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SNSD has just released their new album entitled “Oh!” The title track is, of course, entitled “Oh!” Reports have come in that these record sales have just shattered those of the Genie single and Oh! seems to be the #1 song on charts all over South Korea. I, on the other hand, don’t see what all the hype is about.

Sure, I’m an SNSD fan, but I feel like fans these days are somewhat deluded into accepting all the “hit” tracks their favorite artists crank out as “great songs.” Many will disagree with me. These people are probably avid fans. But I digress.

Today, my ear candy choice is SNSD’s debut single entitled “Into The New World.” Not only did this song have intense and creepily in-sync choreography, but it also showed off the actual vocal capabilities of the group as a whole. In my opinion, albums like “Oh!” seem to be selling the artist name rather than the actual song itself. I think “Oh!” was an attempt to go back to the more intense choreography, but the synchronization is not what it used to be and the vocals were sub-par. In any case, enjoy!


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^ There’s always a first for something.


XD i didnt think i’d see “butthurt” said here on ningin LOL


conkwe - 02/07/10 8:04 pm

Like TucTo said, “selling the artist name rather than the actual song itself.” Is that a “butthurt” comment? I said what I said in the least-offending way as possible and I still admitted that I like the song.

“butthurt” wasn’t referring to either you or tucto.


The “true” artists I described does describe Indie artists, but I specifically avoided that term because it’s not only limited to them. There are many big names out there that fall under this type of artists and they’re still successful by expressing themselves with their music without morphing it to what record companies/media/people want, such as Utada, Yui, Alicia Keys, believe it or not Justin Timberlake (maybe), and many others I can’t think of right now.

And Indie artists do too care about pleasing people! (heh that comment irked me a bit because I listen to a lot of Indie music). Just because they don’t morph their music to mainstream type music to please people doesn’t mean they don’t want to please people at all. They care about what others think of their music. But I assume you were just generalizing/exaggerating when you said that.

Was I suppose to answer something about the BoA sales of Vivid? I don’t know what to say ‘cause I don’t know why you brought it up. I never said that fans just accept anything and everything (though TucTo kinda suggested that). I also didn’t mention anything about rallying against anything.

And why would I want to make a rally against SNSD? Maybe I gave you the wrong impression. I don’t do that kind of stuff. And even if I did, I wouldn’t do so against them or their song Oh!. I like that song. I just expressed my opinion that I find it as a sell out song. Like TucTo said, “selling the artist name rather than the actual song itself.” Is that a “butthurt” comment? I said what I said in the least-offending way as possible and I still admitted that I like the song.

As for the quality, heh.. uh.. I was wondering why you were talking about that. I don’t know anything about that stuff (though I did find what you wrote interesting). I think I said the wrong word. When I said quality ("the quality’s not up to what the hype is all about"), I meant content, as in the song itself. Hehe.. whoops. My bad. smile

I know there’s definitely one thing I agree with Danny. It is pointless to argue all day. I find it tiring ‘cause I’m slow at writing and it takes me forever to write this kind of stuff up. smile


compliant - 02/07/10 3:45 am

this article basically speaks the truth. heck, even the staunchest oh! supporters here had to concede that ITNW was a work of musical art. and of course, butthurt commenters on here will be butthurt.

I find pretty much all of their songs great. I don’t find ITNW to be the best song by them. It’s definitely an awesome song and has a wonderful choreography. Yet you would be fooling yourself to say that’s their best song. Maybe it’s an opinion, but it’s also a fact that it isn’t.

Also, please try to keep the butthurting comment out the window. We haven’t done anything to you, so please be considerate.


Zephyr - 02/04/10 9:52 pm

I prefer Genie to Oh! :/ That’s just me

you and me both.


this article basically speaks the truth. heck, even the staunchest oh! supporters here had to concede that ITNW was a work of musical art. and of course, butthurt commenters on here will be butthurt.


oh i love there song oh lol


To sum it up again:

Make a rally that So Nyeo Shi Dae do not let up on their vocals and produce more hits like their first debut song. Try to convince that Oh! was not a success. (You will need to prove why)

Please also make a rally to include mastering in the budget.


Conkwe

True that music is an art first of all, or else we’d have to wear suits to listen to music. But if you’re talking about not making catchy songs thats a problem. The “True artists” you’re talking about are INDIE artists who don’t give a damn about pleasing anyone.

However, the percentage of songs that indie artists make that are actually decent in an album i’d say is no better than professional large label artists in an overall sense. There are many good indie artists, but you’ll never see a Michael Jackson quality going indie when he can make much more money as a large label artist. Just because someone is indie doesn’t mean they are always truer to their art than commercial artists. IN fact a lot of people who go from POP production to self production end up in the hole because suddenly their music is slow and boring.

The latest BoA album will prove to us if her hit producers are better, or if having more control over your music is a better idea.
People argue that Pop music isn’t genuine at all, in that case why not just listen to Classical? Thats the crowd I used to be with…

As far as Sales go again: You see I AM relevant with my stats on OH! vs. Genie. The economy is no better in Summer 2009 than it was in Feb 2010. In fact its getting worse and if sales are better, it goes to show you something that SNSD did was right. If I were to choose a song that would make millions in my pocket compared to a sing that I made myself that would only make thousands, I’d still pick the first one.

