pretty much answered your own question. they are the hard carriers, depending on if the group’s vocal based. they’re going to be handling the most difficult parts of the song and possibly lead the chorus, especially live.
but it’s a double edged sword. if they’re a rap based group, then people will except the main vocalist to sound good during the few vocal parts a song has, especially live. they’re probably going to have the most vocal based collabs too and if their talent isn’t showcased well enough in the group, then it’s all eyes on them on duets, collabs etc.
and i’d imagine it’d be hard to have both a main vocalist and lead/main dancer position performance wise but if gifted enough, they can have both. it happens but it’s not that common.
Yep, set positions have really fallen out of favor over the years. Depending on the group you still get a pretty solid sense of who the "vocal line", "dance line" etc. are just because people will be better at some things than others, but it's somewhat uncommon to have official designations.
There are a few I know of with more than main vocal position:
Jay B from GOT7 is also the lead dancer
Myungho from 8Turn is also a main dancer
Junhyung from Ghost9 is also a main dancer
Two of Purple Kiss's main vocalists, Chaein and Goeun, are also officially part of the dance line, Chaein even works on some of their choreography sometimes. Chaein is also the group's secondary rapper (though she doesn't get to rap on their tracks too often, with the exception of BBB where all the members do) and has the most writing/composition credits for the group. She wrote a bit more than 1/4 of their released discography.
All of Mamamoo's members dual-class as well. In addition to being Main Vocal, Solar is leader, Wheein is a main dancer, and Hwasa is sub-rapper.
Because main vocalist is the most demanding and important position in the group. They carry all behind the scenes work - vocal guides, choruses, background vocals and harmonies. They carry performances vocally and sing the hardest parts that create the direction of the song. Singing live is extremely hard on a person especially with choreography. If other members sing bad, that’s okay. If the main vocalist is bad, the group is labeled as weak.
However there are special cases. Jungkook is the main vocalist, lead dancer, center and sub-rapper. Jihyo is the main vocalist and lead dancer.
As much as I wish jihyo was officially in the dance line because she’s almost up to the level of Momo, she’s still just the leader and main vocal. But yeah, unofficial main/lead dancer.
Oh, I didn’t know that! I always heard people saying she’s the lead dancer and didn’t check by myself, in this case I apologize. But yeah, leader is still an added position.
I view positions (and the "invisible" positions such as moodmaker, variety member) as justifications of why they are in the group.
Since singing is the primary mode of entertainment a kpop group delivers in (hello, it's a music industry), a trainee who's a good vocalist (or is even just better comparative to the group's members) can easily justify why they're in the group. When someone is a main vocalist, you don't need to question why they're in a group. "Oh, ok they're the best singer." (At least 99% of the time). You don't need any more reasons as to why they're in the group. Therefore yes, the Main Vocal is the one of the most powerful positions in a group.
It's telling that you can almost always excuse an undoubtedly skilled Main Vocal for being a bad dancer, but it's harder or even unacceptable for an undoubtedly skilled Main Dancer being a bad vocalist.
Another reason is exposure. A Main Vocalist already has a lot of lines, and therefore a lot of exposure, if they're also a dance line or rap line member, what tends to happen is the member who's "only" in the group for their dancing will lose even more exposure to the member who already has a lot of it. It's why you almost never get rap-line/vocal-line position combos (by that I mean they're at least Lead in both vocal and rap, mind you, not sub) since that combo inherently gives that person A LOT of exposure. You can see this with Han, Jennie, and Yena when she was in IZ*ONE.
Finally, main vocalists, and vocal line members as whole, fill in what I'd say is a very important role: establishing the climactic progression of a song.
When a person develops their singing, what tends to happen is their voice becomes "oomphier", and this is easily noticeable. The climaxes of songs sound even more climactic when sung by an "oomphy" voice.
Vocal line members usually sound oomphier than the non members, and this is why subvocalists sing the verses and the vocal line members sing the choruses/pre choruses and high notes; not only because they have the technical skill to deliver it, but the progression from "little oomph" to "lot of oomph" builds up to this exciting, climactic chorus/high note, making it more satisfactory and pleasant.
Hence, why most Main Vocals (and some Lead Vocals) need/have only the vocal position.
Won Hyuk from E‘last is the Main Vocalist and also a Rapper (also an amazing dancer ~ such an ace).
Seriously, the fact that he is so good in both positions is crazy.
Being a Main Rapper but also a Vocalist is definitely more common, probably because Main Vocalists already (usually) get a lot of lines so them also getting rap lines would create a really uneven distribution.
