Here are several fast news about a lot of Kpop idols this past week.
1. King of masked Singer Fans of red velvet has already guessed before that one of the members possibly participate on this variety show, competing to be the winner. Unfortunately, Red Velvet Wendy is unable to claim the spot as 113th King, on King of Masked Singer. She lost to SG Wannabe Lee Seokhoon 44-55. Lee Seokhoon performed EXO "Love Me Right" with an "Uptown Funk" dance break in the middle for the King's Round
2. IZONE Handshake event report
During the previous hitouch, Hiichan roomed with Kangchan for the 1st timeSaying things like "You can take a bath 1st~" or "Quickly go wash your face" when Hiichan woke up, she felt more like older sister, 'Hyewon unnie' rather than the usual 'Kangchan. There's only 1 member Hiichan hasn't roomed with before... unexpectedly, it's Chaewon unnie! She's kinda surprised too. When it comes to hotel rooming, Hiichan said it's nice having long talks with different members (than the usual dorm members) each time.
3. TXT old profile before debuted
Taehyun competed in the 35kg class of the 23rd National Sports Boxing Championship (KBI) and won a silver medal. OUR TAEHYUNNIE IS A BOXER
4. NCT new appearance 91027 - MTV_JAPAN Twitter Update Exclusive interviews with NCT 127 will be broadcasted in MTV Hits ‘MTV Pocket’ on AbemaTV for 4 weeks of November. Mon-Fri: 7:50AM / 10:55AM / 11:30PM KST Sat-Sun: 6:50AM KST
Two months after the teasers, NCT U’s first MV was released. As I said on my previous post, the MV is basically an updated version of Teaser #2’s backstage happening on the main stage, except for the substitution of Hansol by Doyoung. We also see some marble walls and colorful lights.
The video starts with a scene of the five boys in what looks like a foyer. A forest adorns the corridor in front of them, taking us back to Ten’s scenario and the dreams of living life into the wild. It’s one of the only scenes where they appear together besides the choreography ones, which makes me think the video is not on a chronological order and that this is, instead, a scene from the ending, where they’re already free from their boxes and reunited in a dream.
In Teaser #2, Taeyong was wearing a leather jacket that could be seen as his entrance in the celebrity life he will have by debuting. Here, he dresses himself in stars, a materialization of his dreams.
The ice can also represent a longing to be eternalized, frozen in time, like the celebrities on his suspenders. But before entering the eternal, it’s necessary to burn and scar the world first.
An interesting fact is that Taeyong and Mark helped writing the lyrics (something new to debuts under SM):
In this cold world, I’m closing my eyes
Laying down in bed, covering my ears
Yesterday is today, today is yesterday
I’m only filled with late self-guilt
*Sidenote: The celebrities as clothing patterns were used again in this live, where he’s wearing a jacket full of celebrities’ faces and Doyoung wears a Marilyn Monroe sweater. In this one, Jaehyun wears the suspenders instead.
Following up, we see Doyoung and his mirrored box. Between so many reflections, which one could possibly be the real one? Between so many ways to see oneself, how to know if what we’re seeing is not a dream, or worse, someone else’s dream? Through Doyoung’s perspective of substituting Hansol, the mirror box makes us think: does he sees himself as a substitution too?
I’m a mess, I don’t even know myself,
my future is colored darkly
I’m struggling, coloring this night even blacker
The celebrity world represents a constant look to one’s image and its reflections. It’s not a coincidence that one of the biggest tabloids in the UK is called The Mirror. When third parts follow your every step, it’s hard to separate yourself from their visions about you.
The last one to appear is Mark, in what is the best part of the song. His 3-sided box reminds us of a shrine, where he’s the relic (coincidentally or not, he’s wearing a rosary on his neck). This image once again parallels with the idea of fame, where celebrities are worshipped as passionately as religious figures.
Besides that, even if his walls appear more solid and opaque than the others’, he’s the one who can most easily escape, by descending from his altar as soon as his consciousness allows him.
