The Crisis of Live Singing in K pop

[@purplemoonpop]

just came back for a minute to say thank you for the views, likes and comments :’) i expected this to reach like 2k people at most. im already doing some brainstorming for my next video yay! im gonna try to figure out the community tab to make polls for future videos. once again, thank you very much for being here

[@NotAnotherAccount735]

The crazy thing is that Itzy who was one of the most criticized groups and people were going hammers on them with "omg they cannot sing", "omg not strong vocalist" etc, are the only group that consistently sings live and they have THESE choreographies.

[@purplemoonpop]

yesss i even heard the girls had started getting injured from them so jyp decided to take it down a notch :(

[@Wonnieys]

Their vocals are strong though

[@NotAnotherAccount735]

@@purplemoonpop Ι understand tbh, some of them were very exhausting

[@katgreer6113]

no... IDK about everyone else, but i'd rather stan a group with insanely good vocals that lip sync. Rather than groups like ITZY with weak vocals that sing live a lot. Yes, they sing live but is it good? In my opinion stable voice doesn't automatically equal good. Voices are supposed to be pleasing to the ear, while ITZY shouts a lot. Just because they sing live doesn't make them good vocalists imo. STAYC is a good balance of both. They sing live 90% of the time and still have really good vocals despite dancing. but that's just my take.

[@ilubyou13]

@@katgreer6113 🤨

[@Dervis128]

Hot take: If you have to lip sync because the dance is too hard, fire your choreographer. A good choreographer should be able to create a dance that is both intricate and interesting to watch while also being tame enough for a vocalist to perform. I don't understand why some groups will have a member trying to sing while hopping around the stage in an unnatural way when they could just...stand still and emote? You have six other members. Let them dance while you sing!

[@rairakkyue]

so true. difficult choreographies take too much energy from idols that their vocals can't catch up anymore :(

[@ravenmawi4899]

Aka 1st gen and 2nd gen… a lot of idols nowadays focuses on performance,to each their own. But very much agree on your statement

[@imsupershyomaga]

its not that easy to fire a choreographer 😭😭😭 an idok getting fired is more easier than a choreographer for making a hard choreo

[@iprobablyforgotsomething]

That, definitely; need a better choreo. And also they need to regularly be practicing performing dance routines (first without singing, later adding it in) for longer than their actual performances will be. That way, the shorter actual show will be easier in comparison. . It's like warming up in singing, going all the way to a higher / lower pitch then a song will may use, to make sure you get your full range worked out and not just the bare minimum notes you'll actually need. It leaves you a bit of grace-space or wiggle-room, so that it's easy, not a strain, to reach all the notes you'll be singing. . It will take lots of hours, each day, to build that kind of stamina, but then, this isn't a side-hobby. It's their literal day job, so the company should be able to factor that into their schedules without any special difficulty. . (Also, they need to let their stars EAT more, rather than being obsessed with being as thin as possible, so as to properly fuel them for the energy-intensive work they do *every dang day.* That would give them the oomph needed to more easily do long and frequent dancing + singing practices & shows.)

[@p.j.7143]

I just want to clarify 'fire the choreographer': That's not actually the choreographer's fault a lot of the time--companies tell choreographers what they want, the theme, the feel, even often the difficulty. For example, SM kept telling Ian Eastwood to make Taemin's Danger choreo harder bc he could do it lol (he explains it on STEEZY). So I think most choreographers will submit a piece that they know might be too difficult, but that's what the company wanted and/or they know the company and idols will simplify parts. Idols also used to stop their dance or simplify it to sing a harder part, but sometimes that doesn't happen (what you said) and they have to keep up with the other members (A recent example of an idol doing this is ATEEZ Jongho with Guerilla, you can see him relax on the dance during his post-chorus part). Also most kpop choreographies are not one person's piece and a combo of like 3+ choreographers. So at that point if the whole dance is super hard, that's on the company for putting the choreo together like that. You can watch SMP Floor video cuts that take all the demos and edit them together to show the final piece--there's usually at least 3/4 different demos that MAKE the cut, and you can see the videos keep switching. So there are easier parts, but they may be edited out and replaced with another person's demo which is hard at that part (if that makes sense).

[@Ren-jh3xb]

The way IVE's cover of IU played out is really telling about the state of the industry. Not only the fact that starship wouldn't even let them sing live in a performance of which the entire purpose was showing off live vocals, but also how afraid the girls seem to make any faces. They seem so genuinely afraid of making any face other than the perfect pretty smile; so afraid of being anything less than visually flawless for even a split second and it saddens me. It's starting to remind of some wave of tiktoks I saw (I can only hope it was a coincidence and not a trend) of girls sharing "beauty tips" and telling their viewers to not smile too hard, or make any exaggerated expression for that matter, because it will give them wrinkles.

[@pikachu7572]

The thing is, except a couple of members they don't even cut it as dancers. They're rookies, yes, but some of them have been around. I can't see how you can fault the company for them not giving effort in singing *and dance*. It can't be both ways. Dancing elegantly won't lose them fans. I think they know their fans will support them regardless so they don't practice. Except a few members of course.

[@Ren-jh3xb]

@@pikachu7572 I didn't say their lack of stage presence is the company's fault though? I'm just pointing out how the industry puts visuals above everything else nowadays, and will make idols feel the need to sacrifice everything else in order to fit the extremely high visual standard

[@pikachu7572]

@@Ren-jh3xb But at the end of the day, they can at least practice dance? I know they have a lot of activities but I know the company sets aside practice time for them. Obviously the strawberry moon thing was the company's doing but it's hard to believe the members care about their life as artists when their dance is lacking. There is room for improvement and some of these members have been dancing for years. It's not 100% their fault but except the newer girls, they're not totally blameless

[@taylorslade961]

Just FYI: the Millie Vanillie scandal from the 80s was a scandal because it wasn't even them singing at all. It was someone else's voice that they were lip syncing, not their own.

[@purplemoonpop]

you're absolutely right! i mentioned that one because it's the most outrageous of scandals when it comes to lipsyncing. Or not singing at all, as you said :)

[@umchileanyways8603]

yk whats even crazy the guy behind the management? he had a grouphe managed named boney m and the lead singer didnt even sing live. it was their manager singing those songs

[@parkchimmin7913]

@@umchileanyways8603 Noooo, not Boney M! ;-; they’re known for their song “Rasputin”.

[@amorelockster1023]

Yes the two guys that were the faces of the group could barely speak English. They got taken advantage of by their company and they could actually sing but they had to continue to lip sync because the company just wanted them to be the face of the duo.

