#SuperM's As We Wish | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sanstropfremir · 2 years

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I love your point about maximalism and embracing the spectacle being backbones of kpop and part of what sets it apart from other genres because I think that’s very true. I don’t listen to kpop expecting some heartfelt authentic song that I personally relate to. If I wanted that, I could go listen to any singer at almost any bar in my city sing about their depression or something. I want like an insane fantasy unattached from my regular life that isn’t about girls/cars/money, which is the only alternative reality you find in most western pop. Bonus points for insane production to go with the insane lyrics rather than just more of the same 2-4 measure instrumental motif repeated for an entire song.

(Also, gotta say - SM had serious confidence showing up in America with lyrics the level of cringe of Jopping, because a lot of Americans have way too many mean opinions that they shout confidently, especially at non Americans. But honestly SuperM’s unironic embrace of the cringe made me like Jopping even more. It’s also a crime they didn’t promote their full album in 2020 more. I know it was the early pandemic and they couldn’t figure out what to do if they couldn’t come to the US, but that album was 100% bangers and it deserved more)

exactly! even within the k music industry you can find musicians that make 'authentic' music, it's not that hard to find at all. but you cannot expect it from idol music, because idol music is a specific form of performance. idol music is engineered to be about spectacle; you cannot separate the visual element from it because it was essentially formulated for television and large scale broadcast. expecting idol music to forgo that element is like expecting the same from an opera. the point of an opera is that it is every art form combined together to make the greatest spectacle story possible, and kpop has exactly the same function, just crammed down into four minutes instead of four hours.

#superm w #superm #not to get on my kpop is the modern analogue to opera soapbox again. but i'm right #there are ways that are possible to 'trim down' spectacle performance like kpop and opera to tell less grand/more intimate stories #ive seen a couple very beautiful small scale 'true story' operas and of course there's things like hadestown #(which started life as a concept folk album)#but the thing that ppl need to remember is that as SOON as you intend a story to be seen by an audience it ceases to be 'authentic'#bc you telling that story INTENDING to invoke a response. and you formulate the decisions you make when creating that work #in order to get the strongest/most effective response. therefore it cannot be 'authentic'.#and that's ok!! i promise its fine!! human brains do not care if a story is not true!!!#anyways. i havent gotten all postgrad academic on something in a while so here you go new followers yes i am always like this #people will say superm is cringe and just a cashgrab but i always got u #i also wish they could have done more to promote superone bc the tour that that was going to produce would have gone SO fucking hard #the pandemic has robbed so much from us (superone promotions and second superm world tour)#i also wish they could have done more to promote superone bc its literally SO good #im glad we did get the stuff that we did bc a lot of it was fun and cute (the with you tvn stage <3)#answers #text

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sluttyten · 2 years

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So I’m just a little curious this morning and saw that CIX is on your here in the US right now, so I was looking up their ticket prices, and then I remembered Stray Kids is on tour, and I looked up their ticket prices and holy shit like I have never been to a concert with seats as expensive as these

#like I’ve only been to one direction and 5sos and superm #but a couple of those I believe were resale tickets and they weren’t this expensive #even the worst seats I could find for stray kids were over 300 almost 400 a piece #which is absolutely insane to me #so when 127 announces their US tour I’m gonna have to request that day off work and enlist my family and/or friends to assist me in getting #semi decent seats before they’re bought and resold for like 500 #but honestly…. for the experience of seeing 127 live I probably would pay that much but shh 🤫 don’t tell the ticket resellers that #like excuse me I saw THE Ten Lee live in Atlanta two and a half years ago I think it’s time that I finally see THE Kim Doyoung as well #but I’ll probably have to go alone because I don’t think anyone I know would be willing to buy expensive ass tickets to go see a Kpop group #they don’t even know #which is why I wish I had befriended the Kpop girl at work the one and a half times that I’ve ever worked with her #because maybe she would go with me to one of these concerts #but I only know that she likes twice because the day we worked together twice’s concert tickets had just gone on sell and she kept #refreshing the page to see what they were going for #but I’ve only spoken with her like two times since then and one time was when she came in while she was off to get food #and the other time I came in off the clock to get food so like not much opportunity to talk #and I just 😫 really want to go to another concert but it’s gonna be so expensive to go

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wonryllis · 15 days

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moots as songs

、ㅤ🌺 ⋆ ࣪ 午 MOOTS AS KPOP SONGS ᵎᵎ ⠀⠀⠀⠀

i went with the vibes they give off, and added some lyrics to highlight it!! tried to do as many mooties i could i hope you all like it!! i excluded those who have been inactive for long and those i ain't interacting with that much, hope you understand > 3 < love you all! ( MUTUALS )

✶ @jaesvelvet better things by aespa . . that i, i-i got better things to do with my time. better things to do with my time, do with my time than you

✶ @luvhyun3 tomboy by g-idle . . it's not here, i'm not a doll. yeah, i'm a fucking tomboy! this is my attitude, yeah, i'll be the tomboy

✶ @ctrlemis jopping by superm . . champagne life, that's all you want. don't stop letting it go 'cause we got that glow

✶ @enhalpy love letter by bol4 . . so warm like you, you are my sunshine, i’ll do anything. feel like i feel like i’m surfing your love, feel like i’m reaching the moon

✶ @nyukyujs love scenario by ikon . . we met and became a memory that can't be erased. it was a commendable melodrama, a pretty good ending.

✶ @koishua quarter life by tomorrow by together . . it feels like i'm walking in place, quarter life crisis. thrown into a life without an exit, on this road that doesn't know the end

✶ @boyfhee you & me by jennie . . i love you and me, dancing in the moonlight. nobody can see, it's just you and me tonight. just a little touch my world stops

✶ @okwonyo my world by illit . . this is my world, it might seem a little strange. this is my world, this is truly the real me. each moment is my overindulgence, why does it seem strange? this is me. let me show you my world

✶ @atrirose either way by ive . . some say i sound full of myself, that i'm just showing off. it's not about who's right or wrong, just like how we all love differently

✶ @eeunoia inception by ateez . . feel like dreaming a dream i've never seen even in dreams, it's too vivid to conclude it as just a dream. you are the dream i live in, the dream i can never awake from

✶ @leaderwon hard to love by blackpink . . i'll make it feel like heaven, but i swear i'm not a saint. and you won't see the truth 'causе i'll be kissing it away

✶ @tyunni new jeans by new jeans . . look, it's a new me, switched it up, who's this? new hair, new tee, new jeans, do you see? so fresh, so clean, make it feel like a game

✶ @jjunae pop by nayeon . . baby, baby, you're out of control. so you're under my control. before the excitement stops, i wanna make it pop, pop, pop, you want it?

✶ @stariekis one spark by twice . . i wish for forever, yes, forever. we're sparkling beautifully, i'm sure it'll be beautiful. cause my heart is burning, burning, burning. even if it’s dazzlingly beautiful and painful, it’s our golden days

✶ @lheebra don't wanna cry by seventeen . . i think it will show up, just wait. i have to find you, i have to find you. because if i cry now, i might not be able to see you. i don't want to cry

✶ @isoobie smart by le sserafim . . i am a child who will become a butterfly. what i want is victory. i'm a smarter baby, smarter, i see through it and break through.

