Here’s everyone’s pre-task for our Idolized event! There are two tasks for points below the cut. One requires you to answer a series of questions in-character about expectations and feelings about the show which will happen in-character before any filming begins. The questions may be answered in para format or in dialogue-only format. The other involves making an in-character playlist.
I recommend everyone track the tag #fmdidolized, as all admin information and tasks pertaining to the event will be tagged there. There will also be individual tags for each task block and those individual tags are the only tags members themselves should utilize.
Note: Completing these tasks is worth four points total on your points page. If you plan to complete the tasks, please post them by Sunday, March 25, at noon EDT (current time EDT can be found here) in the tag #fmdidolizedpre. Points may only be collected once the post is liked by the main to verify proper completion. If it doesn’t fulfill the requirements or is not posted in the pre-task tag, it will not be verified.
Task One. Interview (2 points)
Prompt: Your muse has been given a thirty minute block in their schedule to film an interview for Idolized. They will be pulled aside into a room which has been specially designated in each company and set up for talking head segments utilized during the show. Your muse will be asked the following questions by one of their managers (who is off-screen) and their answers will be filmed. They should answer in typical reality show format, including the question in their answer and answering as though no direct question was asked. The longer the answers and the more topics covered the better, since it allows more options for editors. All footage will be kept and will possibly be aired throughout the season. Idols are instructed to maintain a personal, but not overly negative attitude in their answers. Even if written in self-para format, this does not count toward any of your monthly limits for the month.
Please note all artists will be considered as idols and addressed as such in the interview for the purposes of the show and in connection to their primarily idol-producing companies although some soloists may not be viewed as an idol by the general public. They may replace “idol” with “celebrity” in their answers if they wish.
What is life as an idol like? What are the hardships? What is rewarding?
How would you feel if your future child wanted to be an idol?
Do you think the words “artist” and “idol” mean the same thing?
Are there sides to you your fans don’t see?
What do you hope viewers will see through the airing of this show?
What do you hope you’ll get out of the experience of the show? Are there any other groups or idols you hope to get the chance to meet more through the show?
How do you feel about the upcoming Hallyu Triple Fantasy Concert in Jeju City?
Do you have any worries about being followed by cameras for the show?
Task Two. Playlist (2 points)
Prompt: Your muse has been instructed to submit a list of songs to their manager to be included in a series of public playlists curated by the artists participating in Idolized. This has been requested by the internationally-targeted streaming site the show will also be available on as marketing for the show to international fans in countries where Spotify is frequently used. This playlist will not count toward your monthly limit of playlists if completed. You are not required to include a link to an actual Spotify playlist, but you may if you wish. If this task is not completed, your muse will not have a playlist included in the series in-character.
Requirements:
The playlist should be ten to twenty songs (no more and no less) of the idol’s personal recommendations and should include at least one song from an artist under each of the three companies.
This playlist should explore the artist’s music taste (or the music taste matching the image they project).
Your post should include at least a 200 word description of why your muse chose the songs on the playlist or what the playlist says about their music taste and/or image.
Samsoo’s taste in music contradicts his outward personality. Some may see him as introverted, cold and detached, but if you go through his top played playlist, most of the songs there are very happy and upbeat. He likes songs that makes him feel happy and upbeat. Any song that can put a smile on his face is a good song in his book. His playlist is very pop-heavy, but there are definitely songs on there that lend themselves towards genres like hip-hop and R&B. As his English skills get better and better, he’s been listening to more and more Western artists, and that has been helping his progress with English even more. He tends to favor songs that are more vocally inclined and showcase strong vocals than songs that lack real depth because they’re challenging to sing along with. Although there are a few songs that he listens to that are just feel good songs and aren’t particularly vocally challenging. The first song on this playlist, and perhaps one of, if not his most, his favorite song to listen to and sing along with. Five by Aria is a cute and bubbly song that’s really sweet and endearing, but still has depth to it and meaningful (at least to him) lyrics.