[@clarimm6675]

@@umchileanyways8603 the manager's name is Frank Farian, he is a renowned music producer in Germany (although I'm not sure he still is tbh). And yes, you're right, he was the male voice behind Boney M (most known for their disco song "daddy cool") and then later he was behind Millie Vanillie... it seems ad though he was unable to produce music in an honest way lol

[@abelhapedras]

I just really miss Red Velvet singing live. they're all CLEARLY able to sing live while dancing and do a very good job at it... why aren't they singing anymore? 😭😭😭

[@noala7328]

They sang live at SMCU palace with Red flavor and Queendom, and Seulgi performed 28 reasons live for the first time and it was amazing!! we all know they are such a great live performers i really don't get what sm is doing....

[@eyebrowstj]

You clearly don't know Wendy is a member of Red Velvet. She has solo concert appearances in the past few months where she sang every song live and slayed!

[@Geo-zr2lh]

SM groups from 2nd generation to 3rd generation used to sing live a lot. Now I don't understand why SM is making their idols dub or use pre-recording.

[@your-regina]

Some of them really seem to love singing even more than dancing, so I'm sure it bothers them as well. It looks like it's an SM strategy, a very dumb one.

[@escritora84]

I've been a kpop fan for well over a decade, and one thing I've noticed is how kpop songs have become higher pitched in general. Most 2nd and 3rd gen songs were written to be catchy but in a range that was comfortable for the group. They also worked consistently with the same producers (ie Nine Muses and Sweetune, AOA with Brave Brothers, etc) who knew their range and vocal color. They also knew how to play to each group's strengths and let the lead vocalists shine when need be. The last few years though, I feel like it's been a competition of who can get to the highest notes. Companies are debuting new ggs left and right and expect them to sing really high pitched songs and forgot how to play to their group's strengths or find a range that fits them. Singing high doesn't mean it's good singing. Even my faves aren't immune -- "Loveade", "Beautiful Monster", amd "Talk that Talk" are fun, but singing them live would be a challenge. They probably should've been sung in a different key or an octave lower so the singers are not straining their voices.

[@onlylaboum]

yes strongly agree!! the pitch for singing has become so high, even for older groups like LABOUM who sung higher pitched in their 2021 comeback despite their natural singing voices being lower. it's a shame to me how high the pitch is and how much girl crush, teen crush etc music is just based around yelling more than singing. it hurts my own throat to listen to 😭 there's still plenty of groups that are amazing live singers, but new + popular group kpop fans don't give them the attention.

[@biazacha]

The producer x group is such an important point, self producing groups like EXID, Idle or SVT are able to keep their identity but other groups are constantly jumping between producers that may not know the singers they’re working with - Loona stop working with MonoTree was a big shame for this reason.

[@moon-ve8vy]

1000% agree with your comment. it's crazy to see these idols singing out of their range and it's absolutely questionable on why these producers are so afraid with lower range when it really helps their idols to sing more comfortable while dancing? this is why i love self producing groups so much because they have the freedom to take care of their songs

[@NyanCat1907]

I truly don't mind not singing live at every single schedule because singers needs to protect their voices for a proper long term career as a singer but not singing while sitting down or just standing (whether if it's company's or artist's choice) is just absolutely awful imo. Like if you got some choreography that you would like to focus on, sacrificing singing make sense but not moving around and you still chose to lip sync is just ridiculous, proofing fan's points of how "kpop is all about looks and not about talent" and it's depressing.

[@maaduufan5140]

i wish i can tell kpop company & idol: no need to dance like you life depend on it. Just sing & enjoy yourself on stage, then fans will naturally enjoy the show as much as you do. like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGezppWVqquCg5o

[@ichig0tchi]

the problem with live singing in kpop is that the idols are made to sing songs in keys they have to STRUGGLE to hit in the recording booth (watching those bts of idols in the booth and sometimes they’re like doing contortions to hit a note lol) obviously if they struggle there who expects them to magically being able to do them live and while moving? when producers learn to accept the range and limitations of idols voices and work around that maybe we’ll start to see less lipsynch lol

[@purplemoonpop]

yes! they need to be realistic with their idols

[@curiositykilledthekat]

agree 100%. if they thave to do thirty different takes in the booth to even get that high note, maybe they should just not do it.

[@jiedragonhub]

I'm just glad Dreamcatcher rarely lipsyncs at all. I thank their choreographer for making their dance bearable while actually singing. It's because their choreographer itself is a former aspiring idol that's why she understands these things.

[@stepsoflife]

You just crushed my hope live singing will be gaining ground after IVE's incident. Not enough demanding live singing. And sorry to say, I cannot support an artist solely because they sing live often--they need to have good songs.

[@miatownsend6088]

yeah the main reason to be a group’s fan is if they have music you enjoy. personally i’ll still leave nice comments on a live performance if i come across one. even if their music is not me i hope they get recognition for their work :)

[@seonsunnysunshine]

IVE did sing live on the same day that Leeseo and Wonyoung sang their IU cover. Not sure what Starship's rationale when they made them do that

[@Ren-jh3xb]

@ArtIsDrawing yeah but nothing will be fixed if we don't give backlash. Doesn't matter if it's the idols' choice or not, if we don't show that we don't like this then the companies will just continue to force them to lip-sync and it'll just keep getting worse

[@あきら-v7h]

Please tell me when Ive does it, it’s a big deal but when it comes to idols that did the same thing (sitting down and everything) it’s no problem and people become blind? What about the male idols that FAKED playing wind instruments? That SHOULDVE been a scandal but it never happened. Playing an instrument takes so much skill. Y’all pick and choose

[@-toriizaka46]

@@あきら-v7h when has any other idol sat down and lip sync??

[@C.f001]

All the reasons you mentioned are valid but I’m not gonna stan idols who don’t sing live. If I wanted to stan dancers I would Stan actual dancers since they are better at this job. I Stan only three groups: Shinee, Ateez and Dreamcatcher and I’m grateful they still can sing live in this industry.

[@purplemoonpop]

i love dc 😭 they were one of those groups that changed the way i view kpop

[@miaka123ify]

I just want to say that the gruops u talk about also dont sing live either..... Yes, they sing more live than other groups but they don't sing live all-time, especially dream catcher. Atezz sing and only uses it when doing some dance parts, wich is okay because they eat the performance they do.

[@C.f001]

@@miaka123ify yeah, I know dc and Shinee don’t, but dc still do 90% of time and Shinee have been singing live for over 10 years so I know damn well they can. And I watch every single live stage of Ateez, full cams, fan cams and members cams and nobody’s gonna convince me they don’t sing live.

[@KookieeBear]

I agree, I understand lip syncing when the performance/choreo is extremely intense and demanding but if they’re sitting, or doing the bare minimum movement it’s ridiculous ESPECIALLY when they’re passing it off as if they’re actually singing, I find it lazy and kinda annoying. What were all those years of training for?

[@crptpyr]

I mean, shinee don't 'still' sing live bc of SM's bs

[@StanChunghaOrGoHome]

Most idols in 4th gen have a very short training time, because companies know they can just make them lip sync their whole career to save money. It’s also why idols are debuting younger and younger.

