Music / Idols
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Breaking the Idol Stereotype

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Written by On February 9, 2012

When I think about what it really means to be an K-pop idol, a few very concrete and consistent thoughts come to mind: schedules, diets, performances, appearances and variety. These duties soak up all of an idol’s working hours, down time, and then some, and more often than not, eventually begin to consume an idol’s lifestyle. In the midst of their many activities and endless promotions, idols do not typically have much say (or, enough time to have much say) in what is perhaps the most important product they are to ever sell in their careers as entertainers: their music.

We all know for a fact that most idols don’t have writing, composing, or producing music on their daily schedules; a producer and composer from behind the scenes are concocting that infectious and addicting idol music that we as fans readily enjoy without much care as to who really made it at all. Thus, as ironic as it is, music idols are typically not involved in making music.

There are, however, exceptions to the stereotypes concerning what an idol is and what an idol does. Perhaps the most classic example of a real singer-songwriter is none other than Big Bang’s G-Dragon. G-Dragon is an idol that has been known to be involved with almost everything Big Bang does musically since the group’s debut, from writing lyrics to composing and producing entire songs. He helped produce Taeyang‘s debut solo album back in 2008, and began exercising considerably more control over his own music with his solo debut in 2009. Also in 2008, G-Dragon composed the lead single for Big Bang’s Stand Up album, “Haru Haru,” one of Big Bang’s most successful songs to date. For a track record, G-Dragon shapes up to be quite the contender for idols who break idol stereotypes. His musical style has been enormously influential in giving Big Bang their unique sound, as well as raging success. When interviewed about his own solo album, Heartbreaker, G-Dragon justified what exactly it is he does with his music.

Just like movies that contain various stories in genres of comedy, thriller, horror, and more, I concentrated on the aspect of story-telling for lyrics. I wanted them to sound like an actual story with or without music. I wanted a clear plot for them. I guess it’s the influence of all the foreign raps with stories that I grew up listening to.

Like I mentioned before though, G-Dragon is more of a classic example. He is an idol from a time when most mainstream idol groups were virtually ignorant of the inner workings of the songs they sang, and in context, can be seen as game changer of his time. But what about right now? Who is being more than just idol today on the mainstream scene? Fortunately, there seems to be a noticeable new handful of idols who have started to give a damn about the music they put out.

The most recent news about successful idol-made music highlights C.N.Blue’s latest Japanese single “Where Are You.” The song recently topped the Oricon weekly singles chart, making C.N.Blue the first foreign band in 41 years to top that particular Oricon chart. The single sold about 60,000 units as of February 7th, and is expected to hit the 100,000 mark relatively soon. A noteworthy accomplishment for C.N.Blue indeed, but a much bigger accomplishment for lead vocalist and resident heartthrob Jung Yong-hwa, who both wrote and produced the record-breaking song.

This is a considerable feat for a native born Korean artist working in Japan, and these statistics are truly a testament to Yong-hwa’s talents as a musician. Coming from a rock and indie band, it’s not that surprising that Yong-hwa had a hand in crafting this song, and I don’t doubt that he and the other members have been involved to some extent with the other music they have put out in the past. Still, C.N. Blue is a band that has definitely already risen to idol status, and yet they have been able to maintain certain music credibility, unlike other indie acts who make it big and eventually start defaulting to lackluster pop alternatives.

Another honorable mention goes to hip-hop idol group Block B, brainchild of hip-hop record producer Cho PD, who recently made a comeback with their song “NalinA.” The official Loen Entertainment YouTube page drops some knowledge about Block B that certainly made me think. According to the official page, Block B takes longer than most idols to make comebacks and put out music because some of the members are directly involved in the writing and production of the group’s music, particularly leader Zico. For instance, Zico wrote the music and the lyrics to “NalinA,” “LOL” and “Did You Or Did You Not“ alongside rising producers Delly Boi and Xepy for Block B’s recent comeback mini-album Welcome To The Block.

Whereas most idols are concerned with churning out music in a timely manner, in order to make their agencies and themselves some money, it was interesting to hear about an idol group who is taking more time in the production of their music rather than the promotion of it. It was even more interesting to see an entertainment company boasting about it on their YouTube page. Frankly, I don’t blame Loen for boasting–I would too if my idol group was among the few in the large sea of K-pop idol groups that took a different path in their music. It certainly is a new kind of selling point, but at least it’s one that promotes musical creativity and idol involvement.

As the wave of rookies begin to crash down, I have been able to dig up a stand out that has caught my eye: B.A.P. Though I personally was skeptical of B.A.P. prior to their debut, they have since proved me wrong with their powerful choreography and intense rapping. Leader and rapper Bang Yong-guk stated in a B.A.P. pre-debut interview, alongside the ever-adorable Zelo, that he will be actively involved in composing and producing B.A.P.’s music.

I guess the first thing that struck me as odd was that Yong-guk was the leader, though he was undoubtedly the prime candidate for the spot, given his own solo work and experience on the scene. It’s not everyday in the world of K-pop that you hear about a rapper being the leader of a brand spanking new rookie group. He also stated that he will be composing and producing B.A.P.’s music. Though it’s still early in the game, it’s compelling to see the rapper-leader of a rookie group already announcing his involvement in his idol group’s music.  B.A.P. and Bang Yong-guk are shaping up to be some of my favorite rookies at the moment, and their music quality so far has really been unexpected for a rookie group, in all the right ways. It’s a promising sign for them, especially considering how Bang Yong-guk is at the helm of their musical direction.