crown’s playlist is collection of mostly vague but current emotions. lately, he’s been enthralled by the clarity, power, depth and anger in nf’s style; it’s aggressive and empowering. and noah wants to give it shot, hit others hard with lyrical battles. river has been a release he’s heard lately and in some facet, collaborates two sounds he respects. the sweet acoustic of ed sheeran and sharp furies of eminem, which translates into the next song--stan. the combination of genres also describes numb / encore by two artists noah never imagined together, but it remains a perfect match. kendrick lamar has always been one of his inspirations, and noah cannot deny the high that surges when he breathes in kendrick’s rhymes, paralyzed by his flow. although, he doesn’t know much about partynextdoor, not nice has been played so much it has etched itself onto his skull, a constant noise at a random bar during witching hour. all the female artists chosen are ones noah has immense admiration for, having grown up listening to lauryn hill and beyonce. nicki minaj’s addition to a mostly male dominated hip-hop-verse is an achievement he often celebrates.
perhaps the most abstract choice is z.tao’s black white (ab). and it remains quite random, yet it doesn’t bleach the fact noah thoroughly enjoys the drop, the abrupt but slick transitions. as for the remainder, all korean music, each song elicits some kind of bias. (element because of jae persuading him to help mina, yuddy because they are... were friends, yonce and rizo because he loves them to death and unity because even though he gives jaewon a hard time, he likes their sound.) and how can noah not have a playlist without yoon mirae, a queen he bows to.
a special playlist curated by the maknae, main dancer & lead rapper, xion, of CHARM, represented by BC ENTERTAINMENT. the tracks found within were hand — selected by the artist & have been given permission by each company for fair use in the show.
COMPLETE TRACKLIST / LISTEN.
01. jam jam / lyra. 02. lip & hip / summer. 03. likey / wish. 04. dimple / origin. 05. just u / jin. 06. gashina / ivy. 07. o sole mio / knight. 08. bboom bboom / momoland. 09. really really / winner. 10. shangri — la / mars. 11. hola hola / element. 12. free somebody / wren. 13. why so lonely / bee. 14. look / impulse. 15. my blossom / soyou. 16. my flower / jbj. 17. roar / knight. 18. chase me / vice. 19. karate / babymetal. 20. thanks / charm.
THERE’S ALWAYS A STORY BEHIND THE MUSIC.
in true yunyeong fashion, he became so EXCITED at the prospect of creating a playlist of his favorite songs for the show that he decided to focus on choosing music released by some of his all — time favorite soloists & groups. before becoming an idol himself, he was a huge fan of a variety of the people he’s friends with today, & even though he knows them all, he doesn’t ever shy away from letting them know how much he adores them, & their material. whether they’re songs that he listens to on repeat to lift his spirits, or songs that fill him with inspiration to create choreography, these were some of the top — most played songs on his iphone at the time he submitted his ideas to the editing team for IDOLIZED. normally, he prefers upbeat bubblegum pop hits, but sprinkled throughout his master mix are songs performed by soloists that have a softer feel to them. compartmentalized into a variety of different playlists on his itunes account, he chooses whichever one fits his mood, and most often, it’s the catchy top 40 bops that complement his emotions.
some highlights of his curation include: JAM JAM as performed by LYRA. this song in particular fueled his muse so heavily that, the first time he heard it, he knew he needed to create a piece of work to it, & without any hesitation, stayed up all night to create a more sexy dance to mimic the message it portrayed. O SOLE MIO by KNIGHT. being that he can actually understand the spanish language, he thought what his sunbaes released was really creative, & he really loves the vocals, rap, & choreography used. not to mention that all of his biases looked really, really stunning in the music video. LIP & HIP by SUMMER. hands down, summer’s his favorite soloist under bc entertainment. he loves how bold she is with her concepts, & every track she’s released independently have been coveted by him upon their releases. HOLA HOLA by ELEMENT. he remembers when this group débuted & being so in awe of the fact that they were a co — ed creation. he replayed their first mini album when it released & loved the creativity behind it. the rest, of course, have their special meanings to him, too, but those mentioned were some that he was most excited to include.
