K-media discuss whether ‘vocal skills’ should be the standard to criticize idols who are not good at singing live
Korean media explain why K-pop idols nowadays should not be judged only based on their live singing abilities.
Winning first place on music shows is great, but idols nowadays cannot fully enjoy it because they would have to overcome the “No.1 encore live performance”, which is the time for viewers to examine the idols’ live singing skills.
If one is not a vocalist who is already so confident in singing, it is not easy for them to perform 100% live. Most idols just greet their colleagues or fans without singing and try to let the time pass awkwardly.
Idols getting criticized for lipsyncing is not a new thing. In the early 2000s, many singers were harshly criticized for lipsyncing on stages where they were supposed to sing live. Music programs often clearly marked which stages were performed live or lipsynced. As a result, listeners did not hesitate to criticize lip-syncing singers.
As the generation changed and idols have become the cornerstone of the K-pop industry, such performance standards also changed. Unlike in the past, when strict criteria were applied to live and lipsynced stages, it has now become common for music programs and concerts to use AR (sounds with recorded vocals of the singer). Pre-recorded LiveAR, which sounds as if the song is sung live on the stage, is also frequently used.
In the past, artists were trained to perform complicated and powerful dances even when singing live. One of the “precious stars” born from this method was BoA, who is still one of the few stars who can handle concerts with ‘all-live’ performances. TVXQ also sang live on stage while dancing.
As the way K-pop fans consume music has shifted from listening to watching, it is hard to deny that the singing abilities of idols have been “down-leveled” to some extent. It’s a pity that some idols can’t perform live, or can’t even sing their own parts that last just a few seconds. However, evaluating idols solely based on their vocal skills is no longer meaningful.
There is more than one answer to questions, such as “Do idols need to perform live well?” or “Is singing ability a prerequisite for being an idol?”. In fact, if we focus on those whose profession is singing songs, i.e., singers, vocal skills and live performances are “essential”, however, if we view “idol” as a different job or category from “singer”, the answer can be different.
Idols are more like artists who put more weight on performance, music, and commerciality. In other words, they are closer to comprehensive artists rather than just singers. In this era, K-pop fans around the world are more enthusiastic about idols’ images, concepts, music, and performances that suit their tastes. Live performances are no longer a necessary condition but rather a sufficient one.
When creating an idol group in the entertainment industry, the management agency assigns positions, such as vocal, dance, rap, and visual, to different members. They ensure that each member performs their given role perfectly within their basic abilities without breaking the balance of the team. Having members with excellent singing abilities is only a strategic choice. However, success does not depend solely on vocals.
Many people believe that idols and musicians should be differentiated. Just as the title of a singer varies according to their genre, such as ballad singers and dance singers, “idol” is also one genre of “singer”. It is argued that past standards cannot be applied to current idols As the music industry has changed and the role of idols has also become more important.
The public no longer sees singers, idols, and musicians as one. There are different names of celebrities that come to our mind when thinking of musicians and idols. A boundary has been established between singers, who only focus on singing, and idols, who rely more on their performance. Therefore, it seems meaningless to evaluate them using the same standards. It’s time K-pop listeners and the public move beyond debates over live performances and idols singing live that have been discussed for such a long time.
Source: Naver
