hi, semi here! thought I’d make a post about 151115 for B.A.P fans who joined the fandom after the lawsuit. this will partly be factual, and partly my personal take on it.
B.A.P all filed a lawsuit on 27th November 2014, suing their company TS entertainment for:
not paying them properly and no transparency in the company of where their profits were actually going
overworking the members to the point where they had to go to the hospital, and were then being made to leave it (after paying the fees themselves!!) early to perform
damage to their mental and physical health
no free time or social life / time to see family
excessive number of (very expensive!!) overseas concerts to milk out international fans’ pockets (the cheapest LOE ‘14 London ticket was £89! for a 2-year-old group!! fun story: my naive 15-year-old self messaged the B.A.P Facebook page raising my concerns over this hahahahahdsdsfd they never replied lol) instead of giving B.A.P exposure in Korea apart from music show promotions (does this sound familiar?)
concerts being planned without the members even knowing etc
personally, before the lawsuit I wasn’t that involved in the fandom itself and instead followed B.A.P attentively but from afar. I remember being really surprised to see TS cancel a leg of the LOE ‘14 tour for the members’ health, thinking that TS was a good company for paying attention to that. but now that I think about it, for TSent to cancel concerts (£££) makes me think it must have been really bad.
the lawsuit period flipping sucked. minimal updates from the members, who probably had enough shit on their plates without going on social media; honestly to think about it, we get so restless if we don’t hear from them for a few days, so imagine weeks/months. no news apart from shitty news of TS postponing courts (with my non-existent legal knowledge, I feel like they were trying to drain B.A.P of money or ??? something idk but they must have gained something from dragging it out and making everyone else so frustrated). it was just a dark time of uncertainty, and with each passing month, the possibility of B.A.P coming back to the k-pop scene together was becoming less likely. I originally cheered B.A.P on when I first read the news of the lawsuit, being proud of them for standing up for themselves against injustice, presuming they’d be able to pull a Block B and find a new company soon enough. but as time went on (Yongguk released AM 4:44 and Zelo released No Title in around April/May 2015, voicing their frustration too), I started to realise it wasn’t going to happen. “I miss bap”, “where did bap go”, “it’s so sad about bap” etc etc…
the news of B.A.P returning to TS ent on 1st August was a strange surprise. on the one hand, a lot of us were really happy at the prospect of B.A.P being back! but on the other, how could we be sure that TS wouldn’t mistreat the members again? B.A.P insisted that they talked things over with the company and that things are now better, and though TS continues to show signs of profit-oriented use of the group (eg two world tours in two years! wtf!), and just general poor management and lack of thought/communication, B.A.P chose to go back for a reason, and I trust their reasoning. being a person who generally sees the best in things, I just sat on my bed half-stunned and blasted their most badass songs at the highest volume, finally being able to thoroughly enjoy their music again without feelings about the lawsuit nagging at me. from what I can see, there are still definite improvements to how B.A.P are treated:
more free time
better pay, if some members having cars/scooters (lmao) and going on holiday is anything to go by
Yongguk and Daehyun being able to have their own homes, and Zelo being able to move back in with his family, and the other three moving into a better apartment. in the early days, all 6 members used to sleep in one room!!
they’re going to be releasing their third full album soon!!!
member solo activities: Daehyun acting in musicals, Youngjae being a host for The Show, Yongguk and Zelo working on their own music, etc
Yongguk given a break from all activities for a few months to focus on his mental health
so anyway, B.A.P announced that they’d be making their comeback with their 4th mini album Matrix on 16th of November 2015, but on the 15th they’d hold a comeback showcase. they made a V App channel, had a live video of them literally standing there in their matoki suits, bodies completely covered…..and it was the most wonderful feeling watching them all together again. you really don’t fully appreciate what you have until it goes. their matrix showcase was aired live on V App so everyone could watch B.A.P stand together on stage for the first time in almost a year. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was one of the most surreal and happy days of my life to see and feel what I never thought I’d experience ever again. I woke up in the middle of the night to watch them singing again, and looking so happy to be back doing what they love. after such a miserable period of time, 151115 marked a fresh page to a new history of better things. it’s the symbol of their rebirth into the B.A.P we know now.
some people these days will complain about how the lawsuit damaged B.A.P’s popularity and success etc, and they’re right: it did. disappearing for months (not years!! people exaggerate how long the hiatus was) at such a crucial time of rapid change in the k-pop industry lost them many fans, but what would the alternative have been? a popular, successful B.A.P who were being worked to death on a minimal wage, singing on stage about social justice when they had none themselves? no matter what, I’m extremely proud of B.A.P for taking action and I’m glad that they did. the journey was bumpy (and often still is), but it’s still much better than what it was before. we shouldn’t focus so much on all these ‘lost fans’ and ignore the fact that B.A.P have been active for the last two years, gaining new fans and making new music and memories.