✶ @fakeuwus cupid by fifty fifty . . a hopeless romantic all my life, surrounded by couples all the time. so skeptical of love, but still, i want it more, more, more. i gave a second chance to cupid

✶ @lilyuwon flower by jisoo . . guided by the gently blowing wind, because you're the one who doesn't catch it. spring comes, only the scent of flowers remains

✶ @ms-no1kpopstan darari by treasure . . i watched you, i was too stunned to speak, it still circling around you. i can't take my eyes off you

✶ @theyluvvaubery really really by winner . . the most beautiful thing in my eyes right now is you lady, oh. if my feelings for you were money, i would be a billionaire

✶ @jungqkook true by yaori . . tell me the truth, this is the end. i feel like losing myself. can't find my way, to not lose you, why is it so complicated?

✶ @heesbaby run bts by bts . . if we live fast, let us die young. two bare feet are our gasoline, yeah, yeah. let's go, are you ready? run bulletproof, run, yeah, you gotta run

✶ @heelvsted maverick by the boyz . . super villain in the mirror, i run away, chasing, farther away. super bad trouble, i'm just on my way. cut out the scenes from a corny hero movie. everything's just a game to me,

✶ @cornenhapovs loco by itzy . . surrounded by my thoughts of ya, i think i'm a little obsessed, i feel like i was born to love ya. such a rush, you're making me lose my mind

✶ @taeghi celebrity by iu . . have no idea above your lowered head what the bright lights are (shining towards) it's fine to take your time but i hope you notice, at last. the one and only

✶ @jaylaxies step back by got the beat . . you'd better shut your mouth and stand back or else give it a go. try climbing your way up hereYou can't even dream about this level, this isn't the place for you

✶ @moon7jay monster by exo . . why is my heart racing? you’re beautiful, my goddess. i’ll knock so will you let me in? you’ve already fallen for me, don’t be afraid, love is the way

✶ @alvojake pandora by mave . . everyone is heartless but so we are fearless. no one can stop us, never been so careless. hold on tight, string of our hope, so let us sing, say my name. shout it out, let me hear that thing

✶ @sserasin future by red velvet . . don't let me forget my dream where the stars are pouring down, we will end up together. you are another future of mine, a way for love to last forever

#🦢̼ࣳ ⋆ ٫٫ ⁽ anon ₎#﹙⪩⪨.﹚ 𝒎𝒚 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬 ˃̵ᴗ˂̵#୨ৎ . . 𝓂o𝐨𝐭 𝓰a𝗺𝗲s ᵎᵎ #i did not include enha for some reason lmao

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lloveorloved · 10 months

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waiting for Kai 62/641 ↳ SuperM performing '100' @tvN SuperM's As We Wish

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dailyexo · 1 year

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[INTERVIEW] Baekhyun - 230223 W Korea: “Days With Baekhyun”

Returning after two years, Baekhyun used the word “comfort” often.

Baekhyun’s only wish is to sing heart-felt, timeless songs for us. Baekhyun talked about the days spent with us and the days ahead of us.

How many days has it been since you were discharged from the military?

Today is precisely the third day since I’ve been out.

You have finally gifted flower shoes to the fans. (‘Giving flower shoes’ is a Korean phrase that means returning to the significant other who had been waiting for their partner to return from military service.)

I know. Before I left for the military, I told the fans that many things could change in a year and nine months. How could I make them wait? I told them to focus on their own lives but come back if they feel like it when I return. I said, if anything, I would try to win them back again.

So, you recently did a live show to celebrate discharge. Seeing you’re still as bright and youthful, fans recalled the time you promoted your second solo mini-album, “Delight,” released three years ago.

Honestly, I was super worried. But I was relieved to see their warm reactions. I’m grateful to my parents. Haha.

You talked about your time in the army during the live show.

Most of my training campmates were born after 1999, except for a few. I was the eldest there. Everyone followed me like their older brother. I still keep in touch with the friends I met then. Recently, I got a call from one of them. He said, “I am working out at the gym right now.” He was a skinny one, and every single day at the training camp, I told him to work out.

Baekhyun, as we know, was the life of the party among the EXO and SuperM members. Your bubbly personality would have shined in the army training camp.

There was no exception. I didn’t let anyone fall behind. Whenever I saw someone wanting to give up, I said, “You can’t lose to things like this,” “If you keep giving up, this becomes your habit,” and, “Real life outside is much harder than this.” I don’t let my friends give up or fall behind. I pull them together.

I presume the past two years have been a time to realize and reassess who Byun Baek Hyun really is as a person, not just Beakhyun from EXO.

Yeah. My MBTI changed during the break from ISFP to ESTJ. I’ve been known as a homebody for a long time among my friends. But I’m actually an extrovert and a very active person. But when I look back on my childhood, I barely had time to spend at home. To the point where my mother always said, “How come I see my son only for breakfast?” I felt like I went back to my real self during the break.

Was it also a time to realize again what your fans mean to you?

Of course. I still have a long way to go to learn about the fans thoroughly. There’s something I learned this time, though. The fact that our existence to each other is a lot bigger than what we think. During the first year of my alternative military service, I looked back a lot. I watched a lot of the past concert videos. At concerts, I had a lot of fun with them. There were times when I saw my facial expression on the stage and thought I really did bust my butt to pull everything. Also, sometimes I felt really empty and felt this unfillable void. At one point, I thought, “Will they still be there?” while listening to the cheers of fans in those videos. They are like a really good teacher who would grade me and encourage me. They inspire me to do my homework. They have had me run, take lessons and become a better person. I want to do well to hear their acknowledgment. If they didn’t exist, I probably would not have tried so hard to come this far.

Your Namu-wiki page has a “Fan Love” section. As we read through the things you’ve said to the fans, we thought even a real boyfriend couldn’t say such sweet things.

Haha. Definitely my mom’s influence there. She speaks so gently. She is the sweetest person, really. And I am the youngest in the family. My family poured sweet love on me. Sometimes, fans ask me how I can speak so nicely. To be honest, I don’t know. I feel it’s nothing special, to me, a very ordinary and everyday thing.

It seems like fans could rarely feel the army break. You filmed 20 pieces of YouTube content ahead of time and released them during the break.

I know how hard it is to wait. Even when we did the EXO concert tour, we couldn’t release an album during that time. So it had been a long-standing concern about how to fill the vacancy. In particular, no one was trying to do something special to fill the vacancy during the military break. At first, I thought about making a small game instead of a video. Like the Tamagotchi game, fans can foster ‘Baekhyun’ from level 1 for 641 days while I am away. Feed him, water him. Haha.

The background in planning the pre-created YouTube Content was to give fans something to calm their longings, but also in some parts, wishing your fans would not forget you by watching these videos, right?

Yeah, that is pretty much it. Actually, I was swamped when we were filming the YouTube videos. I had a hectic schedule. It was just around when my third solo mini album Bambi came out, and on top of that, SuperM’s promotion overlapped. But after filming them, I felt so indescribably proud.