[@ladyteruki]

Congratulations on your first video ! Personally, I've listened to Jmusic for a solid decade and a half, before coming more recently to Kpop (which I had originally only vaguely kept an eye on). Jmusic is very diverse, from idols to actual artists and everything in-between. The idol part of the business, though, has a very clear approach to what singing is and means : it's a form of entertainment, but we're not expecting much from girls who debuted at 13 or 14. And that's fine. Completely acceptable. They have other qualities. They have energy. They are cheerful, or cute, or funny, we like that more and so, yes, singing either sucks, barely passes the bar of human ear tolerance, or resorts to non-live devices like the ones you described. Who cares ? And indeed in Jmusic idols, perfection is less of a thing. What is seeked is the feeling of proximity and that means imperfection (a very relative imperfection, since those girls are still very policed in how they present to their audience, but artistically speaking at least, imperfection). They might be lousy singers. They might be bad dancers. They might be shy and awkward, even. That's fine, we love them for it, because they'll become better. They'll work on it in front of our eyes. They'll grow in front of us and we'll support them in the ups and downs of the road ahead, as that's how we're going to develop that parasocial relationship. Failure is an option (there'll be tears and we'll cry with them, because we understand hardship), even though the target, of course, is eventually for an idol to find her place in the world, and success. At last. Someday she'll be the oldest in the group and graduate, leaving room for a new generation of young, inexperienced girls with fresh new imperfections. So you can see how Kpop is puzzling, in a way, for me coming from this different idol culture. Kpop idols are trained extensively before debuting, so they're supposed to arrive to us packaged as a perfection both perfect AND subjected to improvement over time. Which is untenable ! A Kpop idol can't ever show that she's not perfectly trained in all fields, even those she'll never be used for in her group (like rap, for instance), and you'll never catch her out of breath even after an insane dance performance no human body should be put through. And yet with each release, she's supposed to do better, impress us even more, surprise us and grow into... more perfection ? Like you said, we should be vocal (ha !) about supporting Kpop idols who sing live more often than not. Because a huge part of it is on us, consumers, for accepting this tradeoff, and letting companies think that perfection is the only way to form parasocial bonds with Kpop idols (and make us spend money on them). It's up to us to somehow convey that we can love them even when they fail in these small ways like a voice crack or being out of breath now and then. Humanizing artists should not be the worst thing that happens to them.

[@purplemoonpop]

Thank you so much :) I’ll start checking out more jmusic!! any recommendations?

[@_harley_1288]

Can you recommend me some j-pop too? I only know of Fuji Kaze and &TEAM 😅

[@blush3790]

What’s also interesting is how I’ve noticed “humanisation” or maybe better put, “relatability” becoming a concept in and of itself in newer groups. TripleS tried to sell themselves as “just like everyone else”, doing dance challenges in sweaters in the street. Or NewJeans. Idk much about them but they seem to focus heavily on recreating and everyday teenage experiences. But their companies won’t ever just let them actually *exist* as the teens they already are. They’re not allowed rocky vocals when throwing themselves around on stage. They’re not allowed to be out of sync for even a moment. When anything like this happens, instead of just enjoying how raw and authentic these things are, media and kpop fans are quick to label the groups unprofessional or just to be avoided outright. No wonder companies stick to the idea of lip sync for dear life.

[@blush3790]

O I forgot to say - I can’t remember what they’re called, but there’s an underground Kgroup who made a song called “Bad Girlfriend” and I think you’d rly like it op. They’re self made, they’re music’s like an indie jrock group if ur feeling a bit disillusioned w big name kpop rn

[@choclopat]

@@_harley_1288 i totally recommend morning musume! they're my favorite jpop group

[@donquicheolte9504]

ITZY always try their best to sing live. And despite the criticisms (lots are blown out of proportion, frankly), instead of depending SOLELY on ARs and lose confidence in singing live, they chose to improve themselves and continue singing live. That is something I admire. They may not possess the latent ability in a certain aspect, but they make up for it by diligence and continuous improvement. As someone who attends concerts a lot, it really is a big deal for me whether or not the group I am stanning sings live (I want my money's worth). ITZY may not have the best vocals out there but they sound decent for me and have improved a lot. I especially like it when they sing songs within their range, like Weapon (wished it was a single). I love (G)I-DLE, ITZY, and STAYC as ggs in this gen. I am yet to attend STAYC's concert, but gidle and itzy really know how to make a show awesome and the vocals are really good. (Ofc these three groups also have backtracks to help them, but they sing on top of them more than 60% of the time.)

[@MiKi-sx3tt]

One more thing crucial consequences of lipsync: it allows company to debut younger and much more "unprepared" idol while still maintaining a "perfect idol" concept. Now that the company doesn't have to invest much more time and money towards the vocal training, they can debut much more naive and younger idol while masking their unpreparedness in singing department with lipsync. To be perfect at such young age. It just horrifying industry. Another thing to these "perfect idol" theme; the performance and the song became bland much quicker than before, because at some point the robotic, unemotional, monotone voice will bored people. And that's not a good business model. With these perfect voice, it also makes the idol sing the song beyond their capacity or comfortable zone, resulting in very similar song between different KPop group because any imperfections can be hidden. It just exhausting to listen to. In Jmusic, because the perfect idol theme is not exist, it resulted in different varieties of music, vocal and sounds. They have someone like Ado with her explosive vocal, they have Myth&Droid and Co Shu Nie with floaty and robotic sounds, they have Kokia with dreamy vocal, they have Milet with her lower voice and chill music, they also have Aimer with her dramatic type of music. With idol, their song became much more "attainable" and possible to sing with human voice because the pressure to be a "perfect, machine-like" idol is not the theme. It much more interesting to listen to many rendition of Heavy Rotation because it is a song that doesn't attempt to challenge the "perfect" human voices. (Only Dimash is the perfect voice, lol). It also allows the fans to sing along comfortably with their idol, since the range is quite comfortable for normal human voice. Hhhh.. I can rant about this for a very long time. But this comment is already long enough. I just hope this lipsync epidemic can soon be over, so we can hear interesting and diverse music again like in 1st-3rd gen.

[@alyslim5234]

very interesting take

[@-toriizaka46]

ado aimer and others u talked abt aren't idols, but I agree w what ur saying. there's more variation in jpop

[@MiKi-sx3tt]

@@-toriizaka46 I agree with Aimer not being an idol. But I feel Ado is a bit "idol-ish" in the way she market/portray herself. More in-touch with her audience with her gaming/talkshow channel, her audience also interested in her private life, etc. She sells a character. Kinda the same as traditional Korean idol, in a way. I think utaite (and vtuber) is the new era of idol. The obvious example of this is mafumafu.