In the lyrics, he describes the feeling of being in a limbo, not sure of what’s happening, and struggling with the reality/dream dichotomy:
I’m still going somewhere
To an unknown place, to an unknown hall
I’m spending most of my time
In a place that’s uncomfortable even
after several nights, like an explorer
Uh, and that’s a long ass ride
Mindlessly going around until I close my eyes
I’m doubting this moment, between dreams and reality
I have something else to check,
just like you right now, uh
This whole narrative is also mixed with individual shots in black and white or double exposures with various elements, creating yet another layer of meaning. Even if more than one member appeared with a specific element, I did my analysis according to the element that fit the most with their respective boxes:
Mark and the road: As he says, “it’s a long ass ride” and the nocturnal image of a road describes this exploration and restlessness about what awaits him in the future.
Doyoung and the glitch: This scene appears only in his individual teaser, and translates in image the misplacement Doyoung feels. He’s off the air. In the MV, he also appears with the shards of glass, suggesting he broke his own mirror and his perception of himself.
The continuity between the scenes is there, but in a much more subtle way. It’s perceptible that the boys are in rooms of the same house, and it’s implied that they meet at some point, since the initial scene and the choreography ones show them together.
Like a lucid dream, they can see themselves and comprehend what happens, even if everything is too unstable. The warning to open your eyes is still there. The truth is being revealed, may it be the waking up from dreams, or the group’s debut.
Taeyong and the fire: the opposite of all the ice we found in the beginning of the MV. Can also be a suggestion of breaking the lights, which contain heat, and heat is an attribute of fire. Debuting, Taeyong is taking his first steps into scarring the world and leaving his mark.
Due to current sad news about another suicide from our beloved kpop idols, from one of the biggest agency in South Korea, Choi Sulli, ex member of fx from Sm entertainment, we must take more care and caution about mental health. K-pop singer and actress Sulli was found dead in her house south of the capital on Monday in what police said may have been suicide. She said then that she was mentally and physically exhausted after suffering from malicious comments and false rumors online. She has had a breakdown before on her instagram live, yet many people didn't give much attention to it, not after it's too late. Here are several Kpop idols that has received tons of hatred comments, mischievous fake issues and threat from the antis, without any justification and completely groundless. Some of them have also shared their depression state with the fans.
1. From X1, it might be Wooseok, Kang Min hee and Son Dong Pyo, their fandom is Oneit
2. From Girls' generation, it's Taeyeon, Tiffany and Jessica, their fandom is Sone
3. From NCT, it's Taeyong, their fandom is nctzen
4. From seventeen, it's Dino, their fandom is carats
5. From Izone, it's Sakura, Wonyoung and Minju, their fandom is Wizone
6. From Wannaone, it's Kang Daniel, Han sungwoon and Jisung, their fandom is wannable
7. From Mamamoo, it's Hwasa, their fandom is Moomoo
8. From Exo, it's Lay, their fandom is ExoL
9. From twice, it's Jihyo, mina and nayeon, their fandom is once
10. From red velvet, it's Yeri and Irene, their fandom is Reveluv
11. From gfriend, it's SinB, their fandom is Buddy
12. From Blackpink, it's Jenny, their fandom is Blink
13. From fx, it's Krystal and Sulli, their fandom is MeUs
SM entertainment which successfully hold their first position through the years of glory of their respective groups such as TVXQ to Super junior to Girls Generation to Exo, with incredible achievement as well for Shinee.
For Shinee case, although they might a little bit left behind compare to what they expected to be as what SM entertainment plan, a.k.a the replacement of TVXQ's absent due to lawsuit by 3 of the members (JYJ) and enlistment to military. Let's be honest, yes Shinee is successful in Japan and they got their prime after Shinee Ring ding dong, continued with sherlock and other successful Japan debut/come back, but it never achieve as much feed as what TVXQ has done. Shinee is created by SM with 5 members boy group, the same as TVXQ, and introduced by SM as 5 members with multi talented group, who all can sing. Yet in term of sustainability, it's way less than TVXQ or Super Junior, who have their loyal and hard core fanbase, even until this years.
I saw a lot of Shinee fans left the group to follow another fresh group like EXO or BTS after quiet awhile, years after years Shinee eventually loose the hype just like any other Kpop idols group. Their latest comeback doesn't get much success anymore, it's forgotten like their other counter part, fx, a girl group who should follow SNSD's path, yet failed miserably because of the poor management/marketing and conflict between the members (Who probably prefer to be an actress, model or solo singer than an idol group members). Eg suli, the ex-member of fx, who left the group after dating scandal with Choiza, said in an interview that she feels like she doesn't belong in idol group. Suli said she doesn’t like to dance and faking her smile just to give an illusion to the fans with perfect image as an idol. For Krystal and Victoria, it seems they like to be an actress better than an idol. Back to shinee, we know a member from Shinee, Jonghyun, choose to take his own life due to this pressure, that the group should deliver “more”. But with time passes, both shinee and fx loose its hype. We shouldn’t deny that the year of Johghyun suicide is when shinee on a declining phase, in term of fame. Many fresh boy group has stolen the spotlight out of shinee. It’s unfortunate really, because Shinee and Fx have huge potential, yet it got faint.
