Is A Powerful Main Vocal Necessary In A Group Now? (1 Viewer)

[Darkyoda47]

So @bulletproof got me thinking about one of my old threads on AKP after we talked about adding a "power vocal" to Daehwi/Woojin's future group. I asked then, is it really necessary to have a ""power vocal" in a Kpop groups anymore?
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I feel like 2nd gen lead vocals are enough to be main vocals in groups now. If we look back to 2nd gen groups, it was almost tradition to have those customary kill notes after the bridge of every song. However, nowadays, that formula isn't really followed much anymore.
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Also, if we look at the most successful Kpop groups right now, TWICE, BlackPink and BTS, we can see that the need for an "outstanding" power vocalist is not really necessary, right? By no means does this mean these three groups have terrible vocals, it just means that there are no stellar ones either.
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So back to my question;
Is it still necessary to have a big notes vocalist in groups nowadays?​

 

[VillageIdiot]

It's not necessary, but I still like powerful vocal runs and adlibs TT

 

[Myco]

Not really imo, I mean it's always nice to have one that suddenly hits you with a power note you didn't expect and all that
but these days the music lays more focus on performance & staging, in which case vocals aren't as important

 

[emptycup]

Yes, every group must have their own Ailee.
Make singing great again.
​

 

[Darkseid]

Not necessary but definitely helps. BTS used to be more rap oriented (still are with their B sides) and have a great rap line so they get away with not having an amazing vocal line.

Twice and BP yeah, it's more the visuals/personalities and the production and they're doing great but I think you'll have more longevity and be able to do OSTs etc if you're a great vocalist. However, most idols go off into acting and stuff so depends on what their priority is. I'd take a Taeyeon over a Suzy while others may choose the latter.

 

[Ahsoka]

Nope, but it can help.

 

[Jimimis]

Never was needed at all

 

[myungjun]

honestly speaking no, the formula now is mainly catchy and performance based songs and groups with variety skills so as long as you have the stage presence and an entertaining personality you're fine. most OST's don't require top-tier vocalists, somebody like Jihyo (just an example) could probably score an OST easily enough.

 

[Panda]

Tbh, nowadays even their music doesn't matter as much anymore not everyone will agree but music quality has gone down a bit tbh, so what's the point with a powerful vocal house?

 

[Darkyoda47]

Not really imo, I mean it's always nice to have one that suddenly hits you with a power note you didn't expect and all that
but these days the music lays more focus on performance & staging, in which case vocals aren't as important

honestly speaking no, the formula now is mainly catchy and performance based songs and groups with variety skills so as long as you have the stage presence and an entertaining personality you're fine. most OST's don't require top-tier vocalists, somebody like Jihyo (just an example) could probably score an OST easily enough.

Do you guys think "vocal tone" is more important now than "vocal prowess"?

 

[VillageIdiot]

Do you guys think "vocal tone" is more important now than "vocal prowess"?

It's always been that way, just moreso now

 

[myungjun]

Do you guys think "vocal tone" is more important now than "vocal prowess"?

not to me personally but for the successful formula of a group most definitely

 

[Darkyoda47]

It's always been that way, just moreso now

That's true. But I feel like vocal prowess had more of the attention, if that makes sense, before. For example, even acts like IU had to belt out the long, big notes back in 2010-11 to get the most attention. Bom had to sing WAY out of her normal range in 2NE1's songs and T-ara's Soyeon was hugely looked down upon for not being able to do high notes in their songs.

 

[Myco]

Do you guys think "vocal tone" is more important now than "vocal prowess"?

Not really? A unique vocal tone is fine and all as long as the one singing still knows how to handle it.
Imo the most important thing about vocals is how well the singers can handle theirs. A normally nice vocal tone will get you nothing if you sound off or weird all the time. "Vocal prowess" singers mostly have that control over their vocals more than the ones with their unique vocal tone. (does that even make sense lmao)

 

[Darkyoda47]

Not really? A unique vocal tone is fine and all as long as the one singing still knows how to handle it.
Imo the most important thing about vocals is how well the singers can handle theirs. A normally nice vocal tone will get you nothing if you sound off or weird all the time. "Vocal prowess" singers mostly have that control over their vocals more than the ones with their unique vocal tone. (does that even make sense lmao)

But then you see "vocal prowess" singers like Luna who don't really receive the limelight because their tones are considered "bland". However, there are acts like Bol4 who pretty much can't control their vocals live at all who do really well just for their unique "vocal tone".

 

[RandAlThor]

If You want me to care about them at all then yes :).
Particularly in kpop but musically in general the groups/acts in my life that i have cared about were very skilled vocally. To the point i abandoned entire genres for extended periods.

That does not mean i will care but it is a very good indicator that I will not care, buy or in most cases listen again.... ever.

Yes atm some outliers in skill are selling style successfully, but the vast majority of acts have at least 1 skilled power goto person.

 

[myungjun]

Not really? A unique vocal tone is fine and all as long as the one singing still knows how to handle it.
Imo the most important thing about vocals is how well the singers can handle theirs. A normally nice vocal tone will get you nothing if you sound off or weird all the time. "Vocal prowess" singers mostly have that control over their vocals more than the ones with their unique vocal tone. (does that even make sense lmao)

that's true in terms of vocal technique but have you noticed how much attention those with a unique vocal tone get nowadays? yuqi for example shot up in popularity at debut for having a voice kpop fans consider unique, having a unique vocal tone makes you stand out more in this over saturated market where huge amounts of idols can hit high notes but their voice doesn't stand out

 

[Jichuus]

Not anymore due to music trends, but I’d still prefer a good main vocal any old day. They’ll able to execute a variety of music genres because of their vocal technique.

 

[Darkyoda47]

If You want me to care about them at all then yes :).
Particularly in kpop but musically in general the groups/acts in my life that i have cared about were very skilled vocally. To the point i abandoned entire genres for extended periods.

That does not mean i will care but it is a very good indicator that I will not care, buy or in most cases listen again.... ever.

Yes atm some outliers in skill are selling style successfully, but the vast majority of acts have at least 1 skilled power goto person.

However, recently, with groups like Fromis_9 or (G)I-DLE or even nugu group, Favorite I've noticed that their companies didn't really opt to have those "big vocal" mains like Yuju, Wendy or Solar. They prefer to go the "unique tone" route and I gotta say, it kinda works? So far, from the big GGs, the only ones who retain these massive notes in their title songs is GF and Mamamoo.

 

[Darkyoda47]

that's true in terms of vocal technique but have you noticed how much attention those with a unique vocal tone get nowadays? yuqi for example shot up in popularity at debut for having a voice kpop fans consider unique, having a unique vocal tone makes you stand out more in this over saturated market where huge amounts of idols can hit high notes but their voice doesn't stand out

Yep. That's exactly the point I was trying to make. The requirement for these "power vocals" have steadily declined in the last gen and it might be even fully disappear within the next few gens.