Emma Cifrino (dr. maine witch, DMA, PhD⁷)
@mainewitch.bsky.social
double doctor & music studies lecturer; freelance violist; in my k-pop era; reylo sleeper agent; free palestine 🇵🇸
I have a blog: mainewitchonpop.com
I have a blog: mainewitchonpop.com
Both boy and girl group categories this year were where I had to accept that I needed to give up all pretense of being “balanced” because both ZB1 and NMIXX had a hell of a year 🤷🏻♀️
youtu.be/ZrI-GMBJWdI?...
youtu.be/ZrI-GMBJWdI?...
February 15, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Both boy and girl group categories this year were where I had to accept that I needed to give up all pretense of being “balanced” because both ZB1 and NMIXX had a hell of a year 🤷🏻♀️
youtu.be/ZrI-GMBJWdI?...
youtu.be/ZrI-GMBJWdI?...
Reposted by Emma Cifrino (dr. maine witch, DMA, PhD⁷)
The kid watched the new Muppet Show, having never seen it before. They theorise that Beaker was originally a human guest star, hideously warped by one of Dr Bunsen's experiments.
February 14, 2026 at 8:52 PM
The kid watched the new Muppet Show, having never seen it before. They theorise that Beaker was originally a human guest star, hideously warped by one of Dr Bunsen's experiments.
My reward is unabashedly putting kpop boypaper on my fridge
February 15, 2026 at 2:35 PM
My reward is unabashedly putting kpop boypaper on my fridge
My apartment is starting to look like a human woman lives here instead of a person-sized raccoon, please clap
February 15, 2026 at 4:32 AM
My apartment is starting to look like a human woman lives here instead of a person-sized raccoon, please clap
Reposted by Emma Cifrino (dr. maine witch, DMA, PhD⁷)
Some modifications I’m thinking of right now:
- prioritize promoted comebacks for the Korean market
- move the blog posts to monthly
- categorize year-end roundup by group vs solo and type of release (single, EP, studio album, etc)
- prioritize promoted comebacks for the Korean market
- move the blog posts to monthly
- categorize year-end roundup by group vs solo and type of release (single, EP, studio album, etc)
In preparation for posting this on The Blog, I’m going to do a thread of my category picks for 2025 in K-pop.
The categories are split by gender, which I don’t love, but there’s genre differences between male and female groups/soloists in kpop…idk. I’m probably going to change it for this year.
The categories are split by gender, which I don’t love, but there’s genre differences between male and female groups/soloists in kpop…idk. I’m probably going to change it for this year.
February 15, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Some modifications I’m thinking of right now:
- prioritize promoted comebacks for the Korean market
- move the blog posts to monthly
- categorize year-end roundup by group vs solo and type of release (single, EP, studio album, etc)
- prioritize promoted comebacks for the Korean market
- move the blog posts to monthly
- categorize year-end roundup by group vs solo and type of release (single, EP, studio album, etc)
Reposted by Emma Cifrino (dr. maine witch, DMA, PhD⁷)
the post-war era was essentially an experiment in whether a democracy could handle a rapid increase wealth inequality so long as conditions on the ground felt like they were getting better. it's clear now that the answer was no
i need to admit something. the more i think about how many of our problems are downstream of a very small number of ppl and organizations hoarding all the wealth and power, the less interested i am in discussions of american democracy that prefer to focus on anything else.
