Recently, I started watching The Voice. Perhaps it was due to American Idol conflicting with my DVR recording schedule, or maybe it was because through my audition process, I realized how much of the show is fabricated, and how terrible the people behind the show are....
but really, it is almost entirely because of the DVR situation.
In any light, I was quickly impressed with a lot of things about the show, and was told there was a Korean version. Being the obsessive type that I am, I promptly looked around to find it. After fumbling around, and finding out that the show shares its name with a North Korean News Channel, I was excited to see more of what I was so impressed with, but with Korean people.
Boy, was I in for a surprise.
So what is The Voice?
The show has its roots in the Netherlands. The format of the show (which can be found here) is certainly unique and is what allows for it to be PHENOMENAL TV (banter between the coaches, between contestant and potential coaches, etc). Currently, both versions of the show are in the Blind Audition stage.
The first noticeable difference between the two shows is noticed from the interactions between the judges and the contestants. After the contestant sings their piece they can ask what their prospective coaches can offer in terms of advice should they go their way. Now, I don't expect the coaches to really be saying much here, but something was very difficult to ignore, which was that a majority of what the Korean judges have to say have been about "appeal," or the appearance of the contestants. Right from the get go, one of the judges tells the first contestant, that if he were to choose her, she would work out with him so that he could lose weight. I thought it was odd for a show where the appearance of the contestant was supposed to be a non factor... but it continued happening. Whether it was judges saying that they were in a former boyband that took over the country and if they worked on their gestures they could be a superstar, or that when seeing a bigger lady, saying it LOOKED like that much volume would come from a body like hers. I started wondering why that was the case, and remembered something one of the judges said.
Gil of Leessang (one of the judges) said (roughly translated, something like), "we went through hell, and I can promise to show you some of that hell." At this point, I remembered what it meant to BECOME a celebrity in Korea. The example I am familiar with is the route of becoming a comedian in Korea. To become a comedian people try out to become a "gag man/woman" for specific broadcasting companies. Once they test through, they start the process of becoming broadcast ready by becoming a 연습생, or literally translated: a person who practices. They live to practice to become a comedian. It is pretty much the same way for popular singers in Korea now. Once someone auditions for a label, they go into their practice program where they are produced to become a extension of the record company. They are built to become singers; lose weight if needed, taught to sing if they cant sing, learn to dance if necessary, and even put through plastic surgery if needed.
So how does that affect The Voice Of Korea as compared to The Voice in the US?
First of all, you see a recurring story in the contestants. Coupling what was mentioned above with the size of Korea (as compared to the US), you're going to see a lot of people that have already "made it" into the recording industry. Unfortunately, they didnt succeed, and are looking for a second chance. Some of these people were probably dropped from these companies due to looks, and maybe that's why their looking for this show as an opportunity.
Second, you consider that the coaches all share this "hellish" experience. Consider what else separates any of these coaches from each other. It is not genre. It is not experience, as they were all share the same training. Due to the training, what happens if the coaches are all looking for similar things? There have been cases where the contestant has a great performance, but the coaches dont turn around because the voice is too unique. Consequently, the opposite happens quite often in the US version of the show, where the contestant has a great performance, but none of the coaches find the voice unique enough, and where the coaches finds a voice that is different, but doesnt have the "stuff" to win it all. This is an example of the difference between the individualistic culture of the US as compared to the collectivistic culture of Asia. Even amongst Asian cultures though, the collectivistic mentality of the country once known as The Hermit Kingdom is notorious, as would be expected from the most ethnically homogeneous country on the planet.
In that light, one realizes that the factors that determine success between the two versions of the show (and beyond) are fundamentally different. In fact, the importance placed on aesthetics is the unifying factor between the two audiences watching the show, and that is the factor that was taken out of the equation.
In case any one was interested, I am watching both shows, but for completely different reasons. The Korean version has me giddy over the type of voices that I am have a weakness for (powerful and soulful, all the while has a definitive sound that clearly cuts across the room), whereas the US version has me watching with a more analytical point of view (interpretation, understanding of the song in delivery and phrasing, how they made the song their own).
... I think it's a good use of my time.
...
Check out my new weapon, weapon of choice.
Notes/File Dump! (aka things that go neither here nor there)=======
-I will have to say I was quite impressed with the coach selection of the Korean version, although I think considering Korea has a fair number of singers that hide their appearances (or used to, like Kim Bum Soo), or any of the ladies of Big Mama would have been perfect for the gig, considering the situation.
- I also watch the Korean version because, since middle school, I've had a HUGE crush on Baek Ji Young. Plus, you know lady's got chops when she can sing her way back into the KOREAN public's acceptance after having a sex video leaked (to put this into perspective, sex and drugs are tattoos are taboo. When a celebrity is caught doing weed, they get ARRESTED and make the front page. the public outcry after her video leaking was incredible and put a stop on her career for a few years).
- Ballerino by Leessang is definitely in my top 5 music videos of all time. Plus, I can neither confirm nor deny this, but the ALi featured on the track may or may not be the ALi who made headlines in Korea a few months ago when she admitted to being a victim of rape
- I will admit at this juncture that I'm a fan of Kangta as a producer, as seen on his first solo album, Polaris, and his songwriting abilities in writing one of my favorite Kpop ballads called 인형
-The image used on this post is from a pretty suspect website that claimed to have links to short program North Korean radio broadcasts. If I go missing, you'll know why.
No comments:
Post a Comment