While I doubt K-pop idols and their priorities are bound to revolutionize overnight into something good-willed and pure natured, it’s nice to know that there exists idols within the mainstream that make significant efforts to be creatively involved in their music, especially given how mainstream idols are more prone to not being involved in the creation of their music. G-Dragon, C.N. Blue, Block B, and Bang Yong-guk are indications that more and more idols are playing an active role in the production of their own music, and are promising signs amidst the other many negative aspects that persist within K-pop music. They all prove how idol stereotypes can be countered–living proof of how intimate relationships with their music make their music all the more worth listening to. In short, they are among the few mainstream idols that support a new standard of music in the K-pop world, and are instruments in breaking certain stereotypes surrounding K-pop idols with the music they create–not only with the power of their voices, but also the talents vested in their musical creativity.

(10Asia, Omona, Nate, LOENENT)

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  • Joss

    jyj

  • http://twitter.com/kimberly_cho92 Kimberly 조은진

    the 3 “yong” musical geniuses~ :P

  • Boo

    You can also count DBSK in here. But of course it took them a while to be involved in their music. I guess it depends largely in the agency these groups are under. Like I think in SM, they’ll allow it but they also have to judge your work just like every producer, lyricist, etc and if you’re not up to par, they’ll dismiss it.

    There are other agencies like the ones in this article that I think really encourage their artists to grow and take part in the music. It’s a lovely system because it makes their songs more personal (not just another catchy hook anthem) for the fans. And since it is something the idols have personal involvement with, the performances also benefit.

    I also appreciate these companies that uses a member’s work as the title track. It shows implicit trust. :)

  • Johnny

    No Jay?

    • peace4jay

      I like that you only wrote  ’Jay’ and I know who it is. He’s like Madonna or Kylie or Usher who doesn’t need a surname. Sorry I’m talking nonsense from a bias point of view, please don’t hit me with oranges..hehehe

      And yes, I’m in love with Block B now. Way to go Zico! You’re only 19 and way too talented!

  • Mizzhellno momo

    G Dragon indeed the trigger of breaking the idol stereotype..before Bigbang debut,none of idol producing music themselves..thanks to GD,there are plenty of idol group that produce their own music now..GD are truly trend-setter..

    • usagi_chan1516

      wasn’t JYP the first ? :S

    • maldita

      Um, even H.O.T were writing, composing, and producing even some of their promotional songs back in the day. GD is not really a pioneer or anything. He’s undoubtedly the most prolific of them all, but no way is he the original.

  • Guest_no2

    Well its like I always thought, if you are better at writing then making music, then go be a writer

  • usagi_chan1516

    the power of the yong’s…..they are truly great musicians :)

    i think you missed IU…if i’m not mistaken she was involved in the production of her last album

    • Guest

      Oh good god. -___-

    • Anon

      nah, I see IU as the genesis of the new idol-singer. any young soloist needs image + musical sensibility + proper promotion nowadays to get popularity.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001916642407 Vic To Ry

    G-DRAGON「The creators project」interview!!!

  • dgi

    what about BEAST’s Junhyun?

    • Johnny

      Um he doesnt write Beast Songs and isnt that very involved in his group’s music process

      • babyjan

        um…yes he does and yes he is (not all obviously). look up beast discography and look at whose names starts popping up all over the place, both in lyrics and music

        • Guest

          The name that pops up is shinsadong tiger. Junhyung has afaik composed 1 song for b2st – freeze and 1 for his collab with yoseob – thanks to. He has a lot of credits for lyrics but any idol who wants to be taken seriously as a rapper needs to do that.

  • Guest

    good article but i’m suprised that you restricted the idea of “breaking the stereotype” to only those idols who are involved in music production. people like kahi and jea, who had a huge part to play in the creation of their groups are also atypical idols. idols who choreograph or design or direct are also taking some creative control of their careers and i’m a little sick of people holding up the production of music as the ultimate achievement for an idol. writing music is a very specific skill and not everyone has the talent for it. however, they may still be the hbic – the one who tells the writers specifically what they want to sing, make the decisions on style, performances, design, be in charge of the financial aspect etc. that is just as awesome and is also just an unusual for an idol.

    and slightly ot, g-dragon is amazing. he writes a lot of songs and more importantly from the industry stand-point, he writes a lot of hits. that is very unusual since most idols who do write music never get to promote it or if they do promote it, it’s not very well-received. he also writes for other artists but caters to their style and is always looking to reinvent his music and experiment.

