I don't think anyone's real issue is with them - junior idols needing more on stage experience to find their groove is common - but these mediocre to awful song choices and puzzling lack of b-sides. I've been extremely critical of the Aespa rollout but that is all on SME failing them vs. the girls themselves.
Oh I am definitely disappointed in their discography so far and believe SM is giving them nothing but I do believe they have potential to grow once they do get the right song.
I hear all these comments about them not having any stage presence but I just don't see it? I like them as performers, bearing in mind that they are rookies. I also enjoy their videos on YouTube and find them cute together.
See ok sure and these are both failings by SM - they aren't as polished on stage because they're not getting that experience to grow those abilities. SME has breed high expectation so I do think it's that as well - no one is mad at or blaming the girls but compared to other promoting groups they seem just thrown to the wolves.
As for me, I think my gripe is that because they're SM that SM should be doing better by them and that if they weren't at such a big label they wouldn't be given as much grace. We expect more of SM and for them to do right by the girls but they keep failing them.
I said this somewhere else but a majority of K pop idols are not "charismatic" its just really good packaging that makes the performances more than they actually are. Part of that packaging is the dance, and that's where Next Level falters for me: Again I am not particularly a fan of SM's choreography for their girl groups (SNSD had good moments, and then you have something like f(X)'s Red Light). Red Velvet just got good tbh. I still think Black Mamba was meh and did a lot of posing as well. The choreography for Next Level doesn't get "good" until the final section (the return to Next Level).
Apparently there is one more performance video, which makes me think they did all this to avoid having Aespa on at the same time as NCT and Taemin as someone brought up. I also think it was pushed back considering one dance video had them with their hair from maybe a month ago (Wynter was still blonde and NingNing hadn't gone red yet).
It's been pointed out already, but Karina is the best performer in the group. Her dance video was terrible, and she probably is a case of getting the job by default, but that still doesn't mean she is bad at what she does. I find her more interesting on stage than I do in other idol context. She's very pretty, as Monique Heart says STUNNING even but she is very meh in pictorial for me. But on stage she is the best of the group. Giselle reminds me of Bora from Sistar...very much happy to be there. The other two are there to be singers so they do that; Wynter is good, and if NingNing could get that nervous kitten look out of her eyes she would be solid. Also I hate that they cut Wynter's hair so short. It was a fine length right here.
I really want to be critical of the girls. I REALLY DO. But I'm wondering if the fault with their music and stage presence, or even stage direction, is falling on SME and their general management.
In the attempt to go for that apathetic/too cool for you/swag/adorable bad girl vibe, their choreography is looking sloppy and half-assed. Dancing and singing with minimal expressions just looks weird. Idk. I hope they get better songs in the future. I also hope they get the opportunity to do more performances in front of an actual crowd and feed off of the energy of live performance.
I think aespa has it tough bc it seems this sort of gg image is popular with rookie groups atm so thats the concept they have SM could have gone against the grain but, they didn't
If you watch this, and then go watch Itzy's performance video, there is so much difference, and that I think is the difference between the energy and stage presence between the two groups.
Not saying Aespa won't get better, Chaeryeong has definitely gotten more comfortable on stage.
I want to see Aespa perform a cover of a good song with choreo to get a better sense of what they are capable of. Winter and NingNing can sing and it's being buried in a half assed song.
i was thinking this earlier, i think if Itzy were to perform this song it would look/sound a lot better because they make it work and their own, their energy and stage presence is so different...
i think aespa will get better, they are still quite fresh - it takes time
i think the dancing lacks some energy but honestly all it would take is some occasional sassy smiles to make these performances literally 10,000 times better
Agree about the sassy smile. Isn't this song about being next level a.k.a better than something? They need a bit of coy expression but the girls arent bringing it.
Thats what i said in the last post! Jiselle tried to do it here and there and it looked good, them trying to do this tough/non emoting concept did not work and SM gave them nothing to work with in the song or outfits. If they could just look like they were having fun, it would be so much better
I feel like aespa got thrown to the wolves by SM and they were just expected to dominate because they are an SM group...but then you have these “monster rookie” girl groups from smaller companies who are not only bringing it but are liked (think StayC, Weeekly, etc.).
