2AM, “It is sad to be compared with 2PM when we first debuted”

[fuuism.livejournal.com]

Idol ballad group 2AM reveals that the sorrow of not being able to get as much limelight as group 2PM when they first debuted.

The 2AM members were the surprise guests for 2PM on KBS ‘Win-Win’ show aired on 23rd February, showing their brotherly-love. And MC Kim SeungWoo asked, “When you first debuted, actually you were not being able to get as much limelight as 2PM. Even though you guys are all a family (in the same company), don’t you feel hurt?”.

And Jo Kwon said, “Actually 2AM even debuted 2 months faster. And at first because our group names are similar, there were a lot of comparison. This is to the extend that even JiYoungie hyung will only consider 2PM’s name for award ceremonies. Honestly, we had wanted to congratulate them a lot for getting much popularity as they are friends who are like our brothers, but it is just human to feel hurt.”

With that, other 2AM membera said, “But then again, the people who had comforted us the most at that time is also none other than 2PM. And because of times like those, we are able to build good friendships until today.”

S: Osen , K Bites

Comments

[fuuism.livejournal.com]

Tbhq, if the groups weren't marketed as being brotherly and part of "One Day" a whole lot of people wouldn't pay attention to a ballad group like 2AM. With the bad comes the good.

[fatalblissy.livejournal.com]

This. :/

[super-genin.livejournal.com]

IA. Well it all turned out good, right? 2am's enjoying a good deal of popularity right now and they'll probably be getting more with their next project, whenever that is.

[hey-insomnia.livejournal.com]

sadly, this. But i'm really really glad they're getting more recognized these days even in the int'l fandom.

[steeele.livejournal.com]

Wah wah wah. I'm not a fan of either groups but if I had to choose it would be 2AM, they seem more...likeable? For a guy at least.

[hey-insomnia.livejournal.com]

But then again, the people who had comforted us the most at that time is also none other than 2PM. And because of times like those, we are able to build good friendships until today.

Never, ever change One Day.

[weerainbow.livejournal.com]

♥ thumbs up to this ♥

[camouflaged.livejournal.com]

Because it is me, I must say: CHANGMIN WITH SPECS ILU!!! <3

And yes, NEVAR CHANGE One Day. You bunch of little sweetlings with muscles :')

[octopus-theatre.livejournal.com]

Not that it really matter who debuted first...

[octopus-theatre.livejournal.com]

matters*

[booksandsarcasm.livejournal.com]

It kind of does if you look at it in a respecting your seniors mindset that Asians have. I think he's saying that because they debuted first, normally they would be looked at as one rung higher on the ladder and instead there's comparison. So I would say that for them, culturally, it does.

[chibiwind.livejournal.com]

"Honestly, we had wanted to congratulate them a lot for getting much popularity as they are friends who are like our brothers, but it is just human to feel hurt."
Yes its only human to feel such...and in some ways 2AM's fame was widely thanks to JoKwon's character. Thanks to JoKwon, they're not seen as just any ballad group.

"But then again, the people who had comforted us the most at that time is also none other than 2PM. And because of times like those, we are able to build good friendships until today."
Never change ONEDAY!!!!! :D

[meccamputech.livejournal.com]

tbh had they not of done the one day shit, 2am would of gone the way of noel :/

[aniyo.livejournal.com]

um, okay. I love 2AM and 2PM but...get over it.

[heartflood.livejournal.com]

Oh...

[maharetishtar.livejournal.com]

Oh... I wonder why...

[wakiwaki.livejournal.com]

i like it how 2am matter now..

[akaich0u.livejournal.com]

I think they just got the short end of the genre stick. I love ballads too but of course a dance group is going to be better/faster at capturing people's attention.

[silvaesedai.livejournal.com]

MTE. Plus they've never exactly been JYP's pet promotion project, either. Or weren't, for a long time.

[akaich0u.livejournal.com]

I'm glad JYP actually took them back from Cube and put them on the main JYP label--I think their popularity picked up after that...idk I think he should try to market them to the older crowd too, like the people who would listen to Wheesung, Gummy, Baek Ji Young, Lyn, etc. Their vocal skills are up there and they'd receive the accolade they deserve, rather than being thrust into idol arena and losing all the time ;~;

[silvaesedai.livejournal.com]

But aren't they with Big Hit now? Most of their popularity seems to have come from their (ten months of - I mean, what kind of management is that? a ten monh hiatus?) success in variety, which is basically Kwon and Changmin's doing. The Never Let You Go promotion was better handled than the others, but again - they made their comeback at the same time as some of the most hyped up groups in Kpop, so you have to wonder who comes up with these things.

