You can find all of our “Bias Duality” articles in one place by clicking here! This week’s “Bias Duality” article is dedicated to an artist so brilliant, luminous, and magnificent that we are honoured to feature her. We’re talking, of course, about Red Velvet’s SeulGi. With 62.7% of the total votes cast by Kpopmap readers on the poll in our previous “Bias Duality” article, SeulGi was chosen by an overwhelming majority of fans to appear on this series! To participate in choosing the artist who will be featured in our next “Bias Duality” article, you can vote for your favourite idol/actor below! If you would like to see a different idol/actor (one who is not mentioned in the poll) featured in the series, please leave their name in the comments section, and we will add them to the vote lineup next time! Now onto our bias!
Sublime Royalty: Kang SeulGi Of Red Velvet
Two things come to mind when you think of Red Velvet’s SeulGi: the uber-talented creative genius with a chokehold on our senses and the baby bear who is so loveable that we would fight the world for her, and it is this duality that we aim to highlight in this article. As inarguably one of the most hard-working, impactful, and influential artists in the world, SeulGi is the personification of persistence, sincerity, and passion. The woman has art coursing through her veins, and she cultivated it to perfection all by herself. After a rigorous training period of 7 years, during which time she went through hell and high water to debut, SeulGi finally emerged as a symbol of empowerment, a beacon of hope, love, and light, and a source of happiness for millions all over the world. From rough patches, tackling insecurities and self-doubt, dealing with her vocal chord issues, switching from specializing in singing to dance and suffering from a sense of loss of self to reaffirming her own identity, becoming a triple threat as a main dancer, lead vocalist, and style icon and most importantly, expressing herself freely and finding power in the same, SeulGi has come a long way and yet, she is only getting started. Whether it be as a member of Red Velvet, one of the biggest musical acts in the whole wide world, or as a solo artist (which she has not debuted as officially), SeulGi is highly accomplished and especially sought-after. The number of collaborations, achievements, and solo projects like OSTs, variety shows, and more she has under her belt speaks volumes of how coveted her talents are. SeulGi’s personal sense of artistry, outside of Red Velvet, is just as appreciated and cherished as her irreplaceable position in the group. Her endless potential is not only impressive but also fantastically overwhelming in the best way possible. It is virtually impossible to predict or measure her greatness when she excels at anything and everything she puts her mind to. After all, she isn’t called “Golden Hands” for nothing! Besides being an immensely talented idol, SeulGi is also a prodigy in drawing! So, the boundlessness of her future will most definitely be a vision to behold. When it comes to SeulGi’s personality, we could wax lyrical about it all day. Needless to say, it is the very definition of duality! She can be cute, innocent, childish on the one hand, fierce, powerful, and spunky on the other. SeulGi can be the most graceful and elegant woman you’ve ever seen, but she’s also adorably clumsy. Her mild temperament and kind demeanor have not only made her a fan favorite, but she is also beloved by fellow idols, seniors, and juniors alike. She finds happiness in the smallest things, even if that is a little flower by the side of the road and as such, knows the importance of those little things in life. She’s often seen showing her affection in subtle ways that might not always be noticeable but matter more than grand gestures. There’s also an anecdote about SeulGi’s childhood when she bought bungeoppang for an elementary school student who evidently wanted to eat it with her friends but didn’t have the money to buy it. Instead of buying it for her and burdening her, middle school student SeulGi simply said that she bought it for herself but couldn’t eat anymore, so she hoped that she would finish it in her stead. Clearly, the moment left such a big impact on the child that she shared the story years later, recounting SeulGi’s kindness. SeulGi being SeulGi is the greatest blessing ever. SeulGi is gentle yet firm, has strong values but is open-minded, doesn’t hesitate to put others before herself but also makes sure to cater to her own needs, is caring and considerate towards her members but also loves to tease them and play around, is positive and bright but doesn’t hide behind a happy facade as idols are often expected to. SeulGi has always been open about her struggles, which in turn, helps innumerable others who look up to her. She has a way of making people want to believe in her, and that is truly a precious quality. It is no wonder, therefore, that she has created such an indelible legacy for herself that shines brighter than the sun.
A Voice Like No Other: SeulGi’s Vocal Duality
SeulGi’s road to becoming one of the most lauded vocalists in the industry was one that was forged with blood, sweat, and tears. It is no news for fans of SeulGi that prior to her debut, she grappled with some serious issues surrounding her voice and her competence as a vocalist, which prompted her to polish her dance skills to perfection. However, in the process, she also realized the importance of her voice and why it is unique, which has fortunately brought us the SeulGi we know today. SeulGi’s voice is resonant, crystal clear, and magnanimous, but it is also soft, mellow, and warm. Either way, she is brilliantly skilled at singing and even more so at imbuing each word with the most heartfelt emotion. This marvelous talent also landed her the role of Dorothy, the central protagonist of the musical “School Oz”! SeulGi’s voice can make you feel things that you didn’t even know you were capable of. She could turn your room into a club and have you crying in the same makeshift club in a matter of seconds. Just a change of songs, and we go from swooning over ‘Darling U’ by SUPER JUNIOR’s YeSung and SeulGi to being left speechless with ‘Naughty’ by IRENE & SEULGI. The duality in SeulGi’s vocal colour and tone is so distinct yet coherent that we cannot help but gush over it. Four songs that perfectly illustrate her exceptional versatility are ‘Always’ (“The Crowned Clown” OST), ‘Monster’ (IRENE & SEULGI), ‘Step Back’ (GOT The Beat), and ‘Selfish’ (MAMAMOO’s MoonByul ft. SeulGi). ‘Always’ posits SeulGi’s voice in all its raw beauty, devoid of distractions. The spotlight is entirely on her stable vocals and how gorgeously she modulates it, bends it to her will, and creates something magical out of it. In ‘Monster’ too, SeulGi’s voice commands attention. Her lower register is on full display, and she flaunts her range like nobody’s business, rightfully so! There’s an allure in the way she utters the lyrics that is simply out of this world, and we just can’t get enough. In ‘Step Back’, SeulGi’s duality manifests itself the strongest, especially with the way she switches from a slow-paced low-pitch to a higher pace and vocal register. What’s more, is that she does it so effortlessly that the switch seems to come naturally! On the other hand, we have ‘Selfish’ where SeulGi is completely in her element, whether that be in terms of her vocals or her personality. It is colorful, dynamic, and free. The fact that she enjoys every second of the song becomes evident in her voice, and that alone takes it to a whole new level. With SeulGi and MoonByul being multi-talented besties, ‘Selfish’ is a treasure we will adore forever. For more of SeulGi’s vocal duality, we highly recommend that you check out her performance of ‘Turning The Page Of Memories’ by Lee SunHee on “The King Of Mask Singer”, her cover of “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston on “You HeeYeol’s Sketchbook” and quite literally, all of Red Velvet’s discography.
