Hi everyone! Welcome to another special edition of Moament. Check out our essay on Ghosting here!
March 2022 is almost over, which means Moament is officially a month old since our debut with A Moment of Alwaysness! I’m so happy to meet many MOAs during this time. Thank you so much for the love and support thus far 🥰🙏🏻
Today’s 2k word post (about 7 minute read) covers two topics:
Dealing with Other Fandoms & Comparisons
On Antis & Haters
The five best emojis for us! 🐰🦊🧸🐿🐧
Picture source: Weverse
This is a new type of post because I need to separate my personal thoughts from the bi-weekly newsletter (and the usual Michael’s Corner section).
The only thing I care about is to accurately cover TXT. If Moament only has personal opinions, then it’s no different from a fan account (in longform). My perspective must not interfere with Moament’s coverage. Of course, I still have personal opinions and feelings as a MOA, but I will label them as such.
In addition to its personal nature, these thoughts are too urgent to fit in the usual bi-weekly interval, so I call it TMI (since TXT also does T-MI).
You should read what I’m about to write with a grain of salt, since it’s my personal opinion. However, I will quote MOAs to show that I’m not paranoid!
Here is a caveat. Since not every MOA is on Twitter nor do all MOAs use English as their primary language, my perspective is definitely limited (though our collective love for TXT is boundless). I welcome your input in the comments here or on Twitter!
On Other Fandoms & Comparison
In the first issue of Moament I wrote about TXT’s struggles:
Yeonjun joined Big Hit in [2015] when BTS just finished “school trilogy” and Boy In Luv was the major hit. He stayed as a trainee for [almost] five freaking years (!!) when it wasn’t clear whether BTS or Big Hit would even make it in the K-Pop world. Just as Big Hit and Hitman Bang have taken Yeonjun in, Yeonjun has placed his bet on Big Hit as well. If you consider how many trainees quit for any valid reasons, you will perhaps understand why Yeonjun cries when he listens to Maze in The Mirror. Fortunately, he doubled down and worked harder than anyone could imagine, earning his legendary trainee status and now leading the 4th generation K-Pop wave with his brothers-in-arms. For that I am forever proud of him. Talent blossoms with tenacity and makes the beauty that much more special.
Monthly evaluation is a notorious process and Big Hit’s evaluation process is no less [easier] under Bang PD’s high standards. That is why when one member passed each evaluation the others would be so happy for him and often shed tears. On the contrary, when one monthly evaluation didn’t go well [which happens given not everyone can be perfect all the time], the effect is devastating and downright demoralizing. Through this process, the five members (and many more trainees who didn’t make it) had to push through, keep the fight in them, and support one another. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes moments MOAs or any K-Pop fans don’t know and will never know. It is literally a business and world of blood, sweat, and tears.
When TXT first debuted in 2019, there were as much negativity lashed at them as positive reception. They were under so much pressure to do well as a rookie group given their ties to BTS, even Bang PD acknowledged that publicly. TXT members faced a very different type of adversity than their sunbaes. Haters were already piling on, saying things like TXT didn’t deserve rookie awards and to chart so well right after debut, or how Big Hit just bought their way for TXT.
During that year, how did TXT feel? Nervous, anxious, momentarily doubtful, that’s for sure. But what did they do instead? They remained humble, kept working, learned from everyone like sponges absorbing water, and possibly rested very little during their free time just to go one step further. Like Yeonjun once said, TXT would just prove with their results.
I thought that would conclude the topic on people hating TXT for some time, but I was clearly wrong.
Some people (who I’m sure are not representative of the entire fandom) started saying how their favorite K-Pop group went through so much hard work, while TXT members seemed to have things easy. Essentially, they were inferring the notion that “TXT piggy-backed on BTS’s success” floating around since pre-debut days.
I will not judge the intention of the OPs. All I will do is to dissect why the message itself is problematic under any circumstance.
Substitute TXT with any other K-Pop group, the message is still messed up. That is the TL:DR. Here are the details.
Everyone in the K-Pop industry struggles. If you want to even get past the trainee stage, you have to work your butt off like there is no tomorrow. It doesn’t matter if you join a big agency or a small one (though company status carries significant influences). Watch Blackpink: Light Up The Sky on Netflix and you should get my point: K-Pop is literally a business and world of blood, sweat, and tears.
I don’t think every fan of K-Pop understands the gruesome nature of the K-Pop production system, but one can certainly take some time to learn. It’s not some hidden secret you need to laboriously uncover. It’s right there if you search for it - in the comment section, in fan edits, and in conversations with other fans. I hope the OPs can see why their comments are (and should be) considered tone-deaf.
No K-Pop fan should elevate one artist over another simply because one “works harder” than the rest. You can compare and contrast music, choreography, and even personalities. Those are your opinions and I duly respect them (even if I don’t agree). But for something like “my baby worked so hard, you have no idea”, it’s just wrong, inconsiderate, and honestly ignorant of every artist’s hard work. Only K-Pop idols really understand how tough the journey is and they support and respect one another. So why do something your favorite artists will never condone?
One more point, if I may.
The whole reason reality TV shows like I-Land and Produce 101 can exist in the first place is due to many predecessors in K-Pop history. Groups since the 1990s have worked hard to pave way for today’s increasing (and still not enough) embrace of K-Pop in Korea and abroad. There have been perhaps thousands of debuted idols by now, tens of thousands of trainees, and millions of people who dream of becoming one. All of them make K-Pop’s blossoming today possible in one shape or form.
