F(x) and Epik High to represent K-pop!

[unknowntoyou18.livejournal.com]

f(x) and Epik High will be representing K-pop at MIDEM 2010 (Jan. 26th, 2009). MIDEM is a business and networking event which takes place in Cannes, France, where music professionals all around the world meet.

Selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Contents Agency, f(x) and Epik High will put on an "Enjoy K-pop" showcase, introducing K-pop to European and American music professionals.

The purpose of this showcase is to introduce K-pop to the world and break down barriers for K-pop artists to penetrate foreign markets. The ministry and agency are serious about breaking into foreign markets, therefore they are pushing extremely hard and in full support of this movement.

Who better to represent K-pop than one of Korea's most talented hip hop artists and the extremely polished and talented Asia Pop Dance Group? Let's spread the K-pop love!

credits: Allkpop

France?

Comments

[ryoflame.livejournal.com]

Epik High, okay. Hell yeah, even.

...but f(x)? Really?

[yumekanau.livejournal.com]

*Exactly* what I said.

[kisaki94.livejournal.com]

uhm f(x)?

[shoiryu.livejournal.com]

Eeesh. I like f(x) and all but they're really, really not good enough nor polished enough yet to be doing big enterprise stuff. They need at least a year to find their feet and to help Krystal learn to sing better poor kid.

[miliy96.livejournal.com]

same. they should have one of the better polished groups going not f(x)

[adjuihcuzuejrim.livejournal.com]

yes breaking into foreign markets!

s2s but why not germany? i heard it has a high status in music industry...


well idk korea's ~ambassador~ snsd? maybe? but they are too popular and busy i guess

[freed-misery.livejournal.com]

I know next to nothing about Germany's music scene but I was always under the impression that they were kind of more open to "other" music? From what I remember some Jrock bands did all right there. They were on the metal side of things though...

[streetrat.livejournal.com]

and the extremely polished and talented Asia Pop Dance Group

LOL

[freed-misery.livejournal.com]

I have faith in Epik High. They will cover f(x)'s randomness unpolishedness with their awesomeness.

No wait.

Amber. Rapping. Before/after/100km radius of Epik High. Um. Not hatin', just... worrying? Yeah, that.

[tag-traumer.livejournal.com]

...maybe Amber should think of having a rap cram school with teacher Tablo, hmmm... /gets shot

[evil-zucchini.livejournal.com]

Epik High, I kind of understand, but f(x) not so much. The songs they have out aren't particularly original or note-worthy, and for a group that's being touted as "Asia Pop Dance Group," I find their choreography really lacking.

[angelonair.livejournal.com]

What a weird combination....

[rozimnida.livejournal.com]

omg kpop somewhere near my territory!@.@
is this event open to the public?

[adjuihcuzuejrim.livejournal.com]

from what i got from the confusing website:
you can go there for 300/400€ but you have to either participate or exhibit

[gummylovesme.livejournal.com]

Epik High. Good.

f(x. Sorry girls, I love you and all, but it's Cannes in effing France. Oh bless their souls.

[love-flag.livejournal.com]

Lol the comparison of Epik high and F(x) just makes me lol forever

[cityincolors.livejournal.com]

Here's what I think of f(x) being the group of choice for this event.

Of course I'm not bashing (cuz I love f(x)), I was happy for them when I first heard about this, but then this article came up (on allkpop) and mentioned how they would be "representing" the K-pop scene; so I had a second take at the situations much similar to others who are bound to do the same in the comments.

Basically, SM Entertainment made the first move and put their young & fresh group into the race for this showcase in Europe.
Competition is competition, but perhaps other companies such as JYP, YG, Pledis, etc. are not even giving a second thought about the idea of breaking into Europe. Besides, they are already too busy promoting their own groups elsewhere (USA, Japan, China).

So I don't think anyone should be saying "well it should be _____ or _____ instead~" (sure I'm fans of those groups, too) without considering their companies' intentions in the first place. After all, who makes the final decisions?

Now down to SM Entertainment and why they may have chosen to send f(x). I believe at around that time SNSD will be busy with their already scheduled tour in Korea, Super Junior is still too spread out with SJ-M most likely busy in China, BoA's busy doing her own producing (how's that going? o.O), and they can't send DBSK for obvious reasons (not to mention other under-promoted members of SM Ent. like The Grace and Jang Ri In).

