Idols are ‘supermen’ and ‘superwomen’? They want to rest too...

[unreal.livejournal.com]

From drama, variety, movies, radio to public performances, the opportunities that idols see these days have increased. It has become an age where idols have to explore other areas and not just stay in one to show off their charms. And these idols will need to spend their energy in the various areas they are exploring into.


The phrase ‘one source multi use’ is just the right one to use on idols. Even though they debuted as singers, they don’t show just the features of a singer. If the stage is not ‘wide’ enough for one, one move on to look at drama, movie, theatre and musicals etc, to show more of one’s charms and talents one cannot show in just the short duration of 3 minutes on stage. In the midst of achieving that, these idols will need the strength of that of an ‘iron man’. Even though this is a chance for the singers to up their rich and fame, without the energy to do so is also useless.


Of the idols, Super Junior has many unique group activities - Super Junior K.R.Y, Super Junior T, Super Junior M, Super Junior Happy. Members Choi SiWon is also exploring into other areas like drama and movie.

Another example is girlgroup So Nyeo Shi Dae with the members doing various other solo activities, they also had unique group ‘Room mate’ consisting of members Jessica, Tiffany and SeoHyun. Member YoonA is also seen doing various drama appearances, showing various features through those appearances.

Group KARA member Goo Hara, who joined the group later, is enjoying increasing popularity through her appearance on KBS Invincible Youth previously. And GyuRi is also showing a different charming side of her through her DJ activities on MBC radio ‘ShinDong GyuRi‘s ShimShimTaPa’. SHINee member Onew has also recently taken up the challenge of musical acting.

This is one of the strategies that agencies adopt for their idols. Idols showing various charms is one of the ways to money and wealth creation for the agencies. But under the directing of their agencies, the energy of these idols will obviously run out one day. Even though we cannot say that all idols promote in such manner, but there are a considerable number of them promoting under such strategies by their agencies.

But if these idols are to take a moment to rest, they will quickly be forgotten by the masses. A music critic commented, “Nowadays, we call the way the singers promote without much rest as ‘lightning attack’. Not even talking about 1 year, even if they are to rest for a few months, they will be forgotten quickly. And to maintain their popularity, these people have to show themselves constantly on TV in various forms. Also, because of that, singers also don’t release full length album but minialbums more often as they will mean using up lesser time and costs.”

In order to keep up to speed of changing tastes of the masses and media, and as contracted under agencies, these idols are only moving in the directions told to them.

Source: kbites
No original source since my computer says MyDaily is infected and blocks it

Comments

[jyului.livejournal.com]

cry moar! You have to do something if you can't sing and still want to be a singer.

[unreal.livejournal.com]

That's not up to the artists. The fans want artists that are multi talent. And because of that you will get medicore/crap artists because singing is a not a priority. You can't be good at everything at once.

[jyului.livejournal.com]

exactly. That's why I don't think those crap artists can complain about being "overworked" If you can sing, people will not demand any of those superman things from you.

[unreal.livejournal.com]

Did you even read what I said. The fans want artists that are multi talent. So they do demand those superman things from you. Just good singing isn't going to bring you anywhere.

[jyului.livejournal.com]

that's the idols' fans. Fans of real music do not want multi talented artists. If you want to be an idol, then work to cater to the idols' fans' taste. If you want to be a real artist, try to sing well. Tons of singers don't have multi talent but still live fine. I'm sure not all of the idols really wanted to become idols when they signed the contracts with their agencies.

[unreal.livejournal.com]

Yes but those artists will never really get famous because that market is to small. I listen to enough Korean artists that can sing. but I'm wondering if most of them are still alive as singers since I haven't heard from them in ages. And that's all because not many people like them.

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

this is true. Sometimes I feel like they put more emphasis on their variety personalities or looks than the actual music.

[inudela.livejournal.com]

in kpop, idol =/= singer. it's just a fraction of the package.

kinda sad, really.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

This ~and that's what they need to understand.
Which one do you want to become when you sign the contract and with whom.

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

well yeah there is always a plus to everything and in this case it's more snarky kyu on variety shows.

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

Reminds of Beast. They debuted in late october 2009 and they are already planning a comeback for their third mini-album in august or early september. That's insane.

I miss you guys but go get some sleep and vacations. I won't forget you or replace you :/.

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

they are coming back with a 3rd mini album in august?! Yeah, more doojoon for me to ogle at.

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's official but the boys are recording songs nowadays so I'm pretty sure that they are planning to release stuff very soon.

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

oic. btw love the icon. doojoon is a hottie

[lilykt7.livejournal.com]

seriously this. i mean i miss them like heck already but honestly im worried for them. they should take a break. It's not like i'll forget them.

[i-n-o-j.livejournal.com]

yepp, definitely. hardest working boys in the industry &hearts

[flyingmemory.livejournal.com]

that's why Tara keep promoting nonstop*sigh*

[kyurein.livejournal.com]

mte.
It's been T-ara's first year and yet they've promoted many songs already.

[pinefir.livejournal.com]

it's only t-ara's first year? i thought they debuted @ the same time snsd did :|

[meccamputech.livejournal.com]

t-ara came out in 09
snsd came out in 07.

[oh-stargloss.livejournal.com]

This is kind of why I respect YG Ent a little more. I think their artists get quite a bit of rest because compared to a lot of other idol groups, they barely do variety etc.

