Music Billboard interview addressing debut controversy
- http: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x3fN2SZe6E
- (Starts 20: 53)
- Host: I just thought of an incident. Actually, this incident was a small misunderstanding. In the past during our awards show -- we can talk about this directly -- during out awards show, we have a female MC. She said to the fans -- she was joking and said it very casually -- "Don't scream! Even if you scream, they can't understand." At the time, Kris said something, right? What did you say?
- Kris: Yes, I said that in our group, we actually have four Chinese members, so we can understand Chinese.
- Host: Yes, so it was a slippery slope. Everyone was thinking, "What's wrong with this female MC?” on the other hand they were thinking, "Oh~ what's going on?" Actually, we really have to talk about this problem. There is a problem, but we have to address it. A lot of people might still think you're a Korean group, while your group actually has four Chinese people. I think that we can definitely call you a Chinese group -- there's no problem with that. Every day, do you have to address this question? Every day, you have to explain to people your standing? Kris, have you thought about it before?
- Kris: We've just begun, so some friends may -- because we're a group from a Korean company, they'll think we're a Korean group. But actually, the whole point and motive of our group is to return to China and perform for Chinese fans. So the four Chinese members feel that this is all for Chinese fans, so we hope we can be a home-grown/local group. And perform especially for China.
- Host: They want to be considered a local group. So the next time, if I were to host, I could introduce you as "Chinese group, EXO-M." There'd be no problem, right?
- Kris: Right.
- ...
- (25: 19)
- Host: He (Lay) likes Khalil Fong, do you like him too?
- Luhan: I like Yu Quan.
- Host: Hey, didn't you meet them this time?
- Luhan: Yes, so I was really happy.
- Host: How did you feel?
- Luhan: /nods and sighs/ Very moved.
- Host: After the awards show ended, the second day I was catching a plane and I was on the same flight as Yu Quan. When we were taking a rest, we talked about you.
- When we talked about you Yu Quan said that in their hearts, "They are a Chinese group. Because they have four Chinese members." And I said, "That's right, that's exactly how they're set." And they said, "If they're going to be a Chinese group, they definitely need to put more roots in China." Meaning, housing in China, living in China -- understanding China as a big picture is key. Really convince people you are a Chinese group. This is what Yu Quan seniors told to me, a suggestion. Hope you can accept it.
- EXO-M: Thank you.
Feelings on EXO-M's debut and incident Music Billboard
First of all…
THEY DEBUTED!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
And then I woke up this morning and saw all the….drama…
I don’t know if I’m just being another delusional kpop fangirl (I probably am) but I really need to vent somewhere about the way Exo-m were treated last night.
You might want to watch this first if you haven’t already so we’re on the same wavelength: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00PswIIcfMA
Lack of Professionalism from MCs
The female MC not knowing that EXO-M had chinese members and was perfectly capable of understanding/speaking chinese, then telling fans not to “keep screaming because EXO-M are from overseas and they can’t understand you” is just extremely unprofessional. But she can be forgiven cause Kris showed her up for us (chyeeeah you tell ‘em) and because it gets worse…
The pink guys
Sorry that I’m being ignorant and hypocritical (but hey I’m not the one hosting an awards show) in that I don’t know these guys names but they were quite rude…especially the one next to Kris who made a snide comment after Kris spoke; “how deep/philsophical” [[here, maybe I’m reading into it too much]]
Not to mention their emphasis on ‘local’ when they introduced themselves as ‘Local Artists’, which preceeded the MC’s referring of EXO-M as ‘Foreign Artist’. URGH!
