Yesterday I watched the teaser for Luhan's "that good good" MV and it made me think again. 

First of all, I don't hate Luhan or EXO or any present or former member. I was pretty impressed by EXO in the beginning and I liked a lot of the stuff they were doing back then. But of course it was Baekhyun, D.O. and Chen who got me on the singing part and Kai and Lay for the dancing. In the beginning the group mainly consisted of these guys for me and you might notice that none of the three who left is among them.

I've already talked about this before but because of that teaser I wanted to say something again. and although it is unfair I also come back to SHINee every time I'm thinking about EXO's situation.

There is a reason why some students make it into SM and others don't. So nobody who debuts with an SM group is talentless. Being in a big group is probably unfortunate but it is also a chance (I hope it will be a chance for Seventeen members btw. (I know they are not in SM, just another big group)). As I said there are those who immediately get your attention and those who don't. But even if you have already debuted you're still in the process of growing, you're still learning and not only by performing.

SM might be a cruel company although lately I've read so many bad things about other companies that I doubt that SM is the worst. Anyway, they are honing there artists. Do you know what that means? It's not just a couple of years of training, it is far more than that. You can see it in any long-term artist they employ. And SHINee of course is my favorite example ^^.

I've read a comment on "Skeleton Flower" the other day where some obviously Jonghyun biased fan wrote something like "run away from SM and SHINee, you don't need them". Well, apart from the fact that it kinda hurt me to read that someone recommends to desert SHINee I think it would be the wrong decision. Jonghyun has not only profited from SHINee because of the fame, he has profited from the opportunity to work with exceptionally good musicians and producers and learn from them. Even dancing-classes have been good for him although in his later life I don't think he will be much of a dancer. But dancing helps you to understand music and to pay more attention to rhythm and beat. That he has had his solo-debut this year and now can publish his first singer-songwriter album is something he earned and something he was prepared for by everything he achieved with SHINee. This is how the system works in the best case. Both are benefitting, SM and Jonghyun. 

And then there is Luhan. Well, I hope he is happy with his decision but apart from the hardcore Ex-EXO-fans he will have a hard time to interest a big audience. That's my impression. "That good good" although I haven't seen the full MV yet, is mediocre and looks "wannabe" to me. Luhan isn't a bad performer at all. He is a decent singer and a good dancer. But no more than that. Leaving SM he might have achieved freedom but at the same time forfeited the opportunity to grow and develop in a company that offers exceptional artistic conditions.

Reading fans' comments on the teaser who praise the "iness" and "incredible dancing" I couldn't help but wonder about their perception. Luhan to me is a blank face. He looks pleasant enough but there is no expression and little charisma. Calling him a " god" to me is totally incomprehensible. He looks like he always did to me.

That would be another example for what SM employees can do. As much as Taemin worked on an image change and improvement himself, he had a lot of support. I remember the interview with Greg Hwang who was strongly involved into the process of making Taemin y. It's not an easy step to go from cute to y but Greg helped a lot, as did Ian Eastwood but I'm sure it was rather Greg Hwang who was mainly responsible. You can already see it in "Symptoms" but with "Ace" and of course also "Danger" Taemin made the transition. He did a great job but so did Greg. And don't forget the gorgeous female background dancers, Bucky and I don't know the others' names. They are not just your average dancing girls and they don't wear cheap revealing outfits. There is so much taste and skill going on that you don't really get anywhere else. Ace showcase to me is a work of art to which a lot of people contributed.

Luhan will never have anything like that, I'm afraid. Still in the end he might earn a lot of money, I don't know about that. But I doubt that he will ever be part of a work of art on the level of "Skeleton Flower" or "Ace". And he will never be part of a showcase like "Married to the Music" with the most professional group that I know in pop-music. 

But maybe it's good enough for him still. I just sometimes wish other people would see the difference and understand what's going on.