Who are the one and only k-pop Kings of Concepts and why is it VIXX?

In the K-pop industry, song quality and talent aren’t the only factors that may determine an artist’s success. With the growing times and new technologies, K-pop acts are also able to incorporate different concepts with their music that create a very different twist to a simple comeback from an artist. In this aspect, one group definitely stands out among the rest, and as the sub-title says, no one even comes close. Here are the times VIXX, otherwise known as the “Kings of Concepts”, impressed with their revolutionary concepts.

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Vampires

While their debut song “Superhero” is about… being a superhero and “Rock Ur Body” is a full-fledged arcade concept, let’s begin this list with what VIXX considers to be their actual debut song. The group first gained popularity through their daring move to portray themselves as vampires in “On and On”. During that time, many people weren’t quite liking the concept because it was very new and wasn’t something anyone ever tried and succeeded at before. Some expressed shock over VIXX’s dark concept.

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Jekyll & Hyde

VIXX capitalized on their new found fame and continued the road to Satan with “Hyde”. This time, they are boys with dual identities, a concept derived from the fictional “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. This time, VIXX’s popularity continues to prosper, turning the people who doubted and were shocked by their vampire concept into fans.

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Cute Concept

To prove they are actually humans, VIXX then channeled their inner cuteness with “G.R.8.U.” which left a lot impressed by the boy group’s versatility as they effortlessly nail dark and cute concepts at the same time. What made G.R.8.U. extra impressive is that the music video was shot in reverse so the boys had to memorize their lines in reverse as well.

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Voodoo Dolls

VIXX continued to soar and found their way to stardom with “Voodoo Doll” which got them their first music show win. The music video of the song is too graphic, it got rated 19. Again, the boy group amazed people with yet another concept no one in K-pop ever thought of trying. This caused the public to call VIXX “concept-dols”.

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Time Leap

The boys now returned as humans, who traveled through time to be with one girl in “Eternity”. More important than the concept is the choreography and the booty-licious pants they wore.

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Cyborgs

VIXX impressed again with another banging concept with “Error”. This time, they are cyborgs and Hongbin fell in love with a girl (KARA’s Youngji) who then died and got turned into a cyborg. Many k-pop fans believe that Error is a major turning point in VIXX’s career as it is one of the songs that catapulted them to immense fame and recognition.

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Back to the 90’s

If we’re talking about digital success, “Love Equation” is no doubt VIXX’s most successful song. It peaked #1 on melOn and remains as their most downloaded song with hundred thousands of downloads. For this era, VIXX traveled back to the 90’s to perform a revival of “Farewell Formula” by popular 90’s band R.ef.

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B. D. S. M.

Definitely their most popular song, VIXX shook up the entire industry with the daring slave concept of “Chained Up”. This caused the popularized trend of chokers and was one of the biggest songs of 2015. Many other groups were seen dancing to the point choreography of Chained Up and it remains to be VIXX’s most viewed music video up to date.

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Greek Mythology

VIXX completely owned 2016 with probably K-pop’s most iconic trilogy: the 2016 Conception Project. For the entire year, VIXX came back FOUR times following the concept of Greek Mythology. The album titles were Zelos, Hades, Kratos, and Ker, with the last one as the compilation of the first three. This was a huge success and even elevated the respect for VIXX and their concepts.

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Traditional Korean

VIXX’s representative song is none other than “Shangri-la”. After the success and positive reviews of 2016 Conception, many people were wary if VIXX will ever be able to top that. VIXX proved everyone wrong and came back with their best concept yet wearing the traditional hanbok, dancing to the oriental sound of South Korean music.

“Shangri-la” was such a massive hit that they even got to perform it in front of the International Olympic Committee officials, including South Korea’s president and many international politicians as a celebratory cultural performance.

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Perfumers

Before their indefinite hiatus, VIXX released a bomb which was “Scentist”. Their concept this time is perfume and being perfumers. It’s the group’s last comeback as six because leader N will be serving in the military.

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While VIXX is currently in hiatus as a group, we can never deny their legacy when it comes to the creativity and uniqueness department. They started out with people doubting if their revolutionary concepts will work but they paved their way with hard work and no one will ever look at other group’s dark concepts with doubtful eyes anymore.

Honestly speaking, it is because of VIXX that spontaneous and experimental concepts are even given a chance to become popular. Because there is a VIXX, a living testament to how unique concepts can paint a different shade of superb, many people aren’t afraid to listen to something new to the ears. VIXX made concepts not just a method to stand out but a way to express music and performance into a higher being of art, and that is something any other act cannot outdo.

All hail the official, the rightful, the actual, and the only K-Pop Kings of Concepts!