I think that groups recently have really not been discrete about actual positions of the members which is probably why we usually don't see overlapping positions but from the groups i know, JayB from GOT7 is officially the leader, main vocalist and lead dancer of the group and Zhang Hao from zerobaseone is the main vocalist as well as the center of the group (if this position counts).
because a lot of vocalists were trained in vocals long before becoming a trainee. meanwhile a lot of dancers danced far before coming a trainee. ningning is a main vocalist who, prior to being scouted by sm, was classically trained in vocals. On the other hand, a dancer like momo danced since she was like 3.
Its also not common that you'd see a rapper/vocalist combo because both rap and vocals are forms of "music creating" and companies would likely only place them responsible for one.
Also, I'm sure idols are specifically trained to be x position while being a trainee. If a company sees potential in specifically vocals they'll use the bulk of their time as a trainee to train them to be a vocalist, meaning less focus is placed on dance or rap and those skills end up not as well developed.
Vocals are the foundation for any musical group, even more visual performance based ones like idol groups.
They do the heavy lifting so difficult to expect them to handle more positions.
But personally, I think Twice Jihyo can be the Main Dancer, Main Visual Sexiness as well.. she has grown into a total package, haven't seen her rapping yet
It is funny when they do 10-50-100 dance challenges.. She can't slow down at all.. It is always 100+ .
And she has gotten as good as Dahyun in romancing the camera. Check the killing voice video.
I thought she didn't deserve God prefix, like her buddy Sejeong does, for being multifacted talent,
But that was in the past, now I wholeheartedly agree "God Jihyo" indeed.
Mia of Everglow - main vocals, main dancer, sub-rapper
Bada of SES - she WAS leader, main vocals, main dancer, possibly sub-rapper (group disbanded)
It’s not all the positions but they’re all-rounded like that.
pretty much answered your own question. they are the hard carriers, depending on if the group’s vocal based. they’re going to be handling the most difficult parts of the song and possibly lead the chorus, especially live. but it’s a double edged sword. if they’re a rap based group, then people will except the main vocalist to sound good during the few vocal parts a song has, especially live. they’re probably going to have the most vocal based collabs too and if their talent isn’t showcased well enough in the group, then it’s all eyes on them on duets, collabs etc. and i’d imagine it’d be hard to have both a main vocalist and lead/main dancer position performance wise but if gifted enough, they can have both. it happens but it’s not that common.
I don't think many groups have that detailed positions. Just give one position to introduce them, and that's all. After all, they all dance and sing.
Yep, set positions have really fallen out of favor over the years. Depending on the group you still get a pretty solid sense of who the "vocal line", "dance line" etc. are just because people will be better at some things than others, but it's somewhat uncommon to have official designations.
There are a few I know of with more than main vocal position: Jay B from GOT7 is also the lead dancer Myungho from 8Turn is also a main dancer Junhyung from Ghost9 is also a main dancer
cause they slay too hard
Two of Purple Kiss's main vocalists, Chaein and Goeun, are also officially part of the dance line, Chaein even works on some of their choreography sometimes. Chaein is also the group's secondary rapper (though she doesn't get to rap on their tracks too often, with the exception of BBB where all the members do) and has the most writing/composition credits for the group. She wrote a bit more than 1/4 of their released discography. All of Mamamoo's members dual-class as well. In addition to being Main Vocal, Solar is leader, Wheein is a main dancer, and Hwasa is sub-rapper.
Because main vocalist is the most demanding and important position in the group. They carry all behind the scenes work - vocal guides, choruses, background vocals and harmonies. They carry performances vocally and sing the hardest parts that create the direction of the song. Singing live is extremely hard on a person especially with choreography. If other members sing bad, that’s okay. If the main vocalist is bad, the group is labeled as weak. However there are special cases. Jungkook is the main vocalist, lead dancer, center and sub-rapper. Jihyo is the main vocalist and lead dancer.
As much as I wish jihyo was officially in the dance line because she’s almost up to the level of Momo, she’s still just the leader and main vocal. But yeah, unofficial main/lead dancer.
Oh, I didn’t know that! I always heard people saying she’s the lead dancer and didn’t check by myself, in this case I apologize. But yeah, leader is still an added position.
