Infinite Backstage after #1 win for "The Chaser" on KBS Music Bank
It's a great time for Infinite, as they've received their first wins on all four major music programs ever since their "Infinitize" mini-album and comeback with "The Chaser." Their first official win occurred on May 31st for "The Chaser" on M! Countdown. However, footage of their #1 win announcement for SBS Music Bank was the first live video available. As always, Infinite shows just how appreciative they are of their win; Woohyun, Sungyeol and Sungjong are choking back tears, while the other members' eyes water, and L holds the trophy as if he can breathe in the scent of victory. Not soon after, Infinite also won first on SBS Inkigayo (June 1st) and MBC Music's Show! Champion (June 3rd).
Ever since their comeback with "The Chaser," Infinite has been holding a steady spot in the top three, usually beating out another group for second place. However, due to TaeTiSeo's immense popularity and strong live performances, the subunit from SNSD has been claiming the #1 spot for three consecutive times in a row on all three main music shows (M! Countdown, KBS Music Bank, and SBS Inkigayo). Thank goodness Triple Crown winners are taken out of the running after their third consecutive win, as TaeTiSeo became the first unit group to achieve 12 consecutive wins on all four aforementioned music programs. Infinite finally got the chance to win, congratulations boys!
Infinite hit the height of their popularity when they won 1st place for "Be Mine" and "Paradise" in 2011 before their Japan tour. The fact that they're winning again soon after their comeback means that their trek to the top is just starting.
Woohyun tweeted the following, "I wanted to talk to everyone who supported and gave interest to Infinite. But because I’m suddenly thinking back to all the times I spent with the members and Inspirits I can’t even talk... Thank you so so much, I love everyone who gave love to Infinite!"
Check out the live performance and the announcement of their win below.
"The Chaser" KBS Music Bank
Infinite's first win on KBS Music Bank win for "The Chaser"
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| Infinite Backstage on M! Countdown 120607 |
As of June 14th, 2012, Infinite won their first Triple Crown award (three consecutive top-spot chart wins) on M! Countdown and became the second K-Pop group after TaeTiSeo to win a triple crown in 2012. Though they did not achieve Triple Crowns on the other major music programs (KBS Music Bank, SBS Inkigayo, Show! Companion), they have received at least one win from each of those music programs in previous weeks. Their first Triple Crown signifies that they're not just any K-Pop idols anymore, but a highly recognized and popular group. What's more, though it wasn't by a wide margin, they beat out G.NA's "2Hot" track and Wonder Girls' new song "Like This." Since the aforementioned noonas have more idol experience and attained success before Infinite, it goes to show that the boys are really entering the big leagues.
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| Infinite Backstage on M! Countdown (prior to win) |
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| Infinite Backstage on M! Countdown (after Triple Crown win) |
NOTE: This is where I rant on...
Popularity in the K-Pop business is no joking matter. There are some great songs out there that can easily top charts, but the ones that make it on the list and stay there the longest are from artists that have the greatest popularity. Take TaeTiSeo's "Twinkle" for instance. Is it a good song? Sure, it's catchy. If another random group sang it, say rookie group Hello Venus, would it stay at the top of the charts long? Would they win 12 consecutive awards amounting to four Triple Crowns? Both answers, are 'no.' In fact, Hello Venus did debut with a popular song called "Venus", and though it does not have the same vocal difficulty as "Twinkle," I find "Venus" much more catchy. If the situation were reversed and TaeTiSeo were to sing "Venus," no doubt the track would beat out "Twinkle" if sung by a less popular girl group. In the K-Pop industry, idols are what really sells the songs.
When Infinite debuted with "Come Back Again," everyone was captivated by the difficulty and flawless synchronization of their dances. However, they didn't start breaking out until 2011, with their title track "Be Mine" for their first full- length album. At that time, I was cheering at my screen thinking, "Finally! It should have happened months ago!" By that, I mean that they have achieved their break-out recognition with the song, "BTD (Before the Dawn)," which, I still believe to this day, has got to be their best song. Netizens rave about the "Scorpion dance" accompanying the song, but the actual track is no joke. I wouldn't be able to describe it musically, but the song itself is powerful, dynamic, and epic without being silly or dramatic. Whenever I hear the track, I have the greatest urge to get off my feet and dance with masculine fierceness (sorry for that image). The music video actually highlights the lyrics of the song very well.
Infinite "Before the Dawn" MV (Eng Sub)
In the music video, the scene starts out with beautiful but battered flower boys Woohyun and Myungsoo glaring at each other in a look that leads to a rough fight. The actual antagonist appears shortly after- a tall, hatted man in dark clothing. The boys are trapped in some sort of leaky, burning building, and they must fight their way out. After joining forces to defeat their foe, they realize that only one can escape, and start fighting each other. Eventually, Woohyun realizes that they cannot leave without one another's help, but as they reach for the exit, they realize that dawn as arrived, and escape is too late. Upon closer explication, the hatted man is a metaphor for a female lover who yields the power to control and trap her counterpart emotionally. The song itself speaks of a man who's desperate to get his lover back despite her adamant refusal. It's borderline emotionally abusive as she tells him that it doesn't matter how hard he tries... lingering around her, he's like a beggar. There's story, scope, and pure sexiness in everything from the song, to the music video, and live stage performances- which the boys execute flawlessly. So once again? Why didn't they win?
On the August 13th, 2011 episode of Weekly Idol, one of the MC's commented on the issue, "I personally feel that Infinite's songs are outstanding... I like all the songs! BUT! The weird thing is, all the songs never got popular [...] I really feel that Infinite's songs should get 1st [...] It seems that people don't know what's good."
Infinite on "Weekly Idol" 110813 (1/2) Eng Sub
Infinite on "Weekly Idol" 110813 (2/2) Eng Sub
I'm not blaming fans for enthusiastically supporting their favorite artists, but I feel that the more popular a group is, the more critically we have to evaluate them. I can easily add a song to my play-list, but whether a group has true star-staying power is primarily based on how well they can actually perform their songs live, and of course, their likability (however, that's a topic for another day). If Infinite were to release "Before the Dawn" with their current popularity now, they would've easily dominated the charts. So as fans, be more responsible for your votes- biases despite true talent can really keep emerging groups from receiving the recognition they deserve.
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