You're right, they should be marketed to a more mature audience. But JYP seems never to have had a fixed idea of what to do with them anyway, beyond thinking it would be a good idea to diversify his target-audience portfolio =/. I mean, Inorae might have been meant to market them to an older crowd but it hardly displayed all of their strengths (there's virtually no harmonisation, for one). Then they promoted What Do I Do, whose necessarily unimpressive choreography was still enough to stop them from singing as well as they usually would... Then all of a sudden Confession of a Friend and what, an attempt at being "manly" idols? Which necessarily failed, since Korea apparently wants "powerful dance" to go with its manly?

Plus, as beautiful as I think JYP's ballads are, they're too simple and not polished enough to be songs that sell. They sound like album tracks, and in an industry of "Oh!"s they weren't going to cut it.

... This is long and rambly and your Woo icon always makes me laugh.

[akaich0u.livejournal.com]

No, they're still with JYP on the main label...the official JYPE homepage lists 2AM, 2PM, WG, JOO (always the core four of main JYP lately) and then they recently added somebody else I don't recognize lolz. As for their recent comeback being timed with other big groups, I think that's just due to the song production? I don't think it was done until then, actually--they had that series of shorts where they go to meet with the producer/composer of Never Let You Go and that was in December.

I'm glad for their success in variety because that helps people to remember them and not be so quick to label them 'boring' just because they're ballad lol. I think Confession of a Friend would've been a good older-audience song too. What's interesting is that Wheesung, for example, CAN do upbeat dance songs with choreography (like Insomnia) yet still possesses that mature feel. I think 2AM's capable of this too, though I think a dance song from them would automatically spark "omg are you guys 2PM now" reactions, which is a shame 'cause it would really show their versatility.

in an industry of "Oh!"s they weren't going to cut it. LOL yeah. I think I appreciate the simplicity though because so much is overproduced lately. It's like fresh air to actually be able to hear someone sing in a regular key haha.

And ty ty. I love your Jinwoon/Ong icon--they look related there!

[silvaesedai.livejournal.com]

I don't get it. I finally received the mini-album today, and the only labels mentioned are Big Hit and Loen, which makes me much more curious as to the actual status Cube and Big Hit in the... JYP empire? I mean, everyone tells me "they're sister companies," but what does that actually entail, in concrete terms? ... I need to improve my Korean.

And you're probably right, if JYP wanted Bang Shihyuk I expect 2AM had to join the queue and get it done when he was ready, and not the other way 'round, so I should probably stop whining about that XD.

So true. (Insomnia! ♥) It would definitely show their versatility, but I don't know how enthusiastic the non-Kwon population in 2AM would (will, since apparently they're going to be promoting something choreographed next?) actually be with a dance song. Changmin and Jinwoon are much more interested in the vocal/instrumental side of things, were recruted only for their vocal skills and never dance if they can avoid it, and Seulong himself has said it isn't really his thing.

God, this. XD I must admit that as much as I love their new album, even some of the tracks on there felt too complex - or like they didn't leave enough room for the vocals, anyway. And I'm not even going to talk about autotune.

... How many of these do you have? 8DD

[akaich0u.livejournal.com]

I think it just means that JYPE proper owns Cube and Big Hit. I never considered them to be 'sister companies' beyond that tbh--you don't see Cube & Big Hit artists interact with the JYP ones (besides Doojoon since he was in Hot Blood and all) much...

Hmmm yeah. I think they could just SING an upbeat song with dancers in the background, ala Davichi's "8282" style! And then Kwon could get his own dance break ahaha.

I'm glad 2AM at the very least has remained autotune-free, though the chorus of Never Let You Go is a touch too stylized compared to their previous songs, even though it still is a good song in itself. I'm glad Changmin and Seulong still did their harmony though--that was just fantastic, especially live.

A lot 8D! I am especially fond of Woo & friends~

[louta.livejournal.com]

They shouldn't limit 2AM to just ballads... I think they would get more attention if they didn't. :/

[law-oneofmany.livejournal.com]

I agree... I'm not a ballad person, so it may be a bias of mine, but if i could see more than that, maybe i'll pay more attention...

[music3chick.livejournal.com]

This is to the extend that even JiYoungie hyung will only consider 2PM’s name for award ceremonies.
Shitty. Only when 2PM got hit with that scandal did they finally let 2AM go to the major special events like Dream Concert, be a major part of shows like Star King, etc. Great way to make 2AM feel like fill-ins.

But then again, the people who had comforted us the most at that time is also none other than 2PM. And because of times like those, we are able to build good friendships until today.
Oneday! ♥
I love their friendship and their hilarious pre-debut material

[mz-kyungmin.livejournal.com]

it's really hard for them in first year in debut...
maybe until now....
in my country..i join the oneday forum...
but actually...many people join that forum cause of 2PM...they don't even now which one 2AM ???
and they wrongly name "I AM HOTTEST" for I AM = I'm a hottest just 2PM fans...not the whole ONEDAY fans...

but i realllllllllyyyyyyyyy.......LOVE THEM ALL....
2AM+2PM=ONEDAY
2AM for the ballad group and 2PM for the perf. group...
really like their special stage....that make all of them singing and dancing together...