    but most people also give gd way too much credit (and this may have a lot to do with yg’s over-hyping and excessive marketing). out of bigbang’s 260-odd songs and gd’s 100-odd copyrighted songs, maybe 5 are written and composed only by gd. he almost always has a co-composer or a co-lyricist and has never ever arranged a song. this not a big secret, yg has openly said that gd works on the melody and someone else works on the beats. neither is this unusual for a pop musician. however, it seriously alters the image of gd as the sole mastermind of bigbang’s musical direction. that is also undermined by the fact that every single bigbang member has some type of songwriting credit on their group albums, be it lyrics or composing. top probably has more copyrighted material (about 60 songs) than some of the other idols who’re often mentioned in the kmedia for their songwriting like b2st’s junhyung. he’s also been actively involved in the technical production aspect, being credited as a recording director with gd at about the same time that gd took over as bigbang’s sole credited producer. that means he sits in the studio and tells the other members how to sing the song and that definitely influences bigbang’s music. the other members have also gradually moved to getting more hands-on with the musical production. they’re now all credited as recording directors and co-producers and by their own admission, have an equal say in their music (except maybe seungri because of korea’s age hierarchy, but he’s no slouch in the songwriting department). and those who’ve not been involved in music, have done other things like choreography (and in taeyang’s case award-winning choreography). taeyang also produced gd&top’s high high mv and seungri didn’t just co-write and co-compose 90% of the songs on his solo, he also choreographed all the performances.

    in short, while gd does exercise considerable control over bigbang’s music, the other members also exercise a level of control over their group efforts. their solos also show that level of control, some more than others. as a whole, bigbang are atypical idols in that sense and it’s a pity that it’s something that the other members are rarely given credit for.

    • http://twitter.com/Laava90 Lava

      I agree with everything you said but most especially this :”i’m a little sick of people holding up the production of music as the ultimate achievement for an idol. writing music is a very specific skill and not everyone has the talent for it.” I mean they’re called ‘idols’ and not ‘song writers’ or ‘artists’ for a reason, so what if they don’t write everything they perform? Maybe the songwriters work would never see the light of day of there wasn’t somebody to perform it, just like a songwriter may not be cut out for performance, a performer could just not have the skill to write songs.

    • caitlin

      I agree about the things said about G-dragon not being solely responsible for what Big Bang is. The recognition of him as the “composer” or “pd” of the group is part of the marketing drivel that YG has developed for Big Bang. It has benefited G-dragon in numerous ways since it catapulted him to the top of the idol food chain but it has also been a constant source of personal tension and unwanted attention. 

      For Big Bang, each of them are given an “image” to portray from the very start which was in preparation for their solo careers. Their images were made so that they should not overlap with each other. As mentioned, G-dragon is the leader/composer. For the rest, Taeyang is the r & b singer/dancer; TOP is the actor/rapper; Daesung is the variety/singer; Seungri the dancer/maknae.  As I’ve observed, their individual songs are also has their taste in music stamped all over their material. But imho, there’s also a conscious decision on the part of the members not to compose songs that is similar with what the rest have previously released to avoid comparisons and to stand out on their own. As solo acts, they have done well as composers and definitely held their own. But within the group, they must maintain their original ‘image’.  Since Big Bang became hugely popular in SK, the music that they have constantly released had been G-dragon-led. While he may have not been the only person who contributed to making the song or creating Big Bang’s music, his name being credited for a lot of them counts for something. Not everything is his as some newer fangirls like to think, but a lot of Big Bang’s music have his ‘touch’. Decision wise, G-dragon is the final arbiter together with YG on which songs gets released. Not all 5 of them makes the final decision when there are a variety of songs to choose from. Groupthink can only go so far. Many bemoan the fact that this undermines that the rest are also competent producers and G-dragon constantly casts a long shadow over the rest of the members when it comes to producing. But, as pointed out, it is simply his ‘concept’ – something that differentiates him from the rest of the members ever since Geojitmal was released. While he is esteemed as a producer, he doesn’t get that much credit as a rapper either because all the focus on that one is on TOP. It’s similar to how Daesung is still considered the variety ace though little Seunghyun is also quite competent in that department. I don’t generally like the comparisons as to these things since it is always up for debate but both G-dragon and Seungri do have considerable skill in these respective departments much like their Big Bang counterparts.In the end, it’s all about what they choose to highlight rather than a conscious undermining of member’s capabilities. Whatever undermining happens, it’s in the minds of fans and of course, the Korean media which has too much interest in G-dragon. Just a little correction on the statement that G-dragon “has never ever arranged a song”. The songs he did arrangement (or remixed if you want to be accurate) on his own, though minor, exists: This Love, Haru Haru: orchestra version, Heaven: orchestra version, My Heaven (club-remix). As a co-arranger, he shares credit for the arrangement of the Intro of With  U with Perry,  With U (the song) with Teddy and Perry, and Victory with Yongamhang Hyung Jeng. They are but a few in the list of songs that are under his name but they still are his works. This area is probably his weakness or he may just be too lazy about it so it’s left unexplored by YG and G-dragon himself.  

      • caitlin

        Also, on the issue of TOP’s image as a musician not being as emphasized as say Junhyung from Beast, my personal take on that is that his actor persona has become so big that it already overshadows his singer status. When the Korean public see TOP, they already associate him with movies or dramas, secondarily with Big Bang, then lastly with composing. Conversely, Junhyung is mostly known with Beast as their lyricist/composer of sorts though it is not as emphasized outside the fandom as say Big Bang’s G-dragon’s. He has no known or popular activities beyond that. 
         

