KISS OF LIFE is currently the leading 5th-gen girl group in K-pop. Originating from a small company, the group has gradually shed its ‘unknown’ label, consistently drawing attention with impressive hit songs. The 4-member lineup, all of whom were former trainees at major entertainment companies, is highly praised for their solid skills. The group pursues a mature, female-empowerment concept.
The image of KISS OF LIFE has often been compared to the global girl group BLACKPINK. The new girl group has shown admiration for their seniors by frequently paying tribute through covering BLACKPINK’s songs. However, because of this, KISS OF LIFE has been ridiculed by netizens as “riding on BLACKPINK’s fame.”
Furthermore, one of KISS OF LIFE’s members, Natty, who is of Thai descent, is often referred to as a “little Lisa”.”
Before debuting with KISS OF LIFE, Natty was already familiar to K-pop fans, having participated in various survival shows, even competing for a spot in TWICE and fromis_9. Despite not making it, Natty did not give up, and she debuted as a solo artist. However, throughout this journey, Natty remained relatively obscure in the highly competitive K-pop market.
Real success came for the Thai idol when she joined KISS OF LIFE. Coming from the same country, and with excellent dancing skills and a sexy figure, Natty is often compared to “Lisa 2.0.” Recently, a segment of Natty covering the song “Black” from last year has gone viral again, causing controversy across platforms. “Black” is a track from G-Dragon’s album “COUP D’ETAT (Korean Version”, featuring vocals from Jennie. The song was released in 2013, before Jennie’s debut with BLACKPINK.
[#HappyJendeukieDay] Jennie pré-debut mostrando sua voz angelical cantando Black junto com o seu sunbaenim G-Dragon (2013) pic.twitter.com/XGLd6lWSXZ
— BLACKPINK BRASIL (@BLACKPINKBRASIL) January 15, 2018
At the time, Jennie was one of the few YG trainees given the opportunity to feature on a track and perform on stage with the “King of K-pop.” Because of this, Jennie earned the title “YG Princess.” Through “Black”, BLACKPINK’s rapper showcased early star qualities and a unique voice. When fans talk about YG’s most iconic collaborations, “Black” is always mentioned.
julie and natty covering black featuring jennie pic.twitter.com/JRXO52pcs8
— gi ᴼᴬ 🐻ྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀི (@jennieaceitgirl) September 9, 2024
Because the song is so iconic, Natty’s cover was scrutinized more than usual. However, instead of receiving the usual praise, Natty faced significant criticism. Her voice was criticized for lacking vibrato and uniqueness, and the comparison to pre-debut Jennie was deemed “worlds apart.” Additionally, Natty’s voice was described as thin and weak, exposing her breathing and nasal sound. These factors irritated listeners.
Netizens harshly criticized Natty’s “Black” cover, with some even opposing it, stating that she should let the original shine. In response to the negative backlash, KISS OF LIFE’s fans defended their idol, arguing that it was just a tribute and that the criticism was excessive.
