hey, babyyy!!
the last couple days have been kinda tiring to me πͺ what about you? has starlight boys filming been going well? (I'm assuming filming is ongoing?) how about comeback preparations? π I'm so curious to hear the song!!!
you're being very, very cute by coming to bubble & your open chat often, you know. all the selfies too, I love that you seem to be enjoying your black hair π½ you DO look incredible in it.
and congrats for mcing kcon again!! I love seeing my boyz as mcs, it feels like you can be closer to the audience that way, and I like that you, mr eric sohn, get to put your mcing skills to good use too. and looking this pretty? that's a gift to us ππ
okay, I have two more things to say in this letter!! one serious, and one silly. let's start with the serious one, because it's something I've been meaning to mention for months but now I feel like it's very relevant considering, well... the circumstances lol
it's just this: AI kinda sucks for artists? personally I'm very against it, but even outside of my own feelings, that's something artists all around the world have been discussing, right? from visual artists to actors to singers, this has been an important point of discussion because to put it simply, generative AI only exists by stealing other people's creative input.
why am I saying this, though? because that might be part of contract discussions... I'm not saying which contract discussions, but π«‘ I've been thinking about how (kpop) companies might be already investing in AI, and worrying that might mean even more control over their artists' own voices/images. you know what I mean?
remember when universe launched, and there was that robot function to make you boyz say automated(?) messages? it was like, we could get "calls" with your voices saying things you didn't actually record? and maybe I'm mistaken, but I don't remember that being super popular among fans... because not only did it sound kinda creepy at times, but also, what's the fun in mimicking your voice when it's not actually you saying it? π₯²
(there have been a couple of things in kpop recently that used AI, and the reactions from fans were not super positive π understandably so. I don't wanna watch things featuring AI...)
some people seem to enjoy AI covers on youtube, but personally? I kinda really hate it lmao I don't wanna hear a robot that sounds like you singing a song you never chose to sing - I wanna hear you, you know? part of what makes a cover cool is knowing you chose that song, and practiced it, and had your reasons for delivering the lines the way you did. that's even more true for soundcloud songs because literally, you wrote those songs!! that's not only a song you chose to sing, but a song you chose to write. that's what's amazing about it. I get to listen to things you had every intention of singing/writing, and that's great to me, because I like you as a fully realized artist & human being, and not just as a voice :) β€οΈ
anyways. bottom line is, AI only benefits people who don't wanna pay artists/workers at this point. (not to mention the environmental issues, or the virtual crimes that we don't need to address here.) maybe you like the technology, maybe you even like the AI covers lol but from a purely technical, practical point of view, considering contracts and everything, I just hope you & the other boyz can be treated fairly for your work, no matter where you are. that's a must.
that got way too serious LOL sorry... π but as a fan, it's hard not to worry with stuff like that, right? I hope you understand.
lemme talk about silliness for a second to lighten up the mood π
the lee family vs kim family content!!! first of all, why did that video look so good?! omg everyone was gorgeous, and especially you because dude, HELLO???β€οΈβπ₯β€οΈβπ₯β€οΈβπ₯
props to the editing team, this is the most visually pleasing content video so far π₯
and yes I chose those screenshots in particular just to say that this game is one of my favorites π I feel like I say this a lot but I MEAN IT, I laugh every time and feel so bad for your throats after all the yelling LMAO one of the most entertaining games to me.
all of the games were entertaining tbh, and I liked the concept a lot! it was about time you boyz acknowledged the fact that there are 3 lees and 2 kims, and besides, it makes perfect sense for you to be on team lee family π (sorry sunwoo, sorry younghoon!) even better that you guys lost (sorry team lee family!) because then we got you in the Iβ€οΈTBZ shirt lol
plus you and juyeon fighting over the maknae position in the lee family π I laughed out loud at "lee eric's rival".
this really was the perfect content, 10/10, no notes. everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves too, which makes it even more fun to me. funny concept, hilarious games, extremely chaotic energy, AND everyone looks gorgeous? that's now one of my favorite content videos π½π
a couple days ago I had a dream where I saw sunwoo, changmin, and hyunjae, but I hope I can dream about you soon, and above all that - I hope you've been having some nice dreams too, eric. comeback preparations always sound really tough, and you have other schedules aside from it, so I hope you've been feeling well & strong enough for it all πͺ ν μ μμ§?? μλ¦ν
!!! π
take care, okay? thank you for being so lovely even between your busy schedules, baby. we're cheering you on, today & always. remember that!!
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