u/Wonderful-Expert8084

I've seen "Why are Koreans making such a big deal over the national football team?" posts dozens of times now, and it's honestly getting annoying. Google search before posting? Or at least search Reddit? The outrage you're seeing is the result of years of corruption and scandals finally boiling over, starting with the way the national team's head coach was appointed. Before you so casually jump to "Why are Koreans so weird?", at least make some effort to find out what's actually been going on.

It’s not urgent or anything, but the sidebar image looks like it’s from the Stick Out album era. It’s not really causing any issues, but wouldn’t it make more sense to update it with more recent releases? Just a thought.

I'm really into horror stories, urban legends, and creepy real-life incidents, and I was wondering if you could recommend some from Indonesia.

I'm looking for stories that are considered genuinely terrifying or especially well-known in Indonesia. Urban legends, supernatural tales, true crime cases, unsolved mysteries, and real incidents are all welcome. Stories based on real events are fine too.

The only things I'd like to exclude are SimpleMan's stories, as well as Indonesian horror movies and horror games, since I've already gone through most of those. It's not that I dislike them—I just happen to be familiar with them already.

Also, if Indonesia has any websites, forums, or online communities similar to Japan's 2ch, where people regularly post horror stories, creepy experiences, paranormal encounters, or unsettling real-life incidents, I'd really appreciate those recommendations as well.

edit: I've already seen both of Joshua Oppenheimer's documentaries (and I liked both of them), and I think I know at least a little about Indonesian politics. So I don't think talking about those topics would be particularly meaningful for me. Thank you.

Since Pookie, FIFTY FIFTY has been sticking to easy listening tracks as their title songs, but I’m not fully convinced that’s the right move for a group like them. They’re known for strong vocals, but this genre doesn’t really highlight that strength in a noticeable way.

It’s not that easy listening artists can’t sing—obviously that’s not the point—but the genre itself tends to be repetitive and deliberately low-intensity, which leaves very little room for vocal showcase moments. So it kind of feels like they’re stepping away from what they’re actually best at in order to compete in a different lane.

And I can’t help wondering if the success of Pookie (hitting around the Melon top 30) actually became a long-term trap for them. Because after that, the follow-up tracks in a similar easy listening direction haven’t really performed well on the charts at all.

It kind of reinforces the idea that songs don’t necessarily need to be just “well-made” in a neutral sense to succeed. If something sticks - even when it divides opinion - it tends to circulate more widely.

Compared to a lot of recent 5th-gen releases (like Fifty Fifty, Izna, etc.), it’s one of the few that actually entered the Melon Top 100, peaking around 88. It may surpass Burning Up, which peaked at 80, and there’s also a possibility it could climb higher from here.

The numbers themselves aren’t anything extraordinary, but the track keeps circulating - people keep talking about it, for better or worse. Meme edits, YouTube parodies, and short viral clips keep popping up, so it doesn’t really fade out.

It’s kind of interesting, maybe even telling, that just generally good songs don’t seem to gain much traction anymore. That feels increasingly hard to ignore.

I only have a fairly superficial understanding of Indonesian politics and society, but recently I've gotten the impression that criticism of Prabowo and his economic policies has been growing quite intense. Is that actually reflective of broader Indonesian public opinion?

The reason I'm asking is that when I looked at a few opinion polls, his approval ratings still seemed extremely high. That made me wonder whether I'm just stuck in a filter bubble, or whether the polls aren't fully capturing the views of the people who are most critical of him.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who is knowledgeable about this topic.

Separately, I'd also welcome recommendations for good English-language resources on Indonesian politics and society - books, websites, YouTube channels, newsletters, or anything similar. I don't speak Indonesian yet, so English sources would be especially helpful.

I think some K-pop fans use terms like "hate" and "spreading negativity" in a highly self-serving way. By their standards, criticism of a group's music, concept, activities, or even the company managing them can all be labeled as "hate" or "spreading negativity." These vague catch-all terms are little more than an echo chamber for people who already like the group.