February 14, 2026 at 3:21 PM
the post-war era was essentially an experiment in whether a democracy could handle a rapid increase wealth inequality so long as conditions on the ground felt like they were getting better. it's clear now that the answer was no
Reposted by Emma Cifrino (dr. maine witch, DMA, PhD⁷)
It’s Joni 🤷🏻♀️
“All I really really want our love to do/is to bring out the best in me and in you”
“All I really really want our love to do/is to bring out the best in me and in you”
Most romantic lyric ever written. GO. ❤️
February 14, 2026 at 8:23 PM
It’s Joni 🤷🏻♀️
“All I really really want our love to do/is to bring out the best in me and in you”
“All I really really want our love to do/is to bring out the best in me and in you”
SOLOISTS (WOMEN)
Best A-side:
Chuu, “Only Cry in the Rain”
Runners up:
Miyeon, “Say My Name”
Dahye, “Cherry Road”
Jisoo, “Earthquake”
Hwasa, “Good Goodbye”
Best B-Side:
Yuju, “Orion”
Runners up:
Chungha, “Still a Rose”
Minnie, “It’s Okay”
Sunmi, “Happy af”
Yves, “Aibo” (feat. Bratty)
Best A-side:
Chuu, “Only Cry in the Rain”
Runners up:
Miyeon, “Say My Name”
Dahye, “Cherry Road”
Jisoo, “Earthquake”
Hwasa, “Good Goodbye”
Best B-Side:
Yuju, “Orion”
Runners up:
Chungha, “Still a Rose”
Minnie, “It’s Okay”
Sunmi, “Happy af”
Yves, “Aibo” (feat. Bratty)
In preparation for posting this on The Blog, I’m going to do a thread of my category picks for 2025 in K-pop.
The categories are split by gender, which I don’t love, but there’s genre differences between male and female groups/soloists in kpop…idk. I’m probably going to change it for this year.
The categories are split by gender, which I don’t love, but there’s genre differences between male and female groups/soloists in kpop…idk. I’m probably going to change it for this year.
February 14, 2026 at 7:52 PM
SOLOISTS (WOMEN)
Best A-side:
Chuu, “Only Cry in the Rain”
Runners up:
Miyeon, “Say My Name”
Dahye, “Cherry Road”
Jisoo, “Earthquake”
Hwasa, “Good Goodbye”
Best B-Side:
Yuju, “Orion”
Runners up:
Chungha, “Still a Rose”
Minnie, “It’s Okay”
Sunmi, “Happy af”
Yves, “Aibo” (feat. Bratty)
Best A-side:
Chuu, “Only Cry in the Rain”
Runners up:
Miyeon, “Say My Name”
Dahye, “Cherry Road”
Jisoo, “Earthquake”
Hwasa, “Good Goodbye”
Best B-Side:
Yuju, “Orion”
Runners up:
Chungha, “Still a Rose”
Minnie, “It’s Okay”
Sunmi, “Happy af”
Yves, “Aibo” (feat. Bratty)
In preparation for posting this on The Blog, I’m going to do a thread of my category picks for 2025 in K-pop.
The categories are split by gender, which I don’t love, but there’s genre differences between male and female groups/soloists in kpop…idk. I’m probably going to change it for this year.
The categories are split by gender, which I don’t love, but there’s genre differences between male and female groups/soloists in kpop…idk. I’m probably going to change it for this year.
February 14, 2026 at 7:48 PM
In preparation for posting this on The Blog, I’m going to do a thread of my category picks for 2025 in K-pop.
The categories are split by gender, which I don’t love, but there’s genre differences between male and female groups/soloists in kpop…idk. I’m probably going to change it for this year.
The categories are split by gender, which I don’t love, but there’s genre differences between male and female groups/soloists in kpop…idk. I’m probably going to change it for this year.
Morning boost :)
February 14, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Morning boost :)
Helloooooo I finally finished my final 2025 kpop roundup! Starring Sunmi, Miyeon, and Hwasa, so it’s a good one :)
www.mainewitchonpop.com/blog/2025-in...
www.mainewitchonpop.com/blog/2025-in...
2025 in K-Pop, Part IV — maine witch on (k)-pop
The last quarterly roundup of 2025, featuring Sunmi, Hwasa, and Miyeon (and others).
www.mainewitchonpop.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Helloooooo I finally finished my final 2025 kpop roundup! Starring Sunmi, Miyeon, and Hwasa, so it’s a good one :)
www.mainewitchonpop.com/blog/2025-in...
www.mainewitchonpop.com/blog/2025-in...
I need you all to get more Song Sohee-pilled and FAST youtu.be/A65x94y4MuA?...
