I feel like Hybe is setting Cortis up for failure by having the group go on tour too soon with barely enough songs to last 2 hours let alone 1 hour. I feel like the company is putting a lot of pressure and unrealistic expectations on Cortis as well as other groups under Hybe, by trying desperately to make one of them the next BTS and thatβs simply not going to happen (The chances are slim to none and I say that because the way that BTS became as extremely popular/successful as they are now was by a combination of hardwork and luck). They should let each group grow and be popular/successful in their own right. From what Iβve gathered, Cortis had to sing some of their songs multiple times and there was allegedly a fake mosh pit at one of the first concerts of their tour (set up by Hybe). I feel bad because it does look like the members themselves want to be taken seriously as artists but unfortunately they are under/associated with a Kpop company/the Kpop industry and they will eventually have to accept that they will always be seen as idols first. Donβt get me wrong I do like Cortis and their music but we do have to admit that their music is not really original and is inspired heavily by my peopleβs music to the point where itβs almost identical (African-American music : Specific example I can give is Travis Scott). That reason alone is why I think that they will not be as popular and successful in the West as they are in other parts of the world. It also doesnβt help the fact that have already done questionable things that involve perpetuating stereotypes of African-American culture. Iβm sorry if I am all over the place with this opinion. π
I donβt think Hybe is necessarily trying to create another βBTSβ, because honestly I donβt think there will ever be another group like them. And I donβt even mean that as praise, but more in a realistic sense considering their numbers, influence, impact and everything they accomplished. BTS became what they are through a combination of talent, hard work, timing and a lot of luck, so I donβt think another company can simply βrecreateβ that. So I 100% agree with on this!
That said, I do understand what you mean and I see the pressure a lot on them not gonna lie! I actually remember the members saying that this album was basically their chance to prove to the company that they could produce their own music successfully. Otherwise, they wouldβve probably continued performing songs chosen entirely by the company. So I definitely agree that thereβs a lot of pressure on them.
I have to admit that the tittle song did not captivate me on the first time I heard it, but I tried to keep an open mind, and now days I listen to the album a lot, and their previous debut album as well! We see that happen to other groups like Ateez, Stray Kids, Idle and even Katseye.
Personally, though, I donβt really see Cortis as taking inspiration exclusively from African-American culture. To me, I hear a mix of rock, grunge, indie and even a bit of punk influences alongside everything else. Thatβs also something Iβve noticed through the membersβ own music recommendations and personal clothing choices.
The names that I can remember them recommending are: David Bowie, Yungblud, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Ramones, The Libertines, Pixies, Oasis, Blur, The Beatles, Radiohead, The Rolling Stones, Tame Impala, Elliot Smith, Dominic Fike and Mad Season.
But I get that people think like that, because the song βFaShiOnβ was produced by the same guy that makes Travisβs music. Since they share the same producer, I think itβs natural that some of the production choices and beats feel similar. I think that contributes a lot to why people immediately make that comparison.β¦ so that may be where people are getting that vibe and similarity from.
If by βperpetuating African-American stereotypesβ you mean the balaclavas, I actually think the discussion goes much deeper than that. Automatically linking a piece of clothing to one specific racial group says as much about the stereotypes weβve collectively internalized as it does about the clothing itself. Thatβs why I personally donβt think that wearing a balaclava, by itself, is enough to conclude theyβre perpetuating stereotypes. Context matters.
I donβt mean that in an accusatory way, because I think we all grow up internalizing different stereotypes due to the society we live in. I think itβs worth questioning why we sometimes instinctively associate certain pieces of clothing with one specific racial group when those items have much broader uses and histories.
I also saw people saying that they were βtrying to be undergroundββ¦ which doesnβt make sense because I donβt think they are trying to be underground by any means LOL! I just think that their music is very trendy to be like that, honestly! I believe people are mixing the fact that Martin has recommended underground artists with the groupβs actual music.
ps.: Though I do like the group, this is not me crucifying or being on someoneβs side of the history, this is purely my point of view based on what Iβve watched and read on the internet regarding these boys.
