Current Events > K-Pop summer topic part 2

(+) Yeah! (+)

Ruddager posted...

BBC's trying to pull an SM

https://twitter.com/gointosubbit/status/1620707298074300416

I saw something about that this morning but I'm having a hard time following exactly what is going on. From the reactions I'm seeing it sounds like BBC is doubling down on being evil. I just want Loona to be free. Hyunjin did an audio only IG live the other day with Vivi and Chuu, that was funny.

https://youtu.be/g4ByYg_JJOE

Also what did SM do? The Jessica thing?

After 3 members of DBSK/TVXQ sued SM (which ended up with SM's old "slave contracts" being made illegal, DBSK was on 13 year contracts with horrible terms) and left the group/company to form JYJ, SM essentially had them blackballed from Korean tv/media for years. Likely did the same to Jessica after she was kicked out

I guess the weird contracts where Loona members never get paid was different.

Also just saw this but goddamn, HYBE pulling a certified music legend to work on new LE SSERAFIM music

https://twitter.com/nilerodgers/status/1620639496672002050

Oh I didn't realize who that was, I was just thinking last night that will hopefully be announcing a comeback soon. I can't get enough of Le Sserafim.

Looking like it'll be early April based on all the signs

Ruddager posted...

Also just saw this but goddamn, HYBE pulling a certified music legend to work on new LE SSERAFIM music

https://twitter.com/nilerodgers/status/1620639496672002050

This is partially what drew me into K-Pop. They've drawn in some key producers. Like EXO and I think Shinee had Teddy Riley do a few tracks.

Yeah Teddy Riley did a bunch of stuff with SM, he did "The Boys" for SNSD as well

My last post regarding their charting unless they do something insane again.

Wow.

https://twitter.com/NewJeansCharts/status/1620980922383319043?s=20&t=1q6o9-q9PiuG_gXPXKt7qA

Compared to most of the members, she's much clearer with the lyrics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79PhScM2_3k

On the general comparative scale of this new generation, actually NJ has probably the best of English pronunciation.

And apparently Momoland has parted with MLD. I could see Ahin, Jane, and JooE solo'ing.

Lmao, theres just a new twist to this LOONA stuff everyday it seems, they may be required to continue promoting as a group in Japan for the next 3 years or else face legal action, the one bonus is they'll actually get paid

https://twitter.com/gointosubbit/status/1621055946138210304

KaZooo posted...

And apparently Momoland has parted with MLD.

Wonder if the company changes its name again now or just live with the fact that they renamed themselves after one of their groups when they had one memey hit song then that group proceeded to fall off a cliff (partly due to bad management) and then jumped ship the moment their contracts were up

I'm really vibing with XG recently. There seems to be a dispute over whether they're jpop, kpop, internationalpop or whateverpop (I blame their company for this confusion), but I really like their songs, and their rap line is the best I have ever heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7spCJxloLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L4Visli9sA (FIRE!!!!)

Hyunjin and Vivi started their lawsuit so that makes all 12 Loona members trying to get out. They apparently had the same contracts as the girls who already won their thing.

YamaChan posted...

I'm really vibing with XG recently. There seems to be a dispute over whether they're jpop, kpop, internationalpop or whateverpop (I blame their company for this confusion), but I really like their songs, and their rap line is the best I have ever heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7spCJxloLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L4Visli9sA (FIRE!!!!)

I meant to touch on this earlier.

I've really liked their sound. I'd like to believe the vocals are legitimate. Right now they've been able to make good sounding songs, and it comes off like a test/exercise. Just nothing hits me like it's gonna be a staple. That's probably the only thing that's keeping them from spreading like a wildfire. They do need a promotional catchy track to gain traction.

But the idea is really good. I don't know exactly how many attempts at building a global talent (I know they're mostly Japanese though) with a western sound exist, but considering the US has been empty of vocal pop/R&B groups, that's a market waiting to be filled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCN3xgEPEwo

quite the age gap if I follow right.
She's 20. Youngest is 13.

This is another w/e showcase to me.

Not that uncommon, or at the very least, it happened with Red Velvet. Irene was 24 when Yeri joined the group at only 16.

Currently in LE SSERAFIM, Sakura is also 24 with Eunchae being 16.

Hogwarts fast topics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aPXoc9FriM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PerOrqTnh38
Haven't really enjoyed recent NCT singles, this included. The choreography is still there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trLfw70-8ws

Release is really far away. Would be interested if they put out a much different sound. Maybe let Momo go with a more realistic vocal pitch.

