109 replies to this topic

[Zanarkand]

Mashimaro-san, on 01 February 2012 - 05:10 AM, said:

That performance was awkward as hell. Is that how they usually perform?

[....]

And really better than BoA performance wise? Please... If BoA got the chance to perform Energetic on American TV, it would've hit top 10 in iTunes by now...

SNSD needs to change their whole image and sound for the USA, the same trick in Korea and Japan doesn't work here. Also they should dump Ryan Tedder, he hasn't been relevant since the 90's. And the choreography needs more power.

Overall BoA is much better for the USA music market, even my brother who doesn't listen to Asian music (he is hip-hop-rap) said 'that was embarrassing' and agreed BoA would've been a better choice. SM Entertainment what are you thinking...

Now, I know for a fact that you and I are typically on polar ends when it comes to discussions; however, I totally agree with you here.

Although BoA's performances weren't anywhere near as publicized, overall quality was way above SNSD's (but I don't blame them, BoA's tough competition when it comes to performances). And it's true, majority of Letterman's demographic probably was looking at this thinking, "What in the heck am I watching?"

Personally, I never liked "The Boys" (It's too "Hollaback girl" meets "Spice Girls" and...that's just..no.) but it's not like I'm anti-SNSD. I love jamming out to Gee and Genie, etc. But, really?
"Girls Generation" sounds so corny/Disney, it's almost embarrassing.
Aside from the KPop fans going wild over this, I see absolutely no hype.

Even if they're huge in Asia, U.S. is a whole different game.

[angelX]

I'm a little late to the party but I literally just found out that Girls' Generation have started doing some promo in the US (have they even done a full English album? I have the Korean version of 'The Boys') and although I'm happy for them I honestly felt a little pissed.

That's Girls' Generation and Wonder Girls now, who have managed to get performance promo slots on prime time US television. BoA, who is supposed to be one of the biggest music stars in Asia and who has been working now for over 10 years, got a couple of music festival gigs that low budget indie artists probably could've scored. WTF?

I know it's been debated over and over and over but seriously, what the hell went wrong with that mess of a US debut? It certainly wasn't the music that was the problem, that's for sure. If Britney (for example) had recorded BoA's English album I'd bet good money it would've been incredibly successful.

I wouldn't consider myself to be a 'blind BoA stan' because although she's on my list, she isn't actually my favourite artist, but she is on another level entirely when it comes to her performance/dance/singing ability. I've seen people on international music forums saying they regard her as one of the best (if not the best) dancers in the music world, compared to all the other singers who do choreography. She can sing perfectly well live whilst dancing, even better when standing still doing a slow song, she has charisma, swag, she's cute when she's being interviewed, etc. All the ingredients are there!

Edited by angelX, 01 February 2012 - 03:38 PM.

[boocmarc]

^ to answer your question: no. snsd only released a "maxi single" here in the U.S. it's basically the english ver. of "The Boys" + remixes of that song.

[Elmari]

I saw the Live! with Kelly performance on youtube. Just to let you know I am not a Kpop fan, but I am a BoA fan and I would consider myself a lover of pop music in general. TBH, there are too many members in this group. It was hard to focus on who was singing and they were just everywhere. Too much stuff going on. IMO, the song wasn't special either ... nothing really grabbed my attention. I am sure if you were a kpop fan, this performance would be very exciting and significant since it's advancing kpop in the US. But if you were like me and just happened to catch the show and see these girls, you just might not get it. Besides, the demographic Girls Generation should be going for (teens and tweens) were all at school at this time (Live! with Kelly airs at 9am for me) or asleep in bed (David Letterman airs at 11pm).

I actually think BoA would have a better chance at being successful in the US than Girls Generations because BoA is a solo artist. But I guess anyone with a hit song will be successful, whether it be solo artist or group. It makes sense that SMTown is pushing their groups in the US market though because isn't BoA the only solo artist they have? If one of their groups gains success, they can start introducing their other groups. But look at the Billboard Top 100 right now, if there are groups on there they are country/rock alternative/hip-hop (i.e. Black Eyed Peas). Top 5 songs are by Adele, Rihanna, Katy Perry, David Guetta and Flo Rida. The top 10 are all solo artists.

IMO, if BoA can perform on DWTS (Derek's TV show) then she will perform before an average of 20 million viewers on a Top 2 show (American Idol is #1 in the spring) and kids to senior citizens watch that show every week. If that can happen, that will be a better opportunity for her than these shows. If she can perform on American Idol, that would be even better! LOL! Another ideal show to perform on would probably be Ellen (it's on in the afternoon).

