|
From left, Luna, Amber, Sulli, Krystal and Victoria, members of the new girl group f(x) / Courtesy of SM Entertainment |
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
SM Entertainment, the creators of TVXQ, Girls' Generation and SHINee, has introduced another girl group, f(x), adding fuel to the already heated race between female performers.
The showcase for the new five-member girl group was held last week at the Fashion Center in southern Seoul, hosted by Girls' Generation member Sunny and Super Juniors' Lee Teuk.
Although the young members smiled nervously every now and then, it was evident that they were excited to finally present themselves to the public.
The group f(x) is comprised of Sulli, Luna, Krystal, Amber and Victoria. The name is written as the mathematical equation for function and, like the changing results depending on the applied variable ``x,'' the group is aiming to apply each of their individual talents to bring out the group's colorful charms.
The girls appeared in black with black fedoras, dancing to the beat of Sam Sparro's ``Black & Gold.'' The lucky fans who were chosen to attend the showcase shouted the members' names, but the girls kept up the energy with ``Womanizer'' by Britney Spears. The performance was powerful, but the doll-faced girls were a little too skinny to bring out the sexiness and edge of the song.
When they came into the spotlight, it was easy to see that the girls had done their work in terms of style. Each member donned at least one of the recent trends, from pointy shoulder jackets to colorful and graphic print leggings and long and curly hair, proving once again that Korean idol groups are not just about music, but the whole package.
``We have been preparing for this moment for so long. We are all so nervous,'' Krystal said.
After singing ``Mr. Boogie,'' a catchy electro number, the members continued by showing off their individual talents: Victoria danced to Ciara's ``Love Sex Magic,'' Amber offered a bit of Fort Minor's ``Believe Me,'' and Luna boasted her vocals with ``And I am Telling You I'm Not Going.''
Victoria's performance was superb, although it would have been more impressive if she actually sang as well. Amber, who donned a tomboy look and said she admired rapper Nas, was one of the most popular among the fans, with her short haircut and mischievous smile. As for Luna, her singing surprised both fans and the press, but it was hard to find any emotions, perhaps because it was her first official appearance.
f(x) wrapped up the showcase with their debut number ``LA chA TA,'' a catchy dance track with hints of hip-hop and pop.
The group made their television debut last Saturday on MBC's Show! Music Core, singing LA chA TA, which is the title track of their album.
``I thought their debut was impressive, considering their age. They look so young, but they still have charisma and I think that's important,'' Kim Soo-yeon, 21, who watched the group's debut, told The Korea Times. She added that although they made a strong impression, they would have to work hard to compete with the reigning girl groups KARA, Girls' Generation and 2NE1.
After their first appearance on television, f(x) attracted news agencies from other Asian countries as well. One of China's largest portal Web sites www.sina.com described the group as one that will change the standings of Korean girl groups, while other sites like www.sohu.com, Thailand's www.sanook.com and Hong Kong's daily newspapers covered the group's showcase and debut.
``The song LA chA Ta is an abbreviation of the exclamations `la la la' and `cha cha cha.' It's a word we made up for the song and we hope it will catch the attention of fans,'' Victoria said.
``We have big plans ahead of us, especially plans to perform abroad. We were formed targeting other Asian countries including China, Thailand and Japan, so we have set our hopes up to move forward,'' she added.
Sulli
1994.3.29.
This quirky member started training in 2005 when she was cast through an audition by the agency. Having a love for dancing and acting, the 15-year-old made her debut on the small screen in 2005 through the SBS drama ``Seodongyo.''
Luna
1993. 8.12
After entering the agency in 2006 through an audition, Luna has been training in dance, vocals and even foreign languages ever since. Despite her young age of 16, Luna is one of the best singers among the members. An avid dancer as well, she has also mastered Chinese in the last three years.
Amber
1992. 9.18
This tomboyish member joined SM in 2007 through an audition held in Orange County, in the United States. The Chinese American member has rapped as a hobby since she was young and admires rapper Nas and rock group Linkin Park.
Victoria
1987. 2.2
Victoria is the oldest member and was selected at an audition that was held in Beijing, China in 2007. The Chinese native is an expert in Chinese traditional dance, jazz dance and also singing. She has appeared in various music videos of other SM Entertainment groups such as Super Junior and SHINee, and also joined singer Rain and actor Lee Jun-ki for commercials in both China and Korea.
Krystal
1994. 10.24
Krystal is the sister of Girls' Generation member Jessica. Appearing in several commercials from a young age, the 15-year-old member has been training to become a well-rounded performer, mastering jazz dance, ballet singing and even Japanese. The youngest of the group, she has appeared in various commercials and music videos.
|
sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr
|
|
경찰, 이태원 등 외국인 밀집지역 특별관리