[@exazee9900]

im so glad Dreamcatcher sings live and they are so good while doing so too

[@ivyward1393]

if you want idols who can sing live you gotta stan (g)idle, itzy, mamamoo, and STAYC. everyone kept complaining that stayc are flops and that they fell off but they're still in the minority of 4th gen groups that can sing live

[@donquicheolte9504]

I love these three groups! They are the only gg's I stan in this gen since I attend concerts so live singing is one of the most important criteria for me. I think I am also starting to stan le sserafim but idk if this is just a phase or they'll be an addition to (g)i-dle, itzy, and stayc.

[@thatoneperson731]

nmixx too! most people dont like their music though. they have so much talent

[@lady-lia]

I cannot believe this is your first video. It's so well thought out, well edited, and you're so well spoken !! I agree with the point that live singing amplifies the emotions of a performance, but I think there's more to it than that. A lot of times now days when an idol is lip syncing they just don't seem too into the performance. Sure some of these might be instances where the idol just isn't into the song or don't quite understand the emotions, but I'm sure there's more cases where the artist just finds it hard to express themselves without the help of live vocals. That being said, I've seen performances where idols are singling live and still seem board or lack the emotion needed for said song, and I've seen idols not even try to pretend to be singing that still portray the song well. I love live vocals when they're done well, and I love performances without any lyrical aspect at all. I think the main challenge is finding which groups are good at what and going from there. In the end, as long as the idol is into the performance and seems to understand what emotions they're trying to portray, personally I'd consider it a good performance. Sorry for the rant but this was a great video, can't wait to see what comes next ^_^

[@purplemoonpop]

thank you and i agree! stage presence plays a big factor too werher youre singing or not.

[@ludofratta2328]

Sometimes I download the live version of a song instead of the studio version cause I prefer them as they feel more uniquee

[@spivel6742]

this video was so good for a 1st vid! loved ur commentary on this 😭 i’ve been a kpop stan since 2nd gen so i remember the time when idols used to mostly perform live and it was so delicious. the energy is literally different when the performance is live and i miss it so much 😭 my ults now are enhypen so i do appreciate dancing a lot but it’s still such a shame that vocals have been neglected so much in the industry many hybe groups tho are starting to show off their live singing and i hope that this will lead to more groups doing so 😭 however seeing the reaction to yunjins highnote in their the boys cover makes me think that fans have become so used to perfection that imperfection will never be accepted by kpop fans for a while

[@timmied8461]

Purple Moon, you have made some excellent points in your video in which I have wondered about myself for a long while! These companies should realize that the fanbase wants to hear their Idols sing "Live" whenever possible!

[@user-je6io6cv5d]

It is also frustrating when idols are clearly lip syncing and all the comments are they ate cds, there is almost no awareness of live singing it literally is a cd playing. Also I don’t know when the trend has shifted to focusing on choreo and visuals the rise of channels like studio chrome show this, even ITZY sing live but they have to have hard choreo bc that is what is popping now. You can see in survival shows too the selection of singer positions is weak because the panel knows visuals and dancers are most important categories to scour for, just see it all the top 20 from survival shows and that proves my point. Most stanned members from groups are either dancers or visuals not singers, Karina and winter are highly popular not for their singing but for their visuals, fans don’t acknowledge for singers and now we are in a position where companies think live singing is not worth it lets just make hard hitting choreo instead. My conspiracy theory is that people are not bothered by Ive lip syncing but rather that their stage presence is not good enough and are tired of wonyoung’s popularity due to her visuals being big in Korea, at first it was cute now they are sick of it, le sserafim don’t sing live that much either but they don’t get hate

[@raytsh]

Great video, thanks! I just realized a few weeks ago that I keep trying to figure out if a stage performance features live singing or not more often. I did not know about all the "pseudo" live singing options there are.

[@mimistate2371]

ik its controversial but i enjoy Blackpink's live performances despite some mistakes and voice cracks because it feels real. they feel like human beings, they have vocal issues, they sometimes miss the choreo and its amazing, it makes me happy that they genuinely look like they are enjoying their tour, they are very similar to westerns artists, who sometimes make mistakes on stage, that's why they stand out to me at least.

[@curiositykilledthekat]

i agree!!

[@biazacha]

I used to enjoy BP live cause their stage presence was really top tier… but the recent tour was indeed a let down. I can only imagine what was going on behind the scenes, find out they spend their two years of “pause” essentially teaching the group that will probably take all their resources (cause YG hates women) like damn, that must be disheartening.

[@inurscreen0]

The editing is reminiscent of everglow-up and I love it. Also can’t wait to watch this channel grow!!!

[@calleigh4287]

I always wonder what the point is in all the agony of monthly evaluations during trainee days for vocals, major emphasis on vocals in survival shows, etc. when eventually the idols aren’t expected to sing live once they become successful idols. I agree that companies and fans share a bit of the blame by expecting/demanding perfection. Idols are crucified when they make mistakes & it’s terrifying. MR removed videos were nightmare inducing for idols, but nowadays when you watch them all you hear is the studio track for the most part. I personally love hearing the actual live vocals, breathing, etc. it’s sad to see the shift in emphasis from skills to visuals. In order for this to change, fan culture needs to change as well. Companies see pretty groups earning $, so that acts as the incentive for them to continue the formula. Really loved how well researched and spoken your commentary was! Appreciated the non biased and realistic stance. Keep up the great work.

[@_shushook4]

I love how chill you are and how calmly you talk

[@johannal3916]

this was a great first video!! i added it to my kpop video essay playlist! you are so well spoken, great job!

[@banamilkaholic]

I get that dancing and singing is hard but if they lipsync everytime on stage then what is the difference between a dance crew and an idol? Just because they record a song in the studio doesn't mean they are good singers coz so much audio processing goes into the studio version as well as into the pre-recorded versions. People be like they trained all these years and they won't debut if they can't sing but bruh they have to prove that they can sing live while standing let alone dancing...

[@lucabrooks1571]

Can’t wait to see this amazing video go viral because it really should

[@somekindofshinigami]

Such a good video, you've described the issue really well, in such a good way! It's difficult to belive this is your first video!

[@yes_hunny]

your voice is sooo pleasant to listen to! defenitely keep up with this video format bestie

[@soup8160]

Personally, I think the choreographers should allow the idols to pause from dancing while singing or AT LEAST give them easier choreos while singing especially complicated vocal lines.

