A Definitive Ranking Of Every NewJeans Music Video

The girl group are known for their incredible music videos. But which one’s the best?

NewJeans, ADOR

NewJeans, the five-member girl group made up of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein (which includes two Aussies — Hanni and Danielle), recently celebrated their one year anniversary. In that time, they’ve quickly become one of the best and most interesting K-Pop acts. One of the things that sets them apart are their amazing music videos — the group has basically done one for every song they’ve released, and together they show the girls’ range and their team’s commitment to unique and fresh concepts and storytelling. To celebrate one year of NewJeans, plus the release of their excellent second EP Get Up, here’s a ranking of every official NewJeans music video, from least great to absolute masterpiece.

12. ‘Cookie’

‘Cookie’ was surrounded by controversy when it was released thanks to its lyrics, which many interpreted as sexually suggestive and inappropriate coming from NewJeans, who were (and are still) all in their teens. Even putting all that aside, though, ‘Cookie’ feels like one of their weakest songs, and the same goes for the MV. Featuring the girls wearing mostly monochrome and dancing in formation in a stark studio environment, it’s nowhere near as captivating or innovative as their other work — even if the girls give their all, as always. 

11. ‘Hurt’

‘Hurt’ is one of NewJeans’ quieter songs, and it has a MV to match — exclusively featuring close-ups of the members’ faces. It’s all soft makeup, soft lighting, and soft focus, creating a dreamy, ethereal vibe. It’s beautiful, but not as dynamic or interesting as much of the rest of the group’s output. 

10. ‘Zero’

NewJeans bring their trademark conceptual visuals and boppy choreography to this collaboration with Coca-Cola, which sees them singing about how delicious Coke is, while the MV shows the girls drawn towards a mysterious red door — which ultimately enables them to drink some Coke Zero. Yes, it’s a three-minute long ad. An engaging and entertaining ad, sure, but an ad nonetheless. 

9. ‘ETA’

‘ETA’ features another brand collaboration, this time with Apple to promote the iPhone, and it feels a little more natural than the group singing about and dancing with Coke Zero. The girls use their iPhones to spy on a friend’s cheating boyfriend, which makes for some pretty amusing moments. It’s a fun MV, but with NewJeans, the competition is tough.

8. ‘Super Shy’

‘Super Shy’ has addictive, TikTok-friendly choreography to match its addictive, TikTok-friendly chorus. The MV highlights these aspects, showcasing NewJeans dancing in various public places. It feels a little flash mobby at times, but it’s so colourful and joyful it’s impossible not to smile and dance along. 

7. ‘ASAP’

The MV for ‘ASAP’ feels like the next evolution of the ‘Hurt’ visuals — soft, dreamlike, and ethereal. This time there’s a bit more happening — the members are transformed into fairies, and they play the part to perfection. There’s a scrapbook-like aesthetic to the music video that enhances the sense that they’re fairy tale characters. It’s all very pretty and sweet. 

6. ‘Attention’

The ‘Attention’ MV was NewJeans’ first, and it immediately established their vibe: youthful, fresh, and fun. From the ultimate Gen Z aesthetics to the catchy choreo and the camaraderie between the members, ‘Attention’ served as the perfect intro to the group. In the MV, the girls watch a band play, go shopping, go to the beach, and hang out together — and while there’s the brief appearance of a love interest, it’s each other’s company the girls clearly enjoy the most. 

5. ‘New Jeans’

Yet another brand collaboration, this time with The Powerpuff Girls in honour of the cartoon’s 25th anniversary, ‘New Jeans’ feels much more organic and less like a full-on commercial than the other sponsored MVs. This one opens with the NewJeans members talking about what their dream superpower would be, before they’re transformed into Powerpuff Girl-style superheroes themselves. Featuring an array of animation techniques, it’s bright, fun, and completely freaking adorable. 