The 2021 album Bambi leaves much to be desired in some ways because it had no official activities due to your military service. Nonetheless, it recorded high sales, enough to bring the double million-seller title. It was also the album released in the year of your 30th birthday, showcasing your finest skills as a vocalist.

Bambi was created strictly with my own needs and vision. I tried everything I wanted to do without looking at anyone, and I wanted to free my mind by doing so. You are right. I put in everything I could as a vocalist. I first rearranged my vocal tone around the time of my first solo mini-album City Lights in 2019, and I wanted to see how much I had grown since then. I became very dedicated because I thought I could make a better sound than two years ago. I tried the vocal ranges that I wouldn’t have chosen in the past because I was too nervous. I purposely chose difficult music because I wanted to experience both failures and trials.

In particular, the title song "Bambi" seems to have been a regular song for the music school entrance exam that year. It’s perfect for showing off your vocal skills going back and forth freely with your falsetto, modal, and head voice.

Well, I don’t really recommend it. It’s a high-risk song, the beat and rhythm are tough. It’s a pretty challenging song to sing well.

With the release of Bambi, Baekhyun’s genre and brand have become more apparent. "Baekhyun" reminds us of groovy R&B beats from "UN Village" in the album City Lights and "Candy" in Delight.

R&B is a genre that I’ve been attached to for a long time, so I’ll continue with it. However, I also want new challenges. I want to try this and that without being too picky. I want to be an all-rounder. I’m interested in singing-rap these days.

Which musician are you paying attention to as a reference these days?

I’ve gotten closer to Colde recently. I like his singing style, and it’s fabulous that he pulls off the melody rhythmically as if he’s rapping. I’ve requested songs from Colde. I don’t know what kind of work will come out yet, but we’ll work together soon.

As a musician, there’s no more valuable experience than getting a “response” to your song. All three solo albums released so far have recorded respectable sales. Did you expect such success?

Not at all. It exceeded my expectations. This record was possible thanks to the efforts of many K-pop singers ahead of me. In particular, the sales volume of the second album was the highest in 20 years of Korean pop music history.

Delight became the first solo album to achieve the million-seller title, and you became the second artist to hold such titles for both the group and solo albums, following after Seo Tai-ji.

Yes, but it’s all thanks to the dedication of so many Korean musicians. As K-pop became more known worldwide, more people started paying attention to K-culture. The Korean artists before me had already paved the roads and I just got to piggyback on them.

I don’t feel any guilt when I listen to your music. Maybe it’s a complete anachronism, but there’s still a certain prejudice regarding idol music. Similarly, some idol music is referred to as a ‘hidden masterpiece.’ But when I listen to Baekhyun’s solo music, I feel like I’m just listening to really good music.

Thanks. I indeed paid a lot of attention to that. I chose a lot of genres that wouldn’t come from SM. SM prefers strong and intense sounds, but I wanted to focus on easy-listening music. It was partly because of my preference and strategic choice to differentiate between EXO and solo activities. Seeing that many of the tracks from my solo albums are still receiving a ot of love, I think it was a good decision.

It is common to spot excessiveness in solo albums by Idol group members. It was rather unique that Baekhyun has an easy mood, as you’ve just said.

I pushed for that. I kept thinking, ‘I’ll make more easy-listening music,’ ‘The music should not change in the middle,’ and ‘The melody should flow as expected.’ I wanted to minimize statement sounds and focus on the lyrics. There was even some feedback from the company that it fell short. But I kept pushing. My motto was to do something that sounds easy to people’s ears, like passive music, even if it may not feel ‘sophisticated or innovative’ for some.

What you just said seems connected to the question of, ‘what is good music to me as a musician?’

Probably. In a way, I’m making music that’s pleasant to listen to. But I don’t usually listen to a lot of music. My ears are so tired. Since I’m a singer, I need to know a lot of songs, but when I find one I like, I listen to it over and over. There’s something in common when I look at the songs I’m hooked on. It’s not too much, and it just has one or two significant factors.

For example?

I especially like old-fashioned pop songs. Fibo Bryson’s "Why Goodbye" is also a song that I love, for example. If you listen to it, there’s a particular section once in the bridge, once in the chorus, and once in the verse. You can listen to it comfortably, and the sound is completely filled with only vocals.

What is the vocal tone you pursue?

If I could have a voice that doesn’t go out of date, I couldn’t ask for more.

It’s also the most challenging thing.

I know. I once imagined, “Will Baekhyun’s episode of ‘Hidden Singer’ come out?” I don’t think so. Because my voice doesn’t have a distinctive feature. But it’s definitely a voice that can give you some comfort. A good tone depends on the time and taste. It’s something that keeps moving without being fixed. So I just want my voice to be peaceful and stable. I hope I can make the sound warm enough to relax your body. That’s all I want.

It’s been 11 years since your debut, and you’re still taking vocal lessons every week, right?

Yes. I have a big desire to evolve. I thought about it when EXO received a lot of attention with Growl in 2013. ‘Why are so many people going crazy? Am I really that good? I don’t think so. If the heat goes away, they will see me.’ That’s why I kept trying. I always criticize myself more than others do. It’s not a matter of high self-esteem and low self-esteem. I’m just continuing to make up for my shortcomings because I know my weaknesses better than anyone else.

To me, Baekhyun is not a person with low self-esteem but one who constantly and carefully self-censors himself.

Yes, that’s right. Maybe I am a perfectionist, and I hate it when there’s no complete ending. If I don’t think I can finish something properly, I don’t even start. I tend to get extremely disappointed with myself if I don’t do something perfectly at work.

A perfectionist who pursues easiness… It sounds hard. Haha

Haha. As a musician, I want to be an easy person who can blend in with the public. I don’t want to be a musician who is so cool that people admire and want to follow. I want to be someone people can talk to easily when they meet me on the street while listening to my song.

The only regret for Baekhyun as a solo musician is that he had little opportunity to tell autobiographical stories in music. What kind of stories do you want to tell through your music as 32-year-old Baekhyun?

I want to deliver encouraging lyrics. And deliver the message that you shouldn’t give up easily and try to face more challenges. I think the disappearance of the “Jeong” culture played a role in making people get easily tired these days. In the past, when a neighbor moved in, we used to make steamed rice cakes. If the next door neighbor cooks a lot of food, they would share it with others. But living in a disconnected world without affection, people seem to think only of themselves. I want to put a hopeful message in my song that we can all unite in harmony again.

It’s been two years since W Magazine and Baekhyun met—, since the cover of the March 2021 issue, right? Throughout today’s shoot, the staff said you were sexy. Baekhyun’s “soft sexiness” that you’ve shown in your solo career seems to be reflected in today’s shoot.

Sexy… Haha. I don’t think the sexiness that I have is the sexiness that’s full of intense emotions. It’s more like this. Sometimes you play with your friends, and you feel unexpectedly sexy. I think I have the sexiness to make people a little curious about me. Haha

Today’s shoot was with Cartier’s Tank Frances Watch and Icon Collection. These are pieces that have been called Wannabe by many artists for their timeless classic aesthetic. Regardless of timea and nationality, who is the greatest artist for Baekhyun?

