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omonatheydid
Even from the first note of their debut single, it is easy to tell: 4minute is not just another girl group.
The sounds and words are wild and free — uninhibited — a rarity in an industry that prefers to keep all material fine-tuned for maximum listener friendliness. Since their debut in June 2009, the five member group has conspicuously gone against the grain, keeping their distance from the sweet, girlish or cutesy formula that works so well for the competition.
Off-stage and in their studio for an interview, these stars looked and acted more like other girls in their age range, 17 to 22, refreshingly carefree and contagiously youthful. Bubbling with excitement, the five talked simultaneously, cutting each other off or bursting out laughing in unison when someone was still speaking. More often than not, it is hard to keep track.
“We’re a girl group, but we have this hard, edgy image ...” said Kim Hyun-a, 19, the best-known member who is also established as a solo performer.
“I love that, though,” said Heo Ga-yoon, 22, lead vocals, interrupting. Without make-up, she looked considerably younger than her onstage self.
“Yeah, we really love it,” said Jeon Ji-yoon, 22, legs crossed, barefoot and arranging her thoughts. “We don’t want to obsess over awards... or being No. 1. Obviously we can’t switch the thought off completely, but we don’t want to be swept away by trends. If skinny jeans (snug-fit denim) are in, we are definitely not wearing them."
"Sinsadong Tiger (a Korean hitmaker who has produced all of the group's singles since their debut) once told us that now new groups come to him asking to imitate the ‘4minute sound.’ Isn’t that cool?”The reason behind their success is more than just music, though, according to the members. The group have that girl power attitude, eye-catching and often kitschy costumes, dexterous dance moves and over-the-top music videos as the icing on the cake.
Furthermore, when it comes to sex appeal, the group is in your face. The members have proudly displayed their sex-appeal, even though two are still in their teens. This has raised the eyebrows of many parents, but fans, both male and female, cannot get enough of the freewheeling 4minute formula.
Performances in places like London and Sao Paulo have flooded the organizers with requests for additional dates, some members of the audience in the latter even fainted. “We’re surprised to see so many people come to our shows overseas,” said Kwon So-hyun, 17, the youngest of the group.
“We’re truly amazed,” said Nam Ji-hyun, 22, the eldest.
“The people (in the audience) were so loud that we couldn’t even hear ourselves well,” said Jeon.
But as they mused over the many hand gestures they use in their performances that had to be modified to fit local customs, it felt as if things did not add up. How do they take to stardom without a hint of worry? How is it that they are glowing with energy on three hours of sleep every night and a non-stop schedule around the clock?
“It’s just that great,” said Kim, referring to her non-stop career, “to ignore them all (the negative aspects). When we were trainees, including monthly checks, there were three to four in-house performances (at their agency Cube Entertainment). You get just three minutes to sing in front of a group of 30 agency employees unafraid to criticize. You have to sing well, dance well, exercise — even swim well these days to be a star.
“Then you are on stage; and you forget all that.”
Their work ethic shows in their consistent monitoring of fan reactions: “We look at every comment,” said the members, in unison. “Their eyes are glued to the smartphone screens,” said Heo. “And it hurt a lot, too, (to read them),” Kwon added. “We’re way over that phase, though,” said Nam, firmly.
“You tell yourself ‘There are opinions like this,’ and move on to the next stage,” said Kim.
“They’re saying it’s not that great. Then we can try a different style,” said Heo. “And you know what? Then they actually give their compliments. We like that interaction.”
“But we’ve got to turn off the computer once in a while,” said Kim.
Like it or not, they have made a mark already. Their stylists have come to them grumbling about the knockoff costumes — “4minute dresses” and “4minute skirts” — found around Seoul’s central textile market Dongdaemun. A little-known Italian pop singer Alex Palmieri was caught with a copycat track of “Muzik,” 4minute’s second single when fans watched his live performance on YouTube. Their global footprint is growing.