      • Guest

        ia with some of your points, especially that yg’s marketing actually hurts gd just as much as it benefits him. and also that they each have specific images that yg markets.

        however, i disagree that the members specifically compose solos to diffrentiate them from the rest. their solos reflect their personal taste. top has been into hip-hop since he was 10, yb lives and breathes r&b, gd was super-into house and electronica when he composed lies, seungri worships pop and justin timberlake, daesung loves trot. their solo music is personal and that’s exactly why they’re given a chance to go solo. because yg knows the compromises they make as a group when it comes to music and their personal taste in music.

        of course, the fact that gd’s name is on the songs means something. he makes money off his name being on those songs. but when other members names are also on the music, especially on the technical production side, that also means something. gd is not the final arbiter. if he was, lies would have been a gd solo. the boys have increasingly said in the last few years they all have a say and that they do fight over their music and that’s okay because it’s means that every single one of them is happy with a release and is happy to sing this song. gd has said that bigbang does not sing a song unless of them agree to sing it. it was top and taeyang who said “let’s do it” when yg said lies should be a bb song despite it not being hip-hop or r&b.

        when yg deliberately leaves out teddy’s name on press releases about new bigbang songs (as he did with love song), it’s clearly because he’s continuing to build gd’s image as a boy-genius and not because gd decided that love song should be a bigbang song.

        i stand corrected on the arrangements but remixes are not what i was referring to, this love is technically a gd solo and co-arranging 2 intros and a song is not exactly prime credentials.

        v and ia with top’s actor image being the primary view the korean public has of him, but i was just pointing out that he has more songs to his credit that some of the others who’re always brought up in this regard. which again points to yg’s marketing of him and of course, his own success as an actor.

        • caitlin

          Regarding the arrangements, I posted the songs where he is credited as one was merely to correct the impression that he’s never done it before because your post put it in an absolute “no, he’s never arranged before”. He’s done some arrangements, he’s just not necessarily good at it or did it extensively. Whether you consider these as passing your standards of what and how an arrangement should be is your call. 

          On the direction of their individual music, yes I do agree that their own musical style and preferences is the main factor as ti the kind of songs they compose. And I’ve said it in my post above though it might have come across as unclear. But I stand by what I said that musical preferences is not the only factor that influences the kind of music they pursued. Despite the relative freedom that their solos provide, there is still control from YG the same way that there is at Big Bang’s as you’ve pointed out on G-dragon’s example on Lies. Consider that there’s also their own capabilities as singers and the image they want to be known. From the start, Big Bang is all about individuality and each want to stand out from the rest of the Big Bang posse. 

          Rather OT and most likely irrelevant to your POV, I’m sure Big Bang is influenced by a variety of singers and they want to try out other genres of songs they’re not primarily known for yet they don’t make songs like those their title tracks. For instance, Seungri doesn’t take the “softer” pop songs like Magic or White Love which were catchy because he’s developed the pop dancer/choreographer image following the success of ‘Strong Baby’ in 2009. He’s said in an interview that he likes Bruno Mars whose songs sound nothing like VVIP or WCID.  Yet, Seungri took off from that 2009 image and decided to cultivate it more with VVIP and What Can I Do for 2011. In this sense, the Strong Baby success has defined him and his career rather than his own musical preference though it is admitted that his songs have that pop musical style that he likes. Sure, what he puts into his album is a collection of songs he likes but the one he promotes is not necessarily the song he likes the most. Curiously, Seungri was a strong dancer/choreographer and was scouted for the same reason by YG yet that fact is not as marketed as Taeyang’s skills. Of course, at present time dancing wise Taeyang has outpaced Seungri as he is very skilled in that department but the emphasis on this only came once he released HOT. So much so that all talks of Seungri being a dancer has therefore stopped after 2008.Dancing has become Taeyang’s province and ceased being Seungri’s after that. Following this, Seungri himself seemed to have focused on his improvement as a stable sub-vocalist and also his ability to speak Japanese until 2010 before VVIP came into play. In a sense, his identity as a Big Bang member was lost so his focus went on those areas where he can improve and picked up a skill that were lacking in Big Bang circa 2009-2010 and Seungri’s fulfilled these tasks to compensate.  Although there is no clear delineation as to the kinds of songs each member of Big Bang does, the way Big Bang’s title track songs are chosen is often times still controlled by how YG and the boys want to be perceived in correlation with the other members. There’s also Taeyang who chose to go (with YG’s insistence) I Need a Girl as title track in 2010 instead of his personal favorites like Just a Feeling or Superstar which is a marked departure from Only Look at Me which made him a critic favorite. Again, maintaining the r&b/smooth vocals image that his prior release set for him. It mirrors that of Seungri’s experience with Strong Baby. Now, as for G-dragon, he is most flexible in terms of songs as a solo because he’s a producer and expected to release songs that are of different variety. In a sense, he is exempted from this ‘overlap’ issue.

          Granted Daesung likes trot, but  Look at me Gwisoon isn’t Daesung’s work nor is Big Hit and both of these songs were released for him at the height of his variety appearances. Daesung’s popularity with the ahjummas and the ahjussis were further cemented by these songs. A very convenient time if I may say so. Also, look at how Daesung’s favorite singer is Eric Benet who’s all about r & b and ballad soul.  Remember that as early as in their documentary, Daesung’s song choices were songs of Brian Mcknight (r&b and soul) which he often sang in radio appearances. His voice can carry these kinds of songs well yet he doesn’t release songs like these. Instead,Daesung is doing jazzy bits like Cotton Candy (which he also likes) and rock ballad (which he doesn’t necessarily prefer) because these would overlap with Taeyang’s image as the go to guy in the r&b department.

