Seo Taiji And DBSK head to head

Has Rock music suddenly taken over Pop as the most popular Music Genre in Korea?

After 4 years in exile, Seo Taiji (36) makes his official comeback in to the Korean Music scene on the 15th of August. Similarly, after 2 years of promotions in Japan, DBSK are headlining the SMTOWN LIVE 08 on the same day.

In the media its been seen as a battle of the generations. Seo Taiji being an idol star of the 20th century and DBSK the 21st Century idol star.

ETPFest is an annual festival held by Seo Taijis company where plenty of World Stars participating on an annual basis. It started in 2001 and past acts have been Tommy Lee from Motley Crue, and Hide from X-Japan. After 2005 it was cancelled, to commemmorate Seo Taijis comeback its back and better than ever. Check out the headliners:



SMTOWNLIVE is not an annual event organised by SM Entertainment, instead a treat for fans since there was no 'Summer SMTown Album'. All their popular artists are meant to perform (with some exceptions). This years show lineup is as follows:



On paper and judging by the Korean Music Scene, one would assume that because of the crazy youth fandom in South Korea, SMTOWNLIVE would be the packed concert, winning the so-called 'Battle of the generations'.

Apparently not.

Let me educate you on this matter. Both concerts will be held in 'Jamsil' stadiums. ETPFest in the 'Jamsil Baseball Stadium' and SMTOWNLIVE in the 'Jamsil Olympic Stadium'. Tickets for both have long been available, but only one is SOLD OUT.

Yes, ETPFEST is sold out. While only 70% of SMTOWNLIVE ticket sales have been issued. The problem also isnt in price. ETPFest tickets all sell for a pretty hefty amount of 132,000 KRWs (around $133), while the most expensive for SMTOWNLIVE is 66k. The sales for the latter predict it will be sold out, but the significance in its availability is obvious.

What has happened to all those crazy fangirls/fanboys? Is it possible that they're Seo Taiji fans too? And his comeback is more valuable to them?

Only Heaven knows We only have our theories.

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Credit: My Daily, noonoo_shoo @ SYP

Correct me if I'm wrong, but thats as far as my crappy translation skills get me.

[American]...THE USED + DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE?!

HOLY SHET!

I'd go and then head over to SM just for ZLY <3

[and just the fact that hide once attended ]

^^ no attendance after the show starts teal :p Its in the new 'RULES' for the SMTOWNLIVE

I'm a fan of Seo Taiji like big time, and a fan of DBSK, also big time. I would go to ETPFest for sure. Two days of AWESOME music. As opposed to seeing one or two bands I adore and one I despise.

Could it be, dare I say it....

Spoiler:

^ oh well then.. i'll just sneak in, apparently it's easy to get in SM

Spoiler:

Honestly, I'd pick the ETPFEST, more... but thats just me~
And its Seo Taiji's comeback + return of ETPfest!


....

Why is Epik High and Clazziquai on the chart... ??

edit: Just noticed "death cab for Cutie" when Soyboy mentioned it >.<
Yup... gonna have to go there to support them XD

Noonoo...put this up ASAP on the blog!!!

OMG...Death Cab for Cutie!!! Really?! And of course Epik High and Clazziquai!!! This beats SM TOWN big time. I would go to Seo Tai ji's comeback concert hands down!

THis is truly a battle of the decade! You have 2 completely different genres, different age groups, wow!

Your translation was great! If you want me to translate more thoroughly, just give me a link to the article...but honestly, it's great just as it is. Thanks for sharing noonoo!

Take that SM! Your idol factory can't beat out bands that are rooted in authentic music.

ooh! i still wanna go to sm town- i would never miss a chance to see my boys.

Thanks a lot soyboy. I put up the link to MyDaily. Im worried that my korean isnt up to scratch and I misinterpreted the stats about the tickets. I missed out some things and added my own here and there. Im hesitant with the blog, just in case I'm wrong.

Im gonna put it up anyhow, and it can always be deleted if its wrong eh?

Your article is accurate as it can be...I just read the Korean one^^
great job translating...those are some mad skills hehe

Lol, not as mad as some, soyboy!

and Teal, its funny awesome how this swings back at SM. So many reasons to mention as to why their concert isnt doing so well. Dont they always sell out? And with both TVXQ and SUJU present?

Wow. Those stats say so much more than any one of us could. 70%???

That is crazyyyyy!. That's all I can say. Both concerts overall made A LOT of money. whoaa

i wanna go to Both of the concert.. ><"
especially SM town concert...^^

Hmmm as much as I love DBSK *cough*Changmin*cough* I would choose the Seo Taiji concert instead. Love Seo Taiji and would love <333 to go see his comeback.

But that's an interesting line up...

Clazziquai... and Marilyn Manson(ewwww)? Epik high and then death cab for cutie? This is an interesting mix and would provide a better concert (really good groupsexcept marilyn manson, he scares me) (SORRY DONG BANG!)plus I'd rather avoid SNSD

wow seeing the list of that ETP concert...they have almost like every band that korea loves.

Crying nut?! they are like...WHo DOESNT like them? Their songs are Karaoke and national songs literally. Nearly every song by them almost everyone knows. like 80% of the population. ;__;

i love seo taiji and crying nut and clazziquai and stuff...but.. T__T come on CASSIOPOIEA. YOU CAN DO IT!! YOU MISSED THE BOYS DidnT YOU?!!

*whispers to rabu_xiah* Cassiopeia may be the reason that the tickets aren't selling.

^
Why would Cassiopeia boycott? I'm just asking, I really have no idea.

