In the K-Pop industry, a debut concept is similar to an individual’s birthmark. In other words, it represents the essence of what a solo artist or group stands for. Many individuals train for years in hopes of debuting one day. However, not all of them are chosen to debut. In the Korean entertainment industry, companies usually look for trainees whose vibe and aura match the concept of the group they want to launch. So, even if a trainee is talented or an incredible dancer, they might not debut if they don’t fit the concept.
For example, if you think of the girl crush concept, you might think of girl groups like 2NE1 or BLACKPINK. It would be extremely difficult for someone with a cutesy vibe to debut in a group with a vampire concept, like ENHYPEN.
This illustrates just how important a debut concept is.
The ‘Debut Concept Battle’
The ‘Debut Concept Battle’ is a crucial mission in which the 24 remaining trainees must perform new songs and showcase their abilities and charm to the fullest. Unlike other missions, trainees do not get to choose the songs they wish to perform, instead, the choice is made by their fans. However, the degree of control trainees have over their chances of debuting depends on their performances in the semi-finals.
In the first season, many contestants had won hearts, but after their spectacular semi-final performances, anticipation for the debut lineup reached a whole new level. From the sweet and heart-fluttering performance of Sung Hanbin and Seok Matthew in ‘Say My Name’ to Zhang Hao’s sultry performance in ‘Over Me’ and Gun Wook’s powerhouse rendition of ‘En Garde’, viewers loved the different concepts and how each trainee executed their song perfectly.
But can we say the same about this season? Did we truly enjoy these performances the way we did in the first season? Did the trainees meet our expectations?
‘MAIN DISH’
I’m well aware of how many fans are claiming that this song was robbed and that Jun Seo didn’t deserve to be ranked last. Honestly, my favorite part of the song was Kang Min’s strong and determined attitude. During all the previous episodes, I couldn’t really remember him standing out in any particular performance. However, the way he channeled his frustration and anger at being abandoned by his previous team to give a strong performance was simply amazing.
Compared to the other teams, I think this team’s singing performance truly stood out. While their rankings might have been low, their performance was far from the average you might expect.
‘Sugar HIGH’
I still remember how Seo Won really wanted this cutesy and refreshing concept, and indeed, it is sad that he was somehow used as a reaction cam for the show.
Back to the subject, while the other tracks felt like the result of rushed production, this song carried a specific harmony and synergy that made it highly likeable. For this performance, Haneum and Woo Jin were definitely the centers, I would say they carried the entire performance. It’s a fact that Woo Jin is a good singer, but his honey-like vocals perfectly suited the concept and vibe of ‘Sugar HIGH.’
Honestly, when it comes to Masato and Chueli Li Yu, I don’t even know what roles they were meant to play on stage. Compared to Yun Seo, who worked hard despite not wanting to perform this song, their stage presence felt undefined. While Li Yu might have been chosen for his ethereal visuals, it seems that Masato hasn’t yet been able to carve out a stage of his own.
‘Lucky MACHO’
On a personal level, I was really looking forward to a groundbreaking performance, especially with Xin Long, Dong Gyu, and Junmin in the same team. However, truth be told, it was a little disappointing.
During the interim check, the dance and Junmin in the center felt really powerful. But when they performed, something was off. I can’t tell if it was the flashy neon lights or the overly loud music, but the stage looked far more ordinary than powerful. The energy and strength you’d expect from trainees like Xin Long and Junmin were simply not there.
However, a few elements that I really appreciated were Xin Long’s deep-voiced rap and Dong Gyu’s high notes. Xin Long caught my attention during the audition performances. Even though he didn’t get the ‘killing part,’ he managed to steal the spotlight and slay the stage with his charismatic presence.
There are trainees who are incredibly good at dancing but fail miserably in terms of expression and stage presence. But Junmin has all of these qualities. I believe he’s one of the few trainees who is truly capable of giving Sang Won some real and tough competition.
‘Chains’
Leo, Sang Won, Geon Woo, Jia Hao, Lee Jeong, Anxin… I mean, come on. Who wouldn’t want to see that lineup, especially if they were performing a hot track like ‘Chains’?
Yet, it didn’t quite live up to the hype.
The reason? Perhaps having too many strong trainees or characters in one group eventually left the group’s flavor more bland than bold. With many members being potential ‘killing part’ candidates and Sang Won replicating the same bold center vibe, the stage’s impact was diluted. When there are more than two or three ‘Avengers’ on stage, the audience doesn’t know where to look, and the concept song’s message gets lost.
Nevertheless, I feel that Jia Hao was the real center of the song. Even with a small number of parts, he slayed his role and managed to capture the public’s attention. He redesigned the original choreography and part that he received from Sang Won, turning it into the killing part of the song. His facial expressions are excellent, and he has a very charismatic stage presence.
I wouldn’t say that the others didn’t perform well or that Sang Won failed as the center—his visuals alone pull you in—but Jia Hao had an extra spark that really suited the concept and grabbed even more attention this time.
The Winner
So, as per the previous announcement, the winning team would receive a benefit of 150,000 points each, and the team would perform on ‘M Countdown’ and hold an offline fan meeting. Additionally, the member with the highest score on the winning team also receives a bonus of 150,000 points. While some claimed that performances like ‘MAIN DISH’ or ‘Sugar HIGH’ were underrated, it wasn’t surprising that team ‘Chains’ won this mission. This also marks the third time that Geon Woo will be going to ‘M Countdown’.
Now, here are the results for each team:
- ‘Chains’ – 1110 votes
- ‘Lucky MACHO’ – 670 votes
- ‘Sugar HIGH’ – 540 votes
- ‘MAIN DISH’ – 440 votes
Final Thoughts
The survivor announcement is due soon, and we all have our favorites that we want to see in the finale. Personally, among all my favorites, I just hope Park Dong Gyu makes it to the finale.
How about you? Who do you want to see perform in the finale performances? And, of course, who do you think will be in the debut group?
Written by Diksha Gangadeen
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