Will Wonder Girls Take Over Billboard After Psy?

[helldarkangel.livejournal.com]

A few weeks ago, the Wonder Girls performed here in New York at the iHeartRadio Theater and I was one of the lucky people who were able to be a part of the audience. I couldn't believe that I was actually going to see my first K-Pop group live. It was a group, who I thought that I would only ever be able to see online. I was filled with an awesome feeling that every fan gets when they see a group or band that they love. But I think, for us international fans, that feeling is heightened. How we all practically spend a large amount of our time in front of our computer screens just to get a glimpse of these artists we admire and whom we think we'll never actually get to see in person, finally appears magically before your eyes.



The crowd was filled with Wonderfuls (name of Wonder Girls fans) and general K-Pop fans that were there to show their support and it was great. I had expected a lot from this showcase going in based on prior knowledge of how long these girls have trained and how hard they work. As soon as the girls took the stage and began with their first song, they took my expectations and surpassed them. I've always thought the Wonder Girls had amazing voices, excellent dancing skills, and rapping better than most. But seeing them live has brought a whole new appreciation for their talent and the hard work that brought them to where they are now. Seeing them live brought a new dimension to the Wonder Girls experience. They had the crowd singing along, dancing and jumping around despite the heat that was in the theater. We watched as these girls sweat their butts and make up off but never missed a beat and continued to put an amazing showcase. Watching them, it made me think about how much I wanted more people to listen and be able to see them live so they too can appreciate how good these girls are. Yes, I do know that the showcase was being streamed live, but let's face it. The majority of those viewers were other Wonderfuls and K-Pop fans. I myself think that this is great, but you would also think that with all the time and effort they have put into the US that they should have already been a well-established act here.

This leaves me with the question then. Why are they still trying to make a name for themselves in the States? After releasing the English version of their hit song "Nobody" in 2009, becoming the opening act for the Jonas Brothers the same year as well as embarking on an American tour of their own, the girls also popped up doing performances on TV shows So You Think You Can Dance and the Wendy Williams Show. Yet, that still wasn't enough. I personally feel that we can chalk it up to a few things, such as insufficient promotion, not being signed to a major record label and it not being the "right time." And maybe, even not the right material to catch a wider audience's attention.

Promotion-wise, it was great to have them make history as the first K-Pop act to appear on a daytime TV show as well as appearing on one of the most highest rated TV shows, gaining them new attention and some new followers. But again, that wasn't enough. At that time, it seemed to me that these appearances were seemingly random, simply because they weren't followed up by anything else. After watching them perform on So You Think You Can Dance I was so excited to see what else they were going to pop up on, only to be disappointed that I saw nothing of them on anything else. Now, this could have had something to do with not being signed to a big name record label. With a big name label, you have someone's name backing you up hopefully allowing people to give you a chance to perform on their stage.

Now, I don't know what really happened while the Wonder Girls were here the first time around and I can only just offer my opinion as to what I see. I feel that the "right time" and the right material tend to go hand in hand most of the time. While "Nobody," their worldwide hit single, is an excellent song and happens to be the song that got me to become a fan of the Wonder Girls, the material itself didn't seem to fit what the US audience was buying into at the time. They had a very retro sound then and while that may attract some attention, it was too different or who knows maybe even not different enough to catch a wider audience.

As with what the US is buying into now, I feel that if the Wonder Girls do continue promotions here, they should definitely push their song "Like This." As I've said previously, this is a catchy song with a danceable beat and an already set choreography that is very easy to learn. The video and the feel of the song show that anyone can join in and do the "Like This" dance. The video has this flash mob setting to it, which everyone here is into at the moment. That itself makes it relatable and plants the idea in people's head that, wow if they can do it in the video and it looks like a lot of fun I can bring this to my place and get a lot of people involved. The song and beat are catchy and gets stuck in your head easily. If they promote "Like This," and continue to push "Like Money" as well, which features a well-established US act Akon, they will no doubt have strong hit on their hands. Finally having all that time, hard work and effort they have put into the US pay off. Also, starting in their own TeenNick movie earlier this year, "The Wonder Girls," I feel that this has created a slight buzz in the girls that the songs can ride on.

