Which generation had the more talented idols? 2nd Gen or 3rd Gen?

I guess 2nd.

Because in 3rd gen was when the very viral accusation of Lack of skills came about. BTS, BP, Twice the biggest groups of 3rd gen were already considered weak vocally and set precedence of non vocal talent based kpop groups.

In kpop singing is often seen as the criteria for “talent” and by 3rd gen singing already took a back seat for the most part.

Talent in what

Quote from YamaChwan

3rd Gen also has Mamamoo, Red Velvet and GFriend though. Not to mention EXO.

You're a traitor to your favs

The fact remains they’re not the most popular right. I can’t lie can I.

Quote from ISaidISaid

The fact remains they’re not the most popular right. I can’t lie can I.

Yup and the not most popular groups are praised for their insane vocals. Nobody can hold a candle to exo especially Kyungsoo, Chen Suho . Third Gen was the end of singing talent being the absolute requirement only so many groups maintained that I AM A REAL SINGER title but those groups not number one proving that later trends in kpop fans shifted away from talent to just pretty faces and stats to track

This is practically impossible to gauge at a glance. There are talented and not-so-talented people in every "generation" of Kpop. And truth be told, the Kpop industry never prioritized vocals for everyone. It's always been image first, which is to be expected. Opera this is not.

Quote from ISaidISaid

The fact remains they’re not the most popular right. I can’t lie can I.

You can and do. All the time.

Quote from Popper-of-Ks

This is practically impossible to gauge at a glance. There are talented and not-so-talented people in every "generation" of Kpop. And truth be told, the Kpop industry never prioritized vocals for everyone. It's always been image first, which is to be expected. Opera this is not.

You can and do. All the time.

You must be new to the forum and confusing me for someone else!

I wasn't around but it seemed the 2nd had more???

Quote from ISaidISaid

You must be new to the forum and confusing me for someone else!

Sure, we can go with that.

Never ask a question you don't want answered.

vocals were never a priority in this industry. it has been about the music, dancing, visuals, etc.

I vote for 2nd gen, but I did not vote in the poll.

I feel like as the generations go further and further, more people are becoming idols not because they have a passion for music or even a talent, but just because they want to be famous and taken care of (most idols usually have all their living expenses cared for by the company)

Quote from bethesda

I vote for 2nd gen, but I did not vote in the poll.

Vote!

You prefer when people vote in your polls, don't you?

Quote from StelloMomoDay

Vote!

I already voted verbally.

Quote from Popper-of-Ks

Sure, we can go with that.

Never ask a question you don't want answered.

The funny part was there was no question and you still replied. But that’s what empty vessels do! They make noise 🫡

Quote from ISaidISaid

The funny part was there was no question and you still replied. But that’s what empty vessels do! They make noise 🫡

Hmm...

Quote from ISaidISaid

The fact remains they’re not the most popular right. I can’t lie can I.

Quote from ISaidISaid

I can’t lie can I.

Quote from ISaidISaid

can I.

2nd gen had more talent and 3rd gen mostly mimicked 2nd gen.

No male idol has been able to sing better than Kyuhyun and Taeyeon hasn't been matched or surpassed at all. Wendy tries but her strengths are different from Taeyeon's just as Taeyeon's strengths are different from Wendy's. Each had what the other lacks in so you can't even compare them.

Chen, Baekhyun and DO are better than Suju KRY as a group but Kyuhyun is still miles ahead when compared to Exo's vocal line.

2nd gen were also better dancers, I'm yet to see an idol who dances like Eunhyuk from his debut to his prime. And there was (still is) Taemin even though Kai and Lay are beasts.

Don't get me started on Hyoyeon and Minzy. They were beasts.

2nd gen also had the most talented vocal and dance lines in Kpop.

Suju KRY and Eunhyuk and Donghae

EXO CHENBAEKDO and KaiLaySehunTao

SNSD TaeJessTiffSeo and HyoYoonYurSoo

And the entertainment from the 2nd variety shows is simply unmatched.

They are also great actors and actresses.

Yoona alone changed the Centre position and took it to anither level and Snsd as a group showed kpop idols how to model across Asia and beyond for decades so...

2nd gen wins by far.

2nd gen are little bit better than 3rd gen with their talents for vocal, dance and variety shows

Only old ppl say 2nd gen , I said what I said

Quote from YamaChwan

3rd Gen also has Mamamoo, Red Velvet and GFriend though. Not to mention EXO.

You're a traitor to your favs

Yes, but 2nd gen has way more talented groups. In 3rd gen, there were multiple weak groups. I don't think there was any in 2nd gen.

3rd gen was strong only because of Mamamoo, Gfriend, OMG, EXID, Red Velvet, EXO, Btob, NCT, and maybe Seventeen, but with boy groups I'm not that familiar.

