"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others." -Philippians 2:3-4
The older I get, the more I realize how corrupt and evil this world can be. And lately, I have been once again reminded how selfish we all are as humans. We are selfish by default.
**Everything said in this blog post is simply my own opinion and perspective, and an expression of my own thoughts.**
If you read my post about K-pop, I am sure you know how much I loved the group DBSK. Well, in 2009, there was a huge issue and lawsuit filed by three of five DBSK members. And after many fights and problems, the group split up into two. And honestly, both are not doing as well as they could have together. When I first heard the news at the time, I guess I was bummed out and yeah, disappointed. But as I kept thinking about it and as I got older, every time I thought about the issue or listened to their songs, I would get really upset and even kind of frustrated. The five of them together could have been great. They were more than just "idols," in Korea, they were considered to be on their own level because that's just how talented and extraordinary they were as a group. Their music filled their fans with happiness, emotion, and great joy. Through their musical melodies, lyrics, and harmonies, they were able to touch the lives and hearts of their fans. They found great success all over Asia and globally as well. The five of them together were unstoppable and were on their way to becoming even legends in the K-pop scene.
The reason why their disbandment makes me so upset is because of their selfishness and their inconsideration. Throughout all of it, both sides were only thinking about themselves. I am sure that there are more behind the scene stories the public doesn't know about. And I am sure that there were enough problems and issues that caused the three to take the actions they did. But all it came down to was simply...money. They didn't consider all of their fans or think about the group as a team, but they thought about themselves and how profits were being unequally distributed. It makes me upset to think that these talented musicians, who are so passionate about moving people with their music and vocals, disregarded their capability to become even greater and split up, all for the sake of money. Money is important in this world. But everything they worked for went down the drain in a span of a couple years. Now neither group is as successful as they would've and could've been. There will never be another group like this one. The music they created and arranged is like no other.
The culture in the K-pop industry is very different than the music industry in the United States. These entertainment companies invest time and money into producing these groups. Trainees in these big entertainment companies spend years and years practicing and training to become big k-pop singers and stars. And when they are placed into a group, they work together...they sing together, dance together, learn together, and grow together, as a team... as ONE BODY. They learn to trust in each other and rely on each other to get through the good and the bad times. They learn to become best friends and more importantly, one family. In order to do well, they need to have good teamwork and strong bonds that will help them endure their tough schedules and distance from home and family.
So it amazes me when I see certain members of groups decide to leave, as in the controversies with DBSK and with EXO recently. It makes me wonder how they can just leave the rest of their team. It makes me wonder how they can easily just go off on their own, when they commit to one another from the beginning. In their defense, yes, they probably have legitimate reasons in their perspective. But what does teamwork and friendship and brotherhood all come down to then when in the end it all comes down to greed and money? At the moment, they only consider themselves and their own well-being.
So with all of this said...you may be wondering why I am choosing to write about this right now... And that is because, once again history is repeating itself with one of the best girl groups of South Korea, Girls Generation. And being completely honest, I am a huge fan of Girls Generation and their music. Although some members are not as gifted vocally as other members, I think that each member has their own charm and feature that contributes to the overall group. Girls Generation has so many different members, all who light up the stage with their own unique talents and skills. This is what makes them such a dynamic and solid group.
It has been reported that member Jessica is out of the group. In her words, she is being "forced out," but SM Entertainment is saying that they had no choice because there was no other way of maintaining the group. And the reason why I was so irritated when I heard of this news was because once again it is over a somewhat petty reason. And there is probably much more the story and the technicality of the situation. But Jessica has a passion for fashion design and wants to pursue it. She launched her fashion line recently. But in the end, reports say that it came down to choosing between the group and her fashion line because it is speculated that the company didn't want her to be a designer and do the group on the side, simply using the group's name. But honestly, why couldn't she just pursue her fashion career while doing GG and why couldn't the company find a solution to simply support her? After all, she had been at this company for over 7 years. Their best solution was to take her out of the group...!? In my opinion, that is a really lame solution and probably not the most beneficial for anyone.
Korean fans take their groups' teamwork and unity very seriously and in most cases, even if one is missing, it can cause problems amongst fans and have a serious impact. It sounds like an overstatement, but it's true. In the end, life goes on and the group continues to do what they do, but for fans, it probably isn't the same if one member is missing. Because there is a reason why groups were put together and there is a reason why companies select certain members to be in the same group. Each group shines the brightest when they are all unified together as one team.
SM Entertainment is seriously brilliant when it comes to these groups. They know how to produce talented artists and K-pop groups. From the first ever k-pop group H.O.T. to BOA to DBSK to Girls Generation to EXO, all of their groups are successful globally. But with all of these issues and controversies coming out, it makes me wonder what goes on within their company. Because if all these artists are leaving the company or leaving their group, there has to be a legit reason why and one can only assume that there is something wrong with the company itself. And it shows that they cannot handle problems and issues well enough to keep their groups together. And ultimately, in the end, not only for this company, but for any company, it's all about making that money. As much as it frustrates me to think about it, that is what everything is about. Yes, they do have unfair contracts and terms, but in the end it's all about the fame and the fortune.
Wow, I have just let my thoughts and feelings out today. It seems funny that I am taking all of this so seriously when its not that big of a deal. But I guess when I think about it... To me, it's like this... It makes me frustrated to see a group, who has the ability and potential to be successful musicians and artists lose this because of their company or their own selfishness and pride. Each situation is indeed different in their own way, but in the end, as a fan, when you are invested into a group and their music, you only hope for the best for them in the future.