          Regarding TOP,we can’t have it all. Right now, he’s already in a very good place in his career and he’s reaping the benefits with the popularity and prestige among peers and the public. The recognition as composer is not something he’s focusing on at the moment.Otherwise, he would have made it known. He’s got considerable influence within YG right now as one of the golden gooses. When time comes for him and he wants it, he’ll make it happen. 
           
          As for G-dragon’s decision making, there is of course group consensus on songs they want. I never said none of the members’ opinions were not given weight. The thing that makes G-dragon an effective leader is that he knows how to listen and to accept ideas for the groups’ songs even if they’re contrary to his own opinion. He knows his music and what sounds right or wrong. He seems to weigh everyone’s opinion and the group compromises on them. On the ‘Lies’ example, this was done before G-dragon’s abilities as a hit-maker was proven and before Big Bang got, well, big. In the subsequent material released, though some songs were not really as interesting as Lies, the group seemed to have relied on him.  But in general, if G-dragon chooses to insist on a song (which he won’t), the rest will defer to him out of respect for his abilities because he knows Big Bang’s sound best. Of course YG still holds the final say. I’m sure that’s the same thing with the rest of the boys even with their solo works. Complete freedom is only available in an indie label and never in commercial ones. 

          • caitlin

            erratum: ”
            e these would overlap with Taeyang’s image as the go to guy in the r&b department. ” - ”these won’t overlap”

          • caitlin

            erratum part 2: ”
             I never said none of the members’ opinions were not given weight.” to ” I never said none of the members’ opinions were given weight”

  • JIESUNG

    Okay….CNBlue is NOT an indie band, by any stretch of the imagination. I would go so far as to say pop-rock at most. Frankly, every lead track they’ve done is pretty much a re-interpretation of a previously released track (riff here and there, some rap, little bit of this and that). They’re now leaning to a more ‘rock’ edge, but I just have to say that  ”Where You Are” is really nothing special musically, despite its success. Moreover, CNBlue isn’t even considered a ‘real’ band– they’re pretty idol rockers that cater to a pop market. So, no offence, but I cannot take them seriously. 

    • Anonymous

      CNBLUE debuted in Japan 2009 as an indie band – they played in live houses & completed more than 100 lives before they even debuted in Korea. Now after their 2010 Korean debut & Japan major label debut this past fall 2011, they obviously are not an indie band but you should realize they WERE an indie band. Is it so bad that they are not an indie band anymore? No – I think it’s impressive that in almost 3 years they have progressed & shared their music with so many fans. CNBLUE in all their albums released have had a hand in the production process of their songs. Just skim through their discography and see for yourself j*mp/AE8ZMY how many times Jung Yonghwa, Lee Jonghyun & even drummer Kang Min Hyuk have contributed to the lyrics & composition for CNBLUE songs. If you are judging CNBLUE based on just their lead tracks alone I think you are missing out on some beautiful songs such as “Lie”, “Y, Why”,  “Just Please”, “Love Light”, “Don’t Say Goodbye” – just to name a few (& yes you’ll see the name of Jung Yonghwa or Lee Jonghyun listed in the credits for these songs)

      “CNBLUE isn’t even considered a ‘real’ band”
      - how do you define what a ‘real’ band is? i believe a band is comprised of musicians who come together to create & perform music. it’s a simple definition but i think it’s fitting for something that can have so many variations. With this definition, CNBLUE is considered a ‘real’ band – they create their songs, they perform their songs live as often as they can. It still bugs me how Korean music shows only allow them to hand-sync their performances – but that is another barrier for them to overcome.

      “they’re pretty idol rockers that cater to a pop market”
      - comments like this are why bands like CNBLUE work hard to showcase their music & try to break out from this stereotype. Yes, they’re pretty to look at & often they are claimed as ‘idols’ by the media & public – however, I don’t think it’s something they should be chastised for because they are actively attempting to break that description with each live performance they do – at various rock festivals, live house tours, their BLUESTORM Asia Concert Tour, opening for famous rock bands like Linkin Park, etc.

      tl;dr – CNBLUE is a band, so no offense, but I take them seriously.

      • Guest

        an indie band is something like a bunch of friends from high school who jam in their basements and play at 2am in a local club. they distribute their music through small labels and even if they sign with a major label, they retain a level of autonomy over their creative process and content. there’s no corporation that puts them together for a music market. by it’s defintition, indie music is counter-culture.

        there’s nothing counter-culture about cn blue. they were clearly created by fnc to appeal to a specific demographic. if one member leaves tomorrow, fnc, and not cn blue, will decide if that member is to be replaced and who that replacement will be. they played in clubs in japan because that’s what their company wanted them to do. they debuted in korea because one of their members became popular via a drama. and your long list of live perfs can be used for other idol groups. gd&top have performed at rock festivals, in clubs, on tour and they always sing live. they also write and produce their own music. are they therefore an indie hip-hop duo?

        does cn blue write their music? yes. do they play the instruments? yes. are they a band? yes. are they an indie band? no. are they a pop-rock idol band created for profit by fnc music? yes. that doesn’t mean you can’t take them or their music seriously but others are not obligated to and they’re about as indie as gd&top.

