[Warning: Rant| Drama| Might Hurt Some Feelings] Ideally How MAMA Could Have Been As Good As The Old Days

I've seen a ton of complaints from Mys themselves about the stage. I've read Mys saying that SM is saving the good stages for their own SMTOWN concert.

I guess it felt empty for some people since most of the prominent groups weren't there: BTS,EXO,BP,RV...this year's MAMA was for the most part a ''4th gen'' show.

But also the actual stages just felt bland,some of them didn't even differ from your usual music show performance.

What went wrong imo was that some performances seemed like a regular MNet Countdown special episode.

Last year's MAMA didn't suck that much and we were still dealing with peaks of the pandemic.

Also, the lineup had no bigger act, like Twice, RV, EXO. Seniors' presence does make difference.

Edit: what I mean is, the show doesn't need to be like the "good old days". It only needs to be good.

Let’s hope this year’s low views and ratings and high complaints will make (mama, sm and other labels who did things half assed and take fans for granted) wake up

It felt like they didn’t put any effort because SM didn’t win big. If I was SM I wouldn’t have sent my artists. Lol. Instead of half assing like this.

Quote from Yumeku

Honestly them not showing up would have been better to deliver the message. Can't say it's just MAMA though. They're doing this format for all concerts. The crazy things they could do with aespa's concept are limitless yet they put no effort into it at all, as if they want it to suck to get publicty. The thing they actually did great was the SMCU episode. That shit was the best but then they for some reason canceled/put it on hiatus when it was supposed to be a whole season for this year. Sometimes I feel SM is allergic to positive feedback.

Oh I have not followed their concerts but I thought they would have high production value

One thing SM always did well was high production concerts/sets/performances.

It would be sad if they lost that.

there was too much pre recorded parts

Stray Kids' performance was also mostly live especially 3racha, the others lipsynced some parts.

I totally agree that the problem wasn't the line up. I think the problem was the performance direction of most of them. They not only look like regular music shows' performances, It seemed the idols didn't play with their own strengths.

I will give aespa as an example. Every one knows their greatest talent is signing over dance performance. Yet, they lipsynced in a completely empty enormous stage to priorize dancing over singing. How does It make sense? Of course, they would be criticized. You don't see Mamamoo priorizing dancing over singing If they know in what they are better on, that's why they are always great.

They were mistakes that even 3rd gen idols could have done and would be criticized as much as the 4th gen idols for not fit the expectations of a award show performance.

I think it boils down to lack of stage presence of 4th gen groups with the exception of Skz and Ateez. It is what it is.

Quote from Yumeku

There is a reason aespa's encore even with crappy mics no in-ear/backtrack is still a fan's favorite performance. The girls are more than capable to do great stage singing live. Not to mention their dancing isn't bad but the random choreography plays a big part. Their Black Mamba stage is perfect in terms of dancing IMO because the choreography is good and balanced. They just need to turn the mics on with good choreo. Include new things. Actually perform one of their bsides like all groups do. I hope SM or aespa realize this before it's too late and they're branded with it.

I always defend the girls about not singing live on Music Shows, because I think It's a waste of voice. But man, not even award shows they are allowed to showcase their amazing singing, It frustastes me a bit, because I really love their vocals.

And I agree with you the choreographies, apart from Black Mamba, don't value their potential at all.

Quote from Minazuki

I always defend the girls about not singing live on Music Shows, because I think It's a waste of voice. But man, not even award shows they are allowed to showcase their amazing singing, It frustastes me a bit, because I really love their vocals.

And I agree with you the choreographies, apart from Black Mamba, don't value their potential at all.

Karinas solo choreography was just insulting.... i cant believe SM used the same dude that did her knowing brothers choreography after the backlash it got

Quote from carrot-juice

I guess it felt empty for some people since most of the prominent groups weren't there: BTS,EXO,BP,RV...this year's MAMA was for the most part a ''4th gen'' show.

But also the actual stages just felt bland,some of them didn't even differ from your usual music show performance.

I think some people feel like 4th gen idols aren't established (and experienced) enough to carry whole award show by themselves. After tonight I agree ngl, but hopefully it will get better.

Quote from daniel-cruz

I think it boils down to lack of stage presence of 4th gen groups with the exception of Skz and Ateez. It is what it is.

Difference between groups who debuted pre covid and during covid is HUGE.

That's why I don't bother watching awards shows anymore, the performances are lacklustre imo and it's like the groups just can't be bothered being there. Some groups have been robbed of awards in the past eg, SJ in 2017 so for me they are just a total flop. They drag on way too long as well and like with most award shows, you usually have to wait until the tailend to see bias groups perform. I was disappointed with Aespa's performance tbh.

My opinion is that if MAMA wants to have an enjoyable show, they should learn how to treat the artists correctly, their record is not good and that not only makes the fans and audience not interested in the show, but also the artists won't care about the performance or not even attend

Quote from ultraaviolet

i think itzy ) especially ryujin) have good stage presence.

also when it comes to aespa i think if they sang live the stage presence would be better. their encore stage is still my favorite stage of theirs for a reason sigh.

Haven't seen GG performances as much.

Quote from daniel-cruz

I think it boils down to lack of stage presence of 4th gen groups with the exception of Skz and Ateez. It is what it is.