Damn, this SM corporate drama shit is getting interesting

Danggit, if this gets in the way of an Aespa comeback

how long before it's just all hybe or kakao

Somewhat related it's funny that I'm supposed to hate Scooter Braun because I'm a Swiftie and he's basically the reason she's re-recording her old albums, but now he's like the top guy at HYBE America. I don't know how much he has to do with kpop, but still.

I heavily favor Left Right over Shooting Star.
Just kinda find Harvey's parts a bit ear-piercing, but I can also see she wouldn't fit with any of the other parts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gONVUl1A-4w

Maybe I'm just becoming too much of an NJ stan, but I just haven't caught on to "Ay-yo".

But then the MC's and iono maybe the Hybe/SM thing.....jk. This is a surprisingly very clear encore tho. If it's not a talent issue, it's usually a mic issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmiCY3bhsnQ

ay-yo slaps

https://youtu.be/ErFpr-1vt5c

They run their choruses with heavier background vocals. It adds volume but kinda just turns into noise at some points. Album was decent.

Yay corporate restructuring, I guess that's what it takes to make music good. Or at least popular. Whatever, I love GOT and I'm not just coping.

KaZooo posted...

They run their choruses with heavier background vocals. It adds volume but kinda just turns into noise at some points. Album was decent.

I know what you mean, sometimes it sounds like a lot going on just for the sake of noise. There's something about tripleS I really like though, in their own way I think they are the ones that best embody the new sound among the newer groups (after nwjns of course). And I understand that not every new group is even gonna be interested in going that way at all, of course (obviously I should say). We've gone over that.

IVE was on Running Man a couple weeks ago. So we should be expecting NewJeans sometime in... October? Alright!

Congrats to my current favorite maknae, Hong Eunchae for hosting Music Bank. Replacing Wonyoung actually.

And I'm not sure we learned anything today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfhsEoGAA-4

I can't tell if I like Teddy Bear or not. Some parts are cool, others seem off. I like Poppy though, I never really noticed the Japanese version. I probably give StayC girls the benefit of the doubt.

Rising might be my least favorite song from Assemble from tripleS, which I guess isn't a bad thing. It's still fine.

I like Purple Kiss, they usually have a couple good songs with each new release. Cabin Fever is pretty good.

And I'm obsessed with this dance for some reason and it's made me like the song more.

https://youtube.com/shorts/C_Mu_Meqhfc?feature=share

I'm also liking Viviz more than I ever liked GFriend outside of a couple songs.

KaZooo posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfhsEoGAA-4

Apparently their comeback got pushed back because of this dumb SM corporate stuff? That's sad, but glad they look to still be pushing for a comeback soon!

KainWind posted...

I can't tell if I like Teddy Bear or not. Some parts are cool, others seem off. I like Poppy though, I never really noticed the Japanese version. I probably give StayC girls the benefit of the doubt.

I've been trying to bite my tongue on this one because I don't want to come off like I'm trashing them.
But honest opinion is both singles feel like a loss in direction.

I'm guessing the mild reception to Beautiful Monster (which I generally thought was alright) threw off the production team.

I'm bit of a stickler with bland hooks/choruses, and Poppy kinda threw that in.
The lyrical concept of both didn't seem all that well-vested in, and while this is a Pop industry that is driven by things that catch on in the moment, I do think overall conceptual depth continues to carry more weight it's what makes a recent group I stan what they are, and I don't know what to make of StayC as a group with these two tracks.

But this is just me. It seems Teddy Bear at least netted views relatively quick to some past singles. I could be in the minority that believes the Young Luv album was the actual direction they should've stayed true to, being a vocal showcase and all, Sieun hitting the whistle notes in Butterfly, Yoon blowing out high notes and they seem to back all that up really well live.
But this is a business, and I guess that wasn't doing enough for the group to gain the traction they're after.

And
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Y6FtngQ1w

KaZooo posted...

I could be in the minority that believes the Young Luv album was the actual direction they should've stayed true to, being a vocal showcase and all, Sieun hitting the whistle notes in Butterfly, Yoon blowing out high notes and they seem to back all that up really well live.

I don't think they have another song half as good as RUN2U. I loooove that song. I really like Beautiful Monster too. I'm with you on the high notes, they sound so good.

Dodo Bird sighting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT-jpoa69Lc
(The Yiren split!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRX-2r1W_lw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQbHt4Ze2PI

I hate to touch on the subject, but I think EU might have gotten some work done. Cheeks, nose, mouth and chin all seem different.