송소희(Song Sohee) - 사슴신 (Forest Spirit) [Special Live Video]
YouTube video by 송소희 Song Sohee
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 4:36 PM
I need you all to get more Song Sohee-pilled and FAST youtu.be/A65x94y4MuA?...
Reposted by Emma Cifrino (dr. maine witch, DMA, PhD⁷)
amazing how yet another round of "you have to promise you'll vote for the shitbag years in advance" reveals itself to have nothing to do with strategy and pragmatics and everything to do with "i am scared and anxious and everyone on the internet needs to promise me everything will turn out alright"
February 12, 2026 at 2:06 PM
amazing how yet another round of "you have to promise you'll vote for the shitbag years in advance" reveals itself to have nothing to do with strategy and pragmatics and everything to do with "i am scared and anxious and everyone on the internet needs to promise me everything will turn out alright"
Jesus CHRIST is this like, a poorly-conceived CIA op or someone with a terminal case of Islamophobia, hard to say; either way I’m annoyed that they made their way to my timeline somehow
February 12, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Jesus CHRIST is this like, a poorly-conceived CIA op or someone with a terminal case of Islamophobia, hard to say; either way I’m annoyed that they made their way to my timeline somehow
I love this question because
1) my father never even considered that I would not be a girl named Emma, which remains broadly true
2) my mom & stepdad gave my sister such completely gender-neutral/femme first & middle names that she didn’t even change anything when she transitioned
1) my father never even considered that I would not be a girl named Emma, which remains broadly true
2) my mom & stepdad gave my sister such completely gender-neutral/femme first & middle names that she didn’t even change anything when she transitioned
Curious reading what people's parents almost called them. I don't think I ever asked my parents if they had any alternatives in mind, or what I'd have been called if I was a girl; I doubt they'd remember now.
February 12, 2026 at 6:49 PM
I love this question because
1) my father never even considered that I would not be a girl named Emma, which remains broadly true
2) my mom & stepdad gave my sister such completely gender-neutral/femme first & middle names that she didn’t even change anything when she transitioned
1) my father never even considered that I would not be a girl named Emma, which remains broadly true
2) my mom & stepdad gave my sister such completely gender-neutral/femme first & middle names that she didn’t even change anything when she transitioned
Thanks random x dot com user 💀
February 12, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Thanks random x dot com user 💀
Anyway to cope @lapsedbard.bsky.social & I will be starting Coffee Prince tomorrow (her first time, my…well. Manyth.) IT’S YOON EUN HYE TIME BITCHESSSSS
February 12, 2026 at 4:24 AM
Anyway to cope @lapsedbard.bsky.social & I will be starting Coffee Prince tomorrow (her first time, my…well. Manyth.) IT’S YOON EUN HYE TIME BITCHESSSSS
Hello I am sad about a kpop thing and I have had a headache all day!
February 12, 2026 at 1:33 AM
Hello I am sad about a kpop thing and I have had a headache all day!
Playing my favorite music building game: alarm or clarinet
February 11, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Playing my favorite music building game: alarm or clarinet
Reposted by Emma Cifrino (dr. maine witch, DMA, PhD⁷)
I will not support any funding deal that puts money in the hands of Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, and this violent agency. Defund and abolish ICE now.
February 10, 2026 at 4:35 PM
I will not support any funding deal that puts money in the hands of Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, and this violent agency. Defund and abolish ICE now.
Amazing culinary innovation: heat up chia pudding in the microwave, enjoy and prosper
February 10, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Amazing culinary innovation: heat up chia pudding in the microwave, enjoy and prosper
Happy fake Shrove Tuesday! I know it’s next week but I traditionally bring pancakes on the day we talk about medieval monastic music in my community college class so we’re pretending it’s 2032 and celebrating today
February 10, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Happy fake Shrove Tuesday! I know it’s next week but I traditionally bring pancakes on the day we talk about medieval monastic music in my community college class so we’re pretending it’s 2032 and celebrating today
February 10, 2026 at 4:44 AM