Idol bands - are they "real bands" or not

[masakio]

As you may know, idol bands are generally not taken seriously by fans of rock music. FT Island, CNBLUE, Day 6, etc are considered idols rather than bands since they were formed and trained by companies. Some of these groups have members that had no prior experience with playing instruments and perhaps didn't even want to be a band until their company decided they would be good at it. This is also one of the main reasons why rock music fans think idol bands are an insult to the genre. If you've ever come across comments about these groups from music discussion boards in Korea.. they are vicious. 

 

So my question is, do you agree with this assessment that idol bands aren't true rock bands?  

[tzulegend27]

if they can play a real instrument then theyre a real band i dont know wtf u mean by "real"

if "real" means "hardcore" then thats some hipster piece of shit edgelord that you dont need to take srsly

[Gen_ki]

If they can play their instruments, then I don't see why they can't be considered a real band. 

[TaeGiElitist]

They are all like the british band busted or mcfly still teeny bop and not serving any deep music. Still bops though.

[chiirbii]

I admit, I used to hate FT Island way back when. Part of my frustration was because actual bands got very little recognition from international fans, and some would treat the put together bands as this brand new concept, like they were breaking through a threshold when many other bands existed before them.

 

Now, I don't care. Good music is good music, no matter the origin.

[MelanatedBeauty]

I think that its sad that because a band is under a company that has an idol group or idol groups that theyre not taken seriously ftisland and cnblue know how to play their instruments and make their own music...people need to let that viewing of these bands go tbh just as music shows need to fuck off and let these bands play their instruments live instead of forcing them to fake it ;/

[Rohan Kishibe]

They're pop rock bands, won't be taken seriously by most of the "rock is better than pop music" community, but they still are bands.

[MelanatedBeauty]

They're pop rock bands, won't be taken seriously by most of the "rock is better than pop music" community, but they still are bands.

idk ft island especially have been changing up their sound lately and steering away from pop rock

[Ace Trigger]

FTISLAND is a real band imo. Their Japanese stuff and their recent Korean stuff are godlike.

 

[lolalala]

if they can play their instruments then they're a band to me

[Rohan Kishibe]

idk ft island especially have been changing up their sound lately and steering away from pop rock

Tis true, though korea really doesn't like this sound unfortunately. 

[MelanatedBeauty]

FTISLAND is a real band imo. Their Japanese stuff and their recent Korean stuff are godlike.

 

retweeted. pinned. liked.

 

theyre doing the zamn thing

[Oodles]

Day6 aren't an idol band they are a rock band. They even said this themselves. 

[masakio]

They are all like the british band busted or mcfly still teeny bop and not serving any deep music. Still bops though.

I guess that's their western equivalent, but I feel like even pop bands like mcfly were formed by themselves. Korean idol bands really feel.. artificial. Some have bops but still. 

[courtingpoem]

If they can play their instruments, they're a real band. Also, if they write their lyrics and compose their music. Those are obviously big factors too

[masakio]

FTISLAND is a real band imo. Their Japanese stuff and their recent Korean stuff are godlike.

 

I don't follow them but I remember there was controversy over them not playing the instruments on their first album. I suppose stuff like that is the reason why idol bands have a bad rep.

[CandyCane23049]

Day6 don't call themselves idols and their promotions have been different from CN Blue and Ft Island and they have avoided the stupid stereotype placed on FT Island and CN Blue by the Korean public/ rock scene.

[Oodles]

Day6 don't call themselves idols and their promotions have been different from CN Blue and Ft Island and they have avoided the stupid stereotype placed on FT Island and CN Blue by the Korean public/ rock scene.

[sakurahanabira]

of course they are.

 

People accuse them of not being real bands because they're forced to hand sync on music shows but their concerts are the real deal. Hongki has even expressed frustrations at those people.

[honeypri]

they are bands because they play the freaking instruments. some elitist band fans talking s*it about FT... but can their bands vocalist sing like Hongki? whatevers...i'm here to promote this

 

Korea-Japan SUPER ROCK Great Meeting festival

 

Ike(Spyair's vocalist) going to Hongkira(Hongki radio show) next week. 

 

some people hate these bands cuz they got pretty faces and got a lot of money and fangirls

k, bai

[TaeGiElitist]

I guess that's their western equivalent, but I feel like even pop bands like mcfly were formed by themselves. Korean idol bands really feel.. artificial. Some have bops but still.

 

Yeah I see what you mean. I think day6 fans and others dont consider them an idol group cause they play intruments.but yeah the manufactured part of being an idol is present in those groups.

[CandyCane23049]

Yeah I see what you mean. I think day6 fans and others dont consider them an idol group cause they play intruments.but yeah the manufactured part of being an idol is present in those groups.

Well Day6 themselves don't consider themselves idols so it's just not a fan thing.

[honeypri]

I don't follow them but I remember there was controversy over them not playing the instruments on their first album. I suppose stuff like that is the reason why idol bands have a bad rep.

even until this day korean music show don't let bands play live because their stage are not meant for bands.

here's some close up of the drummer Minhwan play his drums. i think he can play that instrument just fine

 

 

and here Shadows perf live at Japan tv show

 

[TaeGiElitist]

Well Day6 themselves don't consider themselves idols so it's just not a fan thing.

Well they might not consider themselves that but thats the reality. They weren't some indie band. They were a band put together by a company same like all idol groups.

[CandyCane23049]

Well they might not consider themselves that but thats the reality. They weren't some indie band. They were a band put together by a company same like all idol groups.

But they started in the indie scene at first playing at rock festivals at first, busking, and concerts even if put together. Like I said before Day6 have been able to avoid the stigma put on FT Island and CN Blue and I think it's how JYPE did their promotions starting them the way they did which worked out so far for the best.

 

 

They might have been put together but their promotions have been vastly different from JYPE idol groups and they came in playing instruments sure they might have learned others while being there but they already knew.

 

 

 

Why does the word idol have to have  to be negative? All three love what they do and take what they do very serious just as if they were non idol bands. It's one reason why especially FT Island are frustrated because its obvious they love what they do so why should they been seen as less than ?

 

 

Also why does the genre of rock matter? Does certain rock have to be done to be taken more serious?