I'm Sad To Say This But I Think I May Unstan WEEEKLY
I know some hate these kinds of posts. And I've never done one. But I think it helps to get your thoughts out, not as a criticism, but as a sort of closure seeking action. Stanning in kpop often involves varying levels of emotional attachment for one reason or another. And when that emotional attachment comes to a close, I think there's a desire to sort out one's thoughts and feeling, which by circumstance often take the form of "I unstanned" posts, as much as they are often derided by remaining continued stans as "unnecessary" or just actions of an anti. Our kpop community is one of connections and a shared culture of love of kpop and groups that is by nature nearly entirely online. We channel all our emotional connection to this world through the medium of forums and threads and typing it all out. So the only way to vent, so to speak, is to post it out to the world.
And so, this is mine. But I'd more accurately call it a lament. Rather than a rant or criticism.
I stanned WEEEKLY immediately at debut. It was uncharacteristic of me. I've never committed that early to a group. Usually it's built on a longer process of falling in love over time or being pulled in by a certain member that acts as anchor solidifying my love of the group as a whole. Usually this process takes time. But with WEEEKLY, I made the decision very nearly instantaneously, in the throes of being enamored with their debut song and MV, Tag Me!. In Tag Me!, I found one of my favorite debuts in kpop ever. Such a breath of fresh air and infectious charm and energy culminating in a chorus that just soars to heights that left me astounded. I had this feeling WEEEKLY was everything I wanted in a group. And in that moment, a time when I had been liking TWICE's musical direction less than I wanted , it connected to me in a way as if a life preserver to one cast asea. WEEEKLY Tag Me! was exactly the thing I had been looking for at just the right time. Something that got me excited for kpop again and dreaming of what they could become. I stanned, very nearly entirely, based all on this song and the implicit assumptions and expectation that song represented to me. As TWICE faces a potential winding down, less active future and perhaps a directional focus not as connecting to me, here was the great hope for the future of my kpop experience. The boat I'd take forward.
I stanned. Put them in my signature and went all in declaring them kpop's next great refresh.
Only after time went on, I never connected with their subsequent comebacks to that degree again, despite finding them enjoyable. My "stanning" continued to be supported entirely on the promise of that glorious debut and the hope of them hitting that height again. In hindsight, I don't think I established enough to really Stan. Despite loving the members and finding them charming and talented, I've never become fond of them in any individual sense like I am of Tzuyu or Yoona. So there's not that member attachment foundation to keep me connected even when the music doesn't hit me emotionally.
Which comes to my consideration of potentially unstanning. I've held on as a Stan on the basis of that debut, not really admitting whether such a tenuous foundation is really enough. I would say I'm a Stan here and on other forums But I think emotionally I became more to just have casual fondness for the group. I like them. And will keep checking in on them as they continue. But I think I have to officially relegate myself to a non-stan.
One might say I should wait for the next comeback to decide, and perhaps I will. But going off the previews I don't think it will be what I'm looking. Lore concepts and the like have never been my thing. (Actually a pet personal pet peeve of mine. I have an underlying dislike of "lore" narrative as a music framer, and the intellectualization of escapist pop music. I personally want something with less pretension.)
I just don't think they are the group I thought they might be. And that's my error in placing too many assumptions and expectation based on a single song. They will be the group they are and follow their own path.
So then WEEEKLY has become my Stanning Lament. My "I May Have Jumped The Gun" Stan. I had dreams of a future with them. And wanted to go on that journey with fellow Dailies along with WEEEKLY as they progress. But I don't think my heart's in it anymore. And ultimately I think I may just have to say hi once in a while. Come to visit every now and then.
I do wish them all the best in their future and will keep in touch.
Thank you WEEEKLY for the fun time I've had being a Dailie and watching your rise.
I'll see you all around!
Note: Hopefully this is an "I unstanned" post that everyone can tolerate. As I said I just needed to express my thoughts so I can close the book on this chapter.
It may seem silly to be all official about this sort of thing. But we are all here for a reason. Despite it just being "pop music". It's SERIOUS! lol.