Edited by Elmari, 01 February 2012 - 06:15 PM.

[OneLuv]

*sigh* No matter what, imo, no kpop idol these days comes even close to BoAs talents. I really hope she will get lots of promotions along with Derek for Cobu. Also being on Dancing with the Stars with derek would be great exposure for her. *cross fingers*
Although snsd did well on letterman and kelly show, nothing really wow me but I guess grats to them.

[usako]

i'm not even SNSD fans..but i love that perf..but like Elmari said it was hard to focus on who was singing.LOL.
btw as BoA fans..i'm so envy to them..but not just us..i bet all singer in Korea now (DBSG,Suju,2ne1,7even,etc..) and their fanbase so envy to them also & maybe they happy too that korean singer finally can perform in US tv..

*sorry i'm using google translate...LOL..a lot wrong grammar

[Kentjr]

boocmarc, on 01 February 2012 - 03:43 PM, said:

^ to answer your question: no. snsd only released a "maxi single" here in the U.S. it's basically the english ver. of "The Boys" + remixes of that song.

That's kind of dumb to think that they're expecting the U.S market to buy a Korean album. They actually keep showing the album on T.V and such. It's just not gonna happen.

On the flip side I do think that BoA has a huge chance of making it. She just needs a platform. If BoA got a spot to perform at the grammy's and radio play she'd do GREAT!

[miwako]

Well I just watched it and it wasn't terrible. It was just whatever. I will admit that they actually sounded better than they usually do. I'm sure it is because they aren't on a terrible Korean music show *cough* Inkigayo *cough* and because they have a live band and so they can't depend on the back audio track like they usually do. And that stage was too small for them lol!

I know everyone feels a sense of betrayal that these girls are performing on national televsision instead of BoA but so what? I'm not trying to be a pessimist here but like I said earlier; LETS BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES HERE. SNSD got picked up by a major label because they are more popular than she is now. HOWEVER, they won't be ensured of having any success just because they had a performance on a talk show. The only reason they got this far is because of their crazy fanbase.

"The Boys" isn't even that great of a song. Pfft we already know that we won't be hearing that bland pop song on the radio. The songs that are on the radio today are songs you can either dance to, bump and grind with, or rap with. In fact I'll even go as far to say that the song sounds a bit dated. Go and listen to other aritsts on the radio and then come back and listen to "The Boys". Can you dance to that song?(no) Can you picture it being played in a club?(no) They really should drop Teddy Riley (haven't heard of him since Blackstreet LOL) and the fake stage attitude and come up with a SOLID concept. So, far the only DEFINITIVE thing you can say about SNSD is that they are a cute girl group with 9 members. That may work in Asia but that won't fly in the U.S.

So, good luck to them lol

[Baco__]

I like Elmari's comments because she isn't (are you a "she"? D:) a kpop fan and gave us an opinion from an "ordinary" non-kpop related point of view... and it wasn't that good.

I don't hate snsd, just dislike their voices and never understood the hype with them. 3 of them would do great if solos, but that's it. about the performance I've only seen David's and I was "hm... there are too little room for them", they seemed all squeezed lol

I'm an inconditional BoA fan so my comments here would be considered too "biased", but I think BoA'd do a much better job than snsd . . . vocally wise I can't say much cause the boys actually have a nice bridge and some real singing/screaming (which I love) at the end, something BoA's english songs didn't (or, at least, any she performed :C), but dance wise BoA would rock.

and there were even some playback on this perf :c what a shame snsd "/

and mashi, BoA is doing COBU, recording songs and being a judge lol wait 'till march or something I am as eager as you for something fresh :'(

[Yennie]

imo, i think the USA music industry is never really fond of pop groups/bands (Esp girl groups) unless they are alternative rock etc (coldplay)... most of the successful singers are solo artists. and look at x factor usa, the groups were eliminated at the first few rounds. So I think the chances of SNSD making big in USA is really slim to nothing. My american friends actually, in their opinion, really dislike korean groups and bands, and the cutesy image that the girls AND boys portray... they call them annoying and boring...

