Critic Choi Isaac stated, "Now that the rather uneventful Week 2 performance is over, I still prefer the Week 1 performance." He continued, "This is the greatest vocal controversy since the founding of the nation. Every time I log onto the internet, it feels like I enter a group chat dedicated to discussing LE SSERAFIM's vocal performances. The most circulated videos featured a first song that couldn't set the right tone and a final song where the performers were out of energy. While these instances don't justify the vocal controversy, they can't be used as an excuse either. However, it's unfair to judge the entire performance based on just a few moments. The concert had a lot of positive aspects."
Choi also mentioned, "K-pop is a multidimensional genre with its own charm and context in terms of performance, style, and art. The LE SSERAFIM Coachella performance clearly showed the massive investment and preparation. The Week 1 performance maintained the intensity and grandeur typical of an opening medley for 40 minutes. The production level and performance intensity were at the highest level, akin to an opening act. It's like doing the exhausting opening medley three times in a row. LE SSERAFIM didn't just dance and sing; they moved energetically across the stage with minimal breaks and without much talking. If they had reduced the choreography, they might have sung better. But then, what would LE SSERAFIM showcase at Coachella if not their energetic dance performances? K-pop is about danceable music, and LE SSERAFIM's performance skills are top-notch."
Choi Isaac further stated, "Had there been more breaks for the performers to catch their breath, the singing might have been more stable. But I believe LE SSERAFIM chose to focus on the energy and completeness of the performance, which is why the vocal controversy happened. I don't think that choice was entirely wrong. K-pop is music that isn't just enjoyed but has to be 'achieved.' It's a brutal survival environment where the performances are polished to perfection and broadcast worldwide. This severity is effective for domestic and Asian audiences, but can appear out of place in Western music festivals. The performers, trying hard to engage with the audience while delivering a performance that must meet a high standard, can sometimes seem awkward."
He continued, "In the Week 1 performance, LE SSERAFIM showed an ability to overcome Coachella's atmosphere despite its challenges. It's not easy to pull off. Acts like BTS and BLACKPINK, who manage to maintain their energy while also connecting with the audience, are considered top-tier K-pop acts for a reason. I appreciated the performers' confidence, their pride in what they accomplished, and their bold facial expressions and movements. Though they didn't completely succeed due to physical fatigue in the latter part, that also made them more relatable. I believe K-pop is music that should also be applauded for its journey. Criticism for the vocal issues is warranted, but I'd also like to hear more about the growth and effort they showed in preparing for the performance."
Finally, Choi Isaac stated, "LE SSERAFIM is not representing a nation, they are a young idol group only two years into their career. As K-pop expands and North American tours become more common, many K-pop acts are set to perform at American outdoor music festivals this year. With limited experience, live controversies might arise, but I hope LE SSERAFIM's attempts and challenges at Coachella serve as lessons and stepping stones, not taboo subjects. And I hope that LE SSERAFIM continues to sing and dance without fear, just like their motto.
THE COMMENTS:
1. Honestly, if it were just a lackluster performance, the backlash would've died down in a day. But the real fuel to the fire was Sakura's post. Her claim that it was the 'best performance' led people to go, 'Really? That was the best?' which only made people more critical and eager to see the second performance, thinking, 'Let's see what they've got this time.
2. They're only in their second year, so shouldn't we consider that when judging them? But if you're going to be on stage, you should be good, right? Their performance was just okay, and their singing wasn't great either. How long do we have to wait for them to get better?
3. I agree with the points made in the article, but I'm not sure why every time there's even a slightly lenient opinion towards the artists, some comments are incredibly sarcastic and harsh. It's true that things got way too heated. We all agree that there's a lack of skill, but still, they performed on a big stage for a long time, so I think they deserve some credit for their effort. Of course, Sakura's post was pretty disappointing, but that's her personal perspective. I just hope the members improve for their next activity. Also, for the sake of the artists, they should drop the intense, edgy concept and use more refined lyrics. I think the reason things got so overheated might also be due to the poorly written lyrics that felt like random shots at everyone. It's not just about the performance; I believe the backlash is also because of those cringey lyrics.
