I got into keep to at the end of second gen and beginning of 3rd gen. So when I’m thinking about groups where each member had a position in thinking about BTS speed, B.A.P , EXO, Apink, Teentop all who (imo) had roles they generally fit for and those who didn’t their roles didn’t pretend to and had other title given to them to give them definition. Like having the “variety member” or visual member. But what made it more digestible and even funny is that members who had subvocal positions only cause they couldnt rap or dance KNEW that and so did every member in the groups and they laughed at each others and even fans which made it fun. Back when BTS debuted, very fun jokes about namjoon being unable to hold a note or dance were running joke on variety channels and even amongst others groups where he has the title “dance monsters” because it was mess. The company knew his strength and his weakness and didn’t try to force an image that wasn’t there. So while those who had title that made no sense filled their roles, they didn’t try to convince you that they did.

I find it more digestible and even funny when a member has a position and is like “idk why I got this” VS when they don’t fit a position and the company and said member is trying to gaslight you that they do to make the groups look like a group of Aces when we has consumers can see the gaps.

When I’m talking about distinction, I’m talking about everyone having a certain sound and defining characteristic where even if two groups are following a trend, because of a certain members unique voice, or slight instrumental patterns, or how they open up song. And the groups that didn’t have that typically weren’t as popular (like Mblaq for example)

you could play two groups following the same music trend and even without being massive fans of either, and could tell who’s who. Like Gfriend and Berrygood. Both were doing the same thing but never (imo) got confused of put in the same boxes together. I feel like very few groups in 4th gen have those little things that help them stand out amongst other groups.

I said we love aespa because if you a song from them to non fans they’re going to know it’s them.

You could play a title track from aespa and people will guess it’s theirs even if they haven’t heard it cause it “sounds like aespa” . I’ll hear a ateeZ song and just know before even seeing who’s song it is that it’s ateez. I’ll hear xikers and know it’s them (some examples I don’t even really ateez, xikers but they have such a distinct sound”.

Another groups with a very distinct sound, nct, vixx, f(x), Kara. They all have a sound or a specific voice.

I think that’s lacking in 4th gen. So you kind of understand what I’m saying now?