Now since YG Entertainment artist Psy has also created an interest in K-Pop here in the US, hopefully, this will make companies and people look at them more closely. It also seems that with the recent showcase at the iHeartRadio Theater and the round of promotions they did the week they were here is already a huge step in the right direction. Let's just hope as fans that they will keep pushing forward and we will have one of our great K-Pop groups actually make it big here. I know I'm crossing my finger, that whatever they are doing this time around really does pay off.


Source: KpopStarz

What do you think, Omona? Can The Wonder Girls make it like Psy has in the US next?

Comments

[molly-hime.livejournal.com]

I think if the Wonder Girls make it it's going to be a very different version of making it than PSY. I just hope they keep promoting here because I was at that concert and I need more opportunities in my life to be 5 feet away from my perfect goddesses. I'll just leave this here.

[helldarkangel.livejournal.com]

Is that you in the gif?! XD That is so awesome that you got to go to their concert! I hope they keep promoting here too because I need to see them live one of these days.

[akaich0u.livejournal.com]

Nothing's impossible, but I don't think it's likely. Groups are a lost art in the US. I would be fine with a niche market for WG. Unless they go viral like Psy did I doubt they're gonna achieve the same results.

I do anticipate the English version of "Like This" though, as well as that goddamn album once and for all.

[mangomuffins.livejournal.com]

i'm happy for psy but i honestly think his success is just a fad. maybe a two-hit wonder at most. just a gut feeling. and i think like this would work for the american market too with the leg dance. i just hope yenny will have some creative input in their american album because songs like r.e.a.l sound really fresh and would be perfect.

[feel-my-mind.livejournal.com]

I hope they make it, but not like psy. I have a lot of respect for him, but I feel like in America, he is joke.


I hear Like Money on the radio about 3 times a week, so I think that is a good thing (I only listen to radio while driving, so it is not that often.) Plus America seems to be getting much more into straight up pop and groups again.

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

NO

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

I really love them and they are definitely paying the price for trying to build a long standing career abroad by being in the trenches. I wish their american music was as good as their korean music or that they even performed/promoted their korean songs here.

But they aren't going to be a fad trend if they do make it.

[odd-fish-stick.livejournal.com]

I don't really care tbh. I just want them to stop going on red. as long as the whole thing stops being a waste of money and they enjoy it, it doesn't matter if they go to hot 100 or not. To me as a fan anyway, because they have nothing to prove to us. WG are WG, they are not Psy and everyone has different paths to success. There are plenty of successful acts that have never even reached billboard and are doing fine doing what they do, touring etc.

Let's face it though, it won't ever be enough for the naysayers. They could win a grammy or two and people would still diminish their accomplishments, specially here. so whatever.

luv u wonder girls

[sandritablue.livejournal.com]

THIS! +1000

[luvey.livejournal.com]

PSY was right place right time with the viralness of his video/song without even trying OR wanting to break I to the market. Accidental.
The Wonder Girls are different and trying to actually make a go of this. In the US groups usually aren't overnight success. It takes a slow going to make it. So these are two different things. And with the Wonder Girls going MIA after the last time they were here (not the Nick show), it's almost restarting again, since we have short attention spans. It is a good time for them to try, but they really do have to stand out.

The big thing though is for fans to stop resisting the US effort and rally to support.

[kuuuchan.livejournal.com]

thank you but no.

[erbalurbal.livejournal.com]

I wish they would stop trying to make it seem like the world is interested in kpop because of gangnam style.

I think WG could have a small following and do well if they were signed to a major label. Right now they don't have the right connections. Psy connected with scooter and suddenly he was everywhere, they need a scooter and not a jyp.

[mizzyoung.livejournal.com]

mte

[ukwonn.livejournal.com]

idts

[dapo322.livejournal.com]

Just because Gangnam Style is doing well doesn't mean every kpop artist is going to do well. Even if Psy was able to get a 2nd hit, which may not happen, Psy doesn't look anything like the kpop idols they are trying to push here. If anything, some people who may not have heard of kpop before Gangnam Style might become fans of kpop.

