[Official Message] Ayu will attend a-nation '12

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by relmy

Rant over, but please, can we have some legitimate, decent and sensible criticism of kpop? Not just omg they're all young it's so fake blah blah blah. It's so redundant. It's getting old.

I actually don't mind them looking like dolls. 2NE1's music annoys me as hell. It sounds like rubbish and the majority of songs I've heard sound as if they're constantly swearing. I don't care if that's their thing I think it sounds terrible. As for the others it's not really hard to tell how similar and creative their songs and videos are and no I am not saying that the idol bands in Japan are much better than that, but the number of kpop idol groups is increasing exponentially every year, while in Japan that number hasn't seem to have grown as much compared to the number of solo artists and actual bands which are pretty much almost invisible in South Korea at least from our perspective. There are always exceptions, but imo you can pretty much see SHINee and Super Junior do each other's songs without any problems ^^ I am not going to start with all the moronic names they come up with (B1A4, 2PM, 4minute, T-ara, BAP...) and just google search the pictures of some of the latest boy groups that have debuted they all look the same - hairstyles, noses, outfits. While yes music should be the most important thing they are definitely making sure that people will dig their looks as well. It's undeniable that there are just way too many of them. While it was just DBSK and BoA I didn't really mind cuz they managed to bland in well, but all of these just stick out as a sore thumb.

[relmy]

Originally Posted by njanjayrp

I actually don't mind them looking like dolls. 2NE1's music annoys me as hell. It sounds like rubbish and the majority of songs I've heard sound as if they're constantly swearing. I don't care if that's their thing I think it sounds terrible. As for the others it's not really hard to tell how similar and creative their songs and videos are and no I am not saying that the idol bands in Japan are much better than that, but the number of kpop idol groups is increasing exponentially every year, while in Japan that number hasn't seem to have grown as much compared to the number of solo artists and actual bands which are pretty much almost invisible in South Korea at least from our perspective. There are always exceptions, but imo you can pretty much see SHINee and Super Junior do each other's songs without any problems ^^ I am not going to start with all the moronic names they come up with (B1A4, 2PM, 4minute, T-ara, BAP...) and just google search the pictures of some of the latest boy groups that have debuted they all look the same - hairstyles, noses, outfits. While yes music should be the most important thing they are definitely making sure that people will dig their looks as well. It's undeniable that there are just way too many of them. While it was just DBSK and BoA I didn't really mind cuz they managed to bland in well, but all of these just stick out as a sore thumb.

Of course, most of the groups appearing are simply trying to emulate the success of groups like Girls' Generation, I can't talk about boy groups as I don't listen to any of them (not really my thing). I don't vouch for the creativity of the Kpop idol industry (because as mentioned, Kpop goes above and beyond the idol groups saturating the internet, Japan and the market) but I think everybody knows that isn't what being an idol is about.

Again, taking 2NE1 as an example, their existence proves there is a space in the idol industry for something radically different to the cute or sexy image. It may seem like garbage or trash, or something everyday and bland because they're music is more Western, but look at them. Then look at the themes of their lyrics. Do you see "oppa"? Do you see the other Kpop buzzwords? Look at the themes in their lyrics and videos. Look at their peers. It may be manufactured garbage to you, but you can't deny their unique standing in both Korea and Japan.

In Japan, I wouldn't even consider BoA or DBSK "kpop", they created themselves a whole new "Japanese" persona. I think Kara is going in that direction too, a style tailored for the Korean market, and one for the Jpop market (KaraPara was a genius idea). Not every group can do that, most are just looking to make the money they can't make in a smaller market.

...and solo artists and bands are not absent in Korea, you just don't hear about them as much because the idol following is significantly larger (and more vocal) than the entire Jpop fandom, combine this with the companies actively promoting overseas in Asia and the world, and of course the groups and bands are going to be overshadowed. They are there, go look for them.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by relmy

In Japan, I wouldn't even consider BoA or DBSK "kpop", they created themselves a whole new "Japanese" persona. I think Kara is going in that direction too, a style tailored for the Korean market, and one for the Jpop market (KaraPara was a genius idea). Not every group can do that, most are just looking to make the money they can't make in a smaller market.

...and solo artists and bands are not absent in Korea, you just don't hear about them as much because the idol following is significantly larger (and more vocal) than the entire Jpop fandom, combine this with the companies actively promoting overseas in Asia and the world, and of course the groups and bands are going to be overshadowed. They are there, go look for them.

I agree and that's prolly why I don't mind Kara either, even though I don't listen to them.

I am aware that solo artists still exist in Korea, but yeah considering how extreme is the idol following it's kinda of normal that you hear little about them if you're not really into kpop. As I said I don't really listen to KPOP, besides BoA's Korean stuff, but I've been listening to her since 2004, so I don't feel the need to go look for more Korean stuff Still so many of my used-to-be-JROCK-fans friends from Belgrade have switched to kpop now and they are all about boy idols >_>

As for 2NE1 I dunno about their lyrics as I never looked them up, as I never liked a single song I've heard, because I simply disliked their, although different, to me not very appealing music.