Michael Jackson! Michael Jackson was the only artist who stood still on stage for a few seconds or minutes and people couldn’t stop cheering. His songs have made many people cry for a long time, giving them joy and happiness. So just seeing him standing still on the stage makes them tear up. There isn’t an artist who can beat Michael Jackson.

Still, what would be your secret weapon that you could win over Michael Jackson?

Hmm… My gentle way of talking? Haha.

EXO recently announced the news of EXO’s 11th-anniversary fan meeting. What would it look like if you were to compare EXO to family?

Children who were raised by a strict father but had an infinitely sweet mother? Maybe the stage is our dad. We work hard on stage until it feels like our bodies would break literally. But when we get off stage, we act like kids. Not one friend is rude, and everyone is so kind. When we talk to each other, there’s no difference from when we debuted 11 years ago or when we were trainees.

What are the three things Baekhyun is focusing on these days?

I’m into golf. Out on the golf field, my arms got so tanned, dark enough to leave a watch mark on my wrist. I feel very relieved when I go rounding and see the open space. The second one is the direction of the vocals. And for the third, I was going to say exercise but I’m going to change that. (Kim) Jong-kook, whom I became close with through workouts, said, “It’s time for you to focus on your back.” But hip workouts are too hard. Haha. The last one is EXO’s comeback. We will return as soon as possible with a high-quality album this year.

Photo links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

Credit: W Korea.

#EXO #EXO K #Baekhyun #230223 #exo im #exo k im #baekhyun im #magazine #magazine:w korea #p:news #t:news #fs:w korea #comeback:Fight

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kiestrokes · 9 months

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Welcome to our first public, DeluHrs:

DeluHrs - a silly little question asked by a moot that makes you go a little delu trying to answer.

Sometimes they're a NSFW, but we do quite a few SFW. It's just to feed the already manic k-pop delusions floating around in our brains. Tagging other moots is optional and nobody is obligated to play!

@chans-room asked me ➚ and my answers are below the cut because it ended up being insane. Thanks to the amount of groups I have multiple songs from that I don't exactly stan/have a bias, in addition to the groups I do stan. Please don't perceive me from the size of my list 🫥

ASTRO: Butterfly Effect

ATEEZ: All About You / Treasure / My Way (WHY IS THIS SO HARD -insert Felix rage quitting "I'm not going to play anymore"-)

BIGBANG: LOSER

BTOB: Pray (I’ll Be Your Man) ...I can’t even type this with a straight face

BTS: Like (Slow Jam Remix) / Whalien 52 / Magic Shop

ENHYPEN: Not For Sale / Fever

EXO: Paradise (honestly, I think this is my ult kpop song)

FIFTY FIFTY: Lovin’ Me

GOT7: Don’t leave me alone

GOT the beat: Rose / Outlaw

LE SSERAFIM: Sour Grapes

MAMAMOO: Egotistic

MONSTA X: MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

NCT 127: Baby Don’t Like It / Designer NCT DREAM: Quiet Down NCT U: Make A Wish (Birthday Song)

NewJeans: Hurt

NU’EST: WHERE YOU AT

ONEUS: LIT

OnlyOneOf: nabi

Red Velvet: Bad Boy

SF9: Love Colour

SHINee: Replay 😅 / Tell Me What to Do / Gravity

SKZ: WOLFGANG / Mixtape: Time Out

SuperM: Wish You Were Here

SVT: Don’t Wanna Cry / Crush

THE BOYZ: WHISPER

The Rose: RED ❗️❗️❗️

TXT: Blue Hour (though it should be Anti-Romantic)

VICTON: nostalgic night

WayV: Good Life

WEi: TWILIGHT

WINNER: FAMILY

XG: LEFT RIGHT

No Obligatory Tagging: @minisugakoobies @minttangerines @sugalaritae @seokjinger-ale + anyone else that I'm unsure of if you're a multi-stan, you can say I tagged you ❣️

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exoluxionlove · 1 year

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Baekhyun Interview - W Korea March 2023

Days With Baekhyun Returning after two years, Baekhyun used the word "comfort" often.

- - - - -

Baekhyun's only wish is to sing heart-felt, timeless songs for us. Baekhyun talked about the days spent with us and the days ahead of us.

<W Korea> How many days has it been since you were discharged from the military?

Today is precisely the third day since I've been out.

You have finally gifted flower shoes to the fans. ('Giving flower shoes' is a Korean phrase that means returning to the significant other who had been waiting for their partner to return from military service.)

So, you recently did a live show to celebrate discharge. Seeing you're still as bright and youthful, fans recalled the time you promoted your second solo mini-album, "Delight," released three years ago.

Honestly, I was super worried. But I was relieved to see their warm reactions. I'm grateful to my parents. Haha.

You talked about your time in the army during the live show.

Most of my training campmates were born after 1999, except for a few. I was the eldest there. Everyone followed me like their older brother. I still keep in touch with the friends I met then. Recently, I got a call from one of them. He said, "I am working out at the gym right now." He was a skinny one, and every single day at the training camp, I told him to work out.

Baekhyun, as we know, was the life of the party among the EXO and SuperM members. Your bubbly personality would have shined in the army training camp.

There was no exception. I didn't let anyone fall behind. Whenever I saw someone wanting to give up, I said, "You can't lose to things like this," "If you keep giving up, this becomes your habit," and, "Real life outside is much harder than this." I don’'t let my friends give up or fall behind. I pull them together.

I presume the past two years have been a time to realize and reassess who Byun Baekhyun really is as a person, not just Baekhyun from EXO.

Yeah. My MBTI changed during the break from ISFP to ESTJ. I've been known as a homebody for a long time among my friends. But I’'m actually an extrovert and a very active person. But when I look back on my childhood, I barely had time to spend at home. To the point where my mother always said, "How come I see my son only for breakfast?" I felt like I went back to my real self during the break.

Was it also a time to realize again what your fans mean to you?

Of course. I still have a long way to go to learn about the fans thoroughly. There's something I learned this time, though. The fact that our existence to each other is a lot bigger than what we think. During the first year of my alternative military service, I looked back a lot. I watched a lot of the past concert videos. At concerts, I had a lot of fun with them. There were times when I saw my facial expression on the stage and thought I really did bust my butt to pull everything. Also, sometimes I felt really empty and felt this unfillable void. At one point, I thought, "Will they still be there?" while listening to the cheers of fans in those videos. They are like a really good teacher who would grade me and encourage me. They inspire me to do my homework. They have had me run, take lessons and become a better person. I want to do well to hear their acknowledgment. If they didn't exist, I probably would not have tried so hard to come this far.

Your Namu-wiki page has a "Fan Love" section. As we read through the things you've said to the fans, we thought even a real boyfriend couldn't say such sweet things.

Haha. Definitely my mom's influence there. She speaks so gently. She is the sweetest person, really. And I am the youngest in the family. My family poured sweet love on me. Sometimes, fans ask me how I can speak so nicely. To be honest, I don't know. I feel it's nothing special, to me, a very ordinary and everyday thing.

