Jisoo's solo debut FLOWER, which has been highly anticipated by Blinks and many K-pop
fans, was crazily-invested in, and arguably one of the most epic solos of 2023
seems like a reluctantly created thing as the female idol doesn’t seem to be entirely
ready for this yet.
Jisoo's highly-invested solo debut
Jisoo, the eldest member of BlackPink, received a great deal of investment and meticulous
attention from YG for her solo debut.
The entertainment company released a total of six album versions for "ME," which is a
significant difference from the solo debuts of the other three members.
Jennie only had one album version, Lisa had two, and Rosé had three versions, including
a vinyl record
When it comes to the visual aspect, YG also went all out to invest in Jisoo's solo music
video.
Although there is no specific figure, according to previous reports from the Korean media,
YG announced that Jisoo's solo MV was filmed at a highly secure overseas location, with
the largest investment cost ever in all of BlackPink's music videos.
The "Flower" music video is an amalgamation of intricate styling, eye-catching outfits,
and dreamy scenery.
Every scene is presented in a luxurious manner, whether it's in a hotel lobby, at a dining
table, in a bedroom, or on the street.
Moreover, Jisoo's image in her solo music video is elevated and mesmerizing, as she
dons 12 high-end outfits that exude opulence from the most luxurious brands.
Among the 12 outfits Jisoo wore, it's evident that she showed a preference for Dior designs.
From simple and uncomplicated outfits to bold and eye-catching ones, Jisoo carried them
all quite well.
Notably, in the first scene, she transformed into a fairy in a room full of flowers with
a delicate dress which costs $712, paired with Dior slingbacks priced at around $1,150.
This outfit alone cost nearly $81,000.
In addition, the visual member of BlackPink also wore many other high-end designs from
major brands such as Rick Owens, Versace, LEE Y., Rui, etc.
In terms of the number of outfits, Jisoo is not the member that YG invested the most in,
but her total wardrobe value far surpassed that of the other three members, reaching
up to $300,000.
Disappointments All-Around
Despite the meticulous investment and care put into her solo debut, Jisoo received a
lot of mixed feedback, especially regarding her vocal skills, when the debut song was
released.
Despite the careful investment and attention given to her solo debut, Jisoo received mixed
feedback, especially about her singing skills, when her debut song was released.
"FLOWER" is a dance-oriented track with a catchy beat and a unique song structure that
highlights Jisoo's voice.
However, many critics felt that her voice showed flaws when hitting high notes, her
vocal technique wasn't impressive, and her falsetto sounded weak.
Additionally, Jisoo's distinct nasal tone made many people uncomfortable.
Some comments praised the music and MV, but were disappointed with Jisoo's singing.
"The MV is beautiful, but the music and Jisoo's voice are confusing.
It's like there's a mismatch between the music and her voice."
"The beat and MV are okay, but Jisoo's voice feels stretched in some parts.
It's a shame because the chorus is very catchy."
"I find Jisoo's voice tiring.
It just feels like she's straining."
Additionally, many viewers were disappointed with Jisoo's dancing and facial expressions.
She has been labeled as the "mobile flower vase" of BLACKPINK for a long time due to
her lack of outstanding talent compared to the other three members.
Therefore, her debut performance was expected to show progress in her skills.
However, all they received was a disappointment.
There were very few dance scenes, mainly close-up shots of her facial expressions, limiting
the opportunity to showcase her dancing abilities, which were not seen to have improved much.
The dance choreography in the MV was considered easy, but her body movements were not fluid
and her gestures lacked decisiveness.
Her facial expressions were also criticized for not being captivating, giving the impression
that she was straining to play the role.
The MV gives a familiar feeling, reminiscent of...Jennie
Upon the release of the music video, in addition to the praises for Jisoo's stunning visuals,
some netizens began comparing "FLOWER" to Jennie's solo debut MV from 5 years ago.
Despite being heavily invested with a large budget and various international filming locations,
when the MV premiered, the public immediately noticed the similarities between Jisoo's solo
debut and Jennie's from the concept, style, camera angles, scenery, and even outfits.
In the segment where Jisoo performs a solo dance in a luxurious house, it is reminiscent
of the iconic scene from Jennie's "SOLO" MV.
Other similarities were also pointed out, such as Jisoo's dance break on the street,
where she changes outfits multiple times and is accompanied by many backup dancers, just
like in Jennie's video.
Additionally, a scene where Jisoo walks with an open-top car and another where she reads
a book were noted to have similarities to Jennie's MV, with some saying the resemblance
was as high as 90%.
Not stopping there, many people also said that the two MVs have similar color schemes
and setting for certain parts, such as the dance break.
Additionally, the glittering outfits of both were also noted to have similarities.
For some reason, this gives me a similar feeling to "SOLO."
Flower follows the concept of a wealthy young lady betrayed in love.
Kind of like "SOLO."
The scene of the girl sitting by the window alone and dancing in a black outfit is similar
to Jennie's "SOLO."
It's clear that there are many moments in Jisoo's MV that “unintentionally” have
scenes that are quite similar to Jennie's.
This has led many comments to suggest that YG produced Jisoo's MV but "borrowed" from
the approach taken in Jennie's solo debut, resulting in Jisoo failing to leave her own
distinctive mark on her first solo product.
It is not excluded that this is a trick by YG to make the MV FLOWER reminiscent of Jennie's
"SOLO," creating discussion for both.
Because "SOLO" is one of the most successful solo debut MVs in the history of Kpop.
At present, this MV has garnered more than 900 million views.
The MV had some flaws, but fortunately they were quickly addressed
It's unclear whether YG intentionally or unintentionally had some flaws in the MV "Flower" as netizens
quickly spotted the mistakes as soon as it was released.
Netizens promptly noticed YG's handling of the issue between the teaser MV and the official
music product.
Specifically, in the teaser MV of "Flower," in the 6th second, many people noticed a sudden
appearance of a shadow in the frame, wondering if it was a "mysterious character" that would
appear in the MV.
However, when the final product was released, the shadow completely disappeared.
Fans were relieved that YG quickly corrected the mistake in the official MV, but many were
still angry at the company for not being more careful, especially since they had boasted
that it was their most heavily invested MV to date.
It seems like YG rushed Jisoo's solo debut too soon
As the last member to debut solo, Jisoo has received a lot of attention from the public.
However, based on what she has shown, people are questioning whether YG "forced" Jisoo
to debut solo too early in order to meet the deadline with the other members, especially
since her vocal and dance skills are not yet at a level where she feels completely comfortable
performing.
Furthermore, her solo MV concept is seen as uncreative and derivative, simply copying
Jennie's style.
Before her solo debut, Jisoo shared her plans for her first solo project with Rolling Stone
magazine.
Here, the eldest member of BlackPink opened up about the pressure she faced from fans'
expectations, admitting, "I'm not sure how much I want to solo."
While the other members have been able to express their individuality and preferences
through various music genres, Jisoo has struggled to find a musical style that she wants to
experiment with.
Along with the pressure to establish her own musical style, Jisoo also admitted to struggling
with enjoying music performances, mainly focusing on her stage presence to avoid making mistakes.
Perhaps this is partly because she doesn't yet have the ability to fully "hype up" and
enjoy her own performances.
In the end, YG is the main factor that has caused Jisoo to be involved in controversies
surrounding her solo debut.
Despite FLOWER's impressive achievements and positive reception from the public, if YG
had been more cautious and found ways to better use her potential, then perhaps some part
of the audience's perception of her debut would be different.
So, what's your opinion?
Do you feel that Jisoo is really ready for this solo debut?
Has she done a great job or is there still some problems?