diamond - decipher / ghost – elle drennan/ sing for you - knight / thanks – charm/ the manuel – eddy kim/ just you - jin/ wake me up - alien/ the 7th sense - unity/ paper planes – hoseah partsch/ heaven - rose/ line distance – 7rophy/ fingertips – vera blue/ calling you - highlight/ fallin’ – jessica mauboy/ finally - diary/ human nature – michael jackson/ shadows – sabrina carpenter
Eunwoo’s style of music is generally smooth and ballads, quite a few in her mind have such deep meanings in the songs and often these ones are inspiration for her to write some of the music that she has in her lilac notebook. She prefers the calmness of most songs, which is the main reason she prefers most b tracks in kpop albums (with the main exceptions of thanks by charm and the 7th sense by unity, but those songs have some deep meaning and are unique sounding in her mind). She does sometimes sees a retro side to her music; but also a darker side to her music taste compared to her own group’s music which is bright, cutesy and bubbly. However, the songs with dark words etched into her mind always make her curious of the mindset they would be in when the songwriter wrote the song.
It might be her personality, but these do sort of display her true self: often calm but can show outbursts of deep emotions of how she truly cares about her members and friends and how protective she can be; but also the vulnerable side to her that she doesn’t like to show often because of how afraid she is about how the conservative society would perceive her. Eunwoo isn’t one to fully express her emotions; but these songs sort of explain her personality once you know her to the deepest level.
chase me - vice | el manana - gorillaz | touch - nami
love lies - khalid & normani | rumor - element | ko ko bop - knight
whistle - femme fatale | touch - shura | paint me - diary
aqua vitae - tiger darrow | palette - lyra | i am not a robot - marina and the diamonds
Chase Me - Vice
It’s genuinely the song he’d listened to most in the past month. While he would have listened to it and supported the song regardless of quality because of Xiu, he found parts caught in his head at times, and considers it a great song.
El Manana - Gorillaz
This one’s an older favorite. Gorillaz is his favorite band outside of kpop and Demon Days was his favorite album. El Manana stuck out to him as a relaxing tune with the right kind of melancholy.
Touch - Nami
He’s a fan of Nami’s solo effort as a whole, but this song stuck out as a favorite. It’s catchy, sexy without being raunchy, and fun. He also happens to enjoy dancing to it, but that’s not a fact he’s likely to share.
Love Lies - Khalid & Normani
Normani is his Fifth Harmony member of choice, and he was hooked immediately by the showcase of her vocals, and ended up looking more into Khalid after his first few listens as well. He’s got heart eyes for both artists.
Rumor - Element
It’s his favorite song by the co-ed group thus far. The interesting vibe lends itself nicely to the vocal talents of all four members. He considers it a subtler dance song.
Ko Ko Bop - Knight
The chill vibe being offset by the electronic parts make the song an interesting listen, as far as Q is concerned. It’s also nice to dance to, and generally what he considers one of Knight’s best song.
Whistle - Femme Fatale
While he enjoyed Boombayah just as much, Q finds that Whistle is an easier listen when he’s not looking to party. It’s chill, while maintaining a a cool vibe and catering to the diverse voices of the members.
Touch - Shura
This song fits pretty much exactly what he’s looking for in his off time. An interesting vocal with an instrumental that stands alone just as well. The music video grabbed his attention initially, but he’s grown to like the song as its own beast.
Paint Me - Diary
He adores this song. In his opinion, it’s unquestionably Diary’s best. From the powerful vocals to the romantic lyrics and just the song as a package leave him wanting more similar.
Aqua Vitae - Tiger Darrow
The lyrics appealed to his romantic side, and the slight sadness in the singer’s voice left his heart hurting for her long after the song was over. He finds her voice sweet but strong, and interesting as a whole, which helped the song last the test of time in his personal playlists.