4. ‘OMG’

‘OMG’ is one of NewJeans’ weirder music videos, but it’s extremely compelling. The girls play patients in a mental ward, each suffering from their own delusion — Hanni believes she’s an iPhone, Minji believes she’s a doctor rather than a patient, Hyein believes she’s trapped in a fairy tale, Haerin believes she’s a cat, while Danielle believes she’s a member of NewJeans and that they’re all filming a music video (meta!). Amidst the Girl, Interrupted vibes, the members perform the addictive ‘OMG’ choreo. 

3. ‘Hype Boy’

One day after the release of debut MV ‘Attention’, NewJeans came in even stronger with not just a new song and MV — but four MVs. With each focusing on different members — Minji, Danielle & Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni — it was a clever move to allow audiences to get to know the girls better, while also boosting streams and providing a fun narrative puzzle for viewers. The MVs collectively feel like something right out of a teen movie, with crushes, school sports, pool parties and, of course, synchronised dancing. Notably, the love interests across the four videos are diverse, with fans especially getting excited about Danielle & Haerin’s implied sapphic romance, and the reveal that Hanni’s crush seems to be queer. Overall, the MVs were an incredible taste of what was to come. 

2. ‘Ditto’

‘Ditto’ is another release with multiple music videos — this time, two, called Side A and Side B. Together, they tell the story of a girl, Ban Hee-soo, who is friends with the members of NewJeans. She is always just on the outside of the group, watching and observing rather than participating, usually filming them on an old school camcorder. The dynamic between Hee-soo and NewJeans is actually symbolic of the fan-idol relationship, exploring the idea that fans inevitably move away from their idols, but ending on a more heartwarming note as an older Hee-soo revisits her videos of NewJeans and the girls re-enter her life. It’s nostalgic and ultimately very moving. 

1. ‘Cool With You’

‘Cool With You’ also features a two-part music video with a Side A and Side B (the latter of which also includes short track ‘Get Up’ at the end). This is by far my favourite music video from the group (and I love so many of them!). Cinematic and artistic, it’s basically a short film, exploring a modern take on the Eros (a.k.a. Cupid) and Psyche myth. Squid Game’s Jung Hoyeon plays the Eros character, who falls for a mortal man (the Psyche of this story) and gets to spend a brief, sweet relationship with him before he forgets her and falls in love with a human thanks to the powers of an Aphrodite-like figure, played by the legendary Tony Leung. The NewJeans members, meanwhile, play Hoyeon’s guardian angels, who watch over her and appear to dance in a ritual that helps her achieve her love, however short-lived. It’s fascinating, beautiful, and actually heartbreaking. 

‘None Of My Business’ by Itzy: This pre-release single is a breezy, bouncy pop song with a saturated, summery music video — a nice tease ahead of the girl group’s album release. 

Golden Hourglass by Oh My Girl: A six-track EP full of uptempo pop songs, including another bright, summery song and music video for title track ‘Summer Comes’ (although this one comes with a fun horror twist). 

‘LOLO’ by Yugyeom: This is the title track for Yugyeom’s single album of the same name, and the chorus will definitely get stuck in your head and make you want to dance. The album also features sultry b-side ‘Say Nothing’ featuring Lee Hi.

‘Love Me A Little’ by Shownu x Hyungwon: This slow jam from Monsta X’s first subunit allows Shownu and Hyungwon to show off their incredible dance skills with some fun water-based choreo. This is the title track off the duo’s five-track mini album THE UNSEEN.

BTS maknae Jungkook’s debut solo single ‘Seven’ officially hit number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 this week, making him only the second Korean soloist to achieve such a feat after his band member Jimin did so with ‘Like Crazy’ earlier in the year. Worthy of celebration at any time, it’s made extra sweet by the fact ‘Seven’ beat out Jason Aldean’s violent, racially-charged country song ‘Try That In A Small Town’ for top spot, while also knocking the reportedly racist Morgan Wallen’s ‘Last Night’ down to number three. 

With love,

Jenna