Thursday, October 18, 2007

• Is it the end of JVKV or not?

  Currently Listening Can't Lose You Can't Lose You see related

  I can't believe my first entry here wasn't about Vanness, but those of you who know me, know I'll remedy that soon... today I want to revisit the rumors about JVKV splitting up. I wrote this a month or so ago on jerjonji2 and while Comic Ritz totally denies this, I suspect there is a lot of truth to it. I don't think they need to split up- Shinhwa is still together. They go off and do their own projects, and return to make a CD and promote it when it's time. So does SMAP. Both of those groups have been around awhile and it works for them. I think JVKV could do the same thing- if they want to, but I'm afraid that they don't want to... and that's the real problem!

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  JVKV DISBANDING

  This breaks my heart. I'm not surprised, but it still makes me sad... it's the ending of an era. I knew something was up when I heard Ken Chu say in an interview that he didn't want to keep doing F4 much longer and when Jerry Yan threw a fit about the new Taiwan promotional series. There was a lot of talk about contractual obligations that just went away silently.

  With only Vic and Ken actually doing the series, it seemed obvious that F4 was no longer a team. Vanness is supposed to be in a few episodes when he can find the time, but Jerry is completely absent from them.

  At times, they are better together than they are apart. Watching their personal interactions on stage, I wonder if they're ready for the loneliness of the solo world. I'm sure being a member of an adored boy band gets old as you age, but one of the reasons they were so successful was because there were four of them. But I guess it's time for everyone to grow up and find their way in the world. Still bugs me though and it feels wrong. (But so did the name change from F4 to JVKV).

  Vanness has moved so far away from F4 musically in the last two years that I can't imagine him being content on stage singing some of the older stuff any more. His focus recently has been on dancing and music, movies, and his clothing line,while his desire to break into American media means that he's been pushing himself very hard. I barely see the old Vanness in him anymore. There were traces during his trip to Africa, but even those were rare.

  He has had to work very hard to get where he is now and I'm not sure the other members of F4 have that same drive and sense of professionalism.

  I've heard interviews where they've acknowledged that themselves. They're going to find it's much colder world out there when you're alone without anyone getting your back.

  I really don't care what Jerry does. I don't think he'll be happy at Johnny's.  Jerry's not Kimura Takuya by any stretch of the imagination (The Hospital was unwatchable), and with Kimura still active in film and performing with SMAP, the best roles will go to him. (Rightfully so- Kimura Takuya is one of the hardest working actors/singers I've ever seen. Plus he never seems to think of himself as a superstar- at least in the press.) I think that if Kimura were to give Jerry advice, it would be that he should keep doing the things that are currently working (ie. performing with F4, doing dramas, etc) and not act like a big star or a prima dona. 

  I think that Jerry's in for a big surprise when he finds that it's time to grow up and that there are already famous, younger, good looking stars at Johnny's that he'll be competing against. Maybe he thinks Johnny and Associates will give him the edge he needs, but I suspect he won't be there long.

  The comparison between his role in Meteor Garden and Jun  Matsumoto's role in Hana Yori Dango has to happen, and while I'm not thrilled with either, I suspect Matsumoto is the better actor. Most people who have watched both prefer Matsumoto's interpretation. Plus ARASHI (Matsumoto's band) is still very hot right now while F4 has that "fond memories from my childhood" feeling- which if they made an effort they could recover from.

  I suspect Jerry'll wish he'd taken the role in Basketball Fire with Wu Zun. But, I'm sure he'll grow as an actor and a person while finding his place in a different culture. He may even find that he needs to do some of the work he skipped by being so adored too quickly.

  I worry about Ken of all of them. I don't think he's found his place yet. I know he has his band "Ken and  FreeBird", but I think he'd be happier behind the stage, maybe writing music or being a musical director.

  I could be wrong though. He may totally enjoy being a solo act. I know he's doing a movie in the Philippines so it's not like he's not active and engaged in life. Plus, when he's on stage, he's focused and working hard, and smiling. He must enjoy the performing even if he finds all the fan adoration a pain.- not that he says that outloud- I'm probably reading too much into what he doesn't say!

  All the rumors about Vic talk about his depression and weight loss, and I suspect of the four that he'll take this the hardest- even if it is just making something official after these last few years.

  Vic once said, "Even though we (F4) are doing our own stuff... our strength is greater when we're united together." I happen to think he's absolutely right about that.

  With his acting skills, Vic will be around a long long long time... if he makes the right choices and decides to move beyond "idol" fame to real roles some day.

  May each of the beloved members of F4 find joy and happiness in their next ventures... and maybe, just maybe, I'll figure out a way for Vanness to actually read the screenplay I'm writing for him and he'll seriously consider it.

  Just a few years ago... F4 together...

  Ps. There's no way they can be considered to have gone their own way in 2000. Meteor Garden didn't happen until 2001 and they worked as F4 for a while after that. They didn't even sign with Sony as a boy band until 2001. Vic was the first to release a solo album in 2002. So if the article is wrong about that, one could hope they are wrong about everything. //jk... it feels too true to be just a rumor.

  Update Sep 21 - F4’s agency has denied the rumour; stating that F4 will still be intact and will hold a concert in Japan next year.

  I suspect this is wishful thinking! I hope it's true. It actually makes better ecomonic sense. Why split up if you're not really together often? You can have the best of both--- a lot of independence as an artist, and the safety net of the group. It gives you the marketing power of four, the identity of belonging to something bigger, the sense that you're not a has-been, and while there may be some drawbacks, I can't think of them right away. Even Vanness can sing the familiar, well-beloved songs once or twice a year and still gain something from it. If I was F4's (excuse me JVKV's) management team- I'd bring in new image consultants, new song writers and choreographers, and find a project the four could do together that didn't take all their energy- repackage them for the new generation. Angie Chai is more than capable of doing this- she launched them the first time! She is an utterly brilliant marketing person with good instincts!

  F4 to Formally Disband in October!

  2007-08-31 11:45:36     CRIENGLISH.com

  Taiwan's popular boy band F4 [File Photo: cnsphoto] Taiwan's popular boy band F4 will become history as the lead singer Jerry Yan will leave the current company soon, the Fujian-based Southeast Express reports on Friday. The pop singer and actor's contract with Wu Fu Long Production Company will come to an end in October, and it has been confirmed that he will not renew the contract. Jerry Yan launched his own studio "Star Jerry" back in 2005. In order to develop his market in Japan, he signed in secret with Japanese Top boy group SMAP's agent Johnny and Associates to act as his new manager in June, thus becoming Kimura Takuya's junior colleague. The other members of the group, including Ken Chu and Vanness Wu, will also face decisions regarding their contracts soon. Vanness Wu has already decided that he will not renew his contract at the end of this year, while Ken Chu also admitted that he was considering leaving. Only Vic Chou will continue to work with the current agency, says the report. The boy group swept Southeast Asia with their popular youth idol TV drama "Meteor Garden", and since 2000 the members have pursued their own career paths.

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  Vic's new song...

  I'm Not F4

  我不是F4

  Wo Bu Shi F4

  2007.10.17 "我不是F4" (I'm Not F4) is a new song from Vic's upcoming solo album that will be out on 26th October 2007. The melody of the song is written by Jay Chou.   Seems like an appropriate way to end this post! Kind of sad... ok, not kind of sad... extremely so......

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