So after Exo, we got another new generation comes from SM entertainment, both female and male group just like usual, they're Red velvet and NCT. When Red velvet and NCT debuted, SNSD and EXO were already on the breaking point, both have achieved their peak and they're trying so hard to create another peak, but it becomes harder as they have internal conflict and this affect their dynamics that fans want. In SNSD case, 1 popular member left and her voice really contribute a lot in SNSD's song. It’s the time when each members start to plan their own individual careers and focus more on their individual project, which is reasonable since it has been 7 years. (in most case for idol group, it means disbandment). In Exo case, although they got closer with each other a bit after 3 of their Chinese member left, and Exo become a 8+1 members group (Lay is rarely there for Exo activities), but we can see how each members think more of their individual career than the future of the group. Well, Exo members could tell anything to their fans that They really care about the group and the fans will believe it, but for point of view as an outsider (with more objectivity), action speaks louder than a mere words.
So, both NCT and Redvelvet got a huge pressure to be as successful as their predecessor, and it's really hard to hold the cake as the top boy group and girl group in Korea. Indeed, with a huge experiment for both group (awful choice of song, I might say - although I might say that NCT song is going better and better nowadays), to put bluntly, Both NCT and Red velvet are disappointment for Sm entertainment. This makes SM entertainment failed to launch another legendary Kpop group for 2 generations. The expectation and pressure for SM entertainment group is way heavies than small agency.
While NCT might got a slight success due to their recent American Tour, but Red velvet are stagnant with their popularity, even worse, Red velvet latest comeback even lost to the new debuted boy group formed by CJ E&M through the Mnet reality competition show Produce X 101, X1. While X1 got their 11st trophies, Red velvet lost it (without the live performance from X1, so 0 score for this criteria).
Currently, the top female and male Kpop group are from other agency, and SM have lost this important position to another agency even without a mean to counter-attack. BTS and Twice respectively has become the top of the pyramid in Kpop scene, one from small agency which turn big, big hit and the other is from the ex-top 3 agency, which return and solidify their position now as big 3, with their successful group like twice, itzy, got7 and stray kids. So comparing red velvet and NCT to BTS and Twice success would give us a huge gap to fill. This wasn't happened in the era of TVXQ to EXO.
So more than ever, SM is on their stake to proof that they're still the top agency entertainment in south Korea. Even without its long time rival, YG entertainment (which might got bankrupt if they failed to pay the 70 million $ debt to the investor / LV and not to mention naver's). They can't let the top position group for both male and female become the possession of other agency for more longer. SM entertainment are really in urge to debut another "monster group" and snatch out the top position again. And it might be a reason why Super M born to this world. Just like I've told you before, with NCT slight success for the recent American tour, SM tried to camouflage the success and use this as Super M base debut in America. . EXO and Shinee never broke through the US market. So, they’re basically repackaging NCT to pull a bait and switch with US audiences.
Super M set to take place on October 5 outdoors at the Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood, California, SuperM's debut showcase will be a chance for the group to perform their debut tracks live for the first time ever. The entire showcase will also air live worldwide via YouTube, appealing to fans watching from all corners of the globe.
SM Entertainment's super K-Pop boy group SuperM - made up of Taemin, Baekhyun, Kai, Taeyong, Mark, Lucas, and Ten - is set to debut on October 4 with their 1st mini album, also called 'SuperM'. It's like the avenger in marvel universe where all heroes from each franchise become one as a whole new team. The reason why this has a possibly of failing is because it's a group that was literally made up. Other groups who have become popular in the American market did so on their own and got recognized by major labels whereas this group is created just to compete in that market with no official fanbase. I think they believe that because all the members in this group have pre established fanbases so it will work out but we have already seen the backlash from that so even though there are supporters, I don't think the group will be as big as they plan to be. However, I also wanna say never say never and just watch to see what happens to Super M.
sm made twitter accounts for their artists after bts won tsa in 2017, started selling their artists albums on amazon just like bts, created a new group meant to surpass bts.