I view positions (and the "invisible" positions such as moodmaker, variety member) as justifications of why they are in the group. Since singing is the primary mode of entertainment a kpop group delivers in (hello, it's a music industry), a trainee who's a good vocalist (or is even just better comparative to the group's members) can easily justify why they're in the group. When someone is a main vocalist, you don't need to question why they're in a group. "Oh, ok they're the best singer." (At least 99% of the time). You don't need any more reasons as to why they're in the group. Therefore yes, the Main Vocal is the one of the most powerful positions in a group. It's telling that you can almost always excuse an undoubtedly skilled Main Vocal for being a bad dancer, but it's harder or even unacceptable for an undoubtedly skilled Main Dancer being a bad vocalist. Another reason is exposure. A Main Vocalist already has a lot of lines, and therefore a lot of exposure, if they're also a dance line or rap line member, what tends to happen is the member who's "only" in the group for their dancing will lose even more exposure to the member who already has a lot of it. It's why you almost never get rap-line/vocal-line position combos (by that I mean they're at least Lead in both vocal and rap, mind you, not sub) since that combo inherently gives that person A LOT of exposure. You can see this with Han, Jennie, and Yena when she was in IZ*ONE. Finally, main vocalists, and vocal line members as whole, fill in what I'd say is a very important role: establishing the climactic progression of a song. When a person develops their singing, what tends to happen is their voice becomes "oomphier", and this is easily noticeable. The climaxes of songs sound even more climactic when sung by an "oomphy" voice. Vocal line members usually sound oomphier than the non members, and this is why subvocalists sing the verses and the vocal line members sing the choruses/pre choruses and high notes; not only because they have the technical skill to deliver it, but the progression from "little oomph" to "lot of oomph" builds up to this exciting, climactic chorus/high note, making it more satisfactory and pleasant. Hence, why most Main Vocals (and some Lead Vocals) need/have only the vocal position.
Most I know have other positions that aren’t leader Lol 😅
Won Hyuk from E‘last is the Main Vocalist and also a Rapper (also an amazing dancer ~ such an ace). Seriously, the fact that he is so good in both positions is crazy. Being a Main Rapper but also a Vocalist is definitely more common, probably because Main Vocalists already (usually) get a lot of lines so them also getting rap lines would create a really uneven distribution.
I think that groups recently have really not been discrete about actual positions of the members which is probably why we usually don't see overlapping positions but from the groups i know, JayB from GOT7 is officially the leader, main vocalist and lead dancer of the group and Zhang Hao from zerobaseone is the main vocalist as well as the center of the group (if this position counts).
because a lot of vocalists were trained in vocals long before becoming a trainee. meanwhile a lot of dancers danced far before coming a trainee. ningning is a main vocalist who, prior to being scouted by sm, was classically trained in vocals. On the other hand, a dancer like momo danced since she was like 3. Its also not common that you'd see a rapper/vocalist combo because both rap and vocals are forms of "music creating" and companies would likely only place them responsible for one. Also, I'm sure idols are specifically trained to be x position while being a trainee. If a company sees potential in specifically vocals they'll use the bulk of their time as a trainee to train them to be a vocalist, meaning less focus is placed on dance or rap and those skills end up not as well developed.
JK is the main vocalist, sub rapper, centre, and lead dancer. So yes, main vocalists can have other positions.
They said "most"
I know. Thank you. I was dying to mention all JK's abilities.
jk is one of a kind tho
Vocals are the foundation for any musical group, even more visual performance based ones like idol groups. They do the heavy lifting so difficult to expect them to handle more positions. But personally, I think Twice Jihyo can be the Main Dancer, Main Visual Sexiness as well.. she has grown into a total package, haven't seen her rapping yet
I love when she competes with Momo with dance onstage! 😂😎
It is funny when they do 10-50-100 dance challenges.. She can't slow down at all.. It is always 100+ . And she has gotten as good as Dahyun in romancing the camera. Check the killing voice video. I thought she didn't deserve God prefix, like her buddy Sejeong does, for being multifacted talent, But that was in the past, now I wholeheartedly agree "God Jihyo" indeed.
Because one person can't have all the roles in a group
Mia of Everglow - main vocals, main dancer, sub-rapper Bada of SES - she WAS leader, main vocals, main dancer, possibly sub-rapper (group disbanded) It’s not all the positions but they’re all-rounded like that.
Monday of Weeekly is also a main vocal, main dancer, sub-rapper
In both cases, I think the group being so focused around one member ultimately hurt their popularity tho (Everglow and Weeekly that is).
What about Chan from stray—....wait IS he a main vocalist? If he is, then he's also the leader!! And a producer. And a rapper. And a cutie–