It seems like fans could rarely feel the army break. You filmed 20 pieces of YouTube content ahead of time and released them during the break.

I know how hard it is to wait. Even when we did the EXO concert tour, we couldn't release an album during that time. So it had been a long-standing concern about how to fill the vacancy. In particular, no one was trying to do something special to fill the vacancy during the military break. At first, I thought about making a small game instead of a video. Like the Tamagotchi game, fans can foster 'Baekhyun' from level 1 for 641 days while I am away. Feed him, water him. Haha.

Yeah, that is pretty much it. Actually, I was swamped when we were filming the YouTube videos. I had a hectic schedule. It was just around when my third solo mini album <Bambi> came out, and on top of that, SuperM’'s promotion overlapped. But after filming them, I felt so indescribably proud.

The 2021 album <Bambi> leaves much to be desired in some ways because it had no official activities due to your military service. Nonetheless, it recorded high sales, enough to bring the double million-seller title. It was also the album released in the year of your 30th birthday, showcasing your finest skills as a vocalist.

<Bambi> was created strictly with my own needs and vision. I tried everything I wanted to do without looking at anyone, and I wanted to free my mind by doing so. You are right. I put in everything I could as a vocalist. I first rearranged my vocal tone around the time of my first solo mini-album <City Lights> in 2019, and I wanted to see how much I had grown since then. I became very dedicated because I thought I could make a better sound than two years ago. I tried the vocal ranges that I wouldn't have chosen in the past because I was too nervous. I purposely chose difficult music because I wanted to experience both failures and trials.

In particular, the title song Bambi seems to have been a regular song for the music school entrance exam that year. It's perfect for showing off your vocal skills going back and forth freely with your falsetto, modal, and head voice.

Well, I don't really recommend it. It's a high-risk song, the beat and rhythm are tough. It's a pretty challenging song to sing well.

With the release of <Bambi>, Baekhyun's genre and brand have become more apparent. "Baekhyun" reminds us of groovy R&B beats from UN Village in the album <City Lights> and Candy in <Delight>.

R&B is a genre that I've been attached to for a long time, so I’ll continue with it. However, I also want new challenges. I want to try this and that without being too picky. I want to be an all-rounder. I'm interested in singing-rap these days.

Which musician are you paying attention to as a reference these days?

I've gotten closer to Colde recently. I like his singing style, and it's fabulous that he pulls off the melody rhythmically as if he's rapping. I've requested songs from Colde. I don't know what kind of work will come out yet, but we'll work together soon.

As a musician, there's no more valuable experience than getting a "response" to your song. All three solo albums released so far have recorded respectable sales. Did you expect such success?

Not at all. It exceeded my expectations. This record was possible thanks to the efforts of many K-pop singers ahead of me. In particular, the sales volume of the second album <Delight> was the highest in 20 years of Korean pop music history.

<Delight> became the first solo album to achieve the million-seller title, and you became the second artist to hold such titles for both the group and solo albums, following after Seo Tai-ji.

Yes, but it's all thanks to the dedication of so many Korean musicians. As K-pop became more known worldwide, more people started paying attention to K-culture. The Korean artists before me had already paved the roads and I just got to piggyback on them.

I don't feel any guilt when I listen to your music. Maybe it's a complete anachronism, but there's still a certain prejudice regarding idol music. Similarly, some idol music is referred to as a 'hidden masterpiece.' But when I listen to Baekhyun's solo music, I feel like I'm just listening to really good music.

Thanks. I indeed paid a lot of attention to that. I chose a lot of genres that wouldn't come from SM. SM prefers strong and intense sounds, but I wanted to focus on easy-listening music. It was partly because of my preference and strategic choice to differentiate between EXO and solo activities. Seeing that many of the tracks from my solo albums are still receiving a lot of love, I think it was a good decision.

It is common to spot excessiveness in solo albums by Idol group members. It was rather unique that Baekhyun has an easy mood, as you've just said.

I pushed for that. I kept thinking, 'I'll make more easy-listening music,' 'The music should not change in the middle,' and 'The melody should flow as expected.' I wanted to minimize statement sounds and focus on the lyrics. There was even some feedback from the company that it fell short. But I kept pushing. My motto was to do something that sounds easy to people's ears, like passive music, even if it may not feel 'sophisticated or innovative' for some.

What you just said seems connected to the question of, 'what is good music to me as a musician?'

Probably. In a way, I'm making music that's pleasant to listen to. But I don't usually listen to a lot of music. My ears are so tired. Since I'm a singer, I need to know a lot of songs, but when I find one I like, I listen to it over and over. There's something in common when I look at the songs I'm hooked on. It's not too much, and it just has one or two significant factors.

For example?

I especially like old-fashioned pop songs. Peabo Bryson's Why Goodbye is also a song that I love, for example. If you listen to it, there's a particular section once in the bridge, once in the chorus, and once in the verse. You can listen to it comfortably, and the sound is completely filled with only vocals.

What is the vocal tone you pursue?

If I could have a voice that doesn't go out of date, I couldn't ask for more.

It's also the most challenging thing.

I know. I once imagined, "Will Baekhyun's episode of 'Hidden Singer' come out?" I don't think so. Because my voice doesn't have a distinctive feature. But it's definitely a voice that can give you some comfort. A good tone depends on the time and taste. It's something that keeps moving without being fixed. So I just want my voice to be peaceful and stable. I hope I can make the sound warm enough to relax your body. That's all I want.

It's been 11 years since your debut, and you're still taking vocal lessons every week, right?

Yes. I have a big desire to evolve. I thought about it when EXO received a lot of attention with Growl in 2013. 'Why are so many people going crazy? Am I really that good? I don't think so. If the heat goes away, they will see me.' That's why I kept trying. I always criticize myself more than others do. It's not a matter of high self-esteem and low self-esteem. I'm just continuing to make up for my shortcomings because I know my weaknesses better than anyone else.

To me, Baekhyun is not a person with low self-esteem but one who constantly and carefully self-censors himself.

Yes, that's right. Maybe I am a perfectionist, and I hate it when there's no complete ending. If I don't think I can finish something properly, I don't even start. I tend to get extremely disappointed with myself if I don't do something perfectly at work.

A perfectionist who pursues easiness... It sounds hard. Haha.

Haha. As a musician, I want to be an easy person who can blend in with the public. I don't want to be a musician who is so cool that people admire and want to follow. I want to be someone people can talk to easily when they meet me on the street while listening to my song.

I want to deliver encouraging lyrics. And deliver the message that you shouldn’'t give up easily and try to face more challenges. I think the disappearance of the "Jeong" culture played a role in making people get easily tired these days. In the past, when a neighbor moved in, we used to make steamed rice cakes. If the next door neighbor cooks a lot of food, they would share it with others. But living in a disconnected world without affection, people seem to think only of themselves. I want to put a hopeful message in my song that we can all unite in harmony again.

It's been two years since W Magazine and Baekhyun met—, since the cover of the March 2021 issue, right? Throughout today's shoot, the staff said you were sexy. Baekhyun's "soft sexiness" that you've shown in your solo career seems to be reflected in today's shoot.

