Junior Groups' Joint Stage of BTS 'Dynamite' Faces Criticism and Vocal Ability Debate

BTS's global hit song 'Dynamite' has been swept into an unexpected vocal ability debate following a joint stage by junior idol groups. Although it was a special stage prepared to decorate the grand finale of the festival, once the broadcast video was released, criticism poured in regarding the pitch and vocal abilities of some performers. Consequently, reactions such as "Nmixx should have sung it from beginning to end instead" have emerged, once again drawing attention to the original skills of BTS.

The controversy broke out in earnest after the live performance of '2026 Music Bank in Barcelona' was broadcast through KBS2 on the 7th. The performance was held on September 12 (local time) at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, Spain, and seven groups including ATEEZ, ENHYPEN, Nmixx, Xikers, NCT Wish, CORTIS, and Alpha Drive One took the stage. Approximately 37,000 spectators gathered at the venue to enjoy the performances of the K-pop stars.

The scene in question was the 'Dynamite' joint stage that decorated the end of the performance. It was a festive stage where members of several groups sang together and greeted the audience, but after KBS released the video on its official YouTube channel on the 8th, the reaction flowed in a direction different from expectations. On YouTube comments and X (formerly Twitter), pointed remarks followed that the pitch of some performers was unstable and their voices lacked power. In particular, as the vocal abilities of members were prominently compared during the process of several groups dividing one song, the controversy spread. Some reactions also included criticism targeting the vocals of ATEEZ.

On the other hand, relatively positive reviews poured in for Nmixx member LILY. Some overseas netizens evaluated that LILY led the latter half of the song and showed stable vocal ability. In particular, they expressed regret, mentioning that the way she handled ad-libs in the back of the stage was not properly captured by the camera. It led to reactions that even on K-pop stages where flashy performance and visuals are emphasized, the ability to ultimately deliver the song itself convincingly is important.

As these evaluations continued, Nmixx's vocal capabilities also became the center of attention again. Some netizens voiced the opinion that "Nmixx should have sung the entire song instead." Given the nature of a joint stage, several groups took on different parts, but as a result, a situation was created where the members' vocal abilities were compared, and the interpretation is that Nmixx's vocals stood out relatively more. However, it is difficult to generalize some online reactions as the evaluation of all viewers, and it is also difficult to conclude the skills of each group based on a short video alone.

As the junior groups' stage became a controversy, voices also emerged to re-evaluate the skills of BTS, who actually sang the original song. While 'Dynamite' gained worldwide popularity with its cheerful disco-pop sound and addictive melody, contrary to its bright and light atmosphere, it is actually a song that requires accurate pitch and rhythm, stable high notes, and harmony of each member's tone. Reactions also came that maintaining the flow of the song naturally while several members divide the parts is harder than expected. This is the background behind why some viewers, after watching the junior groups' joint stage, went back to listen to the original song by BTS to compare the perfection.

However, it is necessary to distinguish between the atmosphere at the venue and the online reaction after the broadcast. At the time of the performance, the audience responded by singing along, and the joint stage proceeded as an event to decorate the end of the festival. The intention itself of several groups gathering in one place to sing a representative K-pop hit together was meaningful in its own right. However, as the performance video was consumed individually online, attention shifted to the difference in vocal ability rather than the heat of the festival.

Ultimately, the 'Dynamite' joint stage went beyond a simple celebratory performance and spread into a debate surrounding the vocal skills of K-pop idols. It is a case that shows that public expectations for live vocal skills remain as high as the performance, stage production, and fandom size. In particular, when several groups sing the same song, not only the individual members' skills but also the part distribution, sound, and stage composition are easy to become subjects of comparison. While the stage that decorated the grand finale of the festival has come under unexpected evaluation after the broadcast, this debate is once again reminding us of the meaning that live vocals hold on the K-pop stage.

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