4. Those guys are tone-deaf and should never have become singers in the first place. Stop trying to sugarcoat it
5. It's not just about messing up a song; it was shocking to see their actual skill without the cover of live AR. Just because they're known for their strong performances doesn't mean they can just give up on singing.
6. Many people noticed that LE SSERAFIM had quite a few disappointing aspects, especially considering their concept, but that doesn't mean it's okay to criticize them so harshly that you can't even say a single good thing about them. This isn't a sport where you can just keep bashing someone. How many days has this been going on?
7. They didn't sing well, that's true, but this whole thing has gotten way out of hand. People are criticizing them like they committed a crime, like they deserve to be torn apart. Coachella isn't the World Cup.
8. This person’s review of LE SSERAFIM's Coachella performance was full of praise. They said it was amazing—the energy, power, live performance, sound, production, and style were all top-notch. It demonstrated the unique 'fierceness' that K-pop idols have, showing how much potential it holds. It convinced everyone that their story of fearlessness and overcoming obstacles is genuine and worthy. It was a fantastic, radiant performance."
It's interesting to see how perceptions can shift so quickly, isn't it?
9. If this was just a comment from a random person online, it would be easy to brush it off, but when a critic says something like that, it's hard to understand. A critic should know better—there are plenty of other idols with excellent skills and strong live performances. Isn't it disrespectful to them to imply that a group with a disappointing live performance is somehow excused because it's 'human'? Just below this group, there are dozens, even hundreds of girl groups, many of whom struggle to even get on stage, and when they do, their songs are often cut short. These artists put in hours and hours of practice, honing their skills and stamina to make sure they give their best in those brief moments on stage. If they mess up because of exhaustion, it's not 'endearing' or 'relatable'; it's a sign that something went wrong. It's a disservice to the industry to justify poor live performances by saying it's 'human.' Critics should hold artists to a higher standard, especially when so many others work incredibly hard for those few minutes on stage.
10. I think even if their live performance didn't go well, they should've doubled down and reduced the AR, focusing more on live vocals in the second week. It's disappointing they didn't do that.
11. And the ones saying this is embarrassing for the country or shaming K-pop seem way too excited to jump on the bandwagon. It leaves me speechless.
12. The first week with live vocals was better. The second week felt like a music show.
13. If a certain member hadn't posted that Weverse message, people might have just said, 'Do better next time... They're a performance-focused group anyway... Just practice more,' and left it at that. But that message felt like throwing fuel on the fire. Also, ATEEZ did amazing at Coachella this time, right? We should be talking about the great performances and ignoring the ones that didn't go so well. Groups that can't perform live shouldn't get the attention; it's better to focus on those who can. It's just disappointing because K-pop used to be synonymous with precision dancing and solid vocals, but it feels like HYBE is dragging down the standard. People who have been into K-pop for a long time are getting pretty annoyed.
14. LE SSERAFIM's strength in performance and their fierce image have led to an overestimation of the group's overall talent. The expectations were too high. It seems like they weren't quite ready for the level of live performances expected at a place like Coachella. Discussions about live vocals and such shouldn't even be happening if the group can't meet those standards.
15. Wait, I just saw some tweets, and people are actually being pretty generous toward LE SSERAFIM..
16. HYBE seems more focused on creating a flashy image with their fancy profiles. It's all show and no substance.
17. People who want to criticize will find reasons to do so, but I get why a critic would try to focus on the positives.
18. No matter how you look at it, it feels like you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.
19. It seems like they might need to change their concept. The stage skills will improve with time.
20. It seems like this person has trouble distinguishing between live performances and LAR (Live Audio Recording). I noticed that from their reviews of other idol groups.
ORIGINAL POST HERE
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