Sexy... Haha. I don't think the sexiness that I have is the sexiness that's full of intense emotions. It's more like this. Sometimes you play with your friends, and you feel unexpectedly sexy. I think I have the sexiness to make people a little curious about me. Haha.

Today's shoot was with Cartier's Tank Française Watch and Icon Collection. These are pieces that have been called Wannabe by many artists for their timeless classic aesthetic. Regardless of time and nationality, who is the greatest artist for Baekhyun?

Michael Jackson! Michael Jackson was the only artist who stood still on stage for a few seconds or minutes and people couldn't stop cheering. His songs have made many people cry for a long time, giving them joy and happiness. So just seeing him standing still on the stage makes them tear up. There isn't an artist who can beat Michael Jackson.

Still, what would be your secret weapon that you could win over Michael Jackson?

Hmm... My gentle way of talking? Haha.

EXO recently announced the news of EXO’s 11th-anniversary fan meeting. What would it look like if you were to compare EXO to family?

Children who were raised by a strict father but had an infinitely sweet mother? Maybe the stage is our dad. We work hard on stage until it feels like our bodies would break literally. But when we get off stage, we act like kids. Not one friend is rude, and everyone is so kind. When we talk to each other, ther's no difference from when we debuted 11 years ago or when we were trainees.

What are the three things Baekhyun is focusing on these days?

I'm into golf. Out on the golf field, my arms got so tanned, dark enough to leave a watch mark on my wrist. I feel very relieved when I go rounding and see the open space. The second one is the direction of the vocals. And for the third, I was going to say exercise but I'm going to change that. (Kim) Jong-kook, whom I became close with through workouts, said, "It's time for you to focus on your back." But hip workouts are too hard. Haha. The last one is EXO's comeback. We will return as soon as possible with a high-quality album this year.

Source

#Baekhyun #Exo #W Korea

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oraclekleo · 2 years

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Lee Tae Yong (NCT / SuperM) Kinky* Reading

Hello and welcome!

I’m Kleo and I’m here to present some k-pop related tarot readings to you.

Disclaimer:

I would like to state that all these readings have a purely entertainment nature and their purpose is to bring some fun into my and hopefully yours lives. I have never ever met any of the idols / actors / celebrities in my readings, I don’t know them personally. Tarot reading isn’t an exact science and I can never guarantee any of it. Most of it is my intuition mixed with fantasy. Don’t take these readings seriously and don’t base any important decisions on tarot readings only, use your common sense.

If you wish to request a tarot reading, please read the pinned post on my profile first to see the instructions on how to request. I only do readings for idols / actors / celebrities of 18 years of age or older. Requests for readings including younger people will be automatically dismissed. If you feel uncomfortable with these tarot readings, do not engage in reading my posts. Thank you for understanding.

Reading Info:

Rating: 18+

Reading Type: Single - Couple

Requested: Yes - No

Deck: E. A. Poe

Spread: Kinky*

Questions:

Position

Libido

Turn On

Kink

Dirtiest Secret*

Full Name: Lee Tae Yong

Stage Name: Taeyong

Group: NCT

Masterpost: NCT

Lee Tae Yong

Taeyong (NCT / SuperM)

Deck: E. A. Poe

Spread: Kinky*

Position - X The Wheel of Fortune

Taeyong is likely a switch. Sometimes he will not have it when his authority is questioned, sometimes he wants to be pampered and taken care of, babied even when it comes to it. He’s not likely to act bratty nor despotic in a relationship, though. He’s a softie.

Libido - XVII The Star

Taeyong’s passions and desires are pure and innocent in a way. He needs to look up to his lover, he needs to feel safe and sound with them and will likely prefer tranquil, sweet, long and sensual love making to quickies. Taeyong prefers his lover to be nicely and cleanly dressed, he might have a thing for either white or silver lingerie. Taeyong is more on a romantic side and will enjoy long foreplays with some healing aspects (massages, aromatherapy, making out in sauna, etc.).

Turn On - 3 of Wands

Taeyong is likely to feel attracted to someone with a potential and vision in front of them, someone who has goals and is not afraid to face challenges in life. He needs to admire his lover, he would love to put them on pedestal if they allow him. Taeyong wouldn’t admit out loud but he might actually seek for someone to save him from his constant obsessions and worries, someone competent enough for him to delegate some of his tasks to.

Kink - Queen of Swords

Lol… Okay! Remember we mentioned Taeyong being a switch? Here we go. Our sweet Ty might have a thing for a dominatrix type of lover, someone to boss and direct him in a sexy and confident way. He’s not likely to act bratty, on the contrary, Taeyong will follow and obey like a puppy to please his mistress (because the cards here suggest more likely a female lover, though it’s not set in stone). He doesn’t mind for the orders to be harsh and won’t even protest against spanking. Matching sets of collars and leashes are likely hidden in Taeyong’s drawer and they are not necessarily only for his dogs to wear.

Dirtiest Secret* - Knight of Wands

Taeyong is a tied up person. He has to be, he has responsibility and needs to keep himself under check. It’s no surprise for his secret to be able to unwind and go wild with someone special to him, who will be open minded and not judgmental. Ty needs to be allowed to play and be accepted with everything good and bad about him.

Thank you for reading!

Hit the Like 💖

Comment! 💬

Reblog! 🔁

Follow for more! 💌

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bowieisworried · 1 year

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Taemin in 540px - Day 627 of 673

46 Days Remaining

#Taemin #Shinee #SuperM #ultkpop #.mygif #540pxTaemin #As We Wish Behind

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sluttyten · 2 years

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my best friend is going to try to get us harry styles tickets tomorrow during the presale and I’m like.... praying that we don’t spend too much on these

#like we'll be going to the chicago show if we do go #so that means travel and getting a place to stay in chicago for the night #on top of concert tickets and food and merch and stuff #and then i just had the realization that nct 127 could be announcing a north american tour at any minute #and like i swear to god i'm gonna be broke come the end of the year #but lowkey i hope if they do come here it's around that same time as harry's in chicago....#like imagine getting a twofer of going to harry styles and 127 within the same couple of days #bc odds are I'm going to beg her to come with me to see 127 too even though she doesn't like kpop #but she went with me to superm and admitted that they put on a really great show and she enjoyed it #so i feel like she would really enjoy 127 probably #ANYWAY wish us luck in getting good tickets at a good price

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the-hellhounds · 5 months

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Pep talking himself as he arrived to Jeju Island, Hanbin was driving his rental car down a road that would lead him towards a house by the beach when he sees a group of boys out of their jeep trying to change a tire.

"Need help?" Hanbin called from his rental as he comes to a stop behind the jeep.

They look up from their huddled positions of trying to get the tire off. The boys felt a sense of relief when they saw Hanbin.

"Yeah," one of them smiled nervously.

Getting out of his rental, the hell hound comes over to see what had happened when he senses that the boys weren't just humans. "I'm Hanbin," he introduces himself.

Waving, the boys start introducing themselves.