[@yeon_berry22]

you put my thoughts into words perfectly also this is a amazing video

[@zoebelraeali]

I agree with pretty much everything thing you said🤷🏾‍♀️😮‍💨 don't get me started on the competition shows not caring about vocals but visuals

[@sweetchocolatesecret]

Back when I started listening to K-pop around Gen 2, choreography and vocals were held at the same level. Now, K-pop is really focused on the money shot for fancams or social media. Where I still find K-pop interesting, it makes me nervous that nowadays, live performances are becoming less and less relevant

[@bananas6727]

here to boost engagement cause this was a great first video

[@96unique2]

Honestly, I think it’s horrific what they’re really saying about Leeseo and Wonyoung.While I really, really do not like lip-synching all of the time or even when idols are sitting down or standing, I think we still that we have to remind ourselves that we are criticizing the company‘s decisions and not just the idols themselves, especially as we know that they usually do not have a choice. I hope the companies see that there is backlash towards the idols and try to make it better so that they can sing more. The only way these companies are going to listen is if there is backlash and they are losing money and prestige. Let me make it clear that I don’t support bullying idols, but I do think it’s wrong that people paid money to see these idols sing and they’re not going to sing live. I don’t consider backtracks lipsyncing.

[@curiositykilledthekat]

omg yes, the lack of understanding how these things work behind the scenes and who is really making these decisions is the biggest part of the issue. everything goes on the backs of the idols and they sadly can't win in this situation!

[@killingkura]

NO FRRRRRR, i had never really cared at all about idols lip syncing on music shows a bit as i could understand how hard it is to worry about keeping a stable voice and not being flamed for ones voice cracking. though i cant deny how lately the amount of idols lipsyncing not just for a few verses during a live show but an entire song and even on idol radio is just... insane. ive been a kpop stan since 2nd gen and i remember how much live vocals would give into the experience of a performance. im not saying that live vocals are a must in order to execute a good performance as some live singers may not even like their song but as another commenter said live vocals can portray the raw feelings of the song being preformed. anyways, my actual problem with not singing live is that some of these idols are great vocalists, and its not that they aren't able to sing live. some of them just depend on the backtrack on purpose and it shows. for example if you look at ives recent controversy for supposedly lip syncing, they were sitting down. unless they both had some personal reason that they couldn't sing live then that would be understandable but its a little hard to wrap my head around why rei and wony were not singing atm. that being said i don't want to victim blame any of these idols who lipsync as i actually believe it's more of the companies faults [for not allowing them to sing] and the way 4th gen is structured. (not trying to be that person who says __ gen is better than __ gen btw/g) hopefully im not repeating anything already said, but if you look at 4th gen most of the choreo is based around being complicated of high energy. [which im all for] ive always ate up choreo that pops and is flashy rather than subtle ones, but thats just the problem. most people don't really eat up quietly delivered dances which is why companies feel the need to make their idols do an entire gym class routine. and its honestly unrealistic to dance to such complicated choreography and keep stable high notes. like look at black mamba... that alone is one of the reasons that most idols cant really sing live anymore because by the end of the songs theyre dancing sloppy and catching their breath. in 2gen dances were more simple so that the idols could focus on the vocals. another thing is that theyre debuting kids, who have probably not trained much. [thats not a bad thing, i wouldnt want a kid to be training in such an industry for 5+ years] i wont get into that bc its self explanatory but my point is, idols lipsyncing is kinda due to all these companies chasing the trends set in 4th gen: high energy dances, debuting minors and idols with little training time/experience, lack of outstanding talent in the current 4th gen ggs/bgs, companies focusing on overall aesthetic and brand deals rather than scheduling them for more practice. (im not blaming the idols for not training more, but some of them should also make personal effort to sing live) thats all mb for typing a whole essay, great video.

[@angiee1603]

The thing about auto tune is it has a duel purpose. It is often used as an effect or stylistic choice as well as pitch correction. As I understand it when autotune first started being used it was strictly pitch correction and it was not noticed by the public for the most part. It stayed in the background until Cher used it in Believe for the robotic sound it can cause. Then T-Pain made it his signature sound. Autotune was initially not meant to be noticed or used all the time. It was to save artists time. If they messed up on a part it could be corrected instead of having to be re-recorded. Now it is more like a crutch. Also backing tracks are not always used like mentioned in the video. I've also noticed them being used when the song is maybe too complex. For example there are a lot of adlibs or a soloist is harmonizing with themselves. The singer is singing live with a backing track so that parts they physically cannot sing are still in the performance. The audience still hears the song as it sounds on the album. The singer doesn't have to try to sing all the adlibs as well as the verses. In these cases the singers are not trying to be heard over the backing track because it is not meant to overshadow them.

[@orizadhiazwanti9344]

honestly if u want to heard live vocal that quite accurate u can listen to "the first take". its japanese channel that show several artist singing live in just 1 take, most of the time u can heard some artist voice crack during the performance, TXT, straykids, kepler, and niziu ever perform in this channel, im quite sure bout they didnt try to edit/lypsinc the voice since i could heard TXT voice is a little bit out of tune during their 1st performance. but they do adjust the mic first and use studio microphone, but adjusting mic voice is quite different from autotune, i learn this during 1 of my lecture since my major is multimedia 1 time my class ever got tasked to create and held some mini concert, and during the vocal/sound check the singer had some request to our sound man so his voice could sounds better, we used mixer for it and yeah its not auto tune but more for noise canceling. also each mic had different output for singing u can sound amazing using expensive mic and clear but if u use reguler mic it could make ur voice not as good as when u used the expensive mic, many western artist also willing to pay more money for special mic custom for their voice so they could make their voice potential to max level, and yeah its not autotune. most of the time autotune voice sounds a little bit flat and robotic

[@EverythingxYourexNot]

I got into kpop in my twenties, and I justified it to everyone around me by pointing to Mamamoo and Sistar: look at them singing and dancing at the same time! What's not to like? (Back then songs also had themes that adults can relate to, compared to today) Today, I cannot really talk about liking kpop anymore, because everyone only knows Blackpink, the gg that's empowering to girls under 16, and I couldn't show them any performance that I really feel could make people understand why an adult likes this genre. Everybody is too young, too fake, and all the music is too "girlboss" for anyone over a certain age. I feel so lost and hopeless :( (For the insomnia in the comment section: they are my ult group, have been since Chase me. But I haven't really loved any of their releases since Deja Vu. I like Boca and BEcause, but their "jpop" era was their top for me. I'm still supporting them and proud of them for winning last year with Maison ^^)

[@pereznunez2480]

I wrote a similar commnet, now with the lacks of "appeal" in 4th gen groups I feel embarrassed to like kpop, because everything they currently do is easy compared to other I-artists, nowadays everyone would side-eye for me liking kpop beacuse of its lack of real appeal, they would think I have some type of fetish for east asians that keeps on this fandom because apart from being East asians, they are no different from tiktok dancers and singers, because of BTS' fame everyone would just leave me alone bc of "yeah I get you like them, I have never seen any artist in the 2010's performing a choreo like that while they sing live", but now this seems more like creppy Jpop, I personally dont like Wonyoung nor her popularity, bc she seems like those Jpop singers whose only appeal is being young in the ent. industry and having a nice personality, her lack of talents are part of her charm that appeals creepy teen girls (the marketing startegy Jpop, is making their idols relatable for the public (talentless like commoners), because it feeds the public's imagination and fantasies bc they can see themsalves reflected on those idols and stan harder, to see them wearing pretty clothes and doing cool things like if their idols were a extension of themselves), but I didnt join kpop bc of my love for "relatibility", I joined because of their "untouchable, admirable, IDOL, who is superior"'s appeal.

