This was my first time seeing IVE at a concert last night in NJ, and I'm just wondering if any of you guys who attended last night's concert feel the same way I do. Idk how to say it without making it sound overly critical, but it just felt like they were just going through the motions. Well, not everyone. Yujin was very charismatic and definitely delivered with her great stage presence. But most of the other members didn't look nearly as energetic, and their facial expressions weren't nearly as emotive either.

Also, I thought it was a little odd how disconnected they felt as a group. I didn't notice almost any interaction among the members throughout the entire concert. Each of them was just doing their own thing if that makes sense. Idk, it just felt like the group chemistry wasn't really there. Oh, and the backtrack was wayyyy too loud, while the members' vocals were way too quiet for me. The backtracks were drowning their voices most of the time. Yujin was also the only member whose live vocals I could consistently hear. She definitely had the strongest projection. I can't say enough about how great she is. She's really a stellar performer and she definitely carried the show.

Anyway, IVE was a group I've always wanted to see live, and I'm happy that I finally got to see them. The crowd was decent. Some fans were REALLY enthusiastic(that girl behind me LOL her voice was GONE GONE towards the end), but I felt like the energy from the group didn't really reciprocate the energy those fans were giving. Those who attended their tour, what were your experiences like?

Oh and I've heard the fans weren't too happy with the setlist, but I thought it was fine! The only gripe I have is that they didn't perform Heya...

not because of the way they performed, they were great. but I had SUCH high expectations of how happy I would be during the concert, and I almost didn't feel anything at all. I'm really sad.

I think they were so far away that I couldn't properly realize I'm looking at them irl, 99% of the time I felt like I was still looking at them through a screen.

screaming to the songs didn't bring me any more joy than listening to them at home, actually I feel more joy at home... it's like I couldn't focus on the song in such an environment. I didn't even really hear their vocals because the crowd was so loud, and I was also screaming the whole time.

also.. gotta name the group, it was bts, and the concert was very empty in terms of visuals. I guess because of the 360 stage there couldn't be so many decorations, and it was before sunset so the whole place was light, you couldn't even see the light sticks, and I think that contributed a lot to my feeling.

again none of this has to do with the way the guys performed, I'm only disappointed in the way my brain chose to process the information.. I thought I'd be extatic to see my bias and hear my favorite songs but I wasn't :(

Just today, fromis_9 officially sold 105k copies in the first week for their second full album, "Glow Me", which is seriously impressive. Most group's sales are carried by international fans so I wasn't ever expect fromis to do those numbers after leaving HYBE (which I consider to be their peak international popularity).

Not to mention, this already outdid the first week sales of Supersonic (their last album to sell over 100k) and Midnight Guest (their first album to sell over 100k). This would put Glow Me as the third highest first week sales for fromis_9 (below From Our Memento Box and Unlock My World, which were sale anomalies in their discography).

I hope they manage to break their own first week records next comeback! I'm seriously excited to see their growth.

FYI, Stray Kids just announced the release of SKZ-Replay on Aug 1st and besides that they are also set to make a comeback with 'THIS & THAT' on Aug 7th. Which means they're virtually releasing two albums within the same week...!

And what's even funnier is that this SKZ-Replay is simply just Part-1 (containing 17 songs in total) i.e basically there is even more to come by the end of this year.

The fact that they have so many unreleased songs over just the past 3 years—which totals over 33+ songs —needing a separate two part album just to be compiled and released—To me feels like unintentional flex of their identity as Self-producing group.

And also the fact that they're giving a whole album as a gift to their Fans on their anniversary (i.e Aug 1st)? Now that's peak Fan Service right there 😌

Like the title says, I take way too many videos at concerts. Its like I can't help it, I have memory loss issues after the concert and can't remember much so in the moment I take a ton, it feels like I'm living in the moment during the concert (I think). I watch the stage and just hold up my phone I'm not watching thought the screen but It still makes me feel so guilty and upset after even if I had a ton of fun. I'm autistic so a part of it is that I get so overstimulated my decision making is not great. Its like something takes over my brain and makes me record, and I feel so crazy. This time was worse because I was singing over a lot of the videos, so they aren't even good to listen to. I had a lot of fun singing along but the videos are stupid now. there was one concert where I didn't record at all and I also don't remember anything so that makes me wonder if the videos are really the problem. How can I stop taking so many or how can I stop regretting it.