A month of teasers, buying hype on media platforms, monster budget for music, mv, styling, 'best of the best' cast.nA company can give all they have, pool all resources to make it, spam the promos like crazy...yet? Winning hearts really isn't just about promos and budget. They think fans will blindly support anything their favs do. In a way, SM is disrespecting the loyal fandoms that propelled their top groups by obviously trying to use their fandom power to artificially boost this. Huge, epic, big splashes don't work in sustaining interest.
Look at the Avengers movies. It is backed by a strong storyline that brings each established superhero together. It builds up, an organic flow of events. It does not feel contrived.But this group is contrived. To me, everything is great. But the method and strategy used is not.
There's so much talent and refined artistry in the members. So much skill and production in the crew. But I feel they have all been wrongly used. Shoving it down our throats abruptly is not how you win hearts. I just feel that going so headstrong and trying to media bulldoze their way through may not bring in the best aftereffects in existing loyal fans and hence will only create a splash that disappears into ripples.
The popular and next generation idols group from SM Entertainment, NCT Dream, might have stolen your interest nowadays with their youthful, energetic, happy and fun persona on stage. Get to know more about them with this 40 Fun facts about them, let's start!
Jaemin doesn't have siblings, but he want a sister.
NCT Dream is the third sub-unit of South Korean boy group NCT
The group debuted on August 25, 2016, with the single "Chewing Gum" and with seven members: Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung.
Mark graduated from the group on December 31, 2018
Jaemin can play piano
Jeno is alergic to cats (his family has 3). He dislikes mathematics and his favorite subject is history
Chenle is scared of spider
Chenle favorite senior is Exo Lay
Haechan is in charge of washing the dishes in dorm
Jisung nickname is Jwi (mouse)
Renjun has been practicing ballet and contemporary dance
The lightstick of NCT is so absurd that become an inside joke between the fandom. It looks like a melona ice cream bar, that popular among Korean.
In several occasion, NCT members not knowing their own songs, mostly in a radios show quiz.
Jeno can play the guitar (as seen in MY SMT with Nct Dream (161024) and in NCT LIFE with Nct Dream,
Renjun attends the Beijing Contemporary Music School.
Renjun says he only acts innocent because his managers want him to.
Renjun has a birthmark on the back of his hand.
Jeno’s cats are named Bongsik, Seol-ie, and Lal-ie
Jeno attends Seoul School of Performing Arts
Jeno's like super junior song, and among other songs, Sorry sorry is what get him into an idol life
Haechan’s hometown is Seoul, but he lived in Jeju when he was 7-12 years old.
Yang yang doesn’t have a nickname because people thought YangYang was a nickname
Yang favorite band is MAYDAY because his parents listened to them
It was announced on December 31, 2018 Yang would debut in WayV
Chen le debuted only after 2 months of training.
The song that made Chenle wanna become an idols is: Westlife’s “You Raise Me Up” (Apple NCT’s Playlist)
Chenle doesn’t live in the dormitory anymore, his mom bought a house in Seoul and stays with him. If his mom has a business to attend to in China, his aunts stay with him.
Jisung doesn’t use honorifics with Chenle because they are a little over two months apart.
Jisung's favorite school subject are Physical Education and Sociology, he hates all the rest of the subjects.
Jisung is afraid of cockroaches. His hyungs Haechan and Jeno asked to borrow his iPod and returned it with the wallpaper as a cockroach, which made Jisung drop the phone and scream.
Article: 'Idol Room' NCT Dream Jaemin reveals his surprising eating habits, "I drink Americano with 8 shots" Source: TV Daily via Nate Jaemin: "There no middle when it comes to eating. When I eat ramen, I put a bunch of cilantro. When I eat sweet potato wedges, I literally pour sugar on it. Drinking Americano with 8 shots wakes me up completely. This is just enough. I drink bubble tea with 100% of sweetness" Jeno: "Jaemin puts sugar cubes beside his bed and eats them like a snack." - 1. [+242, -2] He doesn't realize what he's doing because he's young... 2. [+170, -2] That's too much. Doing enough is good for everything. 3. [+115, -0] It'll damage his body as he ages... He should be careful. 4. [+14, -0] That's like drinking espresso in a huge cup, hul. 5. [+14, -0] He's young now but he'll feel it as he ages. And then he'll regret it. 6. [+13, -0] Normally, iced Americano has 2 shots. Even 3~4 shots are strong. Yet he takes 8 shots... 7. [+12, -6] 8 shots. 100% sweetness for bubble tea. Cilantro-filled ramen. Really salty food. He's daebak. He must have a dull tongue but it seems like his body is able to digest them well because he's young ㅋㅋ 8. [+10, -1] He must have a really dull tongue. 9. [+10, -0] It'll damage his stomach. 10. [+10, -1] They said the cafe workers get surprised every time he orders.