On a somewhat related note, another thing I find problematic is the tendency to speculate about the hidden "motive" behind someone's argument. Even when a comment doesn't indicate it on its face, some people immediately assume it must be driven by "hate" or "misogyny." If there is concrete evidence supporting that conclusion - such as a history of posting in a snark subreddit dedicated to a particular group - then that's a different matter. But in many cases, no such evidence exists, and people are simply projecting motives onto others without any real basis.

The band version of Heavy Serenade is so good. Especially the third verse - that explosive release is insane.

I’m not sure how many K-pop fans are familiar with it, but the whole song Blue Valentine really feels like it could be Akemi Homura’s theme song. Lyrics like “If this love is over, I dive back in again,” and the way the tempo slows down and then speeds up again - those shifts kind of feel like a metaphor for turning back time.

Homura’s name is associated with fire, and the phrase “Blue Valentine" itself reads like a cold, faded Valentine, but at the same time it also feels like a stronger, more intense blue flame burning underneath.

I’m not sure how many K-pop fans are also anime fans - especially fans of an older series like Madoka Magica - but I feel like people who know both might end up having the same impression, so I just wanted to put this thought out there.

edit: To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, I’ve removed the word “boomer” from the original text.

Just for fun, let's talk about what direction and style NMIXX's next album might actually take.

I'm not talking about what we'd personally like to see, but rather what they are likely to release when considering their previous albums, future prospects, industry trends, overseas markets, and so on. I think it's an interesting topic to speculate about.

Setting everything else aside, I wouldn't be surprised if they released a lighter, brighter song as either a pre-release or even the title track. Regardless of whether their music has leaned more mainstream or experimental, NMIXX has always carried a certain sense of heaviness in its overall image. Whether that's viewed as a strength or a drawback, it has undeniably served as a hurdle for some K-pop listeners. At the same time, the members are exceptionally good at pulling off lighter concepts. Sullyoon's Catch Catch challenge at the last fan meeting, for example, received an overwhelmingly positive response.

Because of that, I can see SQU4D wanting to fully capitalize on that strength at least once. Expanding into that kind of style could also do a lot to broaden their fanbase. Keeping their existing fans in mind, they could still have a title track in the vein of Blue Valentine or Heavy Serenade while simultaneously experimenting with a lighter song as a pre-release or a double title track. I think there's definitely enough value in trying that approach.

Many people have discussed Meovv's current position and challenges from various angles, but I think the core issue facing Meovv - and, more broadly, The Black Label as a whole - is that Teddy's grip on the company is too strong, while at the same time he simply has too much on his plate to give every project his full attention.

It's not just Teddy either. The producers who play leading roles in The Black Label's music are largely limited to a small group of people such as Teddy, Kush, and 24. Their names appear throughout the majority of the label's tracklists. While this can certainly be seen as part of what creates The Black Label's signature sound, the problem is that they're handling an enormous workload.

Within the last one or two years alone, three groups have debuted under their umbrella or production system: Meovv, ADP, and Izna (even though Izna is under a different company, it is still being produced by The Black Label). That's before even considering their existing artists. On top of that, they're heavily involved in major external projects such as Blackpink and KPop Demon Hunters. They're trying to do more than any creative team can realistically handle at the same time.

I like Meovv's music, but I can't shake the feeling that many of their songs sound like B-sides that could have gone to groups Teddy has already made famous. To put it bluntly, where does Meovv actually rank on Teddy's list of priorities?

There are companies much smaller than The Black Label that support fewer groups - or even just a single group - and yet they consistently manage to secure stronger material than what Meovv has been given.

If The Black Label or Teddy cannot provide Meovv with the level of musical support the group needs, then I think they should bring in a talented outside producer who can take ownership of the project and develop Meovv's identity. My concern is not that Teddy or The Black Label's existing producers lack ability; rather, I believe they simply do not have the time or resources necessary to give Meovv the full commitment and attention the group deserves.