        • Guest

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_rock 
          &
          http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100728094402AAdJqMh 

          read before u judge !! do they need to be bunch of friends to be indie ? no .

          when fnc send them to japan they didn’t depute at Korea or japan yet and they wasn’t decide who will be there  yet they said play the one who will work will debut they play as hard as they can , they compose their songs and they live by their money so YH + JH + MH + JS was an indie band at japan .

          • Guest

            Umm…it was an example, not the definition. And if you took the time to read the pages you linked to, you’d see exactly what i mentioned. small labels, autonomy, counter-culture etc etc.

            they were sent to japan by their company to study music i.e. they were a company’s trainees. they could play on every street corner in japan and korea, but they’re a band because a company decided they’re a band. that automatically makes using the word indie to describe them ridiculous.

            also, nagase tomoya used to play on street corners with a couple of his je buddies before and after he debuted with tokio. does that make him an indie musician? johnny would laugh at the very notion.

        • http://twitter.com/juzcheckinout Checkinout

          I used to think the same way you do – you’re not legit unless you were formed in a garage/basement, starved…. basically whatever you had in your first paragraph.

          Perhaps I’ve gotten older and things are no longer as black and white as they used to be, but I’ve found myself rooting for CNBLUE because in a sense, one might say they are counter culture to the “manufactured idol” stereotype going by the definition that counter culture means going against mainstream or the norm.  While they were formed by a music agency, they have had significant control on their music in Japan where they started off performing on streets and live clubs and were under an independent label.  

          This is a band that is very passionate about music.  I did some math the other day and realized that since their Korean debut in 2010, CNBLUE has released 27 new songs out of which the members have been involved in writing lyrics/composing music or both for 23 songs.  That is 85% of their songs, and I’m not even counting Yong Hwa’s digital solo/Heartstrings OST or their pre-debut releases.  And they did all this on top of all their other ‘idol’ activities like variety show appearances, MC stints, dramas etc.

          Yong Hwa loves experimenting with different genres (and experiment away when you’re young, I say) and Jong Hyun has developed a pretty distinct sound that is his own.  And it was their self-compositions like Just Please, Y,Why and Tattoo that resonated with me in the first place (Clearly, I like their music, because let’s face it, I wouldn’t have dug deeper if I did not).  Perhaps I’m even more appalled by the general lack of appreciation for musical creativity and originality these days, so seeing a band that could have easily coasted on their good looks and instrument playing skills be so serious about creating their own brand of music warms my heart.  They might have had a ‘manufactured’ start, but everything else about their musical progression is all heart.

          Sadly, they have a very different image in Korea as their Korean title tracks were not self-composed.  Perhaps there is too much emphasis on following the “trend” in the Korean music scene, but many of CNBLUE’s supporters have been concerned that the boys will continue to have their musical creativity curtailed in Korea in favor of the tried and tested hit-making composers.  If we want to see a more vibrant music scene that celebrates originality and musical creativity, groups like CNBLUE need more support. 

          • Guest

            I like your comment, to be honest i don’t really care if some people judge cnblue as musician wannabe ,indie band wannabe, pretty band or whatever. To me a band is a band,music is music and a song is a song, just listen to it, enjoy it and appreciate it.music wasn’t like math’s or physics’s formula which can makes me happy when i understand it but it will makes me dizzy when i couldn’t solve it.
            the reason why i like cnblue is their music was my type and i like their songs,is it so simple right? when i was teenager (end 1990′s-early 2000′s) i often listened to the calling,vertical horizon,lifehouse,nickelback etc and my country has very strong band culture and fortunately i can hear those kind of sound in cnblue’s songs esp in their japan album (there’s so many alternative rock song in their japan album) and i became more appreciate them when i found the fact that the members can produce their own songs.once again,i don’t care about their status as a musician or just an idol as long as they feed me with good songs, awesome perfomances and i enjoy it i will always support and appreciate them.

            i’m so sorry for my bad english,hope everybody will understands what i mean.

          • http://twitter.com/cobyness11 coby

            I thought there are no Boices here at seoulbeats.  I watched Bluestorm in HK to really see how CN Blue perform live.  For me its a make or break scenario.  Its either I’ll forget about them because their live performance sucks or root for them more because they are awesome. And its the later, now I want more of CN Blue and wish I am in Japan right now.

          • lay

            i guess some people are too concerned about putting a label to these singers/musicians … rather than enjoying their talent. it’s like they think they have better taste just because they listen to those they call real bands, indie bands, real artists, underground rappers …or listen to a certain type of music.

          • Guest

            yeah,just like what i’ve said in my previous comment i don’t really care about the label that people has been giving for them but i would be happier when people also try to recognize their talents and their passion on music.to me music is so universal and every artists both singer,musician,actor have their own identity, genre and “market” and they have their own way to show their talents. everybody has their own taste.