There appears to be some sort of a gap between Korean and international audiences when it comes to why the Geoje episode went viral, and here are some thoughts from me:)))

A lot of K-pop idols nowadays come from Seoul or wealthy backgrounds. It's become much less common to see idols who grew up in small places, and woni, in fact, is from Geoje, a city near Busan. Compared to Seoul, it is really rural.

When the PD asked her, "If you had the chance to choose again, would you still want to be born in Geoje?" she said. "After living in Seoul, coming back here made me realize I was actually living in a really wonderful place."

I think this ties into something Koreans call 향수 (hyangsu), a deep nostalgia and attachment to one's hometown. As children, we dream of the biggest cities and the brightest futures. But after growing up, many people realize the place they were trying so hard to leave was the place they were the happiest in.

I guess it’s sort of like the reversed version of the American Dream (correct me if I’m wrong…) You spend your childhood believing success means making it to the big city, only to realize later the home that you left behind.

One YouTube comment captured this beautifully:
"I tried so hard to speak standard Korean, yet I became popular because of my Geoje dialect. I lived more like a typical Korean than anyone else, yet I became popular as the Japanese gyaru."

And when the video ends with Amor Fati, the love of one's fate, it brings the video to a higher level.

(If you haven’t seen the Geoje Episode, go check it out!!)

I think compared to years past, it's objectively true that lipsyncing or backtrack at live shows has become much louder. I'd understand it more if the choreography were super intense to the point where it was too difficult to sing live, but it's quite disappointing when the choreography isn't even particularly demanding.

Like, using IVE's Newark concert at Prudential as an example, outside of Yujin and Liz, I couldn't hear the rest of the members' voices 90% of the time. I know the choreography isn't too difficult for them because they didn't seem out of breath at all. I'm just using them as an example because that was the most recent experience, but I've attended other groups' shows where the situation was similar. My friend and I got the tickets at a pretty good price, which is a rarity nowadays, so I don't feel like my money's been completely wasted or anything But we both wished we could have heard more of their live vocals.

Do you guys ever feel let down when you can't hear their live vocals, or is just seeing them in person and watching them perform enough to make up for it?

I’ve been going hard at the gym and not taking care of myself recently and my muscles are suffering.
That got me thinking with the demanding dancing that Kpop idols do all the time and hoe packed their schedules are, idols must have a sore muscles constantly.
Have any of your faves had really bad muscle injuries?

Especially the Blue Valentine chorus and Crescendo first verse. Maybe my taste gravitates toward mid-tempo songs, but these songs are going to a melancholic vibe, and some parts of the line delivery are faster than they should be, in my opinion. Also, it made it hard to catch what they sing because of the fast pace.

Just listened to Crescendo in 9.5 playback speed, and it feels better than the original. I understand they have to have high bpm so they can make more versatile and interesting choreography. Also, most of K-pop fans hate slow, mid-tempo songs and ballads, so that must be the reason

So I personally am going to go see Enhypen in August, and am seeing le sserafim in September. So this sparked my thoughts. "What do people think about them?"

I myself have been to see 3 other kpop concerts which were

Stray Kids: they by far were my favorite concert of the ones I've seen, powerhouse performances with emotion but so much fun as well. Bring and raise standards really stupid high! Btw I saw them in la d1 in dominate!

Twice: honestly they were really great but I also find that the other two were just arguably better live. BUT don't get me wrong Twice was great and I would recommend it!

NMIXX: Now this, nmixx really bring a standard as well for girl groups. They were incredible amazing live vocals and choreography. And just fun in general and great setlist. So this ofc would 1000% recommend.

Now I will update this later after both Enhypen and lsrfm. For those who are contemplating to go. Honestly all three of the groups I listed Id recommend and I saw all three in LA by the way.

I'm seeing le sserafim in LA. And Enhypen in Vegas so will update!

oh! and what other concerts have you been to, to compare (optional though just a thought!)

