Is it just me or do all 4th gen boy groups sound the same?

No offense but has there ever been era in kpop where the ggs and bgs haven't almost all been following the popular sound/concept? I think we always view the last generation as being more unique when we had the same complaints during it. Though I will agree most 4th gen bg songs I hear don't appeal to me.

4th gen ggs: girlcrush and quirky concepts, bgs: dark

3rd gen ggs: cute was so common we had thinkpieces all over the place, bgs: hiphop inspired music and rap became a bigger factor in bg music

2nd gen ggs: started off "edgy" (?), then cute for a bit, then sexy took over briefly, bgs: whatever you would consider the Super Junior sound (2nd gen was the most diverse era though in my opinion)

1st gen ggs: cute R&B mixture, bgs: hiphop inspired

Quote from cheddar

No offense but has there ever been era in kpop where the ggs and bgs haven't almost all been following the popular sound/concept? I think we always view the last generation as being more unique when we had the same complaints during it. Though I will agree most 4th gen bg songs I hear don't appeal to me.

4th gen ggs: girlcrush and quirky concepts, bgs: dark

3rd gen ggs: cute was so common we had thinkpieces all over the place, bgs: hiphop inspired music and rap became a bigger factor in bg music

2nd gen ggs: started off "edgy" (?), then cute for a bit, then sexy took over briefly, bgs: whatever you would consider the Super Junior sound (2nd gen was the most diverse era though in my opinion)

1st gen ggs: cute R&B mixture, bgs: hiphop inspired

Display More

yes kpop fans join fandom in 2022 and two months later : OMG KPOP MUSIC WAS SO GOOD IN 2002 I MISS THOSE DAYS

I've listened many BG this year, and they don't sound the same for me. I think it's more in their b-sides that I find that there are more similarities between the groups, but this problem is also found in many GG.

I hope Tempest sticks with their sound for a bit...

Though, I think there is more variety than people give it credit. It just sucks it gets paid dust.

Quote from WinterStorm1

Why is this even the case though? Can’t we have a little variety? I’m not harping on the sound, like I do like many fourth gen bg with varying popularity but it seems like they all stick to a formula and lets just say we need a change ASAP

Kpop is like any other entertainment industry and its main focus is profit. These sounds and concepts are what sells with fans during their time so all the companies want to cash in and make a group like that. Kpop is also particularly fast-paced, competitive, and processed meaning there's generally less "artistic inspiration" than an indie music genre. It's the same as how almost all western pop follows a similar sound at the same time. There's always groups that do their own thing but most of them end up not doing as well.

Quote from WinterStorm1

Most of them probably weren’t even born yet by 2002 🤡

yes

fandoms in general have this "i was there when xx achieved this" syndrome

they want to be part of this special class of people with elite intellectual taste or something

just enjoy whatever you want from whichever era

if u genuinely check out there so much variety, even each group has so many different sounds in their discography. But no one checks out boygroup or they just check out to shit on them.

Quote from WinterStorm1

Yes, companies do what they can to profit. Why does it have to be that way? But also fans feed into this mediocre drawn out sound.

I guess because these companies aren't doing charity or passion projects. They make these groups with expectation of making money and the most easy way to achieve this is to make a sound/concept that appeals to the masses. It's like pizza. Is it the most unique, interesting, or even tastiest food? No, but you know everyone at the party will eat it so that's what you get.

And if as many people that say they want cute/bright concepts actually stanned for them, then companies would do that. But every group that debuts with that concept abandon it for a reason and that's because they're not profiting enough. It's like that with every generation and very few bgs can actually make a name off these concepts. Off the top of my head and I'm sure I'm missing some: NCT Dream, Seventeen, TXT, B1A4 found their initial success with this concept (and even then, they all explored new sounds after a while)

Quote from WinterStorm1

This is how I know my “baity” threads work. As someone who stans a boat load of 4th gen groups, this is funny to be accused of “not checking out boy groups and if I do its only to shit on them”

my last two sentences not directed to u, i am just saying in general

I just hope a group like 2AM & BTOB appears again I need good mid-tempo ballad songs

I love Treasure's B-sides, they have this distinctive sound in their B-sides that I LOVE but their title track were......messy

I would say TXT & CIX are some groups worthy to check if u want diverse sound

I don't know 4th gen bgs b-sides but their title tracks literally all follow the same trashy noise sound tbh, maybe it's just me, but it's ok

Quote from Sweet-Spice

I can't find the link of that thread where everyone listed recent different sounding 4th gen bg stuff

but essentially, it proves this wrong. People just don't care for the ones that aren't from BIG4 I guess..

This dkz cupid is a bop tho

Quote from WinterStorm1

It is a bop! Bit the reality is, how popular was that really in the grand scheme of things? How likely will they stick with that concept? I’d love for them to prove me wrong

Yeah me too. 🥲

Quote from WinterStorm1

Someone finally gets it! They follow the same formula and it just shows no variety. A song that one group releases could easily be done by another

Exactly, it's like new bgs don't have an identity unlike 2nd/3rd gen bgs when you say: "oh yeah it's their signature sound" when you listen to a song

Quote from WinterStorm1

Like I’m gonna use Maverick by The Boyz, like that could’ve easily been a Stray Kids song. And all these new groups debuting with the same sound: T1419, ATBO, etc

You and me having the same opinion, we get each other

i stopped watching music shows because on any given night there's 100 different boy groups performing some absolutely atrocious songs. honestly it bordered on torture.

Quote from WinterStorm1

I think we’ve agreed on things in previous threads too, you get me

You and me with the same braincell

my faves are unique

If you want some diversity I would rec checking TXT's older stuff

BG it’s either badass or bright

No one listens to bgs outside of big4 me thinks