Reposted from http://wonderrrgirl.wordpress.com
Credit: Wonderrrgirl
Finally, Hyun Joong’s second mini album ‘LUCKY’ is out! I won’t talk about the songs, because I’m not a very good critic, being a fan, everything he sings is good to me because my criteria not based on his singing ability, intonation (anyway there’s auto-tune so I can’t even tell for any other singers unless it’s live) or whatever. I’m judging based on it being HYUN JOONG’s voice, and of course, his voice is one of the best soothing sounds to me in the world….so obviously I love the album and everything about it.
I shall be really honest here….. two years ago in 2009, he held Goodbye Yoon Ji Hoo’s showcase and sang a few songs live (check out the fan cams, because the DVD has been dubbed with the recording version, not the live one), and to be honest, even I have to say that this guy really needs to improve his vocals and especially his intonation. He wasn’t so good back then, even though I still like hearing his voice.
But the Kim Hyun Joong today is almost beyond recognition to me. In so many ways, he has grown and matured a lot back in those days in SS501 and where he is today. For one thing, his voice has improved so much. He no longer have that ‘breathlessness’ when he sings, which was previously very obvious when he was part of SS501. (Actually, I must say all the boys improved after they went on to do their solo activities, so if you ask me, I think going solo is one of the best decisions SS501 has made as a group) His voice has become rounder, fuller, stronger and he’s singing less from his throat, and more from his diaphragm.
But what really matters a lot more to me is how Hyun Joong continues to maintain his matter-of-fact honesty. I don’t really want to hear diplomatically correct stuff, so when he says he wants to be the best solo member among SS501, I am really glad he has been this honest, even though I think we all know the potential backlash that he might receive from some fans who might completely misinterpret it for something else.
And I am very fair, because when the youngest member Kim Hyung Jun said he wants to be the most prominent member of SS501 back then on Golden Fishery, rather than thinking he’s overly ambitious, I was glad to see this sort of honesty. Whether or not who becomes the best member is not really important, the point is, if this is indeed your goal, can you say it loud and clear, with confidence? I admire honesty, even if honesty isn’t what people want to hear at times, but this is better than some packaged words that everyone can memorize and say.
Rather than a lot of nice words that nobody really wants to hear, except the fans who will believe just about anything that they’ve said, no… I rather see a celebrity struggle and try as much to retain his true self, and be as honest as he can be despite the fact that this industry is very often clouded with ‘mysteries’ and the unavoidable need, at times, to say nice things that the celebrity isn’t always sincere about.
Hyun Joong read a letter during the June showcase which revealed that he has known all along, the fighting among the fans and the misunderstandings that went on for almost a year. Yet I am glad that he hasn’t change his behavior at all. I will be disappointed if he started to do things that might please the Triple S fans, like claiming there will be a comeback with all the members very soon (vague promises etc) , when he himself cannot be certain if this is possible. Just look at the schedules that has been packed for not just Hyun Joong, but the rest of the members. They might have the heart to reunite, but … can it be physically possible if everyone is very busy with their solo plans now? I am very glad Hyun Joong continued to be that seemingly indifferent leader who doesn’t seem to care about SS501 or the reunion promise they’ve made, the very thing about him that often get him into trouble with the Triple S fans.
I’m glad he remained this way, because this makes me remember all the things he have said regarding this issue more. I haven’t forgotten how he came out and ask for the fans’ trust that they’ll keep the promise to reunite one day. Ever since then he hasn’t really mentioned this at all, but why should he? Why should he always say things just to reassure and make the fans happy? I’ve seen Triple S who only heard this promise once and they believe it all in their hearts and trust that the members will keep their promise. It’s those fans who aren’t really sure of themselves, of the boys, who continue to hold doubts and get all upset when the members don’t continuously mention this reunion, a reunion that they can’t give a precise date or year for at this moment. So if you ask me if I believe SS501 will reunite one day, I think my answer is a yes. I can’t tell the future, but I find it hard to doubt Hyun Joong’s promise, so I believe in this possibility.