[@elise2519]

You're not more mature just because you don't like blackpink

[@billiepi8756]

Agree!!! To an extent haha bc although I’m a hardcore og kpop and Mamamoo fan, I have been really enjoying other groups lately especially New Jeans and Fifty Fifty. Fresh throwback sounds and concepts that aren’t trying too hard to sound throwback. Also, I absolutely love DC, but their latest comebacks haven’t been my favorite. I really love their b-sides though especially on their Apocalypse: Save Us album. Really shows their seamless abilities to do all genres…kinda like Mamamoo 😉

[@billiepi8756]

Oh and surprisingly Fifty Fifty has some pretty impressive live vocals

[@wildhoney1978]

@@elise2519 i don't want to offend but we don't like BP because we are more mature and not the other way around. I'm not saying they don't have talent. They are seriously talented. But I totally understand EYN comments. BP songs lyrics are cringy to me, but I think I would like them in my teens.

[@haley9815]

Loved this first video

[@Inspirit0815]

I haven’t finished the videos yet but this is such a good video and it’s only first one! I look forward to your videos in the future.

[@katnaz_]

17:50 yeah for example I personally enjoy more the live version of 'Ma City' by BTS. Because of how different and raw Jimins voice sounds and you can also hear how much the boys are having 💜 here's a link kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYfHfKiPrrF_jJo

[@oliviasayshi7517]

I'm just here to boost engagement, wonderful video!!!

[@ozzieeeee]

I've been a kpop fan since 2007 and choreo now is just impossible to perform without lip syncing the majority of the song. There are groups that do sing their songs fully live despite having hard choreo, like SHINee and TVXQ, and they sound great, so it's possible to have hard choreo and still sing. However, the kpop market has become so saturated and competitive that every group is fighting tooth and nail to be the best, most impressive group, which has led to this emphasis on insane performances that hinder the idols' ability to sing. It's sad because it really limits an artist from growing vocally. I'm glad I became a kpop fan before the third gen. I hate watching music shows and hearing pre-recorded vocals for 90% of performances. It makes it seem like music shows don't trust that idols can sing well anymore. At least with live vocals, if an idol sucked, they could learn from their mistakes, get some feedback, and improve their skill/technique, but when you lip sync the majority of the time you don't learn so you don't improve. It's disappointing that kpop has become like this.

[@eatrawskin]

Congrats on your first video! I've never listened to K-Pop and this is my first introduction to how it might work when created, but I've always kind of known that they might not be singing live purely because their choreography is INSANE! You'd have to be superhuman to breathe through the dance, as well as vocals, considering how fast everything happens. Very informative video! From what I've noticed, it feels like K-Pop is one of the most demanding genres in the world when it comes to the visuals in the videos/live performances. It's more than understandable why they lipsync, however I can't figure out where and when the demand for the crazy choreo comes from, which seems to be the reason why the Idols haven't got a chance to direct their energy to singing.

[@AnaPaulaDavim]

I loved your voice and how you tell the story calmly and smoothly. Almost an ASMR with dense content!

[@jellyjellywowie]

Really? It's bugs me for some reason. Idk it seems forced

[@Kurz-v5w]

My god congratulations for u first video I'ma Stan u lol

[@YHIEEDC]

I remember Lovelyz getting hate on Queendom, it just goes to show people hate based off of one video when realistically they were monster vocalists. Also Stan Dreamcatcher Vocal queens

[@dhglowlightblue]

Ikr, and I love how the viewers conveniently ignore the fact that all other groups on Queendom lip sync as well… Lovelyz’s only problem was that they got caught. 😅 Same thing is happening now to IVE. It’s only “disgraceful” and “embarrassing” when they get caught. Otherwise, fans have selective hearing/vision loll

[@onlylaboum]

it's so wild to me bc the groups i like (both older groups and 4th gen) sing live a LOT, unless it's like a music show that never lets anyone sing live. it's so strange bc lipsynching was banned before for korean music shows. it's definitely not always on the groups' vocals, even vocalist super group WSG Wannabe could barely be heard over the backing track at Music Core and struggled to sing loud enough over it. anyway! stan groups that sing live 🥰 issue solved

[@nick3805]

Great video! The quality is insanely good for this being your 1st video and you were really good at expressing yourself. You should definitively keep on doing this, because you've won me as subscriber just with this 1st video of yours. Tbh, I usually don't watch many performances anymore because a live performance is entirely worthless to me if they don't even bother to have the idols sing. It's why I totally dropped out of stan culture and am more of a casual fan these days. The worst thing these days through isn't even that idols lip-sync so frequently but that when they do sing live, the TV stations cut that out. You can clearly hear Monsta X singing in the MMA-fancams, yet in the official material you can't. This is absolutely problematic and needs to be stopped.

[@annabeatrizzimmermann7708]

Really cool video. I love kpop and learning about the industry and problematics and lip syncing is a great deal right now. honestly, i really don't mind it much most of the time, but is on moments like you said (on radio, tv shows appearances, chill performances and etc) that it really becomes bothersome. anyway, i think some stans gotta be more understanding and less hateful. although some idols in the industry truly can't sing very well, most can, and they do when given liberty to.

[@katelady1370]

Dreamcatcher from Dreamcatcher company sing live all the time 😋

[@ishathakor]

if the choreography is too hard we literally used to just let the person singing stop dancing and stand still for their part?? why don't they do that anymore??

[@juno3570]

dude this video is so good, congrats on your first video ! :)

[@qr-eh9es]

it's impressive even radio lives and encores have a LOUD backing track these days.. WTH.

[@beubesss5693]

MAMAMOO IS ALWAYS SAFEEE

[@AngyIronman]

I'm not interested in Kpop (i'm aware of Idol culture through vtubers and other weeb things I like), but this showed up in my recommended and I like your style, hard to believe this is your first video! Keep up the good work!

[@KookieeBear]

I feel like if they’re not going to sing live then they need to give an amazing performance. Or if they cannot sing then being good at rapping or dancing should be a MUST. I feel like the quality in Idols has kinda decreased

[@nublock5000]

Great video! Loved hearing your hot take and looking forward to future insights.

[@samanzaaa934]

your voice is so calming!, and congrats on your first video!