Palette - Lyra
A basic choice? Perhaps, but he’d be lying if he said it wasn’t among his favorites. The hook became something of a mantra for him when the song was first released. I got this, I’m truly fine was conveniently easier to get away with saying than don’t don’t don’t don’t.
I Am Not A Robot - Marina and the Diamonds
First and foremost, the song was added as a joke. Due to his stiff demeanor and habit of speaking almost exclusively when spoken to, especially around Charm’s debut, some fans took to calling him rQdQ and Q-bot among other such themed names on internet forums, and it’s a poke at that. He also just likes the song in general, finding it meaningful and enjoying Marina’s style.
PRODUCER: Share as much information you are comfortable sharing to the public. Your words are your responsibilities, and you have the right to retain any details. Now: Here are your eight questions. Take one; Blue from Unity.
What is life as an idol like? What are the hardships? What is rewarding?
Blue was sat on a stool with a knee bent as a leg dangled loosely and the other positioned atop the bars attached the stool. His position was comfortable: a slight lean, his direction pointed to a side as opposed to directly looking forward. With the question asked, his attention lingered downward for a while debating whether or not he should be entirely honest with answering the upcoming questions. A swipe of his tongue over his lesser lip, and his dark eyes traveled to the camera. “I won’t sit here and pretend that the idol lifestyle is relatively better than all other lifestyles, but I can admit with confidence that I prefer my life today compared to my previous living.” His attention travels across the room, his fingers fumbling around in nerves due to the confession. “The industries keep us disciplined, and we are monitored. The boys and I also struggle to keep our appearance due to Dimensions not focusing on Unity as of late, so we always have to confront our insecurities about the group’s future. And I know not many idols are fond of the demanding schedules, but I personally prefer having a booked scheduled opposed to none at all. It keeps me busy, and I am able to sharpen my skills.” Straightening his posture, a smile plays on his lips as he reaches a hand to gesture along with his words, “And I guess that’s the rewarding part, as well. Being able to do what I love, spending time with the boys, meeting the lovely Angels, and just living the best life I possibly can.”
How would you feel if your future child wanted to be an idol?
Blue’s eyes widened at the mention of children. The vocalist was never one to dawdle on the thought of the future, for he was, in all honesty, afraid of what the future beheld, especially when it came to the topic of family. Having been raised in a toxic environment where he was not cherished as a child, the thought of having his own in the future never came to mind simply due to fear. He does not believe that he would make a great father, despite the effort he would instill in not allowing his child to have the same upbringing as he. Still, though, he could not think about it without being threatened with anxiety. “I would never want to hold my child back from their dreams,” he finally confesses, his expression serious while directed toward the rolling camera. “If he or she hopes to become an idol, I would allow them to with fair warning of how the industry. But, yeah...I would be supportive.”
Do you think the words “artist” and “idol” mean the same thing?
With the quirk of his lips, Blue thought hard about the question. He has never dedicated time before to ponder on the though; therefore, he lagged behind a few seconds with a response. A hand decorated with four different rings ran through his long, dark hair, and his attention was narrowed, which is a habit of his when in deep thought. “I believe an idol can be an artist, as well. True, our performances are not our own lyrically and choreography wise, but each idol’s artistic ability is demonstrated with how they perform the dance as well as sing the lyrics. We still have the opportunity to be an artist with the materials given to us. Does that make sense? Like, I’m not robotic when performing a song; holding no value over the songs. I actually dedicate time to put my emotions and perspective to what is given, so that’s why I personally believe an idol can also be an artist.”
Are there sides to you your fans don’t see?
Another chuckle since the time the interview started, and his head rolled back exposing the length of his neck. His smile was authentic, and his eyes were lively with personality. “I still remember when we were featured in our first variety show, and I was extremely awkward,” for reasons he does not wish to share, “and the angels were quick to label me as the awkward member of Unity. I was then considered as the bad boy. My tattoos were featured more, and once I got my ears pierced, the title was official. So, my point is that, fans tend to only want to see one side of my person. But, I am more than just the awkward kid or the bad boy. I’m a person, and I do hope this documentary will help the public understand that idols are more than just some single concept. We have facets; we have depth.”