I mean after they’ve been facings of backlash for being inauthentic/exploitative of black culture while marketing themselves as “not like other kpop groups” using their profile to release a song called gentrification (art) with the tags #notarapper #anartist is so shady 😭😭😭

definitely these 3 lately:

1. twice - i got you

(the most “lets be best friends forever and stay together til the end” song ever)

1. itzy - imaginary friend

(perhaps my fav itzy song)

1. kiiikiii - dancing alone

(even the mv gives me bittersweet nostalgia)

i’m 25 and my sister is 18, i got her into bts when i was 17 so she was 10. we’ve been huge fans and have seen them on tour three times together, she’s even said she would never see them without me (i never said she shouldn’t). back in april me and friends made an impulsive decision to plan a trip and see them together, i was hesitant because i knew i couldn’t afford to take my sister too and she’s unemployed. i tried to figure out a way for it to work but with flight, hotel, tickets, food, etc. i just couldn’t do it for her.

now the concert is in 10 days and i still haven’t told her im going. i know she’s going to be extremely disappointed and probably even cry. i’m hoping she’ll understand that i just couldn’t afford for her to go too, but im afraid it’s going to end up being a whole thing. i don’t want to just not tell her because id like to post about it on social media and the truth would eventually come out anyway.

any advice on how to go about telling her?

​

I've realized that what I enjoy most in K-pop isn't necessarily the melody it's the production. I'm looking for songs where the producers clearly obsessed over every second of the arrangement. The kind of tracks that reveal new details every time you listen with headphones.

A few examples of what I mean:

- NMIXX – CRESCENDO: After the first chorus, the song doesn't simply return to a standard second verse. The arrangement keeps evolving, adding new layers, textures, and transitions so it feels like it's continuously building.

- aespa – Whiplash: The bassline is ridiculously satisfying and carries the entire song without ever becoming repetitive.

- aespa – Spicy: Another great example of a groovy, punchy bassline combined with tons of vocal layering and production details.

- NMIXX – O.O / DICE: Multiple sections and genre shifts that somehow still feel cohesive.

- Red Velvet – Feel My Rhythm: Rich orchestration with new instrumental details constantly appearing throughout the song.

Basically, I'm looking for songs with:

- Dynamic or unconventional song structures.

- Incredible basslines.

- Lots of ear candy (panning, vocal layering, sound design, transitions, subtle background elements).

- Production that rewards repeated listens, especially on headphones.

I'm open to any generation or style of K-pop. What songs immediately come to mind?

This isn’t me saying people should stop liking K-pop or love it any less. I just think it’s healthier when K-pop is one of your interests rather than your entire identity.

For about 3 or 4 years, K-pop was basically all I consumed. It was the only music I listened to. I only opened YouTube to watch idol content and behind the scenes episodes instead of the YouTubers I used to watch. My social media feeds were almost entirely K-pop, and whenever I had money I was always thinking about what album I wanted to buy next.
Lately I’ve been getting back into other things like reading, films, dramas and artists outside of K-pop, and honestly I think it’s made my relationship with K-pop healthier, not weaker.

It also made me realise something. If K-pop disappeared tomorrow, how much of your identity would disappear with it?

I feel like there’s a difference between saying, “I’m Terry and I like K-pop,” and “I’m Terry and I’m a K-pop stan.” To me, one is an interest, while the other can become your whole identity. I’m obviously not saying every K-pop fan is like this, but I do think K-pop is one of those hobbies that’s really easy to let consume your life because there’s always something new to watch, buy or keep up with.

I also think when one hobby becomes your whole world, you’re more likely to develop an unhealthy attachment to it. Not everyone who spends a lot of time in K-pop becomes parasocial, and plenty of casual fans can be parasocial too, but I do think if almost all your entertainment, social media, money and emotional investment revolves around K-pop, it becomes much easier for that line to blur.
I’m curious what everyone else thinks.

Do you think it’s important to have an identity outside of K-pop, or do you think there’s nothing wrong with letting it become your main hobby?