They can only fully reach their highest potential when they are together, living their dream together, passionately singing together, creating music together, like they promised each other from the beginning...
**Everything said in this blog post is simply my own opinion and perspective, and an expression of my own thoughts.**
If you read my post about K-pop, I am sure you know how much I loved the group DBSK. Well, in 2009, there was a huge issue and lawsuit filed by three of five DBSK members. And after many fights and problems, the group split up into two. And honestly, both are not doing as well as they could have together. When I first heard the news at the time, I guess I was bummed out and yeah, disappointed. But as I kept thinking about it and as I got older, every time I thought about the issue or listened to their songs, I would get really upset and even kind of frustrated. The five of them together could have been great. They were more than just "idols," in Korea, they were considered to be on their own level because that's just how talented and extraordinary they were as a group. Their music filled their fans with happiness, emotion, and great joy. Through their musical melodies, lyrics, and harmonies, they were able to touch the lives and hearts of their fans. They found great success all over Asia and globally as well. The five of them together were unstoppable and were on their way to becoming even legends in the K-pop scene.
The reason why their disbandment makes me so upset is because of their selfishness and their inconsideration. Throughout all of it, both sides were only thinking about themselves. I am sure that there are more behind the scene stories the public doesn't know about. And I am sure that there were enough problems and issues that caused the three to take the actions they did. But all it came down to was simply...money. They didn't consider all of their fans or think about the group as a team, but they thought about themselves and how profits were being unequally distributed. It makes me upset to think that these talented musicians, who are so passionate about moving people with their music and vocals, disregarded their capability to become even greater and split up, all for the sake of money. Money is important in this world. But everything they worked for went down the drain in a span of a couple years. Now neither group is as successful as they would've and could've been. There will never be another group like this one. The music they created and arranged is like no other.
The culture in the K-pop industry is very different than the music industry in the United States. These entertainment companies invest time and money into producing these groups. Trainees in these big entertainment companies spend years and years practicing and training to become big k-pop singers and stars. And when they are placed into a group, they work together...they sing together, dance together, learn together, and grow together, as a team... as ONE BODY. They learn to trust in each other and rely on each other to get through the good and the bad times. They learn to become best friends and more importantly, one family. In order to do well, they need to have good teamwork and strong bonds that will help them endure their tough schedules and distance from home and family.
So it amazes me when I see certain members of groups decide to leave, as in the controversies with DBSK and with EXO recently. It makes me wonder how they can just leave the rest of their team. It makes me wonder how they can easily just go off on their own, when they commit to one another from the beginning. In their defense, yes, they probably have legitimate reasons in their perspective. But what does teamwork and friendship and brotherhood all come down to then when in the end it all comes down to greed and money? At the moment, they only consider themselves and their own well-being.
So with all of this said...you may be wondering why I am choosing to write about this right now... And that is because, once again history is repeating itself with one of the best girl groups of South Korea, Girls Generation. And being completely honest, I am a huge fan of Girls Generation and their music. Although some members are not as gifted vocally as other members, I think that each member has their own charm and feature that contributes to the overall group. Girls Generation has so many different members, all who light up the stage with their own unique talents and skills. This is what makes them such a dynamic and solid group.
It has been reported that member Jessica is out of the group. In her words, she is being "forced out," but SM Entertainment is saying that they had no choice because there was no other way of maintaining the group. And the reason why I was so irritated when I heard of this news was because once again it is over a somewhat petty reason. And there is probably much more the story and the technicality of the situation. But Jessica has a passion for fashion design and wants to pursue it. She launched her fashion line recently. But in the end, reports say that it came down to choosing between the group and her fashion line because it is speculated that the company didn't want her to be a designer and do the group on the side, simply using the group's name. But honestly, why couldn't she just pursue her fashion career while doing GG and why couldn't the company find a solution to simply support her? After all, she had been at this company for over 7 years. Their best solution was to take her out of the group...!? In my opinion, that is a really lame solution and probably not the most beneficial for anyone.
Korean fans take their groups' teamwork and unity very seriously and in most cases, even if one is missing, it can cause problems amongst fans and have a serious impact. It sounds like an overstatement, but it's true. In the end, life goes on and the group continues to do what they do, but for fans, it probably isn't the same if one member is missing. Because there is a reason why groups were put together and there is a reason why companies select certain members to be in the same group. Each group shines the brightest when they are all unified together as one team.
SM Entertainment is seriously brilliant when it comes to these groups. They know how to produce talented artists and K-pop groups. From the first ever k-pop group H.O.T. to BOA to DBSK to Girls Generation to EXO, all of their groups are successful globally. But with all of these issues and controversies coming out, it makes me wonder what goes on within their company. Because if all these artists are leaving the company or leaving their group, there has to be a legit reason why and one can only assume that there is something wrong with the company itself. And it shows that they cannot handle problems and issues well enough to keep their groups together. And ultimately, in the end, not only for this company, but for any company, it's all about making that money. As much as it frustrates me to think about it, that is what everything is about. Yes, they do have unfair contracts and terms, but in the end it's all about the fame and the fortune.
Wow, I have just let my thoughts and feelings out today. It seems funny that I am taking all of this so seriously when its not that big of a deal. But I guess when I think about it... To me, it's like this... It makes me frustrated to see a group, who has the ability and potential to be successful musicians and artists lose this because of their company or their own selfishness and pride. Each situation is indeed different in their own way, but in the end, as a fan, when you are invested into a group and their music, you only hope for the best for them in the future.
They can only fully reach their highest potential when they are together, living their dream together, passionately singing together, creating music together, like they promised each other from the beginning...