3rd gen had the strongest boy groups imo, but girl group were carried by Mamamoo, EXID and Red Velvet, basically.

Quote from sonemariam

Taeyeon hasn't been matched or surpassed at all. Wendy tries but her strengths are different from Taeyeon's just as Taeyeon's strengths are different from Wendy's. Each had what the other lacks in so you can't even compare them.

The only Kpop singers who could be in the same league with Taeyeon is Mamamoo. Especially Wheein and Solar. My TOP5 was always like this:

1. Taeyeon

2. Wheein+Solar (same level, different style)

3. Hwasa

4. Wendy

5. Moonbyul

No clue to be honest, but if feel maybe 2nd generation if we make some kind average. Feels like the 2nd generation maybe still was a bit more about the skills like singing and dancing and later is more about the Idol stuff and being famous. At the same time the competion should be a bit harder in the 3rd generation, but also have a lot of new groups with a bit lower qualities, so 2nd generation maybe wins.

For female idols I think it's a fair battle, but I'm more inclined to say 3rd gen. It's more that 3rd gen talent is somehow locked behind unsuccessful groups, which tends to be overlooked

For male idols is 3rd gen by far. All relevant 3rd gen Boygroup are talented as fuck

Quote from Popper-of-Ks

Hmm...

I can’t read, can I [FULL STOP] not [QUESTION MARK]

Quote from ISaidISaid

I can’t read, can I [FULL STOP] not [QUESTION MARK]

Your poor grammar isn't my fault. Improper punctuation doesn't make it any less of a question.

2nd gen idols were definitely forced to sing live more so we get more live vocal material to analyze from 2nd gen but idk that 2nd gen were necessarily better singers across the board.

it's also hard to compare because 3rd gen put more of an emphasis on dancing talent at the expense of vocal talent, and comparing good singers versus good dancers is apples to oranges

personally i think most of the best vocalists in kpop debuted 2010-2015 so late 2nd, early 3rd gen?

Quote from David33

The only Kpop singers who could be in the same league with Taeyeon is Mamamoo. Especially Wheein and Solar. My TOP5 was always like this:

1. Taeyeon/Wendy

2. Wheein+Solar (same level, different style)

3. Hwasa

4. Moonbyul

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There. I've corrected it for you.

Where Wendy shines the most, Taeyeon doesn't and Taeyeon consistently produces resonance while Wendy is inconsistent. Wendy also has a wider range and more octaves of upto 4. Taeyeon is at 3 at her best.

Quote from sonemariam

There. I've corrected it for you.

Where Wendy shines the most, Taeyeon doesn't and Taeyeon consistently produces resonance while Wendy is inconsistent. Wendy also has a wider range and more octaves of upto 4. Taeyeon is at 3 at her best.

As much as I love Wendy, she doesn't have a wider range than Wheein, maybe she's better than Solar, maybe! I don't think there's a big gap between the 4 (6) of them, but I still think my TOP list was correct based on their current skills, and mostly, how they're using it. All 6 of them has a different style, so it's not easy to compare them.

Taeyeon has years of advantage, that's why it's not even a fair comparison, and that's why I didn't put Wendy next to her.

In my eyes, all 6 of them are the best, I didn't really want to rank them, because everyone on this list is better in something than the others. Mamamoo members has the same advantage as Taeyeon. All 4 of them working as soloists for years, unlike Wendy.

I don't want to write a whole essay about vocals in details, sadly https://kpopvocalanalysis.net is now a private site, thanks to Kpop "fans", but here are some copy and pasted analysis from them.

Side note: All these reviews were written years ago! Wheein, especially Solar, evolved so much since she was a lead actress in two Musical, and Wheein doesn't really use her wide range, but you can find videos when she does it.

Girls’ Generation’s Vocal Analysis: Taeyeon 

Red Velvet’s Vocal Analysis: Wendy 

Mamamoo’s Vocal Analysis: Wheein 

Mamamoo’s Vocal Analysis: Solar 

I forgot to add Hwasa! Sadly, they didn't write anything about Byul, because back in 2016 she didn't really sing that much.

Mamamoo’s Vocal Analysis: Hwasa

Here's a pretty good channel, you can find other reviews from him!

i'm going with 2nd gen

it's like the bar got lower with kpop getting more popular internationally

I voted for 3rd gen but you all have probably talked me into 2nd gen, it's wild how like seemingly every group had a vocalist who would be one of the best vocalists in all of 4th/5th gen. For boys, probably the best vocalist in 4th (who even is supposed to good among 4th gen boys?).

I do think 3rd gen were/are actually better dancers than 2nd, but the singing gap probably makes up for it.