According to statistics from my Songwriting for Business only 5% of indie groups succeed at all, and the other 95% sell only 1000 CDS due to lack of sufficient promotion. Without enough money you can’t look pretty and have fancy choreography in the first place to even criticize,..nor hire people to make music videos for you, do your hair or get people crazy about you. The Money is important to the art itself. Good art needs financial backing.

Again it is pointless to argue with me all day when you can try to go out and convince other fans that Oh! is no good and rally netizens to NOT buy it. Like I said, enough BoA fans rallied against Vivid that it did not sell.I haven’t gotten an answer from you about that.

QUALITY:
As far as quality goes, I’ve argued with people all DAY long (pointlessly) saying that Girls’ Generation and 90% of Kpop artists have POOR mastering quality on their CDS. So poor that i could confirm a 1-click mastering called the “Brickwall” which ruins all dynamic range and creates all kinds of errors. Its always over the 0DB marker and any fool in a beginning audio class could tell you first lesson was never to go over.

BoA is quite an exception as she puts her CD’s through mastering at STERLING SOUND, by TED Jensen. He ensures that each cd gets a refined treatment , never goes over 0 but still just as loud. He charges 400 dollars an hour… Every group from Britney Spears, and Green Day use Sterling as their premiere mastering. I could ramble all day long but Korean music doesn’t have that kind of money to throw at Mastering when most people are too deaf to notice the vocals lack dynamics due to the compression of Brickwall.. So Kpop labels never pay for it. So it wont happen unless I’d rally enough people for my cause.

As you can tell MONEY is always the factor, and indie groups and lower paid kpop groups will never attain a level of mastering quality, who are “True artists” vs. American and Jpop artists in sound quality. Without sufficient money you can’t refine your art. The product might end up musically better but lacking refinement.

conkwe - 02/05/10 9:35 pm

I’m really bad at arguing. It’s hard for me to get my point across (especially without offending the other side), but I tried:

@ Danny: You say music is a business, which I agree with, but music is art too. Just because it sells a lot, people can still have a problem with it if the quality’s not up to what the hype is all about. There will be those artists who are submissive to their record company and do what they demand (hmm, kinda like a lot of SM artists? gahh! don’t hurt me!). This usually ends up with the artist releasing music that caters to the majority without the artist having little to no connection to the music at all. On the other hand, there are the “true” music artists, who are active in the creative process and write/produce/arrange/etc. their songs, which makes the music more genuine. They make music for the sake of music over audiences and critics. This is what distinguishes music entertainers from “true” music artists. And this is what most people (and I) dislike about sell out music in general. It’s usually shallow and obvious that they’re doing it for money, popularity, fame, etc. than for the music itself. I just don’t get the same feeling from sell out music compared to “genuine” music. So yeah, I criticize, but with good reason. Of course, there will be times when I give in to all the promotion and catchy tunes (like Johnnys group NEWS) smile.

I think what you said about the average person being a sellout is irrelevant. Even if that was true, we’re still the audience music artists cater to, so we can still criticize if something’s a sell out or not.

A bit of a digression from the main topic: And it’s not that simple math as you say. Sales aren’t the only calculation that shows what people like. You have to consider promotion, recession, popularity, fan support, quality, etc. Just because it sells a lot doesn’t mean the majority of people like it. In general it usually does, but there still will be a lot of cases where it doesn’t. So sales should be more of a guideline to what people like, not a rule.


I’m really bad at arguing. It’s hard for me to get my point across (especially without offending the other side), but I tried:

@ Danny: You say music is a business, which I agree with, but music is art too. Just because it sells a lot, people can still have a problem with it if the quality’s not up to what the hype is all about. There will be those artists who are submissive to their record company and do what they demand (hmm, kinda like a lot of SM artists? gahh! don’t hurt me!). This usually ends up with the artist releasing music that caters to the majority without the artist having little to no connection to the music at all. On the other hand, there are the “true” music artists, who are active in the creative process and write/produce/arrange/etc. their songs, which makes the music more genuine. They make music for the sake of music over audiences and critics. This is what distinguishes music entertainers from “true” music artists. And this is what most people (and I) dislike about sell out music in general. It’s usually shallow and obvious that they’re doing it for money, popularity, fame, etc. than for the music itself. I just don’t get the same feeling from sell out music compared to “genuine” music. So yeah, I criticize, but with good reason. Of course, there will be times when I give in to all the promotion and catchy tunes (like Johnnys group NEWS) smile.

I think what you said about the average person being a sellout is irrelevant. Even if that was true, we’re still the audience music artists cater to, so we can still criticize if something’s a sell out or not.

A bit of a digression from the main topic: And it’s not that simple math as you say. Sales aren’t the only calculation that shows what people like. You have to consider promotion, recession, popularity, fan support, quality, etc. Just because it sells a lot doesn’t mean the majority of people like it. In general it usually does, but there still will be a lot of cases where it doesn’t. So sales should be more of a guideline to what people like, not a rule.


