[OPED] 5 Years With NU’EST - Reasons We’re Still Here
#5YearsWithNUEST is a proud achievement. From a rocking debut single (which remained to be the most viewed debut music video of kpop boy bands till date), to receiving praises for their musicality with ‘Q is.’ and ‘Canvas’, NU’EST might not have been the biggest group on the market, but they sure had their list of accomplishments to share. For this year, we decided to write another OP-ED on why after all these years, we’re still here with them - and perhaps, they are reason why you L.O.V.Es are here too.
The eldest of the group, but the one that act the youngest. Fans have refered to him as ‘makhyung’ since their debut, a term that combined ‘maknae’ (youngest) and ‘hyung’ (eldest). Sadly, beyond the scope of the fandom, Aron might have been associated more with controversial events. It is however, more important to remember how the member did not shy away from his regrettable actions and apologized first-hand, and proved that change is possible, as fans who followed through since then would have noted his more thought through actions and behaviors.
L.O.V.Es are still here because we know that people make mistakes, and people can learn and change. We’re here because we know that Aron might not be the perfect idol, but he tries hard regardless, even performing while injured, and always put his best foot forth to create content for the fans. We remember his kind words on the radio that lend strength to many of our peers who are facing tough times, and how he remembered the stories that we told him. We laughed at his silly antics and teases to his members, but also note how he was the first to look out for his fellow members.
We are still here because we know he fought hard not to be brought down by haters, and we are with him.
The charismatic leader of the group, the resident manga, anime and game lover, the shy introverted boy who transform into an eye-catching dancer on stage. JR is known for his beautiful smile and rap making, for his somewhat soft nature compared to his louder members ( *cough, baekho and minhyun, cough* ). While he might be teased by his members from time to time, JR holds his responsibilities as a leader very seriously, stepping up to control his members when they get too engrossed in a chat, putting his foot down to make sure the show proceeds smoothly.
L.O.V.Es are still here because we know how much JR shoulders the burden as the leader of NU’EST, and how he was always first to reprimand himself when the group perform less than stellar. We are here because we have heard one too many times of him apologizing for something he could not control, for something he shouldn’t be. We remember when he worked hard on TV shows for NU’EST, and we recall when he wanted to work harder in music and writing his own lyrics. The boy who takes a backseat to let his members shine and step forth as a leader when needed, this is the sort of person JR is.
We are still here because we want to lend him our shoulder, and we are with him.
The tough jeju-do boy with the brightest puppy smile and amazing voice, Baekho might have his blunt, honest moments that could be misunderstood. The dynamics between Baekho and the fans lie on mean teasing, the same way he does to his members, such as asking Minhyun to rap in his excitement. Likewise, fans tend to retort to his little acts of ‘rebellion’ by issuing ‘orders’, such as promptly reminding Baekho to set up the table instead of feigning ignorance on Night Eating Show.
L.O.V.Es are still here because we know behind that brightly lit smile lies a boy who just wishes to sing, who overworked his voice at one point and refused to give up till the last minute. We are here because we see how hard he tries to go on a diet for his fans (10:58), to give the best image he can, We remember the time where Baekho mentioned that he was learning how to produce songs, and he really fulfilled that goal in 2016. We recall a boy who might seem that he’s not good at fanservice with his awkward honorific-style speech, but a boy who already treats L.O.V.Es as his friends.
We are still here because we wish to give him strength the way we do so with our best friend, with honesty, and we are with him.
The mother of the team with a crystal-clear voice, the tallest official visual of the team. Minhyun is known for his gentlemanly gestures and kind praises to his members no matter what, the boy who complies to requests from his members without batting an eye. Like fellow main vocal Baekho, Minhyun shows a strong passion for singing and performing, doing covers on his Instagram and more. Unlike Baekho, however, he found his vocal color later through the years, honing his tone and vocal techniques before getting his trademark falsetto range in his 2016 comebacks, proving that hard work would gain you places. Eventually, he earned his first solo song for their first Japanese album, titled ‘Koisuru Hi’, as well as other singing opportunities.
L.O.V.Es are still here because we saw how much Minhyun improved, how much the boy went from a struggling lead vocal to someone capable standing on the same line as his fellow main vocals. We are here because we know how much hard work he put into helping NU’EST gain a footing, including going on new TV shows, doing cameos, to taking an initiative to visit Dream Team’s director for an interview for a TV opportunity. We remember a boy who always shared his warm views on the short time he was a guesting DJ on Music access, a boy who never fails to thank fans for their support time and time again.
We are still here because we believe in his efforts and watched his growth, and we are with him.
The youngest of the team, and probably the team’s one and only mascot. Ren might be known most to the general public among the team for his outstanding visuals and concepts, including a pink wig for Love Paint and hair extensions for OVERCOME. But Ren won the hearts mostly for his smile and kind heart, his never-ending fanservice to fans and his ability to charm on stage. His random spurts of 4-dimensional moments never failed to amuse, as the Lady Gaga fanboy sure was full of never-ending surprises. But beyond the fancy get-up is simply a boy who wishes to inspire, and to be accepted as who he is.
L.O.V.Es are still here because Ren has been there for us all the time - remember the time where he left a LOVE LETTER message to console fans and send strength after hearing from a L.O.V.E that their grandparent had passed away? We remembered the time where he opened different social media accounts to get close to fans, including Weibo. We also remember the time where Ren would read through the fans’ messages, taking time to respond with ‘heart’ing the message or even writing a reply. Even more recently, an account surfaced about Ren returning their mobile phone, among many other things. The boy creates jewelry even in the image and impression of L.O.V.Es; and he wore female outfits in pride as part of a fashion endorsement promoting gender equality. Ren may not be the strongest vocal or the best dancer, but he is nonetheless a model idol for many L.O.V.Es with his self-expression and sincere actions.
We are still here because we share the same kindness and compassion, and we are with him.
As a whole there’s a lot of ups and downs throughout the five years, but ultimately, NU’EST has endured most of these, as do we. We’ve seen a lot of unfounded rumors, stories painted vividly yet with little proof, but nonetheless taken at its face value. For that we have been hurt, upset; old controversies, apologized for, but dug out again fresh; non-existent ‘personality’ rumors, ignoring the debunked accounts, raised again all for the sake of ‘spill that tea’ mentality cultivated on social network these days.
And yet we’re still here.
We’re still here because we believe in them. Because we’ve seen how far they’ve come from being the wide-eye rookies back in 2012. Because we have grown along with them and we know they can only reach higher. We are here because we loved their songs and we loved their hard work. We know that together, we can make a difference, step by step. We are here because they inspire us, and vice versa. Produce 101 is but just one obstacle, and we can climb over it, because we had done so before, over other incidents. We laughed, cried, and had fun as a fandom and with the boys.
In 2017, L.O.V.Es and NU’EST are still here, and no matter what obstacles we face, let’s move forward together. After all, #5YearsWithNUEST is not the end, but a brand new chapter.
Article written by: Alia
Disclaimer: All the links are credited to their owners as NU’EST Newsletter do not own them. Please do not repost on Tumblr; take out with full credits. Do contact us if you’ve done a translation, we’d love to link to the translations on the article as well.
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