Why Zgirls and Zboys should have just debuted as a Kpop group from the start

[GuardianofTheCosmicRealm]

Zenith Media Contents made a super bad PR stunt by proclaiming this is a new genre, but when we look at Zboys and Zgirls, the style and sound are identical to Kpop except for the english part. It turned off people a lot and that they didn't even promoted in Korea made things actually worse for them. People don't hate them, but they didn't care for them either.

Now, Zenith is trying to do damage control by going full-blown Kpop with the comeback. Jacket teaser images, they are using Zenith's VLive now and the MV teasers are more Kpoppish than the Disney-western sound they tried in their debut. Also, they will have their first showcase in Korea, and from what I've heard from the Vlive streams when asked about promoting in Korea, they said they will appear on some shows. So the whole point with this new genre Z-POP was just a big waste of time and money. Should have just debuted as a KPOP group and probably gotten many people, especially international stans on board with them. But I feel people have a set of opinion on them already, so they have a uphill battle to be recognized.

Monday is their first comeback and I think will determined wether they will have any long-term future. I like the idea of a pan-asian Kpop group, but sadly typical bad management of a Kpop agency is at play again.

 

[Aquamaraqua]

I don't think it was a bad idea, because for one they have no Korean members. Which is questionable since they're trying to break into the Korean market. I actually think them not being K-Pop made people see them in a better light than not. As for not promoting in Korea, they had showcases and other things before if I recall correctly in Korea. Including performances and buskings.

Their whole concept is a limitless group, kind of like NCT, so if they do add Korean members in the future and then start being more K-Pop-esque, I don't see a problem.

 

[D'Arco]

They could, i mean, look at Honey Popcorn, a full 5 member Japanese group active in korea

 

[GuardianofTheCosmicRealm]

I don't think it was a bad idea, because for one they have no Korean members. Which is questionable since they're trying to break into the Korean market. I actually think them not being K-Pop made people see them in a better light than not. As for not promoting in Korea, they had showcases and other things before if I recall correctly in Korea. Including performances and buskings.

Their whole concept is a limitless group, kind of like NCT, so if they do add Korean members in the future and then start being more K-Pop-esque, I don't see a problem.

They had one concert where they shared the stage with Monsta X, Apink, Wanna.B(from same label)and others I can't remember. After that, they spent 3 months in some shitty and cheap stages in Southeast Asia(no pun intended)

I don't mind them doing a NCT system, but should have just dropped the whole Z-POP stuff from the beginning. It confused people and still today, many are not sure what genre they are doing.

Even without a single korean, I think many inter-stans would let them pass compared to EXP Edition or Lana. Because they are at least asian.

 

[Aquamaraqua]

They had one concert where they shared the stage with Monsta X, Apink, Wanna.B(from same label)and others I can't remember. After that, they spent 3 months in some shitty and cheap stages in Southeast Asia(no pun intended)

I don't mind them doing a NCT system, but should have just dropped the whole Z-POP stuff from the beginning. It confused people and still today, many are not sure what genre they are doing.

Yeah I remember that. They also did street perfs in Korea.

To be honest, I don't see the confusion really hurting them right now. They're just way too much of a novelty to be ignored at this point, even if they are confusing. If they're consistent with good music, I can see them going somewhere. I think if anything what's gonna hurt them is the obvious difference in quality with the girlgroup and boygroup. The bg come off as super bland... which I understand they're supposed to be "hard" but they use badly lit MV sets from 2010 nobody is on board with anymore. I heard their recent teaser and while it's better than their debut it's still very much the same aesthetic, unlike the girls who definitely looked like they got an upgrade.

 

[GuardianofTheCosmicRealm]

Yeah I remember that. They also did street perfs in Korea.

To be honest, I don't see the confusion really hurting them right now. They're just way too much of a novelty to be ignored at this point, even if they are confusing. If they're consistent with good music, I can see them going somewhere. I think if anything what's gonna hurt them is the obvious difference in quality with the girlgroup and boygroup. The bg come off as super bland... which I understand they're supposed to be "hard" but they use badly lit MV sets from 2010 nobody is on board with anymore. I heard their recent teaser and while it's better than their debut it's still very much the same aesthetic, unlike the girls who definitely looked like they got an upgrade.

Yeah, I agree on the boys. Their debut was mediocre. I didn't like the girls song either. It had a outdated sound and many said it reminded them of a Disney song from 2008 or something lol

I liked the jacket images and video teasers so far. But no matter how good the songs will be, the most important thing is how Zenith will promote them. If it's just one showcase in Korea and off again in SEA for heavy promotions, then I don't think this Zpop will last after this year.

I have a feeling if this project fails, there will be another attempt by others. Maybe a bigger company than Zenith should try a pan-asian idol group, but do a better job than them. Meaning train them properly, have strong visuals that can match korean beauty standard and promote them as a KPOP group.

 

[Aquamaraqua]

Yeah, I agree on the boys. Their debut was mediocre. I didn't like the girls song either. It had a outdated sound and many said it reminded them of a Disney song from 2008 or something lol

I liked the jacket images and video teasers so far. But no matter how good the songs will be, the most important thing is how Zenith will promote them. If it's just one showcase in Korea and off again in SEA for heavy promotions, then I don't think this Zpop will last after this year.

I have a feeling if this project fails, there will be another attempt by others. Maybe a bigger company than Zenith should try a pan-asian idol group, but do a better job than them. Meaning train them properly, have strong visuals that can match korean beauty standard and promote them as a KPOP group.

Well there's KARD, with only international hype and they've still stuck around. SEA fans are more hardcore in terms of streaming than non-Asian ifans, so I think it still works out for them in that regard. Zgirls/Zboys are also the biggest breakout group from that company, so I don't think they're gonna go anywhere even if they continue to just promote internationally. You've still got Wanna.B from the same company that don't get nearly as much attention yet they still have comebacks.

So yeah, I don't think Zenith has completely dug themselves in the ground yet. What will really be telling is how they treat their concept moving forward, after heavier SK promos.

 

[Yeddong]

If there are Korean groups who debut in Japan without Japanese members and they are practically already considered J-Pop because they never comeback in Korea (SMASH, MYNAME, SUPERNOVA, etc) why not.

 

[GuardianofTheCosmicRealm]

Well there's KARD, with only international hype and they've still stuck around. SEA fans are more hardcore in terms of streaming than non-Asian ifans, so I think it still works out for them in that regard. Zgirls/Zboys are also the biggest breakout group from that company, so I don't think they're gonna go anywhere even if they continue to just promote internationally. You've still got Wanna.B from the same company that don't get nearly as much attention yet they still have comebacks.

So yeah, I don't think Zenith has completely dug themselves in the ground yet. What will really be telling is how they treat their concept moving forward, after heavier SK promos.

Yes you're right. KARD is a good example. However, but I think the reason why many people around the globe likes them is because they are korean and co-ed group. Also, they are good looking in terms of KPOP beauty standard. While most of Z-Girls are pretty except for one. But Z-Boys has a harder time, because they look average at best. Looks matter a lot when you're an idol and I feel Zenith dropped the ball with Z-Boys.

Tomorrow is the big test day for them, so hopefully their comeback songs are good enough to attract new audience to them.