Note: Its not a LSM glaze post or any other CEO’s glazing ..I know LSM has had done many problematics things ,the slave contracts ,TVXQ issue ..and all..but my point is not that ..Also if I use any group for using as an example for my opinion its just limited to that ,not have to do anytging with glazing or hating any of those group.
A2O LITE just yesterday broke the record for having most PAKs by a debut song in just around 2 weeks of their debut , previously held by ILLIT.
A2O LITE with their debut started so many conversations and debates among k-pop fans ..and many trying to determine “Whats their appeal”
There are many kind of answers to that by people ,some said cause it remind people of 2nd gen so nostlagia , then also its a breath of fresh air after K-pop as industry started to follow the New Jeans effect and started to copy their asthetics with the perception that New Jsans success was due to their Y2K and organic looking visuals and atmosphere.
Even their creator MHJ had the perception that New Jeans success was cause of their “asthetics”, and thats also the reason she felt so threatened and offended by ILLIT’s MAGNETIC success..
Although I agree New Jeans Y2K asthetics and creative outlook was a big part of their appeal but that was not the entire reason..the core reason was they had great songs which had a Mass appeal along with that their “organic and Y2K ” look
And when Magnetic became hit with ILLIT even if they appeared to have similar styling and outlook of New Jeans ,the song was really great …now many people say even the song was like New Jeans’s song.
And thats the thing if you make your success around Asthetics and vibes or just the way you dress, style and look..people gonna copy ,why wont they ??Its not idols fault ,companies choose their creative concept ,what idols can do…its a business whatver companoes find profitable they gonna copy ..thats why there is a term ” trendsetters” ..cause someone else follow afterwards.
Likewise LSM created Trainee system in late 90s ,it worked so people copied it , SM started the concept of photocards in Album ,it gave higher profits to company by higher album sales..so people copoed it …G-Dragon came with the idea of Lightstick for a fandom..it seemed great and profitable so other people in kpop copied it ..do you think all these people went and called other people out ?? for copying their idea ??
Not just that in 2nd gen ..mid and small companies often times used to copy BIG 3 creative concepts ,set dedigns ,looks of idols and what not ..but even if fans called out ,never i have ever seen a professional from these companies calling it out.Bcs that doesnt mean those groups were getting the same success as BIG 3 groups …bcs that wasnt ever the reason of that success .
Like Exo with Growl did the school uniform concept and they did ” one-take” Music video for Growl in school uniforms and cap tricks which was very novel and new for that time …they themselves revealed how even once they made mistake they had to restart again…that definitely was big talking point of that comeback but that wasnt the sole reason Growl became such a big hit and thats why even when so many groups started doing the same aesthetics with school uniforms after that ,but that didnt let them Growl level success ..one of the major group who did that concept was BTS in 2014 ..but BTS only got real success when they found their own colour in 2015 with I need you which was their true breakthrough in korea.
Similarly Twice while promoting cheer up which was their break through in Korea worn cheer leader clothes ..something very similar to SNSD “Oh!” which was also a really big hit ..sones and onces had fought for almost 2 years over that during that time..but it doesnt mean cheer up success was for those costumes ,in fact cheer up had greater success on charts than “Oh!” had ..the reason of success was ” Cheer up” was a really great song…neither “Oh!” was a mega hit for that costumes.
The New Jeans effect was that everyone wanted that success wrapped in a formula which they can repeat ,but as New Jeans were not taking high notes in their songs neither were dancing to super hard choreos nor they were spitting rap verses..people in the end came to conclusion that the entire reason of their success is their ” Asthetics” ..even their CEO amd creator MHJ thought the same to an extent atleast.
I get it that no one like to get copied their Creative work ,but unless you have a legal copyright ,patent or IP right ..you have no right to officially say anything and max you can just get pissed thats all.And it was very silly of her to make these copying allegations against ILLIT for hairstyling ,looks and what not in an official press confrence.
Thus in doing so we got to witness a wave of idols and concepts which was of sub-standard quality bcs they were all trying to copy a certain vibe and asthetic..the big example we can see with TUIDE.
TUIDE debuted and people are saying that they just cant find a reason to stan them even if many agreed that their febut song was good …many saying there is no one who gives a vibe of celebrity or saying they look like girls I would meet in my university or school..maybe that was intentional ..the company wanted to create a group who fit in the same mold of ” Organic” ” Authentic” asthetic and atmosphere.
Meanwhile earlier when people tried to copy the success formula they still had to keep and maintain a standard of ” talent”…LSM always made sure that his created groups defined by certain level of talent amd Star Power and each member who hold core positions in his groups like ” Main vocalist” or ” Main Dancer” are super talented ..and thats the reason why the songs used to have highnotes ,dance breaks ..even if people debuted member having visual they made sure there is other talented people.Similarly YG also set different standards when it came to LIVE performances and Rapping..
Cause these standards are needed to be maintained in K-POP as the industry has always been a system and a business and people gonna follow the next successful trend…so even if people try to copy ,when they copy something its better to follw a trend where they get a decent level of talent ..and New Jeans effect let people think the formula of success is just the “Organic Vibes” ” Y2K Aesthetics”….And that illlusion was taking k-pop as whole in downward spiral.
All the SM groups who debuted after LSM departure has already came in encore controversies something which no one imagined..you can see the korean comments saying the same thing that how they could have never imagined that SM groups would see this day.
A2O LITE’s Neon apart from having signature old school SM sound also got a lot of attention for the talent it showcased and the fact after long time people didnt have to talk about lack of skills and koreans saying finally they ended the growth type idols debut ..( the excuse fans given that rookie idols still needed time to become good ).
like the intro dance which became such a viral trend and which catches people attebtion since very beginning can only be done by talented dancers , J Black who choreographed the dance ,said that they have said to make it as hard as he can ..its obvious cause LSM wanted to say like ” If you gonna copy ,copy this “..and show off his idols talent ..not just that eceb after so many people doing that challenge ,the two girls just randomly yesterday done different choreo for the intro which no less amazing than the original ,showing that they can just do another one …
Thats how LSM formula worked for 2 decades and the New Jeans effect dwindled in 2 years..Even YG to many extent have a core hand in shaping K-POP cause they also started many newer standards and trend…in terms of rapling ,Lice singing, and vocals in respect of vocal tone and emotions .
But even if SK had certain aesthetics ,or when LSM started worldview lore with EXO ,or the creative teams behind F(x) and Red velevt comebacks including MHJ herself…those didnt become the reason of their success..YG idols known for their edgy fashion amd edgy vibe ..but that didnt mean somekne wearing similar clothing amd vibe can just become a YG idol…
Hence LSM never let his idols success defined by any kind Aesthetics, styling or concept but at the very forefront ,first it was qaulity of songs and Next his idols Talent and hence such produced songs which can be only executed by talented idols.
It doesnt mean New Jeans was in anyway not talented ,but the thing is their creator herself let people think that the entire reason of theor success is the Y2K Aesthetics , easy to listen songs and that lead people go on wrong path..well first of the reason of their succes also had to do with quality of songs even if it had a certain genre..which everyone forgot.
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