Disagree completely here. 80% of a good award show performance is down to the performance director/creative planning. Most idols are able to execute the rest.

SM is severely lacking here and seem to have not realised that music show performance is not the same as awards show performance. This is a longstanding issue with them. Itzy killed it and this was majority down to the performance director, similarly with BTS's past award show performances.

I hope that at some point SM decides to work on this because they are lagging behind other kpop companies in terms of this and their MV quality.... award shows like these are a great way to get new fans and they consistently miss out on the opportunity to cease the day.

Technical things aside I think the awards have lost what made them special and set them apart from the year end shows like mbc gayo.. idk if it's covid or things just changed but one thing people all looked forward was the feeling it was like a big party for the groups, like each group would make their mini concert and the other celebrities would be their audience lol nowadays, much like mbc gayo, the idols perform just for fans, there's no interaction (I also blame fans for this) and some companies straight up stopped making effort or even sending their artists since they have similar or even better exposure from releasing things on their own channel.

Aespa ‘s stage was a huge disapppointment , people are blaming it on SM but I genuinely think the girls deserve their own criticism , you don’t need back up dancers to have at least charisma , they lipsynced, facial expressions was just at level zero even Ning Ning who I thought for sure will eat had less stage presence than on the music show . Sm hasn’t had a gg that knows how to perform since SNSD, it might seem harsh but this just how disappointed I was

Quote from kpopnewbie32

SM is severely lacking here and seem to have not realised that music show performance is not the same as awards show performance.

They know, I remember watching Shinee's concert video and it's just so different. Part of me thinks it's just not their goal with the new groups to improve their stage presence, they'd rather focus on other things like visual+dancing which can be connected to their intention to make their artists severely inherent with their metaverse advances... if anyone disagrees feel free to quote me

They treated the idols badly, no wonder no senior group wants to go there anymore.

Quote from tetetete

i dont get it

what relation does stage presence have to lore and metaverse?

Imo it's just not their focus to make their artists stand out by their vocal/stage/performance abilities like in the past. I remember SM idols always overshadowed their concepts by their vocal range, personalities, dancing etc like you'd hear waaay less about EXO concepts than how good their vocal is but nowadays I hear way more about aespa and nct concepts than anything individual on the members. Might be a personal experience tho

Quote from Yunakarina

Aespa ‘s stage was a huge disapppointment , people are blaming it on SM but I genuinely think the girls deserve their own criticism , you don’t need back up dancers to have at least charisma , they lipsynced, facial expressions was just at level zero even Ning Ning who I thought for sure will eat had less stage presence than on the music show . Sm hasn’t had a gg that knows how to perform since SNSD, it might seem harsh but this just how disappointed I was

i watched their performances right now bc i genuinely thought it couldn't be as bad as you were making it out to be but what even is sm doing? they all looked completely disinterested and the stage was literally empty. they couldn't afford some props or something? did all the money go towards the giant snake????

Quote from Yumeku

Concerts are way different though. Compare these stages by NCT 127 for example to their promo stages this year (I still like all NCT's Mushows because the dancing is great, but I loathe lip-syncing)

@2:21 my fav part

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besides the camerawork being better in CDs than lives, the performers go outside the box and enjoy the stage more in their own concerts.

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Thanks for the link!! Imo I think this kind of stage would be so good at awards and even these kind of songs are good choices, I just don't understand why they just not push this kind of performance anymore if they know how to do it... it brings way more attention in awards.

Quote from sveznalica

I think some people feel like 4th gen idols aren't established (and experienced) enough to carry whole award show by themselves. After tonight I agree ngl, but hopefully it will get better.

I don't know probably it is because of this pandemic or the line up is basically not enough to gather people attention. However, I do agree their stage presence and performance is still lack here and there. Again maybe because of this covid they're not used to all of this.

But, it is hard to not compare with mama 2016 where the third gen are dominating the line up. It is one of the best stage in mama history for me. The performance and the hype is everything.

If Aespa's performance was as bad as karina's cringe introduction, then maybe they shouldn't perform at such places. I haven't seen it yet but from the comments, it must be bad lol

Speaking of SM's concerts

Please bring back passion, freedom and life to the stage. This obsession with the illusion of perfection is sucking the fun, sucking the whole life out of kpop, let idols make mistakes, let them sound out of breath and let them mangle the fuck out of the choreography. Let them improvise, have attitude and personality and be themselves. These are not dance crews meant to present perfect choreographies.

I'm so pissed off and I think Aespa deserve criticism of their own. They ARE dull and lacking performers, the huge gap between their non existent charisma and Itzy's fire performance yesterday was painfully embarassing.

I think most newer groups are suffering from this malicious obsession with perfection, JYP is probably the least offender of all and that's why their groups still manage to consistently put on charismatic performances. But people who think this is an SM-only thing are fooling themselves. SM might be one of the worst offenders though, because they at least can debut technically skilled idols which makes it more frustrating watching them try to overwrite those skills with their overbearingly controlling ways.

The lipsynch is really getting out of hand and I partly blame it for artist's lack of stage presence.

They're not singing and accordingly not really feeling the performance as a whole either. How can you truly get into it, if all you ever do is lipsynch and going through the movements. Some looked like I do at work when I'm preforming the same task for the hundredth time that week. It crushes your soul.

Got curious so watched the performance. And yeah, they were just going through the motion. their outfits were nice though.