albeitalways

when i heard kara was going to make a comeback truthfully i wasn't as excited as i should've been xD but when i saw the teaser pics i went: akjdfalkjda;lwlklkalaf gyurissofrigginggorgeous!?! >.< black is definitely back! and no kpop girl group has rocked the look better than kara with their brand new concept. two thumbs up to dsp! ((: everything--from the title (ars

Well I do admire their clothes and their faces but on a serious level--like my love for Jonghyun of SHINee or Seung-ri of Big Bang... ah no, not really. I think lurking in the forum at some point for like 24/7 and stanning for KARA actively is the closest I could get of really being in love with these girls.

At this point... I'm still on the teetering edge between yes and no. There's no in-between for me. We all know DSP isn't what they're used to be--of course they're still one of the top moguls of the entertainment industry but they don't have the edge they used to have. I don't really have a big faith with DSP's marketing skills. :/ Personally, I really like Rainbow. They're not jailbait, everyone is legal and I think those girls can werk sexy and fabulous. They're like a crossing-over group between girly cute and feminine sassy. Think of a cross between SNSD and Afterschool. But I'm really worried for them. I like their mini-album and their title song but without the right promotions, I'm afraid Rainbow's going to be like one of DSP's 'throwaways'. Hopefully not. But I'm confident KARA has already a solid fanbase both in Korea (where it really matters unfortunately! >.<!!) and international-wise, soooo... whatever happens, DSP is always behind our girls.

._______. Honestly, I'm torn.... I want the girls to be upgraded from their 'cute' image, but what with all the recent comebacks and debuts, I don't know if I'm still rooting for it. recent concept is the kind of upgraded cute that is definitely an improvement from their debut days, but I'm afraid that might be the same route that DSP would take. I don't mind if it is, because one thing I'd want to see is for a brand new image^^ It'd be boring if they're just going to stick at one style. It's nice to have a change now and then. (: But not if it's just another retake from some other group. =( With the competition this year, it's gonna be really tough to stand out and DSP is not going to make it easier if they're going to give crappy treatment promoting them--starting with their new image and style. Tbh, I think it would have been better if Kara just stuck to their ground and came back as they are like they were back then in Pretty Girl. One way to stand out is going against the trend, and it seems to me it's a common trait with girl groups in Kpop these days to be all fierce and srs business. If DSP is going to upgrade the cute, I'm praying that it's something that will showcase well their talent. I don't care anymore with their looks and concept if DSP will finally let their talent shine with their songs. :] Talent is more important than looks anyway. That's what DSP should aim for instead. They should know how to promote the girls' talent instead of downgrading them to suit their current image.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~ ;DDDD Fangirl here as well. It's because I share a lot of things in common with Nicole. Well for one thing, our birthdays^^

If U Wanna was the first song that got me really hooked in Kara. I admit that I detested Rock U, I completely lost interest with them, but one song that caught me from the minialbum was Wait.

LOL these pics just show our Nicole is pretty with or without makeup. Thanks for sharing these!

LOL Guys I'm not saying they need to go overboard and be all gangsta-like and wear baggy clothes or something to make an impact. That unfortunately, will only brand the girls as a 2NE1 impostor and be accused of riding the wave. What I meant as being strong and independent is the one they portray in the Break It album cover. They looked classy and strong-willed. I agree with mae, for some reason, I think I can see GyuHamCole retaining the group's original spirit even now. I'm sure Hara can work it, after seeing her JYP audition, it's not true this girl can't fit anywhere else but in cutesy stuff. I'm not sure about Jiyoung though, she's pretty young but then again, you never know. You took the words out of my mouth. Couldn't have said it better. I mean compare If U Wanna and Pretty Girl and you will definitely see the change Kara underwent through after losing Sunghee. What frustrates me really is that the girls definitely have talent but with the way DSP is treating them they don't get to expose them much. I don't think they'll be accused of copying any group's style if they reverted back to their original image. Their Break It songs are different from any others. That's what made me notice them in the first place. They gave off a mature yet still feminine vibe. And while it's true they DO need the money since the entertainment industry is a business like any other, I am still of the opinion that if DSP doesn't think out of the box, I'm afraid they're not going to make it far.