B.A.P continues to grow: it’s clear how much they improve with each and every comeback (see: line distribution). TS still sucks, but a tiny bit less than before (seriously though if they announce another world tour in 2018 I will go over there and slap a bitch). but yeah, most importantly, B.A.P is back! and has been now for exactly 2 years! they’re back and they’re here and they’re amazing and I love them and I’m so proud to call myself their fan :’)
Tagged by @curledlife (Sorry it took me so long to get to! 😅)
1.) 5 favorite groups? BTS
VIXX
Astro
B.A.P.
AKMU
2.) Top 5 on your bias list? N [VIXX]
Jin [BTS]
Amber [f(x)]
Jinjin [Astro]
Himchan [B.A.P.]
(Putting the rest under a readmore to spare your dashes because holy heck this got long)
3.) Ult Bias group and why you love them? BTS. They were the group that finally tipped me into the bottomless rabbit hole that is Kpop, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they tackle subject matter that not a lot of music artists – not just Kpop but contemporary music in general – choose to cover. And it’s subject matter that I can personally relate to, as well. As an aromantic asexual who’s never had so much as a single crush on someone despite spending more than two decades on this planet, I can get breakup or love songs from an intellectual/empathic standpoint, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with them in the least, on the contrary, I very much enjoy them. But I can’t really relate to them. Now, a song about desperately missing a friend, or feeling trapped in the lies your own mind tells you, or feeling disgruntled with the older generation and the pressures they place on yours, or feeling that you don’t measure up to the people around you? That? That’s relatable. That’s real. That speaks to me and my experience and resonates with me on a level that very, very few other music artists have ever managed. Of course, their choreo is also straight fire, most of their songs are absolute bops, and the members are seven of the sweetest, most talented, genuine human beings on the face of the earth, so there’s all that, too.
4.) Ult Bias and why you love them? Cha Hakyeon aka N of VIXX. I refer you to this treatise I wrote last year on the subject as to why, since I think I summed up my feelings pretty well there, and anything I said here would just be repeating myself.
5.) Favorite Kpop Meme For the third time: Hongbin. And. The Bubbles.
6.) Favorite pic of your ult? (I dare you to only pick one)
(I haven’t used this one yet, so.)
7.) 5 Favorite Kpop MVs We’re going to do five of my top faves if I don’t repeat groups or MVs that are also elsewhere on this list instead, since this list would literally be nothing but VIXX and BTS if I didn’t.
“Spring Day” ~ BTS
“Voodoo Doll” ~ VIXX
“Get the Treasure” ~ SHINee
“Dramarama” ~ Monsta X
“Breathless” ~ Astro”
8.) 10 Favorite Kpop songs? How about we do top song from 10 different artists instead? In alphabetical order by artist:
9.) Favorite Kpop crack video? hunger games simulator with BTS. It’s just… so hilariously absurd. The robotic voiceover dispassionately narrating events does not help matters at all.
10.) Favorite content creator within the fandom? HECK, there are so many awesome ones, though?? How could I choose just one, especially when I’m in so many different fandoms? :< For the sake of brevity I’ll only list a few, but hnnnng the Kpop fandom is SO DANG TALENTED u guise, I’m so happy to be a part of it. ❤ @bagelswrites:One of the very best authors for
any Kpop fandom, her BTS were the first ones I really got into a year
and a half ago when I was dipping my toe into Kpop, and her characterization is still the gold standard for
me when writing the BTS members in my own projects. @vietbluefic: Her
BTS fics are the perfect blend of the fantastical and mundane,
heartwarming and heartbreaking, with some of the most fantastic prose
I’ve ever had the privilege of reading, and best of all they’re all Gen,
praise be, glory hallelujah, my soul has been satisfied. TTvTT9 She
also makes great aesthetic posts for all her fics and fic ideas, too! Erisette aka @quicktothebatjalopy: My
own dear partner-in-crime! o/ Her works are always so mellow and soft
and sweet, and many have a very distinct fairy tale-like vibe to them
that I find very charming. They move at their own pace and manage to
convey so much depth in such a relatively short span of time.
Also another great aesthetic maker, this one. Smyang Piano: He does piano and music box covers of popular Kpop songs, and all of his stuff is just so soothing and pleasant to listen to, I love it. ❤ 가가: She does the most absolute precious BTS/BT21 animations ever, I melt into a little puddle of goo and tears every time. ｡゜(｀Д´)゜｡ Kiera aka @seiyoko:The creator of the Cypher Pt 3: Killer and Mic Drop animations as well as a phenomenal artist in their own right (they draw the very best J-Hopes and Mangs). I love their landscape and background studies as well. @00raito: Their VIXX fanart is just fantastic, as is the art they’ve done for other fandoms like BTS and Monsta X. My favorite piece of theirs has to the Eau de VIXX perfume series. @azuppe02: Their VIXX chibis are my favorite Kpop chibis hands down, no contest. They have so much personality and charm, and the design for every one manages to be instantly recognizable. @astrosupa: This person draws the very best Astro fanart. ❤ I love their bright, expressive art style so much, it fits Astro’s aesthetic perfectly. @bloominflowers: Any Kpop group they draw is instantly recognizable, and their pics are always so vivid and brimming with life and personality.
11.) What fandoms would you say you’re an active member of? ARMY, Starlights, Aroha… that’s about it, lol.