"I'm Changmin, that's Eric, Juhaknyeon, and that's Sunwoo." Changmin smiles as he points out to each of his friends. "Sunwoo kind of didn't check the road when we saw a cute girl pass by us..."

Looking over to the one named Sunwoo, Hanbin immediately knows it's his son. "A pretty girl makes you distracted?" He asks as he moves to fix the tire that had a nail in it.

"What can I say? I'm just like my father." Sunwoo answers as he stares at him while he worked. His friends give each other stares, confused as to why Sunwoo said that.

Looking up, Hanbin wipes his hands on his pants as he stands up slowly. "You know that I never knew you were born..." He starts. "If I had known and that your mother had told me, I would've given you both a better life."

Staring him down while his friends stood shocked at the revelation of Sunwoo being Hanbin's son. Sunwoo stood emotionless. "Then why abandon my mother and never reach out to her?" He asks.

"Because I wanted to keep her safe from the life I had." Hanbin answers. "She's my best friend. All my life since I met her, I've been wanting to keep her safe. She's the only person who never judged me and accepted me for who I am even after I bit her and converted her into a werewolf." Sighing once again, Hanbin felt stressed over his son, not accepting him. All his life, he had wished for one day to have an offspring. Someone to call his child and give them everything they wanted like Hyuck does to his own son.

"She said that you were her first love..." Sunwoo mumbles from next to his friends.

"And she was mine too. I just didn't want to hurt her, but I did when I left..." When dropping his head, Hanbin didn't notice that Sunwoo was pushed by his friends to hug him. When feeling the arms of his son wrap around his middle, Hanbin let tears fall from his eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry for abandoning you two."

"It's okay, appa." Sunwoo whispered on his shoulder. "The only thing that matters is that you're here now with us. That you came to find us."

Hanbin being called Appa 🥹 : @badbf-cb ( lisa ♥︎ ) - @fantasyaespa ( ningning ♥︎ ) - @fallenangel-oc ( staci & alya ♥︎ × ♥︎ ) - @multihyuck ( ♥︎ ) - @witch-renjunnie ( ♥︎ ) - @raiden-oc ( 🌺 ♥︎ ) @monsterhigh-cb ( jaemin ♥︎ ) - @livealittleoc-cb ( jay & ace ★ × ♠︎ ) - @k-dislyte ( moonbyul ♥︎ ) - @beaconhillsxbot - @redroom-cb - @universe-of-superm - @ateezmystery - @frathouse-cb - @kimheebby - @league-of-assassins - @angelsxdemons-cb - @dreampodcast - @kavengers-assemble - @dc-heroes-cb [dm for + or -]

#hanbin 🔥#welcome Sunwoo to the pack!#baby Kim Sunwoo #sunwoo ❤️‍🔥#appa Hanbin 🤧#i cant describe how long this made me feel

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junhour · 1 year

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Its confirmed that Lucas is leaving NCT,WayV and SuperM.... They didnt clearly mention him leaving SuperM but we can assume that because they said he will continue his solo activities.... Lucas will remain under the same label as now... Lucas also posted an handwritten letter on Instagram about the same... We wish Lucas good luck on his journey!!! BEST OF LUCK! 😭😭🥺🥺

#lucas nct #nct #kpop #good luck #wayv #superm #good luck lucas

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sweetlyocs · 2 years

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American Air

synopsis: that time where the American Air changed Zhouxia and she gave Kai a heart attack June prompt 14 “at least I didn’t break any laws”

note: honestly, i got no idea where this was coming from but this is how my friends believe i will act when we go on holiday together lmao

Fans always said the air in America was different, and Xia was definitely not the exception. As soon as they started promoting SuperM it was like a whole new wave of confidence broke out of her. Of course she still stayed shy and reserved but as Ten said, she just seemed to break out into an idol’s idol over there. She loved being able to spend time with her new members, she never got to spend that much time behind the scenes with her new EXO team mates and as time passed Taemin was always so incredibly busy that she felt bad if she asked to catch up. Not to mention this was her first time since 2018 that she had properly worked with Mark. Apart from Lucas and Ten, Taeyong was the only person that she seemed to communicate with.

It was well past her appointed curfew when she attempted to sneak into the room she was sharing with Kai. Having slipped out when he was showering after the concert to go on what was meant to be a team adventure with her WayV members when the two didn’t answer their phones. She could only assume they had fallen asleep, much like her body wished to do now. As she entered the darkened hotel room, she felt her heart calm. Kai was fast asleep, the curtains drawn to block out any unwanted lights. As she tiptoed around placing her bag and taking off her jewellery, she let out a screech as the lamp next to her bed turned on. Dark eyed EXO and cross looking SHINee members starred in her direction. “Do you have any idea what time it is right now Chen?” The icy tone in his voice made her flinch, “Well since she’s back alive I will now be heading to my own room. I will see you bright and early at breakfast.” As Taemin took his leave, he placed a kiss on her crown.

“Do you have anything to say for yourself? Where have you even been? It’s 3:49AM young lady and no note? No call? Well?” Xia lowered her head as she approached him, sitting on the bed opposite she fiddled with her fingers. Sighing Kai, sat next to her and hugged her tight, “Are you okay? When I called Lucas to see if you were with him he said that sometimes you go on walks when you need to clear your head? Is that what you needed?” Nodding, Zhouxia looked away from him. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to scare you``''I’m just glad you’re okay, I thought I was going to have to send a search party and you should’ve seen me running up and down the halls. Everyone thinks I’m probably insane now” Nudging her, Kai did his best to let her know he wasn’t actually mad at her.

As they sat in their own beds, Zhouxia couldn’t help but giggle to herself at the mental image of a grown idol running the halls of their luxury hotel in teddy bear pyjamas and complementary slippers. Kai lifted his head at her laughter, raising a brow in question, “Oppa, did you really run around dressed like that looking for me?” Smiling he nodded, “It was quite a sight, I’m pretty sure Taemin has photos, that's how he ended up here waiting with me anyways.”

As the members of SuperM gathered back in Korea to prepare for their second album release, Kai couldn’t help but bring up the story to them all. Most of them not hearing it before, laughing at how she whined at his exaggerated tale of events,

“That didn’t even happen!” “Excuse you but how do you know that?” “Because Taemin oppa showed me the photos of you posing in your bear pyjamas while you waited for me!” “You did what now?” “Oh please as if she was the only person I showed those to, I’m pretty sure all of our friends have seen them by now, same with you running up and down those halls.”

As the two senior idols began to argue at the table, Mark leaned over tapping her shoulder. “So why did you go out so late?” Curiosity peaking, “Honestly? I just wanted some snacks, it took me forever to find a place that was open, I was tempted to break into one place.” Snickering, he nodded, the two turning back to continue watching the two fight, nudging the Canadian she mouthed a sinister watch this in his direction, “I mean, at least I didn’t break any laws?” Freezing the two zeroed in on her, Ten raising his hand slightly as he opened her mouth, “Hyung, weren’t you literally in charge of her while we were there? How did you not know she almost got arrested trying to get back into the hotel…” “Or how she started a mini strip battle with Taeyong at the pool because they were bored and they couldn’t air the two of them...” “That’s not breaking any laws! I was simply living as an idol in America`” “It is so! You’re a baby!” “I can literally get drunk here...”