What a heated debate! whoo

I just love them… I enjoy their company on my iPod , old and new music wink


BTW: There is a lot of hits out there on the USA Radio that I think bore me to tears.. Not everyone likes the top hits on radio, but I’m ruled out by the MAJORITY who DO..TOO bad, for me right?

^ yup thats me right there


Aha, you make a good point


I really never understood the concept of selling out vs. not selling out.
Music is a business, like everything else. If one thing will make more money than the rest, and its no harming anyone physically or lawfully why care?

Very simple math here. The majority of people liked OH! And it sold out more than every other single that SNSD put out. Business majors would suggest lets give the crowd what they want. Business does not cater to the minority.

While every day 99% of people sitting everyday in their office cubicles do exactly what their bosses say, agree or not agree in business they have to do whatever it takes for a dollar. Sitting in the office we’re just puppets with no creative control, whatsoever. Even if we have any creative control its always taken over by your boss who must meet certain demands in sales. How many times do people have a grand idea in their office, but then get an A-Z idea cut down to A-C if they are lucky? Actually, So Nyeo Shi Dae have little creative control over their careers.

In don’t see why to criticize artists who do this once a year to save their careers while the rest of us sell out every day of our lives?

Here’s what you can do though. You can vote with your dollar. Don’t like it? DON’T BUY IT. AND, If you can control a huge crowd (100,000+) and protest NOT to buy OH! Cause you think it sucks, then I’ll join your party. I’ll have anyone’s respect who does, caues -In turn will affect sales and maybe artists will make hits that YOU like. Maybe more Into the New World.. Since GG has no creative control over their work, your protesting will all be towards SM and convincing them. Good luck in that.

Every big time netizen in Korea has been able to control what music they want, they listen..Netizens can get anyone fired if they want to. Why not use your power?

I disagree with that fans just accept anything and everything. VIVID was ATROCIOUS from BoA for a single and fans let her know by NOT buying it. It was the worst seller for BoA in all of her career.

BTW: There is a lot of hits out there on the USA Radio that I think bore me to tears.. Not everyone likes the top hits on radio, but I’m ruled out by the MAJORITY who DO..TOO bad, for me right?

I voted with my dollar and did NOT buy black eyed peas, kid cudi, T pain or who ever autotuned people are on the market are doing..

I also AGREE with Lilsparky67’s take on the CD. It is a good well rounded album.


I prefer Genie to Oh! :/ That’s just me


^ Isn’t that what you call, in most cases, a sell out? Hey, I’m not calling SNSD a sell out. I’m just saying. smile

DannyTruong - 02/03/10 6:37 pm
conkwe - 02/03/10 5:46 pm

^ That doesn’t change the fact the Oh! doesn’t show much of the group’s vocal abilities compared to Into the New World.

I actually like old school SNSD music and their recent crowd pleaser stuff too. But I hope they don’t stick entirely to one side. They just need to balance their type of music.

You’re assuming my thoughts. I simply put an FYI.

Ooh, maybe I should’ve put FYI too. :D


From my perspective, I understand your feelings TucTo, but I still love it. When you get bigger, it’s tough to satisfy everyone, so you go with something more general than sophisticated. Times also change and the music doesn’t always stay the same. The whole Oh! CD is a mixture from a lot of genre’s.

Their 1st CD was more generalized as a starter for who they are. I love it as a whole, but you can’t stay the same forever. You need to spice up your music, even if it might sound plain to some, or even typical. There’s a reason why SNSD is one of the top girl groups in Kpop, and it’s not just cause of their beauty. All 9 members have unique talents of their own and bring it to the CD. Not many pay attention, but it’s actually true. If one was missing, then it wouldn’t sound like SNSD anymore.

I love Into The New World, the choreography was/is outstanding. The song was wonderful as a first single and it showed what SNSD is capable of. Now they take all types of elements from what they learned and have done. That’s where Oh! comes along. It takes parts from Genie, Gee, their 1st CD and combines it all. The choreography might not be on such high caliber as ITNW, but it’s great and different. It’s just a mixture of everything.

If you don’t like it, well that’s your opinion and acceptable. This is how I feel about it and it obviously won’t change. I love the girls and the music, so I appreciate what they’ve done.


conkwe - 02/03/10 5:46 pm

^ That doesn’t change the fact the Oh! doesn’t show much of the group’s vocal abilities compared to Into the New World.

I actually like old school SNSD music and their recent crowd pleaser stuff too. But I hope they don’t stick entirely to one side. They just need to balance their type of music.

You’re assuming my thoughts. I simply put an FYI.


^ That doesn’t change the fact the Oh! doesn’t show much of the group’s vocal abilities compared to Into the New World.

I actually like old school SNSD music and their recent crowd pleaser stuff too. But I hope they don’t stick entirely to one side. They just need to balance their type of music.


Fyi, INTNW and Oh! was by the same songwriter, Kenzie.


yay, someone who agrees with me. Old School SNSD is better I think. although, I cant seem to get over the awesomeness of Genie :D


Haha Tuc you’re a tough critic!



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