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Coachella Critiques: Do Vocals Even Matter in K-Pop Anymore?



Ah, Coachella – the festival that brings out the best and worst in fashion, music, and cultural appropriation (looking at you, Vanessa Hudgens, and your "Indian chic" ensembles). This year, the desert event played host to K-pop groups LE SSERAFIM and ATEEZ, and let's just say their performances had people talking.


Let's start with LE SSERAFIM, shall we? These girls have more "main character energy" than actual vocal talent, but hey, who needs to sing when you've got visuals? As Nat has pointed out, even their most stable vocalist, Chaewon, was at best a B or C-tier singer back in her Iz*One days.


But here's the thing – I don't think LE SSERAFIM needs to be a powerhouse vocal group to be enjoyable. Their bops and performances are entertaining enough for me, and let's be real, they're not the only K-pop act with questionable singing abilities. cough Stray Kids cough


Some of the LE SSERAFIM members looked downright terrified on that Coachella stage, and who can blame them? It's a far cry from the safety of a music show set.


Now, before you grab your pitchforks, let me make one thing clear: this isn't the girls' fault. The blame lies squarely on the companies for not properly preparing their artists for such a massive stage. It's like sending a rookie chef to compete on Hell's Kitchen – a recipe for disaster (and a lot of swearing from Gordon Ramsay).


But here's the real question: in today's K-pop landscape, do vocals even matter? As we've pointed out, the industry seems more focused on visuals, behavior, and choreography than actual singing ability. Just look at groups like TXT – their songs don't necessarily require powerhouse vocals, and they smartly avoid situations where their weaknesses might be exposed.


And let's not forget the impact of groups like BTS and NCT, who showed the world that you don't need to be a vocal powerhouse to be successful. As long as you have a killer rap line, synchronization skills, and a dedicated fanbase, who cares if you can't hit those high notes?


Of course, there are exceptions – groups like aespa and NMIXX, for example, do have solid vocal lines. But for the most part, it seems like the K-pop industry has shifted its priorities.


So, while LE SSERAFIM and ATEEZ's Coachella performances might not have been perfect, they're far from the only K-pop acts with questionable vocal abilities. And in an industry that seems to value visuals and choreography over singing, maybe we should stop clutching our pearls and just enjoy the show.


Because let's be real, Korea – you've got bigger problems than a few bum notes at Coachella. Like, you know, actual criminals still having successful careers in entertainment. Just saying.


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