviews and variety shows. The new girl group was formed through the ambitious survival show ‘Girls Planet 999’ which had 99 contestants from South Korea, Japan and China. And now that they have debuted, they are doing the rounds on variety shows, charming fans and non-fans with their antics and jokes. But Japanese member Hikaru caught everyone’s eye for dancing to TWICE’s viral sensation ‘The Feels’.

Kep1er had first gone on the variety show ‘IDOL Live School - Homecoming Day’ in November 2021 when the group was initially formed. Produced by the K-pop platform U+ Idol Live, 'IDOL Live School' is a web entertainment show where idols are invited to chat, eat and showcase their various skills while promoting their new releases. The girl group once again came on the show on January 5, 2022 after debuting on January 3.

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Kep1er freestyle dance to TWICE’s ‘The Feels’

Along with chatting about their debut album ‘First Impact’ and its title track ‘Wa Da Da’, the girls also played several games like relay dancing to random songs. Having covered several iconic songs as part of their missions on ‘Girls Planet 999’, Kep1er did not disappoint. However, when TWICE’s ‘The Feels’ came on, they just freestyled. A lot of non-fans were confused as to how the rookie girl group did not know the iconic dance moves of the chorus. TWICE’s ‘The Feels’ is a global hit with even Western influencers and non-fans dancing to the song on social media.

Hikaru the only member to know the viral choreography

But when it came on 'IDOL Live School', only Hikaru knew the steps. A lot of TWICE fans were indignant as they wondered why Kep1er did not know the easy dance steps. Well, the popular third-gen group’s ‘The Feels’, which is their first English single, was released on October 1, 2021. At that time, the members of Kep1er were competing in their survival show and were not allowed to have their personal phones and laptops with them. Kep1er fans banded to defend the group as they shared that with two of the girls also getting Covid-19 just before their debut and rushed preparations, they must not have had the time to watch ‘The Feels’ music video.

But with Hikaru being known for staying up to date with the latest K-pop trends and learning all the current dances, fans guessed that she must have caught up on all the releases that she missed during her time on ‘Girls Planet 999’. Other fans joked that the Japanese-born idol must have sneaked in her phone during the survival show which is how she knew the dance to ‘The Feels’. Regardless of how she knew, her cute visuals paired with the equally fun and cheery dance moves to the TWICE song has made her viral on social media.

'Icon'

TWICE fans were passive-aggressive as they made tweets like, “Only one of them knows the choreo :).” They also cheered Hikaru, “Whos the girlie that knew the choreo? Icon.” Another ONCE pointed out, “Okay but some of the qrts being mean to other girls, they’re a nine-members group just like twice and do we feel if we saw a person praising the members and at the same time putting other girls down ? pls be respectful and praise hikaru in a good way.”

One Kep1er fan shared, “We appreciate all the hikaru praise but i find the quotes and comments attacking the other girls unnecessary. the girls were on a survival show when the song was out + they were busy preparing for their debut after. this was intended to be light-hearted and fun give them a break.” Another fan posted, “Why are people getting mad at them for not knowing the choreo, like the fact that they are having fun is more important right? Let them have fun and stop complaining.” One joked, "This is the part where we find out hikaru was sneaking in her phone during gp999."