Yu Quan
Again, I’m not familiar with them but for them to be receiving such a prestigious award as an exemplar/role-model artists, they have to be pretty respected. Yet their actions and words leave me wondering if they deserve this respect, taking obvious jabs at the kpop influence in China. When they were talking about MIC not being able to peform (note connotation that it was EXO’s performance that meant MIC couldn’t perform) and that MIC were the only group that could ‘干掉’ (quite a rude way of saying ‘get rid of’) korean groups (note connotation that EXO-M and other korean groups should be gotten rid of), I just felt a ball of fire rising in my stomach. These comments are bad enough without the connotations, but the fact that they were said so blatantly in front of EXO-M and all their fans is just plain rude. It’s worse that is this after their ‘enlightening’ speech about how music should be loved by all.
And then the ending. They COMPLETELY ignored our boys who were bowing deeply and only went to pat and shake MIC and the pink guys’ hands, leaving EXO-M standing awkwardly off to the side. Thank god for the one who came back to shake EXO’s hands otherwise it could’ve gotten even more awkward. As for the one who just didn’t even bother acknowledging EXO, I shake my fist at you.
The Feelings
I understand that alot of these things alone are not that insulting (…or are they). But it’s the cumulative effect of all these in a span of about 5 minutes, on their DEBUT appearance after all their hard work and perservation, in front of all their fans, that makes it sting more. I can see why some would think that these comments were harmless, but honestly, the jab at SM and kpop in general’s swarm into the Chinese industry was obvious and doing it in front of EXO is unnecessary.
Furthermore, after the respect Luhan and Kris showed for this senior artist, and then for them to come up and pretty much say “don’t support them” is just frustrating.
Also, it was annoying to hear EXO-M being repeatedly referred to as a ‘foreign artist’ when they’re obviously debuting and promoting purely in the Chinese market and have Chinese members. I get that they were trained and all in Korea but it must feel so alienating, especially for Luhan, Lay, Kris and Tao, to be referred to as that ‘other’ entity from ‘another’ country (oh wait, they’re from exoplanet that’s right LOL). I think the awkward divide on stage between EXO-M and the MIC/pink guys when Yu Quan were coming on and off stage says it all.
I guess we all knew that the road for EXO-M was never going to be smooth, but it doesn’t need to be like this right off the bat. I heard that the MC apologised afterwards and possibly(?) MIC did too (though I don’t think MIC did anything wrong specifically), but the damage is done.
All I can say is that I hope our boys weren’t too upset by this because the reason why it hurts me so much now is because I’m scared how much EXO-M could’ve been hurt by this encounter.
Of course, this was an emotion-driven rant post, from a rather (biased) point of view, but what happened speaks for itself.
Let’s continue support our boys no matter what!
- RiHiyori
uncut (full 50 minutes) EXO-M Music Billboard interview
v.youku.comUnfortunately, the video is very fuzzy… >.<
凡 吴 @ YT plans to english sub this soon.
They are so shy! Host said, “You’re a quiet group, aren’t you?” And he keeps laughing at Yixing for being so spacy.
aww…feel so bad for Luhan when he broke the sign… However I see why he didn’t seem to pick it up in the cut video now…
Chen and Xiumin understood and answered question about their group roles in Chinese! ^o^
Some random clips that were cute~
Tao: I like Zhang Jie.
Host: Zhang Jie? How are you familiar with him?
Tao: I like to listen to his songs, and when I was in Korea, I practiced them.
Host: You like Zhang Jie. So do you like Xie Na? (his wife, a female Happy Camp host) Don’t look at your manager~ he’s laughing too. Quickly answer.
Tao: Pretty nice.
Host: Which member are you closest to in SJM?
Kris: I’m close to Henry, because I went to study Canada before, so we conversed in English at first.
Host: you’re close to Henry, what about you?
Lay: …
Host: Speechless again. No matter how spacy you get, you must the question~ (laughs) is his reaction usually this slow?
Kris: No, no, no, no…
Host: Is there something the matter today? Is it me…?
Lay: There was one time I collaborated with SHINee seniors…
Host: Oh, okay, you can talk about them.
Lay: I participated in one of SHINee’s concerts. They’re all really good people. They really took good care of me.
