Display MoreShe is one of the best.
But great vocals in Kpop is as relevant as great cooking skills in a McDonalds.
Bad skills will be noticed, but superlative will be ignored and redundant.
Taeyeon was noticed as a formidable vocalist even before Soshi debuted, yet her success as a soloist is because of Soshi.
Because mere great vocals aren't enough in Kpop.
Otherwise EXID Solji, Kim Boa etc. would be the top tier stars.
You need something more,
IU went with Lyricism and good acting career.
But other vocalists largely struggle, if they aren't from top groups or have an additional X factor.
If I want to hear great vocals, I would rather look at classical or opera singers, not Kpop.
She had 2 explosive OSTs If and Can You Hear Me both in 2008 with If charting on Melon OST for over a decade consecutively. She was a household name as a singer before SNSD had Gee. She literally got famous because of her singing ability, that's how well regarded she is too this day. SNSD catapulted her existing popularity to mega stardom.