[lilykt7.livejournal.com]

he had a lot of time to prepare though, he just got busy recently and thats to be expected when your promoting.

[lilykt7.livejournal.com]

yeah but his album was put on the back burner for months. its not like he's been pushed hard throughout the year, im not saying he's not working hard cause he does have a lot of activities now and he has gone on a lot of shows.

but i still think that as a company yg doesn't really put more on their artists then they can or want to handle. and believe me im not a yg stan.

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

interesting article. thanks for sharing. I think it's such a sticky situation like the article mentioned. Idols rely on more than just their music to get attention. A lot of comes from various intereviews, variety shows, acting, etc. It sucks because if you want to be popular with the audiences, for the most part you have to partake in various activities and most of the time many of them are exhausted. On the other hand, if you don't, then many times you are forgotten.

why hello Korea...

[crazyxcami.livejournal.com]

that's SUPER JUNIOR TO YOU!
6years without a break...i am bitter~

[luvey.livejournal.com]

interesting how the majority of groups listed were SM.
i see you SuJu. although the boys haven't released mini albums, but full ones. they are all over the place. i'm amazed by how much traveling they have been doing recently.

[hajar-a.livejournal.com]

lol @ ur computer blocking MyDaily

=(

just like me

XD

[black-silver.livejournal.com]

holy shit i'm totally déjà vu-ing in this entire post @____________________@

[black-silver.livejournal.com]

never mind it's gone

that was weird though

[odeocowboys.livejournal.com]

Idk, I just think Korea's entertainment companies need to be reformed big time.

[soheefan.livejournal.com]

2ne1 doesnt have to do any of that and still remain relevant. You dont HAVE to be an overworked idol. Just some companies think so

[i-n-o-j.livejournal.com]

not really, they've been losing fans on Daum for the past 8 months or something.

[soheefan.livejournal.com]

Well yeah probably. But all fan cafe's decrease when an artist is not promoting but then raise when they come back.
Sometimes i dont think fan cafe numbers really shows how relevant a group is in Korea. 2ne1 never really had the most fans in daum but they sold as many records as groups with double their fan cafe

[taecish.livejournal.com]

ye i think the groups that truly have something special about them aka 2ne1 and shinee can go m.i.a for a year and still remain relevant, it's just boring clone groups that need to worry

[soheefan.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I feel bad for the boring clone groups. Not really
I almost just called out some groups lol

[pinefir.livejournal.com]

i think k-fans are fickle, and the companies just cater to their needs.

//it's true especially if majority of your fanbases are teenagaers, they're not gonna wait that long you know.

[cher-ex3.livejournal.com]

But if these idols are to take a moment to rest, they will quickly be forgotten by the masses. A music critic commented, “Nowadays, we call the way the singers promote without much rest as ‘lightning attack’. Not even talking about 1 year, even if they are to rest for a few months, they will be forgotten quickly. And to maintain their popularity, these people have to show themselves constantly on TV in various forms. Also, because of that, singers also don’t release full length album but minialbums more often as they will mean using up lesser time and costs.”

This whole paragraph pretty much sums up my thoughts.

[goldi.livejournal.com]

tragic.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

Those that got IT, last. Those that don't oh well~ also every company wants to have the hott new group. Train them well and they will always be the hott group. Better so stop recruiting faces and start looking for talent.
*SNAPS WHIP get back to work idols!

[bumie.livejournal.com]

everytime i read this kind of article i remember kibum , oh well they should take a vacation or something

[izon-no-niwa.livejournal.com]

I guess this is just a phase. When the hallyu wave fades, swear you wouldn't mind about overworking stars, etc. That's commercialism, everyone.

[yaknowhattamean.livejournal.com]

I feel cruel and unusual when I read these articles about idols being "overworked". Of course they're working a lot. I mean, it is their job. They are getting paid (hopefully adequately) for it. It isn't until I hear stories like Han Geng's about having health problems that don't get the necessary attention, or situation's like Onew where he's preparing for an album, staring in a musical, and MCing for a variety show that films all night when I finally break down and say: Okay, it's one thing to work these idols, but it's another thing to ignore their human needs like medical attention and sleep.

... so yeah. I hope idols can someday get vacation days in their contract (if it's not already there. IDK.) to release some stress and relax a little. It doesn't have to be too long. I think it would help them perform better too. ^^

[desperategraves.livejournal.com]

yeah well imagine waiting FOUR YEARS for an album
/goes back to glaring at american artists

[shikobe.livejournal.com]

I feel that Jay Chou's "Superman can't fly" should make an appearance on this page
Idols do so much yet get critized regardless

[shocko-o.livejournal.com]

here's a low quality one:
[Error: unknown template video]

[episkia.livejournal.com]

So true.
Korea does everything so fast, fast, fast it's as if you forget a group exists if they're not appearing on two variety shows a week/a CF/promoting a song. I remember SNSD saying that they'll be forgotten easily and that they had to do as much as they could in the short period of time they were popular. It's a harsh business, especially in a place like Korea. :/
And I mean, considering we want it all: singing, dancing, being hot etc, it's no surprise the actual level of talent is falling - I'm saying 'we' as a society. Individually we might feel differently, but that's the way kpop is going.