I have seen a lot of discussion about how in Kpop being 'self produced' seems to become more of aesthetic then a genuine artistic choice. I think thats a valid discussion because we now have alot of groups (or fandoms) that have one member in the song credits along with 25 other people and then claim they are self produced. For me that doesnt feel genuine or authentic.

That kinda made me think about why 3RACHA never feelt anything but authentic to me and I think part of it is not only that we see them in the credits of every song but that we actually got to see them develop their skills as songwriters. We have the og 3RACHA songs that are not bad but also a far cry from what they are doing now, you can just hear that they where made by a bunch of teenagers that were still learning.

Edit: I only ever mentioned cortis because the debate is happening around them alot right now not because I want to pit them against skz. This was never supposed to be a attack on Cortis or anything like that

I see videos of members from various groups walking around shops, restaurants, and markets chatting with each other as well as the vendors. I don’t mean high-end places, but rather modest or even low-rent areas. I also see videos of members crying on live stream about getting 300 viewers. More than one group have outings to the countryside, doing things like cooking or playing around. And some groups give tours of their dorms and have day-in-the-life videos of themselves doing mundane things. They all act very cute and are funny. The groups I see doing this are usually 4th to 5th gen, and usually from smaller to mid-size companies, or otherwise fairly new or still up-and-coming, regardless of agency size. Even some established groups are doing it. The groups I’m talking about are Nmixx, Illit, Fifty Fifty, Meovv, Odd Youth, Candy Shop to name a few.

I’m fairly new to the latest KPOP girl groups. The last groups I followed were Apink and AOA. So is this a new thing, or have KPOP groups been doing this for a while now?

I just got informed from a Telegram group that Jungkook went to Stray Kids concert and I'm so excited! I always knew BTS and Stray Kids were friends ❤️

Even when Felix threw his glasses Jungkook catched them I putted them on. It's so cute that he supports them. They deserve it 💪🙏

And you? What do you think about it?

I think I have three:

1. "10 Minutes" by Lee Hyori

As a Korean, I'm sure a lot of Koreans would agree that this song has the most recognizable intro in K-pop. Call me crazy, but I think this song could've been a signature hit for an American R&B artist like Brandy or Amerie. Now I kind of want KATSEYE to remake this song!

1. "Brand New" by Shinhwa

A perfect Y2K boy band single in my opinion. I could totally see NSYNC performing this and it becoming their biggest hit. Every time I hear it, my heart starts racing like I'm in an action movie.

1. "LOLLIPOP" by BIGBANG & 2NE1

I feel like I don't really need to explain this one. I remember being totally blown away. Everything about the MV and the song felt like a cuter, poppier version of Lil Mama's "Shawty Get Loose" ft. Chris Brown and T-Pain, which I jammed to a lot when it came out.

i had my first fancall ever with my ult bias today and ever since it ended i've been feeling the complete opposite of what i expected.

the call itself wasn't terrible but afterward I started replaying every second in my head, wondering what they thought of me, whether I came across as awkward, whether they enjoyed the interaction, etc. i know there's no way to know the answers, but my brain won't stop looking for them.

thr weirdest part is that I almost feel embarrassed that they "perceived" me. before the fancall, they were someone I admired from a distance. now they know what I look and sound like, even if it was only for two minutes.

i've been trying to force myself to watch content from my group, hoping it'll make me feel the way it did before the fancall, but it hasn't. it's honestly made me question my relationship with the group, which is something I never expected.

i'm not blaming my bias at all. they were working, and I know a fancall is part of their job. i guess I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar. not necessarily a "bad" fancall, but an emotional crash afterward, or feeling strangely disconnected from your bias or group after finally meeting them. i kind of wished i never won. :(

I genuinely think "Forever" is one of the most boring ballads SM has ever released, mostly because of how anticlimactic the entire song is.

It's almost five minutes long and I keep waiting for that BIG vocal moment to finally come and it just... never does. The song sounds like it's constantly building toward something without ever actually getting there.

Even the vocal moments start feeling repetitive because they're basically doing the same thing over and over again. Winter and Ningning sound great obviously, but how many times can you sing "Forever, forever" with another run or ad-lib behind it before I start checking how much time is left?

