Recently, the vocal technique and skills of artists from HYBE Labels have been a hot topic online, particularly after an encore performance by LE SSERAFIM drew mixed reactions from netizens.
The members of LE SSERAFIM | @le_sserafim/Instagram
From talking about the vocals of the individual members of the group, the discussion progressed to talking about the overall vocal range of HYBE artists in general. So, when a netizen drew an almost side-by-side comparison of all the fourth and fifth-generation boy groups from HYBE, many weighed in with their two cents.
On March 1, KST, in a viral post on the online community TheQoo, a netizen posted a few clips of each of the newer generation HYBE boy groups’ encore stages. For TXT, the senior-most fourth-generation group under HYBE, they posted an encore performance of “Sugar Rush Ride.”
후우우웅 얘들아 1위 축하해 하고 있었는데 예에에~부터 라이브갈겨서 깜짝놀램 앵콜라이브도 갓갓이여ㅜ.ㅜ 짱바투 1위 짱축하해#SRRB1stWin#투바투_엠카_1위_문을_열어 pic.twitter.com/LnFLEKAKWe
— 연조 (@cyjzoa) February 2, 2023
For ENHYPEN, the OP (original poster) went with an encore performance of “Bite Me.”
앵콜라이브 찢었쥬?
이게 엔하이픈이라구#엔하이픈 #BITEME #바잇미_엠카첫1위_축하해#ENHYPEN #BITEME1stWin #DARKBLOOD pic.twitter.com/jpLEosh89a
— 홀리는백꾸 (@holyggu02) June 1, 2023
With BOYNEXTDOOR, they chose their encore for “But Sometimes,” and for TWS, it was “Plot Twist.”
230913 ㅅㅊㅍㅇ 보넥도 1위 앵콜 #보이넥스트도어 #BOYNEXTDOOR pic.twitter.com/x09Rs0gdkI
— 여니 (@yeoni_door) September 13, 2023
투어스 첫 만남은 계획대로 되지 않아 뮤뱅 앵콜 라이브 pic.twitter.com/et6J94F9U8
— 7 (@soggynuk) February 23, 2024
| theqoo
The post drew so much attention that it garnered over 30,000 views and more than 440 comments within a few hours. While some got straight to the judgment,
“BOYNEXTDOOR did it really well.” “ENHYPEN…” “The last one was still okay. To be honest, the ones above were all out of tune and uncomfortable to listen to.” “ENHYPEN did well, though?” “Only TWS was worth listening to. I have nothing to say about the teams above…Wow, they really can’t sing.” “The teams, apart from a few of the members who did well, were all just similar.” “All of them are similar, though?” “Oh, TWS is doing well.”
Some also felt that the performances were not chosen fairly.
| theqoo “[Link to TXT’s “Chasing That Feeling” encore] I’ll be thankful if you could update the most recent one of TXT .” | theqoo “[links to TXT’s “Chasing That Feeling” encore and ENHYPEN’s “Bite Me” encore stage on MCountdown] You should have chosen the last encores for all of them, LOL. Everyone worked hard. You guys are annoying.” | theqoo “[Link to BOYNEXTDOOR’s “But Sometimes” encore on Show Champion.] Sungho was okay.”
Encore performances, in general, have been subjected to much harsher scrutiny these days than a few years ago. While some netizens feel that idols should be able to offer quality vocals during these low-key performances where they are not dancing, others argue that encore performances are meant to be a fun and light-hearted moment of celebration between fans and idols and, hence, should not be the yardstick to measure the vocal talent of artists.