BTS went through a lot of hardships (disclosure: I am an ARMY), but many of those struggles were not taped because they weren’t even invited to shows nor did the company have resources in the early years. Similarly, groups from the Big Three agencies struggle as well.
That is why every new group pays respect to their predecessors. It’s not just cultural norms. It’s common sense. Behind every overnight success is years if not decades of perspiration and dedication.
To the OPs I want to say this. Go watch the Legend of K-Pop performance. It should be a good enough reminder on how many spectacular talents came before our current fourth generation. Disregarding that hard truth says more about you than your idols.
That is all I have to say about this specific incidence. I will let two fantastic MOAs @taeforgyu and @tae_cyj do the clap back. They are much better than I am at articulating these thoughts.
On Antis & Haters
This previous incident now leads me to some unfinished businesses: antis and haters. I might as well address them now for our readers, future MOAs, and myself. It is about TXT, but my opinions also apply to other artists (including BTS).
Let’s hear directly from legendary producer Hitman Bang himself on managing TXT in comparison to BTS during his 2019 Variety interview (highlight is mine).
Q: How has it been managing TXT, whose reputation you had a chance to build up, compared to managing BTS?
A: I think the biggest difference is that BTS truly started from the bottom. People may think that TXT got really lucky and have an easy path, but they have the burden of meeting expectations that have been set. Rookies have a chance to grow and shine when they are still rookies, but TXT started on a higher level so it’s harder to showcase growth.
I promise to be calm about antis and haters, but sometimes knowing certain people who should be supporting TXT in every possible way are instead stomping on the members is so painful to deal with. I know why they do such hurtful things (though I will not elaborate the reasons), but I don’t understand.
Why are they doing this, especially if their idols are from the same company and production team?! Didn’t all of our beloved idols have enough hate from other antis and haters already? Feeling betrayed by people you trust and thought are on your side is so much worse.
But you know what?
Hitman Bang is right. Tomorrow X Together HAS grown and shined despite their high starting point and high pressure since debut. They were already great as rookies (the award sweepstakes speaks for itself). They are awesome right now. And they will be even better in the future (which is for a future essay).
I still stand by my quote from A Place of Alwaysness:
We are here to love and cherish TXT together. We are simply here to be with each other in this moment, today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, together.
Each of those moments [MOAs spend with TXT] will ALWAYS be enjoyable. Those moments are the places of alwaysness.
There is so much to write about TXT’s pre-debut years and their first year, but I will focus on two songs to not write too long.
Let’s talk about Maze in the Mirror and Sweat, both songs released in 2020.
I will let my MOA friends @txtlyricism and @_AlessandraMM dissect these two songs for you. They write much better than I do. @TXTUNOFFlClAL and @joe_txtmoa also wrote beautifully about Sweat and @ryvjun wrote a great thread about Maze in the Mirror. In the future I’d love to write about both songs in-depth.
Here are my thoughts on antis and haters.
I don’t care about their motivations. TXT members have never done anything disrespectful, hurtful, or even merely controversial. They have been in the limelight for three years and there are ZERO such instances. Any hate is vitriol, but this one is simply unwarranted.
Hating says more about the haters than the people they hate.
We don’t need to force ourselves to stand on the moral high ground. We CAN take the high route. At the same time, we should learn from TXT to be mindful of our own actions. Let’s focus on ourselves. We will defend TXT and MOAs with facts and solidity, but we will not go over the fence to attack anyone directly.
We don’t need to.
As for contexts, our lovely MOAs @txtdcm @txt_tubatu @gyuccibeom have written eloquently about the pre-debut years. There are so much more we can cover, but for now let’s focus on making ourselves even better, just like how the members want us to achieve our best selves.
Let’s end on a pre-debut story with the lovely @txtdcm. We will stay strong and united, just as all five members have during their hard times.
I honestly had a few more topics to cover, but I have run out of steam (this is around 2k words) and they are not as urgent. It seems like TMI is here to stay 😆
If you have read this far, thank you so much for paying
Remember the following (a new section for future Moament):
Stream for TXT! Our friend @txtengs has a great website with targets.
Follow @moachartdata for beautiful data analytics and their website.
Stay on track of TXT schedule with our friend @txt_book.
Learn with @txtlyricism @txtmvstills @dreamsputnik
Follow @304sns on TXT official social media updates.
Love yourself and love TXT. Be happy (just look at Beomgyu, will ya?)
If you find Moament interesting, please share with people, follow us, DM us, and subscribe with email. It means a lot to us.
Read previous issues: issue 1, issue 2, Beomgyu essay, and Ghosting essay. You can find the tweets here (1, 2, BG, Ghosting).
If you want to be included in future reminders and shoutouts, feel free to contact Moament!
If Beomgyu carries this sense of optimism against all adversity, so can we (thanks to @txtsayings for reminding us of this beautiful message!).
Let’s end today’s TMI with @miintaexty’s beautiful thread. Read it all!
Moranghae. 🐰🦊🧸🐿🐧
I learned a lot I didn't know about the k-pop industry from this post. I'm going to go check out the blackpink documentary on netflix to learn more!