They still look blissfully ignorant. The girls would rather talk about their excitement before an upcoming U.S. tour and a possible two-day vacation at the end of it. The details of the U.S. tour are still being prepared. Kim, frequently voted the sexiest idol in Korea, jumped in professing her love for Victoria’s Secret lingerie, perfumes and body sprays. Nam was excited over the increased participation in creative meetings, and Jeon shyly mentioned her dabbling in songwriting. (“Please be patient: we’ll have a self-penned song, soon,” she said.)
Perhaps that is why they remain a formidable force after three years in this cut-throat industry.
They do what they want to do.
sorry for the crazy bolding but it's a long read - and a very interesting one! i suggest everyone reads it! n.n these girls are so sweet and down to earth~
Source | The Korea Times
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Date: 2012-06-02 03:48 am (UTC)They have over 300+ charms!!
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Date: 2012-06-02 05:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 03:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 03:54 am (UTC)Wait, really?! But only a two-day vacation...
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Date: 2012-06-02 05:36 am (UTC)I do have endless respect for them for sticking to the sound they've always had and never going the "cutesy" route. There really aren't many girl groups like them that typically sing about ~*~girl power~*~ and whatnot.
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Date: 2012-06-02 11:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 11:18 pm (UTC)People complain about Hyuna being too sexy or getting too much attention, but it's because she is exiting to people. I like some of their songs, but I couldn't really get into them besides that.
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Date: 2012-06-03 12:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 12:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 01:00 am (UTC)Pretty sure the only X they have is a few X chromosomal abnormalities.
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Date: 2012-06-03 03:02 am (UTC)And fyi, I like 4minute and think they deserve more success, I was merely speculating on why they aren't more popular than other girl groups when I personally think they are better singers, have more natural good looks, and have better music than some of those groups.
Oh, and I have no idea how to bulk buy digital songs. But I'll consult a doctor about my sudden weight gain and increased computer usage. Excellent attempt at trying to be mean though! c:
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Date: 2012-06-03 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 04:47 pm (UTC)As far as promoting, I don't think it just comes to promotion. If that were the case, then anything after 2010 wouldn't make sense. Beast only promoted once in 2011 (for 3-4 weeks tops) and still hasn't comeback in 2012. 4minute promoted 2 songs last year and just had their comeback for this year. Yet Beast's popularity seems to keep growing while 4minute's seems stagnant. I just don't buy that Cube's lack of promotion keeps 4minute down, I think there is something else going on.
OK, this is a crazy long response, but I think about this a lot haha. I thought Volume Up might be their chance to break out again, but it didn't do much. They had a decent song (sorry, but other groups put out not so great songs that still get popular -- sometimes the music is secondary to kpop audiences), a cool video, great vocals, yet.....why don't they have more fans??? I have other crazy theories, usually including the fact that boy groups in general seem to create the rabid fans and girl groups have a much harder time gaining girls' approval. OK, I'm done.
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Date: 2012-06-02 06:22 am (UTC)Still love me some solo Hyuna.
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Date: 2012-06-02 08:43 am (UTC)That's a good article though
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Date: 2012-06-02 08:53 am (UTC)Anyway fabulous 4minute continues to be fabulous! And is getting even more fabulous!
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Date: 2012-06-02 09:40 am (UTC)If skinny jeans (snug-fit denim) are in, we are definitely not wearing them.
okay lol.
but i still stan hyuna and gayoon to my death.
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Date: 2012-06-02 10:00 am (UTC)Hyuna <33
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Date: 2012-06-02 10:59 am (UTC)Can someone explain this please XD
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Date: 2012-06-02 11:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 01:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 02:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 03:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 12:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 03:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 12:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 04:18 pm (UTC)no thanks.
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Date: 2012-06-02 07:02 pm (UTC)but they are tho and they don't have a hard or edgy image.
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Date: 2012-06-02 09:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 09:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 10:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 11:38 pm (UTC)what r u saying rn babby!
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Date: 2012-06-03 12:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 03:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 05:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 05:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 12:36 am (UTC)