[@lauramortari3794]

It's visible the diference with the previous generations, you could hear and note that they sang live most of the times

[@lune96]

I think another reason that should be taken into consideration is how demanding these music show are, brand deals r easier and pays more. idols had to be in standby for like half a day at the venue to perform for 3 mins. Notice how yg doesnt only let tgeir artist perform at certain music show. Snsd sooyoung even talk about how she had to get up before sunrise to get her hair and make up done, waited half a day just to sing a few lines during igab era. The working environment prob (hopefully) has gotten better for the 4th gen

[@danaibero7118]

I just wan to say that a lot of idols have talked about how they STILL practice singing. For example, Taeyeon talked freely about how she still practice singing, Baekhyun, Jihyo from TWICE. But I remember that Hyoyeon/Sooyoung said that they don't practice much singing, because they are in a position where they don't have to sing a lot in their songs. And Hyoyeon NOW started to have singing lessons, because she is a solo artist and she tried to improve his vocals. And I think it's an important debate to take in account why it seems that some idols/artists sing a lot better than other members. Boram of T-ARA was one of the lead vocalists, (for me, she has the best voice beside soyeon) and she talked about how not having too-much lines made her deppresed and waste a lot of time arranging his outfit or makeup for two seconds of lines.

[@YoureMyCherryOnTop143]

Hello nice video & I can agree with you. Plus the beginning part tho

[@bubbymustard5547]

Your voice is pure asmr

[@juliah8071]

Your voice is so pretty!!

[@purplemoonpop]

thank you💛

[@your-regina]

What happened to lovelyz was particularly cruel considering almost everyone on queendom lipsynced

[@biazacha]

Imo the reason why the backlash was big… is because it was Brown Eyed Girls. Like they walked so groups like SISTAR and Mamamoo could run, so being catch lipsyncing BEG not only is bad, but Sixth Sense from all songs is really playing with the odds cause still a really loved and iconic song for Koreans, meanwhile the other groups and Bom were using lipsync to their songs or each other’s.

[@curiositykilledthekat]

really interesting video on quite a current and controversial topic! my only suggestion would be to give video examples (though i understand it's a lot of work + perhaps copyright issues). or maybe just mention "an example is this group's performance here" (basically like you offered quotes from chan and hwasa, and later gave an example with iu - that really elevated the video!) (this will be long i apologize lol) when it comes to lipsyncing, i also have conflicting thoughts at times. while i appreciate a group consistantly singing live (for example btob or kard) i don't think it makes them morally superior to those groups who don't. singing live of course is and should be the standard as it's essentialy their main job, so i understand feelings of disappointment, etc, but i think fans should check themselves purely on the basis of hypocrisy: at some point, for some reason, your favorite group or artists will have to lipsync, and if you give them understanding then you must extend that understanding to others. it also doesn't automatically mean an artist is bad or untalented. another thing is that one cannot escape both societal and internalized misogyny when discussing this, as it's obvious girl groups get a lot more hate for not singing live, as well as getting a lot more hate for singing live and making a mistake. as you also mention, i personally understand usage of lipsyncing to a certain extent. one is obviously the heavy choreography. i think one of the reasons why the usage of lipsyncing grew in recent years is because of this demand that each member of a group be an all-rounder or an "ace" whereas previously the roles within a group were much more heavily stuck to - you had the visual or the center, you had the dancers, you had the rapppers and the vocalists; and not all of them were expected to sing, or to rap, or to dance, and it was normal to see someone do something better as it was their specialty. like you mention, an incredibly strong and capable vocalist may struggle with choreography, but why would that be so terrible? a rapper doesn't have to belt. a dancer doesn't need to have equal vocal distribution. but since the 3rd generation, with the rise of all-rounders and self-producers, the critics grew harsher on groups and the demand for equal perfection skyrocketed. and the only way to meet that demand is with pre-recorded vocals. another reason i understand lipsync usage is that the idols are definitely overbooked during their now largely two week promotion period (when in earlier generations, the promotion periods were much longer). they're singing daily, sometimes multiple times per day, on not much sleep, as you have to be at the music shows sometimes even at 4am. this is incredibly straining on the vocal chords, and you're already primed to make even more mistakes in these conditions. and although at recent times idols have been able to go on break even during promotion periods, this system does allow idols to work while sick or otherwise not up to par, which benefits to company. now having said that, i do think that companies and the idols should sort out a schedule to have a fair balance of singing live vs lipsyncing so that it affords them the benefits of rest and certainty of solid performances, while also showing fans commitment in providing great live performances. you shouldn't have your group have a christening by fire as they do their first live vocals at coachella. encore stages should be live. concert performances should always be live, though like chan said it's understandable to use a backing track to ensure the performance is as amazing as it can be given the conditions of the venue. still, i think groups should be more open to abandoning heavy choreography to the benefit of the vocal performance - as depending on where you are in a venue or how big it is, the choreography impact just isn't the same as a limited music show performance, or music video, etc. ultimately, i don't keep up with many groups in terms of their promotional performances enough to have a say in their live abilites, nor do i really care as it's down to their own fans and not to me. however i do have to say that, as i was catching other performances around kard's recent promotions with ring the alarm, it was disheartening to see them be the only ones to sing live, or one of the few to do so, within a schedule, and even more disheartening to see them be the only one to do so consistantly throughout their entire promotions - be it music shows, radio, award shows, etc. if you work with your artists, if you listen to them and make decisions in their best interest, you CAN have two weeks of solid live performances. making lipsycing at music shows a standard atp is what's criminal to me. there should be the nuance of expectancy of a live performance v leniancy if the performance is not live for any of the above reasons, or if a live perfomance isn't perfect. trying to sell to me, though, that a group you thought was ready to debut or has been active for a while now could not have at least 25% of their performances live during promotions? and expecting me to value the praise and hype they get the same as underappreciated live performers is absolutely a difficult sell and something that i just can't buy - even though i'm a decent human being and won't go bashing groups i have no care for. a group singing live consistantly, even if their abilites aren't on par, will always have my respect.

[@mariyia]

And it’s even worse when it’s not just a 3-5 members groups but 7, 9, 11 and more when each of them needs to sing not more than for 10 seconds (sometimes it’s even just 1 line) and just dance for the rest of the song, but even in these cases they still can’t sing live and their fans are defending them because of the hArD ChOrEogRapHy. Open your eyes, idols are not just dancers, firstly they are MUSICIANS and it’s their job to sing. What’s the point in admiring idols if any person who can dance on the mediocre level can go to studio, have their poor vocals mastered and call themselves a singer, an idol. In forth gen it’s just pretty dolls hopping around the stage and thinking only about whether their hair look good

[@jazzybeardancer]

I agree. The lip singing while probably accepted for certain circumstances has become this scale that could tip the perisocial relationships fans have for kpop idols. And it’s very unique to the kpop industry on how more accepted MR backings or lip syncing is but with the globalization of kpop it’s now balancing companies and groups business model while also expanding to gain notoriety

[@fromdusktilldusk2856]