The reason I don't think SM would send SHINee is simply because, I don't think boybands will strive well beyond the reaches of Asia nowadays =\ It's not a happy thought but if none has even established a foundation by now in the U.S. I doubt they'll think about Europe.
Girl groups will be more easily received and will surely be more lovable by both genders wherever they go ^~^ especially if it's f(x) with their energy and charms ^^.

Still, I'm not saying f(x) is the best in the market as of right now (there are other groups with energy and charms as well), but seeing how SM has basically set foot into the door, its SM's game to manage.

f(x) is the pawn that will be sent forward to become something much better ^~^ sorry chess reference.

i should be studying FML.

[shoiryu.livejournal.com]

Eh, I don't think anyone's even necessarily going "It should be _____ instead!", just mostly cringing at the idea of f(x) out there doing something outside of the usual safety zones. Again I like the girls too, but most of them need a LOT of work on their vocals and their choreography like someone said just isn't amazing. It seems to take most kpop bands about a year to really figure out who they are/what they're doing/what their strengths are, and I just wish SM would stop thrusting these girls into situations where they're still a little in over their heads. It's not fair to their development as a group, really.

[tablo.livejournal.com]

LMAO

[xiahnism.livejournal.com]

quoi?

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

Epik High is a good representative, however, they should have sent someone else than f(x) that actually appeals to also non-Asian taste such as some sexy solo female artist (Lee Hyori, Son Dambi, Ivy, Chaeyeon, Hwangbo, etc.), or if they want a group then Brown Eyed Girls or 2NE1 had been much much better choices. Nobody is going to care about f(x)'s weird cute shit, even Korea doesn't care about them. Sending f(x) won't help spreading kpop to outside Asia, on contrary it might actually hinder it.

[kishikiari.livejournal.com]

f(x)?? really?

epik high and 2ne1 = WIN WIN

[freed-misery.livejournal.com]

I would implode explosively if that ever happened.

[-ochre.livejournal.com]

w/e f(x) is so fly and they can werk it.

Plus Amber can speak English at least so it's not that bad. All the f(x) hate is nyeh.

[cityincolors.livejournal.com]

haha ya the English is a plus~ Krystal as well =]

[tintun.livejournal.com]

Epik High in France o_O omo omo Cannes?????? T.T
i'm in Paris it's far for me and i don't have a place to say for the night snobb

f(x) really o_O i think it's to attract the male audience kekeke (they should have send SNSD for male or even SuJu for female (they'll be sure to have public with them ^______^, same company after all xD)

[vags0up.livejournal.com]

Lol, for some reason I don't think sending a group like SuJu outside of Asia to represent Kpop would be the best idea. They're a little... well, they're more cutesy than what an average audience outside of Asia are used to. And then that gets misinterpreted as gheeeyyyyyyy haha.

[froggster.livejournal.com]

France? Where have the times gone when the Netherlands was the music portal for Europe T_T I miss the 90s.

f(x).... they're cute and all, but a good representative??

[froggster.livejournal.com]

also: yay Europe. because really, I think Europe has a much wider range of music genres that are popular than the US. so: bigger chance at a breakthrough.
...or am I being stupid here?

[labobo93.livejournal.com]

Whotf approved this?
Like, they could have at least chosen a group a year old gotdamn.

[age-b.livejournal.com]

how do i get tickets for this?
gotta get some money together and travel to cannes.. lol
business and networking.. mh.. gotta ask my dad.. >.>

[age-b.livejournal.com]

nvm. i am not going to pay 825 Euros just to see f(x)... Epik High is also not worth that much without Tukutz... >.> fml.. so they come to Europe and it's THAT expensive to see them? i mean.. wth?

[teasp.livejournal.com]

lol ok f(x). Yay for Epik High though.

[visual-jaeho.livejournal.com]

Beside the "omg they are coming to france" happiness,i'm kinda worried, I'm ashamed to say this but french can be really elitists, narrow minded and bitchy about music...

[vanilla-09.livejournal.com]

about everything actually lol

[jtyy239.livejournal.com]

I think f(x) will do well. Idk I just know they can do it~

[melodyfairitale.livejournal.com]

I actually don't really understand why Epik High. MAybe Super Junior or even Big bang..?

[mrskwonjiyong.livejournal.com]

because Epik High PWNS bigtime.