Rookie girl group IZNA is under fire after fans accused them of lip-syncing and altering the choreography during their cover of ‘Golden’ at KCON Los Angeles. The performance, meant to showcase their talent, has sparked mixed reactions online.
IZNA’s Performance at KCON LA Draws Criticism
On August 1, IZNA members Koko, Jeemin, and Jungeun performed a special stage for the song ‘Golden’ by HUNTR/X, originally from the movie ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’ While the group aimed to impress, clips of their performance quickly spread on social media, leading to debates among fans.
Many viewers pointed out that the members appeared to lip-sync instead of singing live. Others noticed changes in the lyrics and choreography, making the performance seem less challenging than the original. Some fans expressed disappointment, saying the group missed an opportunity to showcase their vocal skills.
“They should’ve at least chosen between either covering the actual song properly or covering the dance properly. This is too much of neither.”
“It’s a bit strange to cover a song but lip-sync it live on stage. It’s a shame because vocals are really important in this song.”
Mixed Reactions from Netizens
While some criticized the performance, others defended IZNA, saying the song is extremely difficult to sing live while dancing. ‘Golden’ is known for its powerful vocals, and many believe performing it live with intense choreography would be nearly impossible.
“There’s no way around it. If you try to sing that live while dancing, you’ll die. You have to just stand still to sing ‘Golden.’”
“They must have had a hard time preparing this. It’s kind of funny to do a dance cover of a song that’s designed to showcase vocal skill.”
Some fans also pointed out that many groups at KCON lip-sync during cover performances, but IZNA is receiving more scrutiny because of the song choice.
“There are a lot of groups at KCON that lip-sync other groups’ songs, but it seems IZNA is only getting judged for it because they chose to do a cover of ‘Golden.’”
Why ‘Golden’ Is a Difficult Song to Cover
The original track by HUNTR/X is a vocally demanding song with high notes and strong emotional delivery. The choreography is also intense, making it hard for performers to maintain stable vocals while dancing. This has led some fans to argue that lip-syncing was a practical choice rather than laziness.
“It seems like no one can perfectly sing that song while dancing. You have to just stand still to sing ‘Golden.’”
However, others believe that if a group chooses to cover such a challenging song, they should either sing live with simpler moves or fully commit to the dance without altering the choreography.
Comparisons to Other KCON Performances
KCON is known for featuring special stages where artists cover songs by other groups. While some performances are praised for live vocals, many rely on pre-recorded tracks. IZNA is not the first group to face criticism for lip-syncing, but the backlash highlights higher expectations for certain songs.
“I think it would’ve been so amazing if they had sung it live. There are so many groups that actually do cover performances live.”
Despite the controversy, some fans enjoyed the performance, saying the visuals and stage presence were still impressive.
“The lip-syncing is such a shame, but if you look at the performance as a whole, it’s still good.”
What This Means for IZNA
As a rookie group, IZNA is still building their reputation. While this incident has sparked debate, it also brings more attention to the group. Some believe the criticism will push them to improve, while others think the reaction is too harsh for a cover performance.
The discussion also raises broader questions about live singing in K-pop, especially during high-energy performances. Many idols face pressure to deliver perfect stages, leading some to rely on backing tracks.
“Fans will like whatever they do anyways. It’s a cool concept, Americans must have really liked this.”
IZNAโs performance at KCON LA has divided fans, with some disappointed by the lip-syncing and others understanding the challenges of the song. The debate continues online, with many hoping for more live vocals in future performances.
Also read: BTSโ Jungkook Earns Praise From KPop Demon Hunters Star Andrew Choi For Soda Pop Cover
Source: theqoo