The members of NCT simply sat back as the oldest argued over placing blame on who was meant to be controlling the youngest members while promoting, the staff walking in on a mini warzone. Each of them regretting taking on the super group

#zhouxia.wayv #kpop female addition #kpop extra member #nct 24th member #nct female member #nct female addition #kpop oc #wayv 8th member #wayv female member #wayv extra member #wayv scenarios #wayv imagines #nct extra member #nct addition #nct imagines #kpop!addition #kpop!oc

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dailyexo · 1 year

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[INTERVIEW] Kai - 230314 UPROXX: “Kai Doesn’t Care What You Think, ‘Rover’ Is His Reminder To Live Life Freely”

"When Kai debuted with EXO 11 years ago, he was already a fan favorite. His teaser featured him smoothly dancing across a puddle of water to the group’s jazz pop track “My Lady.” From then on, Kai, whose real name is Kim Jongin, became one of the attractors and magnets for potential EXO-Ls to be.

With a massive discography and awards accrued over the last decade with EXO (and SuperM), it was only November 2020 when Kai unraveled his own world to the masses and proved how much of an ace he is. With his debut single “Mmmh,” the EXO member checked off every tick on what it meant to be a whole package — and be rightfully called “Idol’s Idol:” a catchy R&B ear worm that’s easy to sing along; sexy, jaw-dropping choreography that went viral; and looks (including a jawline so sharp) that could kill from a glance.

His title as Asia’s First Love only continued to grow when he followed up with “Peaches” (2021), a poetic R&B serenade that highlighted his romantic side.

Fast forward to today (March 13), Kai unleashes the wild side of him in his upbeat, Latin-inspired single “Rover” off his third EP of the same title. Last week, we caught up with Kai to discuss his new project, and his success as a soloist and member of EXO.

We obviously think of a car when we hear “Rover.” But how would you interpret that?

Kai: “Rover” is about not caring about what people think or say. It’s about just going your way freely as a wanderer. But that is also the whole album overall. It’s also about social media as well. A lot of different people see what you post and it’s a place where a judgment or opinion could actually be easily made. There are possibilities you could also be jealous of someone, or look up to someone when you’re on social media. But it’s more about not caring about all those different perspectives, or those gazes at all. And it’s a message of just think free, so the message that’s here I think is let’s be free.

I have a lot of messages to share to the world but whoever interprets it or whoever sees it, are free to interpret it individually since it’s different for each person. But regardless, I want to say that I’m just going to do whatever I want to do, what I like to do, and just spread the message of freedom and show that I’m doing what I want to do and what I like.

It’s such a switch from your last two singles, what did you think when you first heard it?

Kai: The first impression for “Rover” was very good. I thought the melody and rhythm meshed well and was very addictive. The song has a nice rhythm that’s very fun and easy to dance to. And while preparing for “Rover,” I was excited knowing I can focus on showing a new side of myself.

Are you aware of your virality every time you make a comeback?

Kai: Well, actually I don’t focus on that that much. Nor do I feel it that much because it’s a fight with myself because of how time is actually limited. We only have 24 hours a day and there’s a lot of good that I want to do and show to my fans. But other than focusing on the virality that I bring or the popularity that I have, I do have a little bit of pressure to focus on making something good

In “Mmmh” it was the choreography, then “Peaches” the detail that went viral was when you twirled one of your dancer’s hair. What do you predict would be the viral moment for “Rover?”

Kai: I could honestly say that out of all the dances or choreography that I’ve done, this one was very much difficult. But difficulty [for me] is shown in a cool way, or I hope so. So I’m not going to be able to choose just one part because I like everything.

Actually, I’m actually looking forward to what the people, fans, and listeners would choose as the viral moment or the killing part of the song. So, I really wish and hope that people could choose for me.

Any behind-the-scenes moments you want to talk about in this album?

Kai: Particularly, I do like the track “Bomba.” It’s one of my b-side tracks for this album and one of the tracks that I actually considered as the lead single for my second album,Peaches — between “Peaches” and “Bomba.”

Especially for this album, rather than focusing on what others would like to see from me, I mainly focused on what I like and what I would like to show. As I was really enjoying that thought in the production process, I couldn’t even think about any difficulties. I think my third album is more of a result of the experiences that I had with my first and second albums. So if it weren’t for my first and second albums, I think that my third album wouldn’t be possible. And I think when I was shooting the song, preparing the album itself, I tried to be more bold and unique with the choices that I make and I tried to work on that.

Do you feel any pressure still, as you make these comebacks?

Kai: Sometimes. I did have some pressure creating this album because I really want to showcase a new and different side to my fans. However, all of that pressure was released in the process of this album, while also preparing for it.

I always want to do better and show the best to my fans. I try my best not to think too deeply about it because I ultimately want to solely focus on the stage. Because when I start thinking too deeply into things, then I won’t be able to concentrate and fully show my 100 percent.

Have you found any stark differences or discoveries about yourself as a soloist and you as a member of EXO?

Kai: Well, yes there are differences to this actually. So, when I’m in the group — as a member of EXO, I feel more comfortable because we’re able to share this pressure that we feel altogether. I tend to rely more on the members than relying on myself. And it’s also that I really do enjoy and like being in EXO when in a group altogether. Because there’s EXO, I exist. Because of EXO, there’s Kai.

But even as a soloist, it’s very fun. I enjoy it as well since it’s only about me doing well, and me doing the best that I could do. It can be comfortable in those terms, but sincerely do enjoy both. Because, once again, I think Kai exists because of EXO.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned as a soloist?

Kai: As a soloist, I’m honestly very satisfied to where I’m at but I still can feel that I really, and truly, miss my members, especially those who enlisted. I’m really looking forward to the album that we will release as EXO altogether.

I could say that I realized I still do lack a lot of skills, and I have a lot to improve on still. And since I had my members while doing a lot of different activities with EXO, I was able to share the pressure. As a soloist, all the pressure is on me. Everything really depends on how I show my performance, and how the outcome is done by me. I really came to realize that I have to do my best and do better.

And, this is actually not directed to me being a soloist but, one really big learning that I realized these days is that time is special.

One thing the world doesn’t know that Kai wants to share.

Kai: Actually, I really don’t know who I am still and I think it’s kind of definite for the world not to know fully about me too. It’s more so that the images that I show as a member of EXO and Kai are very different from who I am as a person.

And you know, the fans do know that you know on stage, I’m charismatic and you know pretty much cool but that I’m a bit different off stage but I could say that not a lot of people know this because you know I may seem a bit you know charismatic on stage and cool but I’m actually a pure and kind person and yeah that’s about it for the first question.

Anything else you’d like to say?

I actually went to go eat Kaljebi which is a mix of Kalguksu (hand-pulled noodles) and sujebi (flattened hand-pulled noodles, and that was my favorite place to go eat."

Credit: Uproxx.

#EXO #EXO K #Kai #230314 #t:news #t:interview #album:rover #fs:uproxx #comeback:Fight

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