These idols didn't only got the looks, popularity and talent, but also come from above average family. They were born with silver spoon since beginning, the roaster of humanity. Even with all that comfortable assured life even if they didn't work, they choose a path with working hard as a key, in short, they aren't being lazy. So who are they?
1. Choi Siwon from Super Junior I bet you already know this person and kinda guess about him to be put in the list. Well, this Super junior member is popular as being a rich KPOP idols. But even though he is rich, he is also well known with his gentleman side and a kind image. His father is Choi Kiho, who was the President of Korean Slim Fashion. In 2011, his father became a CEO of Boryung Medicine (pharmaceutical company), where he still works to this day. His family owns Hyundai Department Store, the biggest and the largest supermarket in Korea, and has opened many branches across Japan
2. SNSD Soo young Sooyoung’s grandfather was the CEO of an architect company which helped build the Seoul Arts Centre. In one of SNSD variety show where Sooyoug's home got exposed, you can play badminton or soccer in her yard.
3. Twice Tzuyu Tzuyu’s parents were self made entrepreneurs who own a chain of dermatology clinics in southern Taiwan. Her mum has built two coffee shops, a place where TWICE fans often hang
4. 2NE1 CL 2NE1's CL father is a Professor of Sogang University, Lee Ki Jin. Her father published a children´s book that he wrote for CL.
5. ZEA Hyungsik Hyungsik's father is the director of Mercedez benz Korea
6. Jessica and Krystal The jung sister is rich and fabulous. Her father is a boxer turned lawyer while her mother used to be a gymnast.
7. 2pm Nichkhun He attended the prestigious Wanganui Collegiate School in New Zealand where a single year of schooling costs roughly $54,500 AUD per yearNickhun’s parents built their fortune being CEOs of a Thailand pharmaceutical company and also trading companies.
9. Gfriend Umji Umji’s father is the CEO of Moa Dentist Group, who have several branches in Korea, and not only that, many idols/actors went to this clinic. They have over 30 practices across South Korea.
10. Exo Suho Suho grew up in Apgujeong – one of the most wealthy areas in Seoul. His father is a well-known college professor
11. NCT Ten His parents enrolled him into Shewbury International School in Bangkok, Thailand where the schooling fees are roughly 200 million won ($230,000 AUD) over ten years.
12. Super Junior Kyuhyun His father runs a School Academy. In 2012, the father opened a Korean Language Academy in Taiwan.
13. Got 7 Mark Mark’s family live in Los Angeles. His dad was a pretty successful businessman who has since retired. One time Mark took a plane from Thailand to Switzerland simply to snowboard.
15. Henry Lau In a variety show, he show his huge house in his hometown, the US. His apartment in Seoul is quiet good too.
16. Twice Mina She attended a prestigious all-girls school. Her father is Akira Myoui, a top surgeon at Osaka University Hospital which is one of the top facilities in the city
17. NCT Chenle NCT Chenle was born into a billionaire family as shown of his predebut photos. It was shown his house is big, he drive in a luxury car and have a oversea holiday with his family.
18. Exo Tao He has been driving Benz since before he debuted. Tao's parents' villa is in Qingdao, upscale and expensive because it's right at the sea. the net value of his father's company in Beijing is worth more than $3 billion. Tao’s father argued that he was ranked as the 7th wealthiest in Qingdao in 1997
19. Seventeen Scoups Seventeen fans said that he is the richest member in Seventeen.
20. Super junior Sungmin Son of the CEO of two companies, SendBill and Network Mania.
Looking on the list, it seems it is dominated by the big agencies in Korea, such as SM entertainment, YG and JYP.
1. King of masked Singer
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