But, if you ask me if I WANT a SS501 reunion, I think my answer now will be a ‘no’. I’m not sorry about this. I am not against it if they reunite, but I’m perfectly happy if they don’t. I honestly think that going solo is the best decision they’ve ever made. This is the best chance for all the members to prove themselves, to show a side of themselves that they previously could not show, to improve and to grow as a solo artist. Just take Kim Kyu Jong for example. I actually see a new Kyu Jong when I watched his solo performance. Whether or not we like his performance, we have to admit that for once we can see Kim Kyu Jong as Kim Kyu Jong, and every bit of his charisma and improvement on the stage, not as a meek, ‘i-have-no-opinion’ member of SS501 who always sits on the fence. The solo made me see that Kim Kyu Jong does have a personality, and he only had the chance to show it to the world after going solo. Even though I am not a fan of Kyu Jong and I won’t ever be, other fans might, and if he managed to show a new, previously unknown side of himself to the world, why not?
It’s not a secret that as long as the boys continue to remain SS501, Kim Hyun Joong will always be the face of the group, the member where all eyes and spotlight will shine on, and CF deals will continue to find only him instead of getting the entire group, as well as drama roles and many other opportunities. As much as Triple S hate to admit this, it is a fact and a hard truth that the popularity of the members in SS501 is unevenly distributed. As a fan of Kim Hyun Joong, this probably won’t affect me much since of course I will be happy that he is the best and the most popular.
However, because of this very fact that he is the face of SS501, I have hated those days when other more extreme fans criticized, complained and put all the blame on Hyun Joong for anything that happens to SS501. As though it is his fault that Hyun Joong was born to shine, or that the other members don’t seem to get as much fame and opportunities.
I don’t think it is because the other members did not work hard enough or put in less effort than Hyun Joong, or that they’re not attractive enough or not good enough. This is just a very harsh fact in the industry they are in, where opportunities will always go to the ones who are popular.
As what Luo Zhi Xiang often say… “［机会是留给最努力，最有准备的人］－ 那句话是废话。所有好的机会都是给最红的人。当艺人“红”最重要，不然什么都做不成， 这就是残酷的演艺圈。”
( ” ‘Opportunities are for those who are most prepared and who have worked the hardest for it’ – these are all meaningless words. All good opportunities will always be given to those who are famous and popular. To be a celebrity, being ‘famous’ is most important. If not, no matter what you do, it means nothing. This is the harsh reality of the entertainment industry.”)
I hated those days to be honest. And one of the biggest reasons why deep down I don’t really want to see a reunion is solely because I think Hyun Joong is doing much better these days without all the pressure as a leader of the group. Now, he can do whatever he wants, make the music he wants, and be his own person. I hated those days when Kim Hyun Joong appears, often with a strained look on his face, especially between 2009-2010 and shortly before they depart for their solo activities.
It’s true… that in the past I was once a Triple S too. I am, because during 2005-2008, Kim Hyun Joong’s smiles and laughter used to be open and contagious, when he fooled around with the other members. The other members all appeared so happy, carefree and so full of laughter. Of course, along the way, Hyun Joong became more and more popular; the Tony Moly deal, appearing in WGM, getting the role as Yoon Ji Hoo, and several other CFs rolling in. It is obvious: Hyun Joong was then on his way to become the face of SS501. Very soon, people will start to associate anything SS501 with Kim Hyun Joong. He will be the first person people think of when they think about SS501. He will be the reason why many other newer fans in fact, got to know SS501.
I don’t wish to guess what was the reason why their smiles started to become more and more strained. I wish perhaps I imagined it but it wasn’t long when I could no longer lie to myself and pretend that their interactions with each other in the later years are still just as happy and sincere as they once were. I can’t pretend to myself that I enjoyed their interactions as much as I once did when I watch old shows like Thank You For Waking Me Up, Thank You For Raising Me Up, KM Idol World etc. I guess all these responsibilities and pressure are bound to take a toll on not just Hyun Joong but the rest of the members too.