          • Anon

            I agree. I used to be a group snob too. “Oh I can’t listen to them, they haven’t starved/hungered/suffered enough.” But music that you enjoy is still music you like. And youtube/american idol/etc has totally changed the game on how you get noticed. Playing in small clubs to gain a reputation or get noticed isn’t necessarily the only way to go. 

            And I get the feeling we need to hold on for the best from Yonghwa and Jonghyun. Their musicality is growing. They’re so young. They have the “it.” Like they stay up all night composing and practicing, or anytime they sit around they grab their instruments and jam. I honestly think Yonghwa and Jonghyun are the best things for each other.

            I kind of think of John Mayer with them. When he got his major label debut, it was purely light pop rock. And then he went through that crazy period when he was like 27 and just played and jammed with other musicians, and then he came out with his best album yet. They might not have that degree of guitar skill or lyrical sense, but I think they can still be great later down the road.

      • Guest


        CNBLUE indeed a real band. Agree w/ you, no matter how good they are, live performance is still the best esp for a band because we can get different impression+energy from them. But even in their hand sync performance, CNBLUE always show their passionate showmanship. I’m glad hearing some news that nowadays they’re gaining more solid recognition as rock band and musician. They deserved it since they always participated in composing+writing songs in all their single/mini album/album in Japan+Korea. The fact that they’re good looking is such a nice bonus to their undeniable talents.

        Maybe i’m wrong but eventho they were trained and sent by their company to Japan, I used to agree that CNBLUE once is an indie band in Japan. This because they produced+distributed their music under small record label outside the big labels like Sony BMG, Warner etc. and not mainly because they used to perform in streets, live houses/clubs, carry and prepare their own instruments and shows, and try to survive by their own money from all small performances before they make Korean debut. While they are still under this small record label, I also find CNBLUE’s uniqueness in their songs so there’s a sense of “indie” sounds to their music, imo because that time they only performed for a smaller+selective audiences so they have more freedom to control what kind of song that they wanna do and more space to explore+experiment with different sound+genre. However this is different from their Korean debut song and other Korean main title songs which give more “mainstream” vibes and catchy/easy listening for audiences in general. Tbh, I like their Japanese releases better, which is majority composed+written by Yonghwa+Jonghyun. I think they’re not indie anymore when they finally sign up with big/major label Warner Music Japan and with major label they have bigger opportunity to make their music more appealing for bigger audiences in Japan and other countries. I’m glad that even after joining Warner, CNBLUE try to keep their “special” sounds by making their own song and keep exploring without forgetting their rock style. I hope their company will give them chance to use their self composition as main title song for next Korean promotions like how they did it with Japan promotions.

         

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Anngelica-Aguilar/100000185514336 Anngelica Aguilar

        I love you :3 

        Thank you for this comment <3

    • Otreh_niwa_ribbon

      i agree with 
      rxp_622628, cnblue is a “real band”, Why? 
      because they produce their own song and play live for their performancee…and for music is about “taste”, you can’t judge something bad for musician,and i think it’s good right, handsome face and good talent :) if you want to know them just try to watch their concert “great”, they perform just like the other bands, and they are better live!!!and yes i admit cnblue isn’t pure rock band because they have various color in their musiclike for this single “where you are”, feeling composed by Yonghwa isn’t rock song butfresh song with good melody, but if you listen get away composed by Jonghyun is rocksong. i think band is a band ,, music is about your ear and your heart :), so it’s not good to bashsomeone who working hard for their music. 

    • stephen smith

      I guess you only listen at their korean songs expect from where you are, try listening to their japanese album. They are restricted in the korean music industry so you might say that it is a re-interpretation just like that and there but you have to listen to their self composed song. You should see them play live and then tell if they are a real band or not.

    • Mac

      Indie, pop, rock, idol…doesn’t matter how you classify them. The fact remains that CNBLUE does create their own music though it may not be to your taste. I think they deserve more respect than to be dismissed or can’t be taken seriously just because they happen to look good.

      I liked In My Head, their Japanese debut single (and also a Yonghwa composition) more than Where You Are actually. Do try listening to it. It’s awesome.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Anngelica-Aguilar/100000185514336 Anngelica Aguilar

      They started out as an indie band, playing on the streets of Japan. The first album they released was in complete English (more like Engrish) and was apparantly a big flop. but they eventually created a name for themselves and became more mainstream. Then they made their way into Korean and the rest is history.

  • Jay W

    This totally made my day! Thanks Nabeela for linking the bang and zelo vid. I made that ;D and I’m glad that they managed to get into your good books cos they really are such nice people :)

  • Flick

    Love this. I certainly gain more respect for artists that write their own music and IMO majority of time it turns out better. Also something to mention is idols that also help with choreographing dances like seungri of big bang (who i believe also came up with His own MV concepts) and Hoya of infinite

  • Merry

    where the hell is JYJ on that list? or is it because their not considered proper ‘idols’ anymore?

    • Anonymous

      i believe, by far, they are considered as an ‘artists’ now…
      junsu being on musical and yoochun in dramas…all far from activities in idol world…

      • lay

        then in that case, i believe there are a lot more other ‘idols’ who can be considered as artists since they are also involved in musicals and dramas, even some in movies..

        • Anonymous

          no. simply because they’ve grown out of it and that they don’t release kpop idol music anymore.