I feel for the aespa members, and yeah it’s going to take time for them to get comfortable, but SM has to step their game up. These 4th gen groups working to prove that the “Big 3” juggernaut/recognition isn’t necessarily going to guarantee popularity.
It's not that I think the girls have no stage presence, I just think the girls do not even like their own songs and can't help but show.
I know many people think Karina has no stage charisma, but I think the contrary. I don't think she's the best, but I think she has a certain charisma that pulls people into the performance, and out of all, she looks like she is enjoying it so far
yeah this is my take on it too. none of them enjoy performing this song and it shows, and they're still too green to be able to hide it like more experienced groups would.
this is definitely an improvement tbh! they have some more improvements to make with expressions and gestures but other than that the performance was much better! i realised the little song in the middle reminds me a lot of early exo stuff
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
waves-of-light.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
omonatheydid
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2021-05-25 08:43 pm (UTC)People are way to hard on them just because they are from SM.
I have a lot to say about the song but I enjoy them as performers and curiously waiting what they bring to the table next.
Winter is probably my bias, I can't help but love the way she says 'Next Level' at the end of the song, lol.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-25 08:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-05-25 09:49 pm (UTC)I hear all these comments about them not having any stage presence but I just don't see it? I like them as performers, bearing in mind that they are rookies. I also enjoy their videos on YouTube and find them cute together.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-25 09:56 pm (UTC)As for me, I think my gripe is that because they're SM that SM should be doing better by them and that if they weren't at such a big label they wouldn't be given as much grace. We expect more of SM and for them to do right by the girls but they keep failing them.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-25 09:02 pm (UTC)Apparently there is one more performance video, which makes me think they did all this to avoid having Aespa on at the same time as NCT and Taemin as someone brought up. I also think it was pushed back considering one dance video had them with their hair from maybe a month ago (Wynter was still blonde and NingNing hadn't gone red yet).
It's been pointed out already, but Karina is the best performer in the group. Her dance video was terrible, and she probably is a case of getting the job by default, but that still doesn't mean she is bad at what she does. I find her more interesting on stage than I do in other idol context. She's very pretty, as Monique Heart says STUNNING even but she is very meh in pictorial for me. But on stage she is the best of the group. Giselle reminds me of Bora from Sistar...very much happy to be there. The other two are there to be singers so they do that; Wynter is good, and if NingNing could get that nervous kitten look out of her eyes she would be solid. Also I hate that they cut Wynter's hair so short. It was a fine length right here.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-25 09:05 pm (UTC)In the attempt to go for that apathetic/too cool for you/swag/adorable bad girl vibe, their choreography is looking sloppy and half-assed. Dancing and singing with minimal expressions just looks weird. Idk. I hope they get better songs in the future. I also hope they get the opportunity to do more performances in front of an actual crowd and feed off of the energy of live performance.
Next Level ain't it.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-25 09:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-05-25 10:44 pm (UTC)Not saying Aespa won't get better, Chaeryeong has definitely gotten more comfortable on stage.
I want to see Aespa perform a cover of a good song with choreo to get a better sense of what they are capable of. Winter and NingNing can sing and it's being buried in a half assed song.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-26 08:18 am (UTC)i think aespa will get better, they are still quite fresh - it takes time
no subject
Date: 2021-05-25 09:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-05-26 12:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-05-26 03:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-05-25 09:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-05-25 10:33 pm (UTC)Choreo reminds me of BP but not in a good way.
Although I'm not sure there is a good way.
But they do have a memorable key point dance?
no subject
Date: 2021-05-26 01:53 am (UTC)I feel for the aespa members, and yeah it’s going to take time for them to get comfortable, but SM has to step their game up. These 4th gen groups working to prove that the “Big 3” juggernaut/recognition isn’t necessarily going to guarantee popularity.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-26 08:34 am (UTC)I know many people think Karina has no stage charisma, but I think the contrary. I don't think she's the best, but I think she has a certain charisma that pulls people into the performance, and out of all, she looks like she is enjoying it so far
no subject
Date: 2021-05-26 08:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-05-26 02:09 pm (UTC)