As much as it was a pain seeing them say goodbye to each other during their last performance together, it was also an increasing pain seeing them interact with each other, especially towards the end. Perhaps other fans don’t feel this way, because members like Hyung Jun and Jung Min continue to have a lot of fun with each other, and they both have very good chemistry with each other. Other than Hyun Joong, I was once a fan of both of them because of their love/hate Tom & Jerry relationship too. But I think it is because I am a fan of Kim Hyun Joong much more than anything else, and from my point of view, I saw how Hyun Joong became more and more distant from the group. Something isn’t the same anymore, but I could not quite pinpoint what it was. Or maybe at that time, I don’t wish to pinpoint what it was, for I wasn’t ready to believe it yet.
I am treading on sensitive topics here. To be honest, I have indeed lost almost every bit of the love I used to feel for the group, with the exception of Hyun Joong, of course. But I don’t think it is really because of the members themselves, because there’s always room for the benefit of doubt. I might have heard a lot of negative rumors, but those will always remain rumors because ultimately nobody knows except the 5 of them.
But the actions of the other fans are what that I considered forgivable (anything in the world is forgivable) but unfortunately, unforgettable. I cannot forget how the other fans attacked Hyun Joong for being the so-called ‘first’ person to leave DSP, and continue to attack him, set up anti clubs and put all the blame on him for being the reason why SS501 had to part ways. Things are better now, or rather because I stopped following or reading anything related to any of the other members, so even if there are bashings going on, I won’t know, since I don’t see it. Perhaps it might be the actions of these fans that made me feel that it’s just not worth my time and effort being a fan of an entire group. At that point of time, I am also seeing how Cassiopeia (fans of DBSK/TVXQ) tear and destroy each other. Being a fan of a group isn’t easy, because a group constantly faces problems like uneven popularity and the probability of splitting up eventually. After SS501 went solo, I began to realize how comfortable it has been just following Hyun Joong. Along the way I got to know many like-minded fans who became my good friends, and we all feel the same comfort being just fans of Hyun Joong.
I’m happy with the way things are, happy to have songs where only Hyun Joong’s voice could be heard, happy that he is improving so much and appears to be realizing a lot of things in this journey. I know the other members have learnt a lot too, I’m glad for them, but I don’t pay as much attention so I can’t comment too much. I just think that it is great that everyone gets their chance to prove their own potential. They don’t have to be together, but if everyone is able to do what they want to do, isn’t that something to be happy about? At the very least, don’t forget that Triple S are all spared with the ugly business that Cassiopeia had to deal with. We should just be glad that even if they are not promoting together, the members have no problems interacting with each other and openly supporting each other.
I don’t know what got me to write all these things. I have not mentioned SS501 for a long long time…but Hyun Joong’s interviews have gotten me thinking about this because he mentioned many things that could easily drag himself into the wrath of the haters who hated him so much for doing so well and for always having the limelight to himself. Hyun Joong wanted to be the member with the best solo performance out of SS501. He also mentioned how there are members that he still contact, and members that he no longer contact anymore. (I actually heard of this long ago, and what Hyun Joong said simply confirmed that what I’ve heard was true after all)
SS501 fans are probably saddened by this. I can understand why they will be.
I am a Hyun Joong fan, so I am aware that I will always be biased here. To me, I am glad to see that Hyun Joong has been honest throughout with regards to SS501. I will be very disappointed indeed if he make empty promises without knowing if he can eventually delivers them. I will be sad if one day I found out that he lied about being close to the members when he actually isn’t. One of the reasons why I like Hyun Joong so much is because he just tells you exactly what it is, no nice packaging involved.
He knows better than anyone that if he openly supports any of the members and if he goes around promising that SS501 will surely reunite soon, Triple S will be really happy, and he will rise once again in their eyes. He could have used this and gained more supporters, or regain back those who left him maybe. But Hyun Joong never did. Except for the first time when he said that the fans should trust and believe them, Hyun Joong rarely mentioned SS501 anymore. I don’t know why he never thought about using this as a way to keep the Triple S with him. I have no answers but a question; Why do you think he did what he did?
As much as many fans often agree that we should never assume things that we have no way to be sure of, it is impossible not to assume or judge, even if we do so in our minds. We all have an answer inside as to everything that we’ve seen or heard so far. Just like me, but this is no longer important anymore.
As long as Kim Hyun Joong can do the music that he wants, and can live his life to the fullest, I am happy and that is enough for me.
