Is KATSEYE the next BLACKPINK or are we asking the wrong question?
Impressive? Undeniably. But it's also important to remember that KATSEYE didn't come up through traditional K-pop systems. They're a joint HYBE and Geffen Records project, essentially a global experiment, armed with Netflix-level marketing and Western music infrastructure from day one. That's not a flaw. But it is a different game.BLACKPINK is tightly-knit, consisting of four members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rose, and Lisa. All Korean (though Lisa is Thai), and they've stayed close to their K-pop roots while going global. That consistency helped build their mystique. They were aspirational, high-fashioned, and untouchable.KATSEYE? They're intentionally diverse, six women from six different cultural backgrounds. There's Yoonchae (South Korea), Sophia (Philippines), Lara (India – also openly queer, which is rare and powerful in this space), Manon (Switzerland + Ghana), Daniela (Mexico/US), and Megan (USA).That kind of representation matters. It makes their music and visuals feel more reflective of Gen Z's global mindset. You see it in their lyrics, their styling, even in how they interact with fans. It's less about the glossy idol fantasy and more about relatability and authenticity.But here's the interesting part: That multicultural approach is exciting, yes, but it also risks diluting a singular identity. BLACKPINK has an aesthetic and sonic signature. KATSEYE is still experimenting. Is that a strength or a challenge? Time will tell.BLACKPINK's visual universe is polished and carefully curated. They blend hard-hitting beats with soft elegance, what some call "femme fatale pop." Their stage presence is magnetic, and their production levels are insane. It's precision.KATSEYE? They're more experimental. 'Gnarly' is glitchy hyper-pop, while 'Gabriela' dives into dramatic Latin pop with a full-blown telenovela-style video featuring Jessica Alba. Their performances are energetic, but sometimes chaotic. They're clearly searching for a core sound. But honestly? That makes sense. BLACKPINK took years to settle into theirs too. advertisementBLACKPINK became global through the K-pop system. YG Entertainment focused on making them icons, not just idols. Their Western expansion happened slowly but effectively, backed by Coachella slots, collaborations with Dua Lipa and Selena Gomez, and high-fashion brand deals like Dior and Cartier.KATSEYE was built for globalisation from day one. Their Netflix documentary followed the group's creation like a Western pop biopic. HYBE clearly understood one thing: the future of pop might not speak just Korean, it speaks English, Spanish, Tagalog, Hindi, and beyond. That's revolutionary. But it also comes with risk. The K-pop model is successful because of its structure. KATSEYE is trying something much more flexible, more Western in feel.So are they the next BLACKPINK? The easy answer is no. And honestly? They don't need to be. It's not about being 'better' or 'bigger.' It's about approach. BLACKPINK is a legacy. KATSEYE is a possibility. One built a throne, the other is building a spaceship. So instead of comparing, maybe we should just watch closely.- Ends
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Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Lazy Jennie is back? BLACKPINK star stops dancing mid-performance during high-priced tour; fans call it a repeat of past concerts
BLACKPINK made a grand return to the U.S. stage with their DEADLINE tour, opening with two sold-out nights at LA's SoFi Stadium. Over 100,000 fans gathered to witness the four-member powerhouse - Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa - deliver high-energy group stages and captivating solo performances, reigniting the group's global spotlight. However, the excitement was quickly met with criticism. Fans have voiced growing concerns over the tour's steep ticket prices, with many calling them "unreachable." Complaints about overpriced concerts have followed BLACKPINK in the past, and this tour seems no different. Adding fuel to the fire, YG Entertainment is under pressure for giving fans just a single reunion song instead of the full album many had hoped for. The company's handling of the group's comeback has left a section of the fandom feeling shortchanged. To top it all off, the infamous "Lazy Jennie" discourse has made its return. A viral clip showing Jennie pausing mid-performance has sparked déjà vu among longtime fans, drawing comparisons to past tour controversies. 'Lazy Jennie' makes a return Jennie has long been targeted for her so-called "lazy dancing" - criticism that followed her throughout her career and during BLACKPINK's BORN PINK world tour. Now, the accusations have resurfaced once again. During one of the DEADLINE tour performances in LA, Jennie was seen stopping mid-dance while the other three members continued. A video capturing the moment even shows Rosé appearing to ask her if something was wrong. Jennie takes rest on stage amidst her performance. The clip quickly went viral, reaching beyond the K-pop fandom, with many online users questioning how fans are paying premium prices for what they've described as "mid-performances." 