Soulmates With The Stage: The Duality In SeulGi’s Performance
When someone is born to be on stage, they glow in the most radiant way on it, almost as if they have a halo around them announcing their presence. Kang SeulGi is one such performer who was destined to take over the world’s stage. This doesn’t just pertain to her extraordinary dancing skills or even her awe-worthy facial expressions. Instead, we’re talking about the magnetism she exudes, the way she captivates her audience, enchants and transports them to a universe of her own, adorned by beauty and grace. Yet, we cannot possibly gloss over the absolute perfection that is SeulGi’s dancing. With the sharpest movements and the most piercing gaze, SeulGi has a penchant for hypnotizing her viewers. From open style choreography to freestyle, contemporary, breakdancing, hip-hop, K-Pop, and more, SeulGi can pull off any style flawlessly. As a matter of fact, she’s even renowned for superbly covering boy group songs! From her immaculate footwork to incredible isolation and more, SeulGi’s technical skill is undoubtedly matchless, but her ability to individualize even the slightest and grandest gestures, the smallest and largest movements, is what makes her such a fascinating dancer. The dedication and respect she has for her craft, the ardor with which she treats it, and the joy it brings her, all come through in her performance. SeulGi can be delicate and intense, dainty and robust, coy and cocky, bashful and bold all at once, and this duality spectrum is something we will never stop raving about. Four unforgettable performances that will always stand testimony to this duality are her “I Just X Around” stage from 2017 MAMA in Hong Kong with NCT’s TaeYong, her performance video of ‘Uncover’, Red Velvet’s performance of ‘Bad Boy’ at the 2018 Dream Concert, and of course, SEULGI & IRENE’s SMROOKIES performance video of ‘Be Natural’. “I Just X Around”, gave us SeulGi in control, sensual, assertive, and dazzling. Let’s not forget the stunning hairography! ‘Uncover’ is more lyrical, with SeulGi playing around with a number of styles, fusing them together to create an enamoring blend. She knows exactly what she’s doing, and that confidence becomes apparent in her eyes. Her facial expressions tease us one moment and soothe us the next, keeping us on our toes until the very end. Similarly, Red Velvet’s ‘Bad Boy’ stage at the 2018 Dream Concert is arguably one of SeulGi’s best performances yet. Her energy - infectious and her smile - to die for. She wasn’t just performing, she was embodying the lyrics, feeling it in her bones, and as always, it showed. Finally, the performance that is just as iconic today as it was at the time of its release 8 years ago - ‘Be Natural’. To think that SeulGi was a rookie when she delivered this timeless masterpiece speaks volumes of the abundant talent she is blessed with. We desperately want need a 2022 version of ‘Be Natural’!
An Icon For The Ages: SeulGi’s Aesthetic Duality
If being a power vocalist and dancing queen wasn’t enough, SeulGi is also a fashion connoisseur with an eye for aesthetics. That’s not all! Besides being a stellar model, SeulGi is also a talented photographer! While her personal Instagram account (@hi_sseulgi) is her private runway, her second account (@by.sseulgi) is like her journal. These accounts, in and of themselves, represent SeulGi’s duality. On the one hand, we have our idol SeulGi, and on the other, we have the girl next door, SeulGi. One is glamorous, chic, and trendy, complete with pictorials, selfies, and OOTDs, giving us the fashionista fantasy, whereas the other is honest, artsy, and nostalgic with special photos taken by film cameras of fleeting moments that felt like they would last forever. If they were movies, hi_sseulgi would be a mega hit by a major production, and by.sseulgi would be an award-winning indie film - both amazing yet different in their own ways. In terms of fashion, SeulGi has an unmistakably recognizable style, and it is, in fact, an extension of her self-expression. She’s often setting trends instead of following them, which stems from her fearless experimentation. There have even been times (very successful ones), when SeulGi styled herself for performances! At the end of the day, be it casual or couture, jeans or gowns, SeulGi is the ideal model who looks divine in anything she puts on and we love to see it. When all is said and done, SeulGi is truly an inspiration in an infinitely expansive way. Whether it be on screen, on the stage, or in real life, the muse of muses, idol of idols, Kang SeulGi, is the queen of our hearts and minds. She reigns supreme as one of the finest artists of this generation, and we’re truly grateful to be living in her era. With her limitless potential and cosmic possibilities, we cannot wait to see what SeulGi has in store for us next. If you’re looking for more content about Red Velvet & SeulGi on Kpopmap, here are some articles you might enjoy!
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