TBH!!!!!!11! I remember watching ITNW when I started K-Pop and was like :biblio "ummmmm they look beat", it's very strange, I guess they want to focus on "talent", but just because you're done up and looking a certain type of way (hair style/color, make up, etc) doesn't take away from anything.
What kind of misconception?
Yeah, I always thought it was to focus on the talent because SM made them sing live too, which we all know isn't required these days if your name isn't Taeyeon or Seohyun
SM aren't slick for not giving Yoona any solo lines, but having her front and centre for the choruses
But then f(x) mimed here and were also pretty bare faced
Knowing SM, it's probably that they don't give them a budget for "extra" until they believe they earned it. But since K-Pop's visuals have changed, they can't do that anymore really... EXO got it a lot easier. I can't imagine Kris debuting back then
Oh for SNSD/f(x) looking "bare" with minimum makeup during their debut era is to really emphasize their "pure", "little girl" image.
I mean f(x), not as much with the "transition" but for SNSD, they went form "pure" -> "cute" -> "mature", showing how they are growing up as they go deeper into their career
their worst title track and worst sm title track this year