BLACKPINK (BLACKPINK) has become synonymous with 'music' itself. They've transcended the status of a mere artist to become an 'epitome' of what it means to be a top girl group.

Ask any music fan or industry insider, "Who's the best girl group right now?" and almost unanimously, the answer is 'BLACKPINK'.

Before BLACKPINK's emergence, discussions around the greatest girl groups with exceptional vocal and performance skills often mentioned names like The Supremes, Destiny's Child, TLC, and Fifth Harmony. However, nowadays, global media and music professionals cite BLACKPINK as the top girl group.

BLACKPINK's headline performance at Coachella, the world's largest music festival, in April, is a testament to their status as the world's best. It's hard to pinpoint a single member as the standout since Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa all possess equally formidable vocal/rap+dance abilities. Unlike famous girl groups from pop history where one or two members, like Diana Ross of The Supremes or Beyoncé of Destiny's Child, became the symbolic face, BLACKPINK boasts a lineup where all four members shine brightly. This is a rare occurrence in girl group history.

Their rap skills, based on hip-hop, are shockingly superior, even surpassing that of world-famous rappers. BLACKPINK also excels in vocal fry, a technique where they produce a sound that's intense and emits powerful energy. They utilize twang, a technique of narrowing the space above the vocal cords while maintaining cord closure, to deliver crisp and clear sounds in high notes. This technique gives BLACKPINK's songs a formidable presence and unique charisma.

For instance, narrowing the nozzle on a hose makes the water shoot out faster. For vocal cords, it means achieving more output with less input. Essentially, the vocal cords do less work, but the sound that comes out is more concentrated and powerful. This twang technique is common in K-pop vocals and can be learned more about from sources like 'CVT (Complete Vocal Technique) UK'.

Another aspect to note is their diction.

As mentioned in the noteworthy doctoral thesis 'Study on the Change of K-pop Diction' by Kyung Hee University's Postmodern Department's K-pop Vocal Professor Seo Geun-young, unlike English based on the alphabet, Korean is a syllabic language, which historically presented pronunciation limitations when sung. However, K-pop artists have gradually broken down these linguistic barriers.

Professor Seo explains, "For instance, the word 'twist' used to be pronounced just as it is. But now, it's pronounced more like 'true.' Meaning, though the melody is the same, they fit two syllables into one note. It's essentially the Anglicization of Korean lyrics."

BLACKPINK excels in this Anglicized pronunciation. Even when they sing in Korean, it can sometimes sound like an international pop star is performing, showing their exceptional diction.

Lastly, many vocal experts point to BLACKPINK's exceptional timbre as their defining characteristic.

Oh Han-seung, the Vocal Head Professor at Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts, appreciates BLACKPINK for their distinct vocal colors, saying, "Each member's unique voice adds to the group's charm and excellence." Professor Seo Geun-young of Kyung Hee University describes BLACKPINK as the most symbolic representation of recent vocal trends, saying, "Just hearing a single line from their songs elicits exclamations of admiration. Not only are they a favorite among vocal students who wish to emulate them, but they are also the 'wannabe' for many women." She particularly praises Rosé for her unique and exceptional tone.

Kim Gu-hyun, a vocal trainer who has coached numerous idols like Kep1er's Chae-hyun, ZeroBaseOne, and EVEN, says about BLACKPINK, "They've long transcended being mere idols to become true artists. The name BLACKPINK itself has become a byword. Their stature is already spoken for by Billboard."

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