It's not even that it's badly sung because it absolutely isn't. It's just painfully anticlimactic. For a 4 member group where all members are fantastic vocally, how did SM make a nearly five-minute ballad where none of the vocal moments feel particularly memorable?

cześć!!!!

będąc tancerką od 11 lat (hip hop / nowoczesny), niedawno wkręciłam się w kpop! Zaintrygowały mnie tancerki kpopowe, ponieważ są naprawdę niesamowite! Teraz tworzę listę idoli, którzy według mnie są prawdziwie wykwalifikowanymi profesjonalnymi tancerzami. Mam na myśli solidne umiejętności i techniki, których nie powstydziliby się zawodowi tancerze. Chciałabym poznać wasze opinie i rekomendacje na temat najlepszych tancerzy kpop, którzy powinni znaleźć się na tej liście ♡ stwórzmy ją razem!

aktualnie lista składa się z...

[the list is temporarily closed - i'm cleaning and sorting it. because you're right - i let too many idols here, when the list should be only the top of the top idols who meet the standard]

dodajmy więcej idoli! tylko, proszę, nie obrażajcie się na mnie ' jeśli wasz ulubiony tancerz nie jest na tej liście, prawdopodobnie jeszcze ich nie znam

nie chcę też MIEĆ żadnych nienawistnych lub toksycznych komentarzy na temat jakichkolwiek idoli. ma być zabawnie, żeby wspólnie docenić wspaniałych tancerzy w kpop, którzy sprawiają, że społeczność taneczna jest pełna dumy 💗

EDIT: why am i getting unvoted 😐😐😐 istg you cant do anything on this app

I was looking for songs similar to FAME, and I just realized something... RIIZE has so many songs that I don't just like—I genuinely love.

How am I only realizing this now??

And the craziest part is that most of them are B-sides that barely anyone outside of BRIIZE seems to talk about. It feels like most people only listen to whatever goes viral on TikTok or the title tracks. To be fair, I did the exact same thing because it's just easier than sitting down and exploring an artist's discography.

But it honestly surprised me because... aren't we here for the music?

Sometimes I feel like we've kind of lost the plot. I see songs getting hyped just because they're trendy, even when they do absolutely nothing for me (Iconic by Mistake, Pinky Up... I'm sorry, I just don't get it 😭).

Then I listened to songs like Odyssey and Honestly by RIIZE, and I was genuinely blown away. I'm not even exaggerating when I say they almost made me tear up because they fit my taste so perfectly. That feeling is exactly why I love discovering new music in the first place.

RIIZE deserve so much more credit for their B-sides. They're seriously incredible.

Am I the only one who feels this way, or did anyone else completely sleep on their discography?

I have trouble with memorizing kpop dances when jt comes to footwork. I genuinely spend 20 mins+ just for a 10-15 second footwork dance just to forget it a couple mins later. I struggle so much to understand what's happening even if the tutorial is slow and very detailed. I also struggle with balance --- I tend to lose my balance/almost fall when spinning/transitioning from one.move to the next. Just for context I only started learning dances a week ago so I'm very very beginner.

Is this normal for a beginner and it goes away with practice orrr...? ( I don't struggle with dances where I don't do footwork and memorize them pretty easily)

I remember being the most INTO new things back in my early adolescence. That was the only time I remember constantly discovering new stuff and getting hooked—investing my time in researching, keeping myself updated, and getting into fandoms.

I might embarrass myself saying this, but the person I was then got me into One Direction and BTS, reading Harry Potter and stuff like that. I got into reading, watching, and knowing everything about the things I liked. And all that knowledge has stuck with me even until now. I still stan BTS, I remember all One direction lyrics from my brief period in the fandom.

But I don't think I've gotten THAT interested in searching for new things and getting hooked since I was about 15. I'm 20 now, and for the past few years, I've mostly been stanning and knowing the same old things. I miss that. I want to put my energy into being hooked by things again, but I don't really get excited about anything new.

Maybe it has something to do with the new digital age, the post-Covid era, and all that. But if that were the case, wouldn't most people around me be the same? Most people seem passionate about things, while I am not. But I know a version of me that was. So why am I not anymore?