Simple. There is money. Japan is where the money is. Unlike Korea, where piracy levels are high, Japan's CD sales are still going strong. And that means better profit. Tbh, I don't think they'll make it in the US. Girl groups and boy bands died a long time ago, if you don't count the Pussycat Girls Danity Kane is not counted since they're short-lived and already disbanded. Plus, I hate to be frank but to the average American, the pop music in Asia is outdated by their standards. I think Kara can make it to Japan, provided they are given adequate training with Japanese language lessons. Their current image would fit very well with the girl group scene in Jpop. However, like I've always said, cutesy isn't for the long run. They need something different and unique to make them stand out. But I'm confident they will. And if DSP ever decides to promote them in Japan, they can benefit from the help of their SS501 sunbaes.

^ Agreed. While the cutesy image does fit them [and as it pains me to admit] is what brought them their current fame, it really doesn't work in the long run. Don't get me wrong while I like the new Kara, I am still of the opinion Kara 4's image is really for the best. CD sales be danged, what they really need is something to stand out from all the new girl groups popping from right and left. Cute might bring in the sales but it doesn't really make them stand out among the rest. The image of strong, independent girls from their Break It days is what they really need.

Tweety Tweety Tweety FTW~!!! Nicole is ♥♥♥ Srsly. ;P She was the first member of Kara I've noticed and made me try out their music. ^^, It helps that Nicole's constantly in variety shows so I got to know her personality better and her mannerisms. Plus the fact I have the same birthday as her, as in same year kinda helps xD While she might not be as stunningly gorgeous as compared to others, say Gyuri, Nicole has her own kind of beauty that shines out from the others.

Well if Sunghee was included, I'd definitely vote for her. That girl has a pretty eye smile than the others, even Hara. I voted for Nicole because bias aside xD, her eyes were the first thing I noticed from her^^

Interesting topic. (: Well, thread OP and anne have already answered whom I want them to collab with, such as Younha and IU. Younha rocks and while most people outside the Kamilia fandom wouldn't even imagine the girls and Younha performing together, I believe they can work it. Their Break It concept would totally fit with Younha^^ IU is another talented singer, and she'd definitely fit with Kara's current image. Her song Boo is a cute one, albeit one that does not showcase her vocals well like her Missing Child song. I'd like to add SS501 too, since hey, they're both the representative girl and boy bands of their entertainment company and it'd be nice seeing both groups interact with each other^^

^ Yup there are. AKB48 for instance. Already 40+ girls in there. There are subunits for them. And there's Idoling!, 9nine, SPEED and many others. H!P has an empire of girl groups under their wing. Eggs, Buono, C-ute etc. But IMHO, Korean girl groups are better [costumes and dance-wise] than Japanese ones. So I think Kara as a group can make it. I'm just not sure if Hara goes solo. Hmm...they just need a new style, like idk sexy chic or preppy freestyle uh..that kind of thing. But definitely not the image they used in Honey and Pretty Girl bc that's just like most Jpop girl groups.

Well if we do take this seriously, yes, in terms of looks Hara has more than a 50-50 chance. She resembles the typical Japanese idol like those from Morning Musume etc. [in fact, IMO, she's even prettier than some current members of Momosu ;p] And anyway, with regards to her vocals, while I admit that hers still has a long way to go compared with the other group members, from what I've heard of Japanese girl groups so far, vocals are underrated. When it comes to the Japanese market. Jk! But seriously, I don't think her voice is an issue here, what matters to the average wota is his idol's face and kawaii factor. Second to that is personality. Unfortunately [or fortunately], the finesse of vocals does not matter. Kusumi Koharu, anyone? But as others have pointed, learning a new language is quite difficult. And improving your accent too. Plus despite the seeming similarities in Jpop and Kpop, the Japanese pop market is actually a different ball game altogether. What works for Korea does not mean it might also guarantee success in Japan. Hara has a chance, but there are a lot needed to work on. The language barrier is first and foremost priority. And I agree with one of the users here, Hara needs something 'special' to break her way through the myriads of girl groups already in existence in Japan. p.s. wow, first post here. and a very long one apparently. 8P