In fact, i think BoA will still have a higher chance of success cos she is a fantastic dancer and the USA industry is inclined towards such music and such strong performances. Like most ppl say, its all about promotions - look at Rihanna's "we found love".Its horrible to me but its commercially successful. Also, i think its alright for BoA to reveal some skin in the USA especially since she is beautiful and can dance sexily without looking slutty (Dakishimeru look/ My Name)....Besides BoA can pull off the sexy oriental look (w/o plastic surgery). Honestly, I agree with what Diane Warren say (don't quote me) how BoA asian fans are crazy when many of them are like bashing BoA's original eat you up video. That video may indeed look a little cheap in production but its at least something that appeals to the american market.

Also what's with the obsession with the USA music market? there's always europe haha

And I think the probablity of success for BoA-Derek Cobu 3D is much higher than SNSD's music career in USA. Cos this movie is not only promoting BoA but Derek as well and I'm sure Derek's company would not fail his debut film with lackluster promotions. Besides Derek is a top-notch fantastic dancer and his combination with BoA dancing skills will win the public.. i hope:)

Edited by Yennie, 02 February 2012 - 05:21 AM.

[Mashimaro-san]

Yennie, on 02 February 2012 - 05:16 AM, said:

imo, i think the USA music industry is never really fond of pop groups/bands (Esp girl groups) unless they are alternative rock etc (coldplay)... most of the successful singers are solo artists. and look at x factor usa, the groups were eliminated at the first few rounds. So I think the chances of SNSD making big in USA is really slim to nothing. My american friends actually, in their opinion, really dislike korean groups and bands, and the cutesy image that the girls AND boys portray... they call them annoying and boring...

In fact, i think BoA will still have a higher chance of success cos she is a fantastic dancer and the USA industry is inclined towards such music and such strong performances. Like most ppl say, its all about promotions - look at Rihanna's "we found love".Its horrible to me but its commercially successful. Also, i think its alright for BoA to reveal some skin in the USA especially since she is beautiful and can dance sexily without looking slutty (Dakishimeru look/ My Name)....Besides BoA can pull off the sexy oriental look (w/o plastic surgery). Honestly, I agree with what Diane Warren say (don't quote me) how BoA asian fans are crazy when many of them are like bashing BoA's original eat you up video. That video may indeed look a little cheap in production but its at least something that appeals to the american market.

Also what's with the obsession with the USA music market? there's always europe haha

And I think the probablity of success for BoA-Derek Cobu 3D is much higher than SNSD's music career in USA. Cos this movie is not only promoting BoA but Derek as well and I'm sure Derek's company would not fail his debut film with lackluster promotions. Besides Derek is a top-notch fantastic dancer and his combination with BoA dancing skills will win the public.. i hope:)

BoA was actually supposed to be marketed like Britney Spears-Madonna in the USA. The original photo shoot, image, sound and style concept of BoA's USA debut was very sexy, provocative and glamorous. I actually liked the concept but lo and behold there was K-pop madness, Markus Klinko's (famous Hollywood photographer) MySpace was shut down due to K-pop fans bashing him for the sexy BoA photos...

Spoiler

Here are other photo shoots by Markus Klinko (Lady Gaga and Dita Von Teese)

Spoiler

I would've loved to see the original sexy concept and image happen, not to mention the high class luxury designer clothes, accessories, shoes and jewellery! But then they had to go with tomboy BoA instead with the Jeremy Scotts and everything. If you look at the album as a whole the tomboy image doesn't fit it at all (Touched, Eat You Up, Scream, Obsessed - these are all very sexual songs) , because that wasn't the concept they had in-mind when recording the album.

As for COBU 3D, we can only depend on Derek Hough for American promotions, so hopefully his management has something planned, and hopefully BoA's included. COBU 3D will do very well in South Korea its a given, I don't think it will do very well in Japan, her career there is just flat out grim there. Really the only country BoA is still somewhat relevant in South Korea.

Edited by Mashimaro-san, 02 February 2012 - 08:34 AM.

[MOTOWAYohsixfive]

^ Off-topic, but I don't think BoA's original theme in the US was "sexy." If you look at an interview during her American press conference right before EYU was released, the interviewer asked her "Do you prefer sexy or cute?" She said "cute." Lee Soo Man said "sexy."
Plus, look at her performances of Eat You Up before the whole photoshoot fiasco happened. Look at the Youtube live performance, her first ever performance of her first ever American single... she wore baggy pants, high tops, and nothing sexy at all. So, it wasn't really the photoshoot fiasco that ended her "sexy" image. She never had one. From day one, she wore the baggiest clothes.

