Sweet_Milk_Tea • Friday, April 3, 2015

I think it's because in Japan, Jrock and Jpop coexist together and have the same amount of recognition, whereas in South Korea, pop music >>>> everything other genre, and it shows in music chart rankings.

John_Redgrave • Friday, April 3, 2015

I litereally just had to make an acocunt toi address this whole debacle. For starters i agree with you both. From what i have seen, Rock and Roll as a scene is dead in Korea. If you go into Japan, which is popular for their pop scene, their rock/metal scene also doesn't fall behind. You got bands such as X-Japan, L'Arc-en-Ciel, Dir En Grey, One Ok Rock, Blood Stain Child to name a few who are massively successful in their home countries but also international. Heck, even pop stars there includes a lot of heavy guitar riffs in their songs. Also, most metal/hard rock bands in the world do a concert in Japan, and can be massively successful there. In Korea? They will be forgotten in a day. Once both Pantera and Metallica did a concert in Korea but even those two(two of the biggest metal bands in the world) didn't do enough to garner much attention about Rock and Roll in that country. What Korea needs if they want Rock and Roll to be as popular as K-pop, are a series of bands that aren't afraid about their company or labels, and aren't afraid to stand up in the current music industry there. This happened before in america when the Glam metal scene is dominating the scene then thrash metal bands such as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax killed that scene and regain the true spirit of metal.

kyatt • Saturday, April 4, 2015

@John_Redgrave You actually have some great points. I dunno if you ever heard about korean rock band TRAX. They are a good example of how much Korea doesn't invest in rock. Even with a agency like SM behind them, they didn't last too long (lright now they are in hiatus.. for years now lol). They were SO GOOD when they started (still are even with just two members)!!! They started as alternative rock and then mellowed down to pop/rock, I never could understand why the change (and tbh I didn't worry much because I actually liked the change a bit) but it was probably because SM doesn't like to lose money. lol But the fact is that.. they only started to get a bit more known when they went soft. lol I wondered sometimes if TRAX had been born right now.. instead of way back then (2004 I think?) would they be one of the top bands in Korea..? But then I remember one band Say Yes that SM was suppose to help promote last year or the year before, but last time I checked.. they are still pretty much unknown.. so I wonder really.. :P Nell is another good example. They are also a pretty well known band in Korea and they actually got a decent fanbase (very dedicated), they also have great songs and stick to their genre.. Personally I see it as them making music for their fans instead of trying to just sell records. I could blame Woollim for being a small company and not investing in them but.. well I think Woolim does their best to support them as they can.. though they could do better in my eyes. lol I could also talk about a few other bands but. Overall. I think FNC is really lucky in that the CEO (and who ever schemes lol with him) definitely was able to understand how to work with what the audience wants and with the bands they produce because FT Island and CNBLUE are probably two of the most successful stories for rock in Korea, both went through lots of troubles to get where they are both they are definitely lucky in that they made it. And soon.. NFlying will be debuting too lol They are already pretty well known in Japan and got a lot of support from FNC stans too.. lol It's like FNC got the formula.. I wish they would share (with SM so that TRAX can comeback! XD) I think I went a bit off-topic in my comment.. lack of sleep does that, sorry. :P

hongcel • Tuesday, April 7, 2015

@kyatt i dont know some korean rock band but i agree that fnc got lucky to produce rock band. Even they are not known in south korea but still they made it. And how popular they are in overseas.

nieblina • Friday, April 3, 2015

That's true. I use to see Amber as just an idol, even tho she was my bias. After her solo album, I definitely see her in a new light. She's become so much more than an idol, she's truly a musician, writing and composing her own songs. I felt that way for GD and Lee Hi (because of the effort she put into her voice), but not FT Island despite my love for them. Now, I truly feel like I'm listening to rock... To their souls.