What do you hope viewers will see through the airing of this show?
“Our hard work. Oh gosh---” an exaggerated breath leaving parted lips, he shook his head, his hair becoming disheveled from the movement. His hand is quick to push the strands back again, the sleeve of his top sliding down the length of his arm to further expose the decoration of tattoos he collects. “I just want everyone to see how hard each person works for their success in the industry. For many, this idol life is everything for them. Like, I-I cannot imagine my life without this career right now. It gave me a home and a family, and I cannot bare the thought of losing it all. That’s why I work hard, and I hope that is understood throughout the showing. And, this does not just apply to myself. A lot of idols work hard, and I hope viewers recognize that.” The clap of his hand against the bend of his knee, and his lips are pressed in a tight line as his focus remains forward as if staring directly at the person watching the segment elsewhere. “But, I also hope that this series shows how fun we can all have. From dancing with your friends, to sharing drinks, to sharing stories with comrades, to just being young and free. We want to show that work and play can be mixed together.”
What do you hope you’ll get out of the experience of the show? Are there any other groups or idols you hope to get the chance to meet more through the show?
“I hope to experience it all.” Blue was quick to confess, his hands thrown up casually, only to drop again to his sides. A hand moves to fiddle with the charm around his neck, and his attention is on the floor as he thinks of what more he would want to experience. He would like to experience greater success, for Unity deserves that. They have been waiting for so long for a comeback, and this could be their chance of proving their worth. At least, he hopes, for it was something he and Ting discussed that could boost their image. “Oooo---yeah! I would love to meet MARS.” Blue supports many idol groups, and that much was obvious with his connection to them as well as his playlist. One group he was fond of was MARS, yet he is still to meet the boys of the group. He would like to let them know how much he appreciates their music, and how their videos are art pieces. “I don’t know, I just want to meet these cool guys. I also stan Femme Fatale, but I know the girls a bit here and there. To get to know them better would be awesome.”
How do you feel about the upcoming Hallyu Triple Fantasy Concert in Jeju City?
“You are asking me how I feel about the concert?” He chuckled yet again, this time to mock the question with a wide smile to display his pearly whites that he paid to fix and whiten before becoming vocalist for Unity. “It’s going to to be wonderful, and I am super excited. You have no idea.” There was genuine glee displayed; he was over the roof with the upcoming concert. It’s going to be big!
Do you have any worries about being followed by cameras for the show?
On one hand, he did. He was worried that the cameras would catch a side of him that he would not want his fans to see. Perhaps a mental breakdown would conspire, or, perhaps, there will be a confession he would not want all the viewers to know. As much as he does not have any shame for sleeping around, he does know if that side of him was displayed, Unity’s image could be tainted, and his career would be over. So, he had to be careful with that side of him, and Blue needs to keep his interactions casual. “No---” he began, “I have nothing to hide from my fans.” And he was lying. He really was.
We caught up with the twenty-eight year old to get a glimpse into his thoughts for the upcoming filming of the highly anticipated Idolized documentary.
What is life as an idol like? What are the hardships? What is rewarding?
Jinyoung’s more than thankful that he’s chosen a shirt with so many tailoring details to wear for the sit-down; he’s able to pick at the buttons here and there and to rub his thighs when he’s anxious about an answer. He’s arguably the most professional in approaching his job as an idol; he gives just enough, knows when and how to smile after saying something and where chuckles are appropriate, but the notion of explaining that job is not such an easy thing to get personal about. He gives his manager a questioning look, who urges him to continue, and so he does after clearing his throat. “Ah. Life as an idol is probably as hard as everyone imagines, but the hardships aren’t so bad if you take everything in stride. It’s fun to be on the road but all of the flights get tiring, it’s great to perform but it takes a lot of practice before hand, and it’s important to stay fit even if your body feels strain. There’s pros and cons to everything, right? All of the difficulties go away when you finish promotions or something like that, look back, and think, “Ah, I did it.”” He gets a thumbs-up. It’s a workable answer and more than expected from him.
