I don't know where to put this, I don't even want it on my main. I don't hate Ateez, they've been my ult group for five years now. I didn't hesitate to get tickets and I saw them a few days ago. Of course the members are great performers as they always are... hell will freeze over when they're not. They put on a good show and I had fun, their energy with a live band is electrifying, yadda yadda go look up any video and you'll know they're good at their jobs. But despite having a great time in the moment, I feel like this might be the confirmation that this is the end of my time as a hardcore Atiny and I'm conflicted about it. Towards the Light, their previous tour, was a massive and theatrical production. Grand with elaborate staging, an entire story arc with a full act structure, complete with "live VCR" acting. It was an incredible, unforgettable experience. Their In Your Fantasy tour is fun but comparatively disjointed and minimal with a few exceptions. Their storytelling is part of what made them so interesting, and it feels less present here than it was in even their pre-TTL tours. Similarly... the The World era was ambitious. Outlaw alone had a unique concept with interesting implied character dynamics (Bouncy WooSan!!!), batshit unique guerrilla promotions, individual trailers for each song on the album, an in-universe trailer for the album, and an extended opening. The World was a wild, fun time in every way. Golden Hour immediately massively downscaled and has yet to have anything even close to The World's scale, or even Fever, or Treasure... Both times I thought "how can they top this?" and the answer was "they won't even try". They got their acclaim and pivoted. They say they're not chasing mainstream appeal. It's just funny that the sudden switch to the same bridgeless, short, straightforward pop that every other group is making just so happens to coincide directly with Ateez blowing up, more brand deals and big-name connections, KQ planning to go public, cheaping out on album quality, scaling back promotions, announcing another tour a week after the last one ended and slashing the production value while jacking up ticket prices... almost like now that Ateez is secure, KQ knows they don't have to put in the same amount of effort. People will open up their wallets anyways. I know they're capable of so much more and that's what drives me crazy. Ateez is incredibly skilled! Xikers is proof that KQ's creatives didn't all just suddenly totally burn out or something. They've had interesting promotions (Watch Out's YouTube maze horror adventure game that led you to a website with a bunch of activities), random lore drops, an interesting supernatural concept, crazy choreo, and B-sides like You Hide We Seek that scratch the itch... Eden-ary is still a good production team! People try to say it's because of the lore and it's not, or at least not entirely (Fever was more about normal, mundane life too and it wasn't like this). The loretiny spaces I'm in, full of the most passionate fans you can come by, have been slowly dying off. It's fucking depressing when what used to be hours of passionate discussion turns into a few dry acknowledgements then radio silence. Even people who like Golden Hour are trying to convince themselves that this somehow is all temporary... it's transitional or it's all because something went wrong behind the scenes three albums and a tour in a row and we just have to wait for the next series. The more they talk about it and hammer in their "new direction" the more I'm convinced it's not just one series. The final nail in the coffin for me was when they said they were closing their chapter one and entering their chapter two. It's embarrassing to admit but I almost feel betrayed? I've watched this happen so many times before and wasn't hurt, just disappointed. It feels different this time. Ateez was the group that I genuinely thought would stay true to what made them unique no matter how many times they reinvented themselves.. I was always excited to see them trying new things even when I didn't like it. I knew I might drift away from them one day and that was okay, but I never thought this would be the reason why. Now I feel like I spent years believing in a vision that never actually mattered. I know it's a K-pop group and not the end of the world. Capitalism happens. I'll get over it. I'm just sad and need to get it off my chest. :( submitted by /u/pelagicpetrel [link] [comments]