          • lay

            well, i’m just pointing out that IF musicals and dramas are the reasons for ‘idols’ to be elevated to ‘artists’ status, then there are a lot more who can be considered as artists.

          • Anonymous

            well, its different in JYj..esp Junsu.. Junsu is now considered as the ‘gold coin’ in musical. He was recognized both as a good musical actor with a high ticketing power.
            and Yc being offered in bigtime drama offers..just recently revealed that ‘the moon that embraces the sun’ role was offered to him…
            see, sometimes, idols are just placed in dramas just to boost ratings but aren’t targeting any ‘acting’ factor. but with YC, he is the target not only because of ratings but his good reputation he has from the PD ..

            their status in SK as being the banned idols channels them to grow out from any kpop scene. Which could be positive and negative in a way… They gathered new fans not because they are ‘idols’ but through other fields. 

          • lay

            of course. i never said there’s anything wrong with being an idol. whatever the label used, talent is talent, be it in singing or acting. being called an idol doesn’t necessarily make them any less talented and being called as an artist doesn’t necessarily make them greater in talent than those who are the so-called ‘idols’. i believe if we are to talk about acting prowess of idols, there is a bunch of them who have been doing great/better in that department.

    • Guest 007

      They’re still idols to me, even though they’re on SM’s shit list.

  • kpopfan

    Ah, thank you for putting the adorable U-kwon (Block B) photo up. He makes me clicked this page!

  • Bookthiefj

    Jyj and sunny hill deserve a spot in this article !

  • Guest

    I don’t think they’re breaking the “idol stereotype” at all, just expanding the definition of what it means to be one.

    Idols are essentially artists created and nurtured by a company. Granted, some companies offer their idols a lot more musical freedom than others, but that doesn’t meant that the small freedoms they’re allowed make them any less of an idol than, say, the Leeteuk of Super Junior.

    If you use the argument that these idols who are “breaking” the stereotype, then is Yuri also included in that list of yours since she wrote a song? And Tiffany as well for writing the rap parts in “The Boys”?

    e___e

    • scarletdevil

      Did she compose the song?

      • Anon

        afaik, none of the snsd members have tried composition but a couple have written lyrics.

  • Anonymous

    Nice article but where are the females?

    I’m recently tuning into Ailee and I like what I hear  from her and Heaven is on my replay. I think she’s one to look out for.

  • DJ Slate

    A post about “breaking the idol stereotype” and no mention of jay park? smh honestly..

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tim-Burton/100003526983914 Tim Burton

    Wow, no mention of Wonder Girls? 

  • Nanou73horse

    Where are the Girls ? :(
    Brown Eyed Girls, Sunny Hill (Oh there is a guy ! ^^) IU …. 

  • Anonymous

    Nothing wrong about being an idol but the article´s message is actually quite sad for me. Just because someone, who is considered an idol, writes one or two songs or composes music for some song, simply does what any entertainer involved in music should do, that something is seemed as “breaking the rules”. It´s sad truth about idol world. Good thing is that it seems to be more frequent occurence because some idols are actually talented in the field of music but their wings are cut off by the (idol-world) rules. Bad thing is that some of the idols are often automatically treated like “real artists” or “highly skilled” just because they wrote few lines of crappy rap. I mean in general,not pointing to names mentioned in article cause those are mostly names I gree with, but like with everything else, to prove yourself takes some time.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kateřina-Nguyen/100002798454622 Kateřina Nguyen

    I think, you should mention JYJ. They didn’t just produce some of their songs, but they also dared to go against they’re company (1 of the big 3). That’s quite “breaking”. Oh, and you can actually find the video of Zico producing Nanlina ^^

    • kamb

      yes, but they debuted in 2003, albeit in a different group. This article focuses on the newer idols.
       …Are you saying you don’t believe Zico composed Nanrina?

  • Guest

    CNBLUE..Indie, major, mainstream, pop, rock..i don’t really care where and how this band started..they got me into KPOP, this band like a breath of fresh air. And by knowing CNBLUE, it also made me listen to other Korean singers/group/bands like BigBang and I like some of their music too. I love what CNBLUE has bring so far. Eventhought i feel their lead track for Japan promotions are better than Korean one but whole packaging of their singles/EP/album are good esp the songs that majority composed+written by Yonghwa&Jonghyun. I’ve just watched their live concert at Yoyogi Japan..Impressive vocals+skills. Love the carefree feeling and energy of their music. Hope their band charisma will get stronger as they continue to grow up.

  • Trishia Gerobiese

    Some members of Super Junior (Henry, Donghae, and Leeteuk, to name a few) also contributed to some of their songs. I guess it depends on their agencies. It’s just sad that they want to exercise full control over their artists and wouldn’t really let them grow musically. 

  • Tathi

    You forgot to mention the TOP, he also writes, composes and produces music. Not only the GD.
    As I mentioned before some members of Suju also participate in the composition of some songs from the album (from the second album). And Suju just throws an album a year.
    Also do not forget Beast´s Junhyung, he not only writes his own raps, but also writes rap lines for other artists, in addition to writing lyrics, composing and producing several songs. Example: He participated in the writing, producing, and the creation of the lyrics to Let’s Go G20. Other more. Until 2PM also participated in creating some mini-albums, as well as the ZE: A.