I'm pretty sure everyone in allkpop heard the news about Big Bang winning Rookie New Comer Award at the 51st Records Awards in Japan. And this of course, in the process, beating other upcoming newcomers like Maya Sakura, Scandal and Hilcrhyme. However, the Japanese Netizens in fact are very displeased by this factor and therefore, protested about the unfair victory.
This was taken from allkpop; let's see what they have to say.
A day after Big Bang won its award at the Japan Record Awards, Worldwide Arts Show, a popular news blog, and 2CH, a large internet community, were flooded with attacks and protests against Big Bang's victory, claiming that the judging criteria was flawed. "A Korean boy group that I haven't even heard of nor seen received the Best Newcomer Award through a shady judging process," an individual remarked.credits to allkpop and other sources like BBVIP FORUMS.
Netizens argued that Big Bang's record sales, which fell behind many other newcomers of the year, were overlooked by the judging panel. For example, Hilcrhyme sold 108,000 record copies, dominating Big Bang's 41,000 sales count. Furthermore, Hilcrhyme's track Shunkashūtō was ranked #1 on Japan's top-selling singles list for the week of September 22, whereas Big Bang has yet to make the list with any of its tracks. "Record sales are an important part of judging criteria, so what kind of criteria did the judges use?" many netizens questioned.
Interestingly enough, Big Bang's Best Newcomer Award at the 42nd Japan Cable Daesang earlier in December, which also beat Hilcrhyme and Maya Sakura, was met without a ruckus. Others have pointed out that Hilcrhyme's Shunkashūtō was released in September, whereas Big Bang released Let Me Hear Your Voice in November, which may have resulted in Big Bang's lower sales count.
I am a very neutral person and therefore, I won't make any wild accusations about this matter. I do love Big Bang and I enjoy their music very much, but now, I have to be honest with my opinion. I do agree with the Japanese Netizens when they displayed much disappointment towards the judging. Fine, I admit Big Bang has been around Japan for a pretty decent durations, promoting their songs here and there. Even to the extent, G-Dragon make collaborations with w-inds for their single Raining (I think). Big Bang are striving their best for the best to make it big in Japan as well as Korea.
But please do note, that this is in fact the reason why I am quite surprised.
Big Bang, though they have been progressing well, their sales for their singles and albums are not very satisfying meaning, their sales record are just average. Of course the upcoming artists had it much worse with just only 8000+ sales where as Big Bang had 30000+ sales with their singles, thus the consistency.
Perhaps this is how the judges count their judging through the number of sales and therefore making it an obvious win for Big Bang. That is one.
And the most amusing part is, most Japanese Netizens do NOT KNOW Big Bang. In others words, they're not widely known in Japan. And therefore, the question of sales again is added into the picture. TVXQ was not widely known in Japan that time and thus, they could only take on 7000+ sales for just their first single. Big Bang on the other hand, have been actually indulging themselves into the Japanese music industry recently in 2008 with their so called Japanese Albums which just only consists of English songs and half sang japanese songs. And yet, they make such a big impact on the sales taking 30000+ on their first single.
Aside from that, Big Bang's way of promotion is not very effective either compared to TVXQ which is why not many OR to say MOST Japanese Netizens do not know of their existence. And even when they try to promote themselves is just sad. It's like, they don't want their music to be heard at all.
I understand it is the culture and language which bares the problem for Big Bang because they have just recently learn Japanese whereas TVXQ and BoA have mastered it and now can speak Japanese fluently. To me, Big Bang's songs are pretty much alright and addictive, but not breathtaking.
Their songs are not something to wow about but more like something that gets stuck in your head for a period of time. The only songs that wowed me from Big Bang honestly was Lies and Oh my Friend. Other than that, their songs are just very; typical Big Bang songs. And what saddens me is that some people with such biasness towards Big Bang comment and bash the Japanese Netizens calling them racists and unfair towards foreigners. Also, because they are such loyal fans towards Big Bang, they have the fuck to bring up the issue on their hardwork towards their music and how they deserve it and all.
I am not saying they don't deserve it but bringing up the hard work issue really puts me into questioning you guys.
"Are you saying that Big Bang is the ONLY GOD DAMN BOYBAND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD THAT PUT GREAT EFFORTS TO THEIR ALBUM?"
My answer is no.
There are a lot more artists in Japan who I dare say, perhaps work twice as hard as Big Bang to reach into a level where they are known WIDELY among the Japanese Netizens. How dare you say such pressing issues when you don't know that there are some japanese artists perhaps who are much BETTER than Big Bang are working their ass off into getting their one and only single to the charts.
And you dare comment that Big Bang's fanbase in Korea is much bigger and therefore it should be the same in Japan.
You are just god damn wrong.
Despite TVXQ's success in Korea and their building fanbase in Korea, they didn't do that well at first when they first started out in Japan. Their fanbase at that time was minimal and their Japanese wasn't very good either way.
But the way they promoted themselves was amazing. Even taking one year off from Korea just to promote themselves in Japan thus, naming that particular year, Tohoshinki year (which is their japanese name for TVXQ) which is why THSK's sales at this rate now are much, much more reasonable that what I am seeing now.
Fine, perhaps another reason for BB's sales is also because of their music which perhaps suits some of the Japanese fans taste. But that didn't give them a reason to win such an award. I suppose, it's different now where foreigners are beginning to succeed in certain countries but I feel quite bad for Hilcrhyme because I thought their first single was really good but then the other two was pretty much okay. And considering they are locals, they should deserve the award instead of Big Bang. But after all, I have to say Big Bang as well have put in much effort to make it big and therefore winning such a prestigious award is a big accomplishment to them.
To sum it all up, Big Bang has A LONG WAY MORE to go before reaching that certain level where I can just put my hands down and salute them. Therefore, I actually do side the Japanese Netizens about this matter. Everyone has to start from small and despite the low numbers, they need to have more initiative to promote themselves. I love Big Bang but I don't think they are ready enough to deserve the award.
But on a happier note, I am also proud of them for making it all this way from a nobody to a somebody in Korea and also winning an honourable award for best newcomer.
And also I do hope they will continue to improve instead of flopping down all the way which I know they won't because I have faith in them.