Sometimes, I think she should be sexier for the US, but that ship has long sailed. She hasn't done anything "sexy" since 2007 (Lose Your Mind). She never wears midriff-exposing things anymore (I don't think I've seen her in a midriff-exposing outfit since Dakishimeru..... which was 6 years ago). Not to mention, her looks have declined a lot in the past two years. :\


Why are people mad at SM about SNSD coming though? If BoA were popular and asked by Interscope, she would be the one on Letterman and Kelly.

[Yennie]

^ Most people just feel unfair for BoA, who already have a full album out, who has songs written by famous-song writers, some collaboration with famous artists (flo-rida), three fully developed MVs .. but with lackluster promotions while SNSD has it easy just with one song. This applies to her Japanese career too.  Its like all the money, effort at BoA's performances were gone to waste and her talents are pushed behind the wall-paper. I still love BoA though and I listen to her songs frequently.

Mashi: O i love Markus Klinko's photoshoot for BoA. The sexy-oriental concept is actually very appealing to me and, like you say, it would have been more compatible with the lyrics and content of BoA's english album. Believe it or not, this sexy image relates more to the USA audience. BoA's wardrobe in the USA, the baggy pants, no matter if she chooses them or not, leaves nothing to the imagination for the USA audience. I was never a K-pop fan. I only listen to BoA's Jap songs (some korean of course) and most of the time I listen to music from the West. So i don't really understand why so many asian netizens (I presume) were bashing the sexy concept and calling it slutty. Like just lighten up! Even my mum prefers the sexy concept for Eat you up video. PS: My american friends like Koda Kumi's image more than BoA's and say Koda Kumi would have success in USA if only her english wasn't that terrible E.G. Real Emotion HAHA...

As for SNSD, all the best but i think the chances of success is still too slim. There's just too many people.Like Elmari said, K-pop fans will be estatic to see SNSD on the David Letterman's show but I doubt many USA audience who don't know them, especially the 18> audiences will care much.

In the meantime, BoA should just ditch the SM USA label and Avex per say in order to salvage her declining career. She should have the independence to choose her own producers and wardrobe haha - but that takes skills of course. She's not a kid anymore but a grown woman - The Western audience tend not to like singers who have babysitter company who decides everything for her. They like singers with a mind of their own. Also, BoA needs to get emancipated like Mariah Carey haha.

Edited by Yennie, 02 February 2012 - 06:38 PM.

[Kentjr]

SM is still testing the waters. SNSD performing here with their single The Boys is just to see how the U.S market reacts to them. The song hasn't been added to U.S radios yet. Nor have they expressed any plans to do a radio tour *which is to send your song to local radio stations in hope that they add it* Mind you BoA did do a radio tour and the only stations that really played it were small stations that supported her but were not big enough to give her exposure. Surely now that SNSD is with Interscope they will be managed better but we just have to wait and see. BoA's Avexx contract expires this year, she might sign off and move over to Interscope instead of focusing on Japan like she has been for the past years. It's just speculation but it seems highly plausible.

[ExoticFan]

I feel SM is still testing the waters here with snsd. This isn't their official US debut with no english album release. However this was a big step. Letterman and Kelly are two of the most watched talked shows in the US. Estimated 7 million people saw the show. The response was bigger then expected. Others shows contacted them to get them to appear on their shows but because of snsd tight schedule cannot extend their stay. Their fansign today in New York was also a success as more then 1000 people showed up.  I'm sure SM is taken account of all this and will be more prepared if/when snsd makes a full US debut with promotions.  All this was also a learning experience from when BoA debut.  And if/when BoA decides to make another US debut.. then SM has that knowledge of what they did right with snsd.  We live and learn from our mistakes and what was previously done. I don't think it's a insult.  And reminder.. SM made connections with Interscope. Interscope and the producers of Letterman etc. "asked" for SNSD to be their guests. Not the other way around.  So that's a big difference.  BoA is at a disadvantage and advantage same time. If they decided to use any other SM artists, ie. snsd, super junior, shinee, tvxq to debut in the US then fans would be upset thinking "why not BoA first?!"  But if they use BoA first.. then she is like the test "guinea pig".  I also stress again it's timing. With the success of smtown in New York and LA, and other big kpop concerts hitting the states, there's more awareness of Kpop. The US is starting to wonder what all this buzz is about.  They did make it a point to show Cobu promo at smtown NYC in front of 20,000 people. I'm sure they won't just ride it off. Let's just wait and see what happens.