I remember recently searching for a MAMAMOO live stage, and you could tell almost instantly that it was 90% backing track, and I was soooo sad.. Well in MAMAMOO's case, they are known for their live vocals, and you could say that they are singers before being idols, so it's not bad or diminishing because they don't have anything to prove, but when I search for others groups live performances or even concerts/tours stage and they are all studio version... what's the point ? Especially when the comments are all about how good they sound live, when it's clearly not ?? Isn't that catfishing ? Singing with a backtrack is totally okay, but it should not be hidden as much as it is that's all

[@FF-tb2dt]

I can't believe this is just your firts video, amazingly zone

[@nightingale4786]

for me, i can forgive 100% lipsyncing at music shows (the idols get paid pennies, have to record the same exact time 2376423749 times for all the different angles and famcams and literally have to perform unwarmed up at ass o'clock am) except encores, special collab/cover stages (there was maybe one full rehearsal between recording the special stage song and performance), insanely inhuman choreo (though a few live ad libs would be nice). other than that, i don't get why singing over backing track can't be the norm, especially at festivals or concerts, where people are literally paying you to see you perform! i would even understand if the full song isn't sung live but at least /some live lines per member per song should suffice with the level of choreo for 4th gen. i feel like if fans/antis didn't criticize every voice crack, pitch missed, screeched high note or 'ugly' singing face, there would be more live singing. i know some people might think it's the bare minimum but that's where we are at right now. we have to praise live singing, whether bad or good, because that is the only way these companies are going to allow their idols to sing live

[@Prettyloveee]

It’s just embarrassing at this point, everybody wants to focus on being cringy models and not focus on their craft and the true talent that comes with being an idol( SINGING, DANCING). It’s sad that some groups don’t wanna sing live to seem perfect like what’s the point of you training? Why are you in the limelight and not the actual talented person. I get it if you’re doing crazy backflip choreo that’s an exception but sitting down, or not even trying is just sad

[@TheCommentaification]

That's why I try to stan groups that feel somewhat honest and not plastic.

[@corinnewatterson5556]

Excellent video

[@sheatheunicorn]

Dreamcatcher has to battle the backtrack on most music shows 😭 it’s so annoying! these idols you mentioned, I would say 98% of them, are so incredibly talented they don’t need a backtrack! Somnia are lucky that the girls vocal range is respected and choreo is adjusted to accommodate their abilities. I wish other groups were provided this lv of care 😔

[@jessimarim_m9387]

Great job, i have no interest in kpop, but I couldn't stop listening. You've got a good voice and the editing was clear and simple to navigate! Anyway keep up the great work!

[@dorotatolsdorf5562]

I'm waiting for your new content!!

[@katgreer6113]

But remember when people made fun of LESF when they sang Fearless live? It's our fault too, but these companies need to stop with this nonsense.

[@xxonspotlight]

Good video! Your voice is so relaxing. 😊 just wanted to comment that 'encore' is pronounced 'ahn-core'.

[@purplemoonpop]

oh... thats embarrassing. Thanks for letting me know :)

[@ramantinuwal1810]

Umm... Maybe I am a little late but kudos to YOU girl... Your first video ever and so well put together... I wish you success ahead

[@Written_in_the_Starss]

In 2023.. idols are not singers anymore they are more like performers and social media influencers.

[@luskaneseprince]

they were always performers and social media influencers. that's why they were called idols and not singers. the point has always been to provide the fans with a brand and style and a combination of talents over just singing. or else, we would have never watched these shows, we would have just been listening to them in Spotify or wherever. it's just that these days the market is so saturated the companies feel forced to showcase their groups as nothing but absolute perfection in every area possible. and as enough companies resort to that tactic, the rest of them feel pressured to do the same - in an industry where everyone else lip-syncs and sounds flawless, the one who sings even a little off-pitch for one second is going to sound horrible in comparison.

[@chloebaumstark7992]

A bit of added context to the lovelyz situation: I believe a part of the reason they were singled out on queendom for lipsyncing even though other groups also did the same was bc either they or their company had previously publicly stated that they would always preform live. I was never a stan so I'm not familiar with the specifics but I do remember that being a big part of their brand and a point of pride for their fans. Still doesn't justify the hate they got though imo

[@CookieMonster-bo6kb]

TBH I don't care if they don't sing live at award shows as long as they sing live at there concerts.

[@coquinho019]

The way some of the comments are talking about idols who lipsync like they committed a crime is insane...

[@O_yxv001]

It’s not that deep yeah but it’s also embarrassing when the one job you have to do is singing and u can’t do that

[@sapalmya9632]

Ya when some fans are more interested in their favs personal life, achievement, popularity like dating rumours, brands endorsment obviously they will ignore Lypsync done by their favs

[@pereznunez2480]

It is just funny, it is like complaning that a chef goes to his own restaurant and isnt cooking :o

[@luskaneseprince]

@@O_yxv001 ... but it isn't their only job. very obviously. their job is to create memorable performances and brands (including public personas and visual styles), not be the best singers of the universe. there are other industries that seek to provide you with good vocals and good vocals only, but idols have always strived to do much more than that, too. hell, it's in their names. they are called idols for a reason. it's also false to imply that they simply "can't" do it. it's that there was a time when they were allowed to make mistakes while singing (as everyone does regardless of how many years they have spent mastering the skill), and now, due to the saturation of the market and the levels of insane competition, there is no room for anyone doing live anything, really.

[@vvt66410]

wait im curious in what instances did groups lipsync encore stages bc thats crazyyy

[@Esqm]

Hmm is everyone forgetting StrayKids and Nmixx who sings live and has hard choreo including getting to the ground and standing up within seconds. ITZY was already mentioned in the comments

[@arwenluvskpop]

I totally get why people would be irritated when groups always lip syncing. But what I don't get is that they blame the idols and attack them. When it isn't the idols fault, it's their company and/or the place that they are at fault.

[@clowicous]

I feel Like the kpop industry just strives so freaking hard on PERFECTION to the point where they are just being lazy lol you breathe while singing? Ew. Voice crack? Horrible. Hit the wrong note? Cancelled! I get lipsyncing, me being a huge fan of artists who are known for their vocals, a lot of them can’t even sing live anymore which I get, singing every night on a stage with high notes like come on … but kppp idols train on singing and dancing and so much more but then come on the scene and don’t even sing at all like … what is the use?! 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@soomi]

New subscriber here! I like your voice and the narration you delivered!

[@rachelp.4182]

Great first video!

[@blondielockss]

What's crazy to me is that when fans try to justify their fav lip syncing by saying this or that is doing too while those singers may have already proved themselves while their favs are yet to proved themselves they can sing live...just because they sing live once or had a good performance once doesn't justify the other 10 times they lip sync

[@gianninaaranda9748]

that's why I stan stray kids💖

[@keep_it_halal]

I'm pretty sure Mamamoo uses backtracks and whatnot, but let's be honest, they're not lip syncing very often (they're awful at it).

[@umyeahisurehopeitdoes]

k-pop is turning into a choreo and visual genre, not music and singing...