Quote from David33

As much as I love Wendy, she doesn't have a wider range than Wheein, maybe she's better than Solar, maybe! I don't think there's a big gap between the 4 (6) of them, but I still think my TOP list was correct based on their current skills, and mostly, how they're using it. All 6 of them has a different style, so it's not easy to compare them.

Taeyeon has years of advantage, that's why it's not even a fair comparison, and that's why I didn't put Wendy next to her.

In my eyes, all 6 of them are the best, I didn't really want to rank them, because everyone on this list is better in something than the others. Mamamoo members has the same advantage as Taeyeon. All 4 of them working as soloists for years, unlike Wendy.

I don't want to write a whole essay about vocals in details, sadly https://kpopvocalanalysis.net is now a private site, thanks to Kpop "fans", but here are some copy and pasted analysis from them.

Side note: All these reviews were written years ago! Wheein, especially Solar, evolved so much since she was a lead actress in two Musical, and Wheein doesn't really use her wide range, but you can find videos when she does it.

Girls’ Generation’s Vocal Analysis: Taeyeon 

Red Velvet’s Vocal Analysis: Wendy 

Mamamoo’s Vocal Analysis: Wheein 

Mamamoo’s Vocal Analysis: Solar 

I forgot to add Hwasa! Sadly, they didn't write anything about Byul, because back in 2016 she didn't really sing that much.

Mamamoo’s Vocal Analysis: Hwasa

Here's a pretty good channel, you can find other reviews from him!

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So Wheein has 3 octaves but she's better than Wendy who debuted with 4 and has improved so much? Wow!

Ok.

And the receipts you've shared show that only Wendy debuted with 4 octaves. In SM, all vocalists improve with every comeback. Wendy is way better than you think and Yes, Taeyeon has the experience and like I said, her resonance is what sets her so much part from everyone else because it proves that she's very strong except from Wendy who can do almost everything else that Taeyeon does vocally.

2nd gen, I think visuals take more and more priority over talent or at the very least a combination of both as the generations goes by.

2nd gen idols were a lot more talented but less known whereas the talented 3rd gen idols are more publicly known

2nd gen got G Dragon so 2nd gen

Quote from sonemariam

So Wheein has 3 octaves but she's better than Wendy who debuted with 4 and has improved so much? Wow!

Yes, Wheein improved a LOT since debut days! Maybe you don't follow Mamamoo and the members as soloists, but I do follow all 6 singers whom I mentioned. Like I said, Wheein, Solar and Taeyeon has YEARS of advantage, because they have a solo career too, unlike Wendy who only started hers not long ago.

Also, just because Wendy has 4 octaves and the others have 3 doesn't mean she's a better vocalist. One thing to reach a certain octave and doing it the right way. I've seen Wendy struggling many times with higher notes, while Wheein and Solar are not.

"Range doesn’t determine your sound, only which notes you can sing. Talent doesn’t necessarily correspond with size of range"

I don't think there's a reason to argue about this. All 6 of them are exceptional singers and as I said, there isn't a big gap between the 6 of them!

Maybe this will open your eyes! The creator is a very objective Vocals analyst. Wendy is a beast Vocally.

Quote from David33

Also, just because Wendy has 4 octaves and the others have 3 doesn't mean she's a better vocalist. One thing to reach a certain octave and doing it the right way. I've seen Wendy struggling many times with higher notes, while Wheein and Solar are not.

"Range doesn’t determine your sound, only which notes you can sing. Talent doesn’t necessarily correspond with size of range"

I don't think there's a reason to argue about this. All 6 of them are exceptional singers and as I said, there isn't a big gap between the 6 of them!

The highnotes Wendy can hit + her head voice, wheein doesn't come close in any way. And her lower register is also much better that wheeins. She can go much higher and lower than both Taeyeon and Wheein who are more agile than her and of course resonant for Taeyeon. And that's it.

Quote from sonemariam

Maybe this will open your eyes! The creator is a very objective Vocals analyst. Wendy is a beast Vocally.

The highnotes Wendy can hit + her head voice, wheein doesn't come close in any way. And her lower register is also much better that wheeins. She can go much higher and lower than both Taeyeon and Wheein who are more agile than her and of course resonant for Taeyeon. And that's it.

I watched most of his videos.

Like I said, hitting high or low notes is just one thing, if you can't do it right it doesn't mean much. Overall, Wheein is better because she's more balanced. Wheein doesn't really like to sing high notes because it's not her style. But yes, Wendy is a beast, that's fore sure.

I'm not sure if you know this, but just like in this video, he said, Wheein became much better, but he didn't know she had a serious mental health problem for years! Now, she's on another level.

Wendy is more like Solar, btw, a power vocalist, while Wheein and Taeyeon are balanced.

Anyway, let's meet in the middle and say, all 6 of them are the best in the industry as female Kpop Idol singers.😅