Their new album is great and all but...
There's a lot I still want to see from X1.
This is one of the only K-POP groups that I feel each member is talented independent from imagery, camera work, outfits, and other distractions.
I know that at heart the real appeal of K-POP is imagery and aesthetics.
It's how it gained international attention.
Those music videos are beautiful to watch and the idols themselves look ethereal.
But if I'm going to be candid, I feel like a lot of idols rely on those types of things.
I mean, how many idols are where they are because they fit the role of cute, beautiful, or sexy perfectly?
That's thing in western entertainment, we like when people are good-looking but you don't have to be perfect.
There are a lot of talented people who are not completely gorgeous that are famous.
One that comes to mind is Ed Sheeran who is not the most classically handsome guy but is extremely talented and popular. People love his music regardless of how he looks.
And I know they are going to do the same with X1.
- Get them all dressed up in these fancy outfits.
- Do their hair and make up to perfection.
- Give them these cute little dance/pop songs with cool beats.
- Put on elaborate stage lights and displays while they perform.
- Have them lip sync (that's right. I said it) some performances to go along with perfection.
Essentially have them do the exact same thing as all the other groups.
It really is a shame because I truly believe these boys are talented enough to show us something new.
With such versatility they could mix genres, create awe-worthy dances, write their own lyrics inspired by their experiences.
They could really change up the music industry.
Something that even the biggest names in K-POP, that have gone international, haven't done.
Groups like BTS and BLACKPINK showed the western world for the first time perfectly structured bands, where everything is set up for them.
(Edit: I looked more into it and I now know that BTS does write a lot of their songs about different deep topics. I hope other groups, like X1 get to do so in the future.)
Yeah they're talented, but they're not given the freedom to roam their imagination artistically. And it could simply be that they're just not talented enough to do that.
So I fear X1 will be the same...
Just another K-POP boy group doing the same thing as all the others.
But in my mind they'll be a group who writes their own deep and meaningful lyrics, something more than surface level romance.
A group that creates fun and cool dance breaks in songs on their own.
A group that styles themselves as a group of individuals, to show off their personality.
A group that lets their vocals do the talking, and does stripped down versions of songs, showing a completely different side to each song they write.
A group that is allowed to be themselves, as goofy or crude as they are. Shows off their imperfections (and tattoos) with pride instead of concealing them.
A group that stands for something more than just themselves.
But, hey, maybe that's just me.