The group generally looks in form imo. Yuehua just has to give them something to match the talent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix62ySKlxb0

Stance on Twice is still the same, but credit to Jeongyeon working on getting back to where she was. I mean of course aesthetic standards are pretty unrealistic, but as far as trying to stay in such a game with her setbacks, and all the bad noise that probably went her way in the process, she's been at it.

TripleS "Rising" has grown on me a bit more.
Bit of a sucker when a group slips in a song/chorus title in a verse.

Performances/stages are a little bit of a miss for me.
Choreography is pretty decent given the number of members it has to accommodate. Much of the isolation, however, is focused at the center. A high member count already makes it hard to make choreography dynamic across the stage, and lack of lateral shifting/focus hurts that more.

Outfits aren't quite it. Individually they look well dressed, but together on a stage it's a bit mushed together visually imo.

https://youtu.be/mwmXysf_Qow

I love Jimin, I hope this is good

Once again (npi) I wish I was a Once, though. Everything just looks so much simpler! Yeah, not to mention (always) quite impressive on the visual side. That takes effort, too, I mean.

Although I'm actually pretty... reassured? From the aespa previews. Then again this is kinda the bare minimum we should be expecting. On the other hand it's understandable they want to take it slow, gradually change their sound and style, as too sudden a turn can be a bit jarring, as we've seen from some other groups (e.g. Weeekly). And I don't want to say good riddance, because hey it was fun while it lasted, but yeah, I'm glad we're moving on now, already. Pretty critical times.

KaZooo posted...

I've been trying to bite my tongue on this one because I don't want to come off like I'm trashing them.
But honest opinion is both singles feel like a loss in direction.

KainWind posted...

I can't tell if I like Teddy Bear or not. Some parts are cool, others seem off. I like Poppy though, I never really noticed the Japanese version. I probably give StayC girls the benefit of the doubt.

Mmm, I've always said a good group deserves a couple one offs. But yeah Teddy Bear was a bit bland, which is particularly disappointing for them. Like I don't know why BEP thought bringing back the millennial whoop was a good idea. Like, that was a choice. But yeah maybe they just had to get it out of their system, that's very possible with such a traditional sound as theirs. And I thought Poppy was fine? It's fun. In fact I think it's one of my favorites of theirs. I do prefer their brighter side though, my fav A side is still ASAP. Blah blah blah still highly respect them blah blah blah speaking of still arguably the most underrated group of their (sub) generation in terms of visuals blah blah blah my inconsequential ranty opinions.

Read this out of context for a second thinking you were still commenting on Twice lol

paerarru posted...

Yeah, not to mention (always) quite impressive on the visual side. That takes effort, too, I mean.

Although I'm actually pretty

https://www.instagram.com/p/Co7b8GVrn84/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

Twice announced their world tour and I'd really like to see them if I can but they aren't coming anywhere remotely close to me and I'm wondering if they will add any new US cities.

KaZooo posted...

Read this out of context for a second thinking you were still commenting on Twice lol

XD

Hey now.

I finally changed my discord avatar after several years (used to be fromis Nakyung):

https://i.imgur.com/X4JDpzk.jpg

Fromis supposedly having a comeback sooner than later?

KaZooo posted...

Fromis supposedly having a comeback sooner than later?

Hmm! Yeah, well they've been due for a while now actually, but on the other hand that's mostly because they've always stayed pretty active, so they're still doing good time. First comeback as eight, I wonder if and how much they will change, I hope not much if at all actually, I really like their style, pretty much in every sense.

So SM is creating no more subunits after Tokyo.

Not so much I predicted it, or was for/against the infinite expansion, but it makes sense. I feel like it was going to be a "decide as we go" situation. Would've been interesting to see how big of a vision this would've been, but realistically they're probably gonna have their work cut out with the Japanese market.

It is def not summer

Hanni at Gucci and A$AP Rocky

they grow up so fast

I heard complaints about lip synching during their concerts. Shame. High notes would be cool to hear live.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E93bQfYSeJ4

Like some, I would've expected a ballad solo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tKVwXhoz7o

woop woop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6WbbU_lLCA

I can't say I'd have this on repeat, but J-Hope/Suga/RM have had some cool solo projects. It's cool to see them just do what they want.

If I had tickets to Agust D, I'd probably go.

After hearing the other songs at Hyper Line, I can't really say I have high anticipation.