Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai - [Article] The Grievances of Main Vocalists in Girl Groups

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The Grievances of Main Vocalists in Girl Groups

I didn't know which thread I should post this in, plus it's an interesting read

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The Grievances of Main Vocalists in Girl Groups

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What do Raina, Soyeon, Luna, Gayoon, Ji Eun, and Hyun Young all have in common?

They’re all the main vocalists for their respective groups. While it’s certainly an esteemed position, it actually puts the girls behind in terms of popularity, compared to the rest of their members. Each group has a spotlighted member that always seems to be at the forefront of activies, such as UEE and Kahi for After School, Jiyeon and Hyomin for T-ara, Sulli and Krystal for f(x), and Sunhwa and Hyosung for SECRET.

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What’s unfortunate for the main vocals is that despite holding the most important position in their teams, their talents are never recognized because attention isn’t placed as much on them as it should be.

So what are some of their grievances about this issue?

1.) Main vocals are usually not able to stand in the center position for performances.

Shinhwa’s Shin Hyesung once stated that it was “unfortunate to not be able to stand in the center despite being the main vocalist of the group.” 4minute represents such case, as Hyuna is usually put in the center while Gayoon sings her heart out behind her. SNSD’s Yoona is also situated in the middle, while main vocal Taeyeon is shuffled to the side.

Although it may not seem like a big deal, standing in the center has bigger advantages than one would think. Possessing the title of ‘main vocal’ is nice, but as an idol, being ‘center stage’ is sometimes more advantageous in terms of getting more exposure (and hence, more opportunities).

2.) Talent is under appreciated.

Idols are often stereotyped as being untalented and too focused on visuals. What’s ironic is that each group’s main vocalists has better live skills than some of the solo artists out there. However, due to the fact that they’re a part of an idol group, their talents aren’t always appreciated.

Radio appearances give them an opportunity to allow the public to re-evaluate their skills, but radio appearances aren’t always followed like how TV programs are. This means that their vocal skills are judged in the few short minutes that they’re standing on stage during a live broadcast. In the end, they’re simply dismissed as ‘idols.’

Thankfully, more opportunities have arisen with shows like “Kim Jung Eun’s Chocolate,” “Music Break La La La,” and “Yoo Hee Yeol’s Sketch Book“.

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3.) There’s an immense amount of pressure for them to be responsible for the team’s overall vocal talent.

Main vocalists receive harsher criticism compared to the rest of their fellow members, simply because they are the main vocal. Thus, their mistakes grade the team as a whole.

When a member that specializes in visuals or variety programs makes a mistake, the public is often more forgiving. Unfortunately, such grace isn’t granted for main vocalists, as one mistake can cost them the entire performance and earn a whole slew of insults.

4.) Their existence in the group isn’t always clear.

There’s the old saying that a bear will do the tricks while its owner reaps the cash.

Most of the main vocals are put in such a situation – they’ll put in everything they’ve got to hit those high notes for a perfect live, but must remain in the shadows and watch on as the more popular members take the spotlight.

While other members are praised for their beautiful looks and witty variety skills, main vocals are often shuffled back to their dorms. It’s not enough that they’re being generalized as an average ‘idol’ member; many feel that their role in the group simply doesn’t seem all that important to fans, since their fellow team members appear to be gaining more accomplishments for looking ‘pretty’ and being ‘funny’ or ‘charming’.

A group definitely cannot exist without a main vocal; they are the very foundations for the group’s success. Hopefully a day will come when vocals matter more than one’s beauty or ability to be the funny-girl.

Source: Clickety click

As a major Luna stan I already knew about this and it makes me really sad :(, and this is the first time I hear the name of 4minute's lead vocalist.
I wish companies would give their idol vocalists more of the spotlight so people would stop stereotyping every idol as someone who's just pretty with no talent.

Interesting article, thanks for sharing!

That is sad. Considering how one of the girls is the main vocalist, she should be put front and center for everyone to see. It makes it easier for the singer to project their voice and especially in 5+ group, it doesn't seem like ghost singing is going on.

^ ikr ? I think that if the main vocalist gets more of the spotlight on stage people would get the impression that the group is good in the vocals department.
This also applies to male groups, Yesung and Ryeowook of Super Junior barely have any screen time and they sing like one third of the songs.

I take it these article writers have never watched a H!P PV.

Their leads are always so obvious that it hurts.

^ Yeah I've noticed that the girls who sing the most in H!P groups get the most screen time, I'll never forget how Airi Suzuki's teeth look like o_o

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Originally Posted by RyRyMini (Post 2551507)

I take it these article writers have never watched a H!P PV.

Their leads are always so obvious that it hurts.

lol I know only Momusu but that's so damn straight. And not always fair. ~~no matter how much I stan Ai~~

About the article... What to say? It's a very sad trend.

When I was first getting into SNSD/Girls' Generation's music, I found a video that contained a collection of interviews, t.v performances, etc. that was focused solely on Taeyeon. The video showed clips of her in a negative light, showing her kind of nudging members aside to move to the front or center during interviews after performances as well as other things of that nature. Although it didn't make me dislike her completely, I assumed that she was a little attention hungry and just wanted to be front and center all the time. After reading this article, my perspective has been changed and I feel differently about her behavior in those situations. While I'm not condoning just moving other people aside like that, I can understand why as a lead vocalist she felt that she deserved to be in that position. When you're a lead vocalist, I do think that it's fair that you are front and center most if not all the time but sadly as the article reported, that's not the case. Thank you so much for posting this article. It really gave me a different outlook on something I never paid attention to before.

Someone should really write a book on the politics of Korean girl groups lol

"Dreamgirls", yo.

Just because you're vocally talented doesn't mean that people will respond to it. Extraordinary vocal abilities aren't necessarily important to pop music, but charisma certainly is. Audiences will support and idolize the person who embodies their own values and aspirations and I think for a lot of people singing extraordinarily well isn't as important as being attractive.

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Originally Posted by emiko (Post 2551691)

Someone should really write a book on the politics of Korean girl groups lol

General KPop fandom also needs an "Idiot's Guite To..." :yes

If only the attention was more equally divided >_< I wonder if girls going into groups, particularly the part of lead vocals, really understand what they're getting in to? I suppose they would then grow to resent their band mates too. What an awful situation to be caught up in :(

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Originally Posted by AsukaRoses (Post 2551523)

^ Yeah I've noticed that the girls who sing the most in H!P groups get the most screen time, I'll never forget how Airi Suzuki's teeth look like o_o

Have you seen that chick's legs? *shudders*

Yeah, the situation's "effed" up but kinda have to agree with what FIRSTKLAS said. In pop music, personality+charisma+looks always come before vocal talent. Granted, there's really no lack of artists who possess all of these qualities, the general public just tends to look at things in a linear perceptive. The hot and fun girl is always "talentless and there for her looks", the quiet and introverted girl is "snobby and deserves to be ignored", the "talent" is somehow never anywhere to be found, and everyone loves the girl front in center because she's "obviously there because she's the full package" until she does something to royally **** up her image.

nice article
thanks for sharing