Like erbalurbal, what they'll need is someone who has connections in the US music industry to get them on a bunch of shows like Scooter has done for Psy as well as a song that people will want to listen to.

[lonelymoon.livejournal.com]

Lol no. Psy was a viral hit, whereas the Wonder Girls are a legit pop group, and they'll need a shit ton of luck to break into the Western pop market. Completely different story to making it big. Can't compare Psy with WG, nope.

[soft-daisy.livejournal.com]

I don't care whether they'll make it--just take my money and give me their U.S. album before I get tired of listening to Ouch on replay. On a serious note, I would preorder the Best Japan/U.S. version I see on Yesasia, but I'm unsure whether that's the U.S. album they were planning or something else.

[aleexnews.livejournal.com]

yeah i dont see that happening tbh. firstly the U.S isn't into girl groups, the last one that had success was the Pussycat Dolls and that's another point, they had catchy and radio friendly music yes but they also made it because of their sex appeal. they were busty, sexy girls that humped the floor and had dirty lyrics and what not and I don't see JYP making the WG do that and if for some crazy reason he did idt the girls have the bodies or faces that America would be all over like with the Pussycat Dolls.

it sux but that's the reality and the music they've been making up till now isn't the trendy, summer hits ppl here would listen to on re-play either imo. i think its a waste of time at this point but if JYP keeps pushing them in that direction well then, good luck to them.

[supplanter.livejournal.com]

PCD was basically Nicole+her backup dancers (later+Melody) on the vocal front, though. XD OTOH, somehow she failed to launch a viable solo career from this (though I just think her solo songs were probably not radio friendly enough... having heard just 1 of them.)

[hisjulliet.livejournal.com]

nope

[falling-empress.livejournal.com]

No lol.
Wonder Snooze.

[ideservestars.livejournal.com]

lol no

[gogoparty.livejournal.com]

no

[fogcutter.livejournal.com]

i like to think they have some card up their sleeves but they seem duller by the days.. something about their individual persona seems too "try-hard".. their facial expressions in group pics irk me, it's like why can't you just smile at the camera normally

[akaich0u.livejournal.com]

How do they not smile normally? And how exactly are they tryhard? WG are a lot of things (I'll even concede to the 'boring' qualifier now and then) but tryhard is not one of them.

[aprisa.livejournal.com]

I could go on forever about this, it's getting annoying lol. Basically, JYP needs to hire me. OR, he can just get WG together with a solid label that can handle them better than he is, because it seems JYPE has a lot of faults with their management right now and aren't improving.
WG have so much potential (and had even more with Sunmi!), but it's just being wasted, sadly. If everything were done the right way, I think they would have a good chance here.

[lizanka23.livejournal.com]

i think they could make it if they keep targeting the nickelodeon and disney audience (like big time rush) but they won't have widespread notoriety. i still think they would have more of a chance in the uk and europe, now that there is a new trend of boy and girl groups there (little mix, one direction, etc.)

[ginevragirl.livejournal.com]

I agree. The UK/Europe is a lot more accepting of girl groups, and have been basically since the Spice Girls. In the early 2000's Girls Aloud were huge, followed by the Saturdays... now Little Mix because of XFactor, etc. The US just isn't into groups like they are. The few that have made is recently, The Wanted, and One Direction are the exception, not the rule. The US is still too focused on rappers, solo singers, and rock bands.

[cindyxmc.livejournal.com]

hahahhaa no, no they can't.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure anyone can take over billboard like Psy did tbh
No one even thought it was possible in the first place
And so far Psy has one song, I love oppa but this could very well be a one time thing let's wait and see if it's someting real, than others can try

[djlancerock.livejournal.com]

omg this icon

cat butt

[swhyeon1991.livejournal.com]

A bit OT but are they wearing Singapore Airlines stewardess uniform in that pic? Sohee looks so pretty!

[odd-fish-stick.livejournal.com]

yes they are. there was some controversy because lim's is unbottoned. it got unbottoned on stage because she only had a few minutes to change from her solo before running back on stage again, people said it was disrespectful.