😅
I mean, I try to stay as up to date with comebacks as I can, and those aren’t the only fandoms I write for, but those are the ones I participate in most avidly.
12.) Take your top 3 biases- fmk tbh I have never understood the appeal of this game Fuck Kiss: N Marry: Jin (solely because he seems to be the best cook out of the three of them, and I’m shallow that way.) Kill [with kindness!]: Amber
13.) If you could be best friends with any idol, who would you choose? *nyooms to Korea to join the ‘92 liner posse at the speed of sound*
14.) If you could date any idol, who? Eh. I’m good, thanks.
15.) What’s one Kpop album you think everyone should have listened to? Hmmm. “Should” is a strong word, since everyone has their own personal preferences, but I will say that I think BTS’ WINGS album is hands-down the best thing they’ve ever done to date, and they try out a lot of different music genres and styles there, so even if you don’t like EVERYTHING, you’re bound to probably find one or two songs on there that you enjoy. Plus the lyrics of every song are just fantastic, so there’s that, too.
16.) Are you a soft or a hard stan? Soft all the way, boy. Thirst blogging does not happen here.
17.) An idol that makes you go into soft mode? Every member of my bias groups, tbh, BUT, if I were to choose just one that never fails to turn me into a doting, proud, sentimental auntie every single time I clap eyes on him, it’s this kiddo right here.
18.) An idol that makes you want to smash the empire state building with one single punch? I’m? Genuinely not sure how to answer this question??
19.) Favorite vocalist? How dare you try to make me pick a favorite vocalist when there are so many absolutely fantastic ones in this industry? >:O We’ll just do three of my top faves from both genders, instead, how about that?
21.) Favorite dancer? Again, top three because I refuse to go any lower:
Male J-Hope [BTS]
Taemin [SHINee]
N [VIXX]
Female Minzy [2NE1]
BoA
YooA [Oh My Girl]
22.) Things you have in common with your ult? Well, we’re both pretty extroverted and clingy, and seem to be perpetually surrounded by people who never want to cuddle. XD I’m also fascinated by candle-making, though I personally have never tried it yet (I make soap instead). Our way of loving people and showing we care can come across as naggy or overbearing sometimes, and we’re commonly accused of being “bossy” even though we’re simply unafraid of speaking our minds and letting people know our opinions on things. I think we’re both also afraid of letting other people see how vulnerable we are; we crave it, that intimacy, that connection with other people, but we also don’t want to be perceived as a burden, so we can also hide how much we’re struggling, no matter how much we may want to let it all out and have someone comfort us, if we think it may be taken the wrong way. We both love animals and cute things, too. There are a few other things I could mention, but I think that’s enough for now.
23.) The most beautiful trait any idol can have? A kind, considerate, and humble heart. As long as they have one of those, then they could never be ugly in my book.
25.) Your worst wrecker? BTS’ Jin. He even managed to wreck me while I was in the process of writing this very post; I was THIS ==>||<== close to making him co-ult biases with N, I even wrote it up and everything before I ultimately decided that There Can Only Be One. That is literally how much this man wrecks me and how much I absolutely adore everything about him.
But if we’re talking about normal bias wreckers – aka people who would be my bias from any given group if my bias did not exist – then it’d be KARD’s B.M. for dudes.
And Oh My Girl’s
YooA for dudettes
*angrily smooches all their adorable faces*
26.) Any kpop concerts you’ve been to?
Alas, no. (╥╥﹏╥╥)
27.) Favorite choreo? Ain’t no way I’m going to be able to pick, so we’ll do the top three I get from my personal list if I don’t repeat groups:
“Spring Day” by BTS
“Shangri-La” by VIXX
“Hide & Seek” by Astro
28.) Favorite live performance? Yet another three way tie between BTS’ “21st Century Girls”
EXO’s “El Dorado”
and VIXX’s “Wind of Starlight”
29.) Favorite debut mv? When it comes to JUST the MV, ain’t nothing beats EXO’s “MAMA.”
30.) Recommend a rookie group! Stray Kids has really impressed me this year so far. Go check them out if you haven’t already!
31.) A kpop song you could listen to every day for the rest of your life? IDK man, any song can become tiring if you listen to it for too long. But I could probably listen to “So Far Away” by BTS every day without too many problems. It’s such a gorgeous, relatable, inspiring song.
32.) Tag some cute mutuals you’d like to get to know better (and to do this challenge)!
I saw @wonshiks-tiddy doing this, and thought it looked like fun, even if I wasn’t tagged specifically. So here are my current top 8 male biases from all the different Kpop groups I follow (not necessarily stan, mind) in age order from left to right, top to bottom. Comment below or leave me an ask if you think you notice some common trends. 👀 I might do my top 8 female biases sometime, too.
Love Me Do by VIXX (also my favorite VIXX song) was co-written and composed by Andrew Baag who in actuality is Bang Yongguk of B.A.P (he writes under a different name). So B.A.P and VIXX have worked together! imagine ravi and yongguk working on this song together i’m sweating
and now!
They’re both at the fourth spot for the number of songs written by any male idol! Props to our talented rappers and composers!!
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