How would you feel if your future child wanted to be an idol?
The mere assumption of his kin is enough to make a laugh bubble on the tip of his tongue but he lets it die there like a passing wave and instead clears his throat again, turning his head to the side quickly as a cautionary gesture. It’s more than unnerving for the manager who draws attention to himself more and more by the passing minute; he’s coached Jinyoung for this and yet he’s trying to go against the cold, collected image he’s always had. Why now? “If my future child wanted to be an idol, I’d support them. My father supported me in the public eye because everyone else in my family already was. If it was what I wanted to do, he was fine with it. I think there’s a lot of ways to express your love for music, and if that’s the way my child wanted to pursue it, then so be it. As long as they understood what it took and did their best, I’d say that’s alright.”
Do you think the words “artist” and “idol” mean the same thing?
Jinyoung knows how he really feels about this, he’s told his manager in honesty while they were viewing the questions in advance. The man told him to lay it on easy, rather not to be honest at all and to be very non-descript as he always is. Straight faced with stiff nods as they’d discussed. Only he doesn’t do that, for once in his career. “Idol and artist of course aren’t the same thing. They can both work as hard, that’s subjective, but objectively they’re not. An artist channels a lot of creative expression and personal touch into a lot of things. They have to create a brand and a certain image. An idol does those things to a lesser extent. An idol has different responsibilities than an artist, a creator does.” They’ll talk about it in the car.
Are there sides to you your fans don’t see?
This is a question that calms his manager’s heart rate. There’s not much Jinyoung had to say about this subject and the solid look on his face seems to project that now. “I think everyone has sides and parts of them they don’t show everyone, so yes, I probably do. I’d like to think I’m very real in my presentation though. I don’t like changing myself if I don’t have to.”
What do you hope viewers will see through the airing of this show?
His manager’s nervous again to be honest and the way Jinyoung’s cuffing and uncuffing his sleeves shows that he’s not sure about this question. The lower half of the questions Jinyoung simply didn’t have a good answer for. “Um. I hope they see through the airing of this show that...idols are not as superior or perfect as imagined. It’s easy to forget that idols and musicians are people just like everyone else, no matter how talented. This might show a new perspective.”
What do you hope you’ll get out of the experience of the show? Are there any other groups or idols you hope to get the chance to meet more through the show?
“I hope that I can learn how to have fun with others during this experience,” He answers finitely and doesn’t speak for a while, which makes his manager groan. He’s mouthing ‘more,’ so Jinyoung gives him more. “I think sometimes I don’t talk to or text others enough like I know a lot of my members in MARS do. Sometimes I’m all work and no play, which can be a bad thing. Um, I think I’d like to meet anyone more.” ‘More.’ “ I musically admire the women in Lipstick and the men of Decipher seem fun to be around. It would be cool to say hello to them.” He’s shrugging.
How do you feel about the upcoming Hallyu Triple Fantasy Concert in Jeju City?
The what? He was only briefly told about this and perhaps chose to ignore it. It wasn’t like MARS was busy, he just hasn’t taken a look at his agenda book in..forever. “I’m looking forward to it.” He provides and gets a blank expression in return. “It seems like a great opportunity for a lot of fans to come together and enjoy themselves, which is always good.”
Do you have any worries about being followed by cameras for the show?
This is something he can tackle on his own and everyone on the teams’ more than grateful it’s the last question. Jinyoung’s quick and easy to work with, but it’s a bit tense with his manager frantically waving a clipboard around the entire time. “I’m only a tiny, little bit nervous about being followed by cameras because I’m a reserved person. I like down time and I’m not interesting during it, but I’ll do my best. I want to be entertaining. I feel mostly fine though because acting involves a lot of cameras, you know? Acting is like second nature for me, and I even have a few drama prospects coming up. This is a good warm-up, no?”
He’s in his coat, gathered with the team, and in a car within the next five minutes.