'JOJO, HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING?!' The concept of being over a decade into the music industry and still unable to perform on stage, so you resort to acting cool and actually wild. ok but on a serious note.. how did she even debut? It's honestly embarrassing to call yourself an idol when you can't deliver a single ounce of energy on stage. like, stage presence is the bare minimum if you can't handle that, what are you doing here? BLINKs, however, were quick to defend Jennie. They claimed she was simply staying professional while fixing her in-ear monitor, which had come loose during the song. Supportive fans even shared footage showing Jennie adjusting the wire. Jennie fixing her monitor on stage* She was clearly having issues with her in-ear monitor and paused briefly to fix it. It's laughable how people try to dramatize it when she absolutely crushed her performances last jennie was obviously fixing her IEMs and that wasn't even the first time she had issues with her IEMs. yall just be hating on anything when she clearly devoured every stages last night and got every attendees hyped 😭 leave her alone. god forbid jennie paused to fix her mic she was signaling to the staff and even when she nodded you can barely hear her still and she kept adjusting it throughout the set yet she still managed to sing loud and clear Still, the incident sparked debate. Some questioned why such issues seem to happen repeatedly with Jennie. During the group's South Korea leg, a similar moment stirred controversy when her shoelace came undone mid-show - an incident that spiraled into backlash after she was accused of being rude to a staff member helping her. using the excuse of "her IEM wasn't working" for the lack of stage presence and laziness. yeah, pack it up. This is what having trouble with an IEM actually looks like and how to professionally handle it. 🤷♀️ Jihyo was fixing her mic while performing, and her dance was still perfectly in sync that's the difference between a truly passionate artist and a lazy fool blinks excuses used to be believable 💔Wdym your fave has been in the industry for 10 years and still can't be professional and just stop dancing (to a very easy choreography too) and you call her a professional?Other idols continue dancing why can't her? About DEADLINE World Tour BLACKPINK released their new single JUMP on July 11, which quickly dominated iTunes charts in over 60 regions and soared to the top of YouTube's global trending list. As part of their DEADLINE tour, the group will next perform at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 18. Spanning 16 stops, the tour had kicked off in South Korea and entered the USA, and will proceed to Canada and more, It will wrap up in Hong Kong on January 24. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
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Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
BLACKPINK's Jennie's flashing moment in LA sparks comparisons to Kwon Eunbi's Waterbomb performance, ignite K-Pop double standard discussion
During BLACKPINK's recent performance at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Jennie briefly flashed what appeared to be a bikini-style top while unzipping her jacket — a moment that lasted only seconds but instantly went viral. Fans flooded social media with gifs and clips, praising her confidence and playful energy. The moment was part of her solo set, which included 'Like Jennie,' and matched the tour's fierce, free-spirited vibe. Comparisons to Kwon Eunbi's waterbomb performance So, Jennie and Eunbi's shows got everyone chatting about unfair double standards, owning your body, and how things are changing in K-pop. Some fans are cheering them on for being brave, but others are asking if they're getting too much heat from the public eye. As K-pop spreads all over the globe, moments like these prove that times are changing, and idols are starting to take charge of their image and what they say. Jennie's moment made people think of Kwon Eunbi's popular Waterbomb Festival 2025 show, where Eunbi wore a bikini top with an open shirt and danced on her knees in a sexy way. Both shows were daring, but online folks noticed a big difference in how people reacted: Kwon Eunbi gets slammed, but Jennie's called cute. lol — Comment on theqoo via KBIZoom Can we just leave Kwon Eunbi and Jennie alone? It's not like she was swinging her chest around or twerking — at that level, it's just cute.' — Comment on theqoo via KBIZoom Some fans stuck up for both stars, saying that no one should judge artistic expression differently based on who's more famous or what guys and girls are supposed to do. Eunbi's viral surge and chart impact Despite controversy, Kwon Eunbi's Waterbomb performance led to a surge in popularity, Her Instagram gained 117,000+ followers in three days, Her YouTube channel added 4,000 subscribers and songs like 'Hello Stranger,' 'Underwater,' and 'Door' saw chart boosts in Taiwan and Hong Kong The Know Your Meme entry on Eunbi's performance highlights how her sensual choreography became a meme and fan art inspiration, with posts. Jennie and Eunbi's performances have gotten folks talking about double standards, personal freedom, and how K-pop's changing. Some fans are cheering them on for being so confident, but others are wondering if they're getting too much heat from the public eye. As K-pop spreads worldwide, these moments show that things are shifting. Idols are grabbing the reins of their images and voices.