ETPFrest all the way for me. :/ Only a mild fan of DBSK and their comeback took too long... and is definitely not on the same status as Seo Taiji's XD

I don't know lol ^^
maybe it's because his fans are older and they have more money =)

but other then that I think that SM Town is still going to win
maybe fans are just saving up to buy them =)

It's a long and exhausting tale mimi and its only a theory dear.

Ok, just because you bothered to comment I'll satisfy your request. (and that your a seo taiji fan too ) ^________^

Main reason I have to suspect a Cass boycott, is simply because of the sales figures. Cass are well known to be some of the most fanatical and dedicated fans in Kpop. I mean its hard to find a Kpop fan that doesnt know their name. And as an 800,000+ member fanclub, a record holding one at that, it should have been a no-contest in this circumstance. Cass alone should have filled in those seats.

Unfortunately this opens a subject a lot of people would like to keep shut. And that is Dream Concert. There's a lot of crazy fanclub politics I can get in to, but its far too bothersome.

Anyhow, after DC, there was a lot of drama I'm sure everyone knows about, and it doesnt matter whether you were with or against the drama, it just existed. The fanclubs involved in DC had their names dragged through the mud, especially by certain fans and net-critics. Mnets documentary, however obviously scripted made 'Cartel' look like petty jealous little fangirls.

Whether one likes to admit it or not, Cassiopeia is a highly influential fanclub, that knows its way around the business and knows how to take care of their idols. Their idols equal number 1, no matter how badly it may affect SM.

Cass had their reasons to be a part of the silenceing, it will take ages to mention them but I hope you know the more substantial ones mimi. Downplaying their efforts to jealousy is downright insulting. This may be news to some, but Cass are quiet the smart cookies, and there's plenty to prove it. ( 5+1=0 5-1=0 anyone?).

Anyway, whats the next step after silenceing? A peaceful one mind. Just simply boycotting.

Cass will support their boys wholeheartedly, but this event is an SMTOWN, not just DBSK. It reflects on the company more than the individual artist.

My opinion is, that theyre trying to humiliate Papa SM as much as he tried to humiliate them.

The fans make the idols. Not just the company. In order to be the most successful, they need to work hand in hand.

SM needs a wake up call.

P.s. these are my insights and opinions, I mean no insult to anyone if you have any more questions mimi dont hesitate to ask.

Also, people need to remember that Parents may not want their children to attend after what happened at DC. Believe the 'violence' claims or not, it doesnt matter, the reason it became such an issue, is because of how rife the 'bullying problem' is in SK. It was just too real a situation to ignore. You can also say that it's a reason to not believe the claims, but you can climb the tree with a ladder or jump, its up to you.

The fact that there is no segregation between fanclubs is an issue. With fanboys getting angrier with each and every event, and fanwars escalating online, there's no knowing what could happen at this event. It's scary to think of the possibilities of having cass and ELF a long with SNSD fans in one row. I dont even want to imagine it. Afterall, one of the reason the silenceing happened was because of fanboy provocation online.

Let's just hope this event is a peaceful one.

^^^ well lets just hope it is a peaceful one and would not be worse than DC. I just wish SNSD and their fan boys were not included.
I dont want to see another banner ripping, or fans (neither cass or ELF) being hurt.

The ETP whtever concert seems like more into 'real' music, eh? id definitely choose that one if i had a chance. perhaps more adult music lovers go there, seeing the rate of the ticket and the performer-list. The concert is definitely not for pop-candy lovers.

Man, this is juicy!!!!! what is going on people!!!
Times like this .... i wish i was a fly could sneak in SM's office!
and figure this out a little!!!

Ermm apparently the place where the ETPFest is gonna be held is much smaller than the one that's holding SMTown live. I looked up in Wikipedia and it turns out Jamsil Baseball Stadium holds only 32,000+ people while the Olympic Stadium hold up to around 70,000? So even if they sold only 70% ticket, seems like more people are heading over to the SMTown live after all. Looks like the youth fandom is still not over after all. But then again, both stadiums should have standing place, right? Not all of the field are gonna be used for the stage and not all seating place are gonna be used too or they can't see the stage, I think. Well anyway I guess it kinda surprised me since the SMTown live is not sold out in like 5 second since DBSK is headlining them and after all they haven't been in Korea for so long (ermm let's just pretend to forget about DC). And SuJu too, since probably there's gonna be all of them. And not forgetting CSJH and Zhang Li Yin. Noona fans will go for Shinee and let's just ignore the last group. Hehehehehehe. But hey this is Seo Taiji we're talking about. Legend of the legend. I think people miss him more since he's been gone for 4 years without any new material. DBSK actually have new materials even though it's in Japanese. So I guess people are missing and anticipating Seo Taiji more? I know I do.

Ermm btw, anybody know is Hide going or not? Some people said he's going and some people said he isn't.

^ yep !

STJ i really a legend on 20th century + it's a rare perf, of coz they have to grabbed hold onto that

SM live- i think all of them are perf the songs that they have promoted / sang live be4, so it's nothing really special compare to STJ's perf!

Lol, I still remember when I first heard Seo Taiji song. It was from the 3 ninjas kick back movie. I thought it was a Japanese song since they played it during the 3 kids trip to Japan. I only found out that it's Korean 5 years ago when I had the urge to rewatch the movie. And I was like, this is not Japanese this is Korean. Why the heck did they put Korean song when the place they are in is Japan (in the movie)? But it also opened my eyes to Kpop. And now he's back!! Can't wait to see fancams and all!! Seo Taiji hwaiting!!

Wow! No wonder that Seo Taiji's concert sold more than SM live. The artist line-up for the said concert is really a blast! Epik High, Clazziquai, Crying Nut? Hell they are some of the best performers in the Korean Music Industry!

Well sorry SUJU and DBSK but ETPFest all the way! This will be more fun and exciting than SM Town live....