Oops! All Himbos: The T.A.N. Primer
May. 12th, 2023 09:01 amDo you like intense harmonies, unbelievable backstories, and solving escape rooms? Do I ever have the group for you!
T.A.N. debuted on March 10, 2022. They were formed as a project group through the world's most insane survival show, Wild Idol. TAN stands for "To All Nations", and it was, of course, voted on by the fans of the show.
They are Think Entertainment's only group, though the company has several soloists and actors under the agency. They probably aren't laundering money, however, it's clear that working in the 'idol group' space is very new to them. For instance, they don't have anyone translating their YouTube content. All of the English subs are done by a fan-run group, who does their best, but shouldn't be expected to translate official content.
Because TAN was formed through a survival show, they are technically considered a project group. However, we don't have details on the contract length, and some of them members (who are on their 2nd or 3rd or 4th debut) have mentioned this is the last group they want to join. So I hope that not knowing the contract means it's more likely to be results-bound than time-bound. Regardless, we will enjoy them while they're here.
The fandom name is SODA, which stands for Special Oxygen Dynamic Adorable, and yes, it is stupid and yes it was voted on by the fans.
TAN don't have a concept except to make really fucking good music. There's some sort of storyline about them being aliens? But it's all very loosely connected, and none of their behind stuff is about lore, they're just a bunch of goofy guys with very interesting dynamics.
As far as I know, there are no scandals involving any of these boys. However, they did change the pronunciation of TAN to T-A-N because they received a lot of backlash from bangtan fans for calling themselves 'tan'. When they didn't even pick it. Either way, the name is an SEO nightmare.
As of May 12, 2023, they have released four EPs and one single. My biggest complaint is that their back catalogue is so small, but they're literally only a year old so I guess I need to chill out. It's also important to note that two of the members (Jooan and Jaejun) produce some of the music, and several of them, especially their baby rapper Jiseong, write lyrics.
1TAN (March 2022) with the title track "Du du du"
( Click Here for More music )
Okay. I honestly don't even know how to start describing Wild Idol.
Maybe we start by picturing your average survival show. 45 'trainees' show up, knowing only a select few of them - the best singers, the best dancers, the best at fan service - will make the cut. They will have to live together in the dorms and train for weeks to show what they've got on the stage.
Except there isn't a dorm. There are tents.
Except there aren't weeks - or even days - to prepare for challenges. They have hours, sometimes even as little as 30 minutes.
Except there isn't a stage. They will be performing on dirt. In the rain.
Except no one is allowed to know their name until they earn it.
And let's not forget about the 3 mile runs into the ocean, the river fording while carrying logs, and doing push ups. So, so many push ups.
Now, do it. Out-sing, out-dance, out-rap, out-visual the competition.
"Oops! All himbos" was the first joke I ever made about this group, well before I watched Wild Idol. But there was nothing "oops" about it. They very deliberately built a group of some of the buffest and (despite appearances) cleverest idols out there.
TAN were created to be the elite government agents of boy groups. And it is imperative to understand this show is how their bonds formed. Without understanding that they literally arm wrestled each other for food and points, the relationships (and the constant inside jokes) make no sense.
I watched Wild Idol on bilibili, but it recently wouldn't let me without a VPN. You can watch it on dramacool for free (but low quality) or subscribe to Kocowa (they do have a free trial).
This is, as usual, arranged by age order.
( Meet Changsun, Jooan, Jaejun, Sunghyuk, Hyunyeop, Taehoon, and Jiseong )
Obviously, I think you should watch Wild Idol. Not only is it a great way to get to know TAN, it's just really compelling TV. I went in knowing who was in the final line up, and I was still like "oh my god, how is Hyunyeop going to make it!!!".
Outside of that, there's some really good official content even though not all of it is subbed.
TAN Battlegrounds was a pre-debut show done as a partnership with PUBG. It has escape rooms, air soft, and betrayal.
TAN in Wonderland:18-28 is another pre-debut web content series that is all about the lead up to debut.
One of my favorites is the TAN Travel Series, though the last episode is, you guessed it, not subbed.
They also have a ton of vlogs, reactions to their own videos, etc. And Marcus Omakase!!
These two clip videos (Part 1) (Part 2) are also fantastic.
( Oh man. Oh fuckin' man. )
And that's all I can think of for TAN. Please feel free to ask me questions in the comments or over on twitter![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
boulevarddouble because it's impossible to get everything down in a single post.
I'll put up a poll for who should feature in my next primer, too!
Okay, first the basics
T.A.N. debuted on March 10, 2022. They were formed as a project group through the world's most insane survival show, Wild Idol. TAN stands for "To All Nations", and it was, of course, voted on by the fans of the show.
They are Think Entertainment's only group, though the company has several soloists and actors under the agency. They probably aren't laundering money, however, it's clear that working in the 'idol group' space is very new to them. For instance, they don't have anyone translating their YouTube content. All of the English subs are done by a fan-run group, who does their best, but shouldn't be expected to translate official content.
Because TAN was formed through a survival show, they are technically considered a project group. However, we don't have details on the contract length, and some of them members (who are on their 2nd or 3rd or 4th debut) have mentioned this is the last group they want to join. So I hope that not knowing the contract means it's more likely to be results-bound than time-bound. Regardless, we will enjoy them while they're here.
The fandom name is SODA, which stands for Special Oxygen Dynamic Adorable, and yes, it is stupid and yes it was voted on by the fans.
TAN don't have a concept except to make really fucking good music. There's some sort of storyline about them being aliens? But it's all very loosely connected, and none of their behind stuff is about lore, they're just a bunch of goofy guys with very interesting dynamics.
As far as I know, there are no scandals involving any of these boys. However, they did change the pronunciation of TAN to T-A-N because they received a lot of backlash from bangtan fans for calling themselves 'tan'. When they didn't even pick it. Either way, the name is an SEO nightmare.
As of May 12, 2023, they have released four EPs and one single. My biggest complaint is that their back catalogue is so small, but they're literally only a year old so I guess I need to chill out. It's also important to note that two of the members (Jooan and Jaejun) produce some of the music, and several of them, especially their baby rapper Jiseong, write lyrics.
1TAN (March 2022) with the title track "Du du du"
( Click Here for More music )
We have to talk about Wild Idol
Okay. I honestly don't even know how to start describing Wild Idol.
Maybe we start by picturing your average survival show. 45 'trainees' show up, knowing only a select few of them - the best singers, the best dancers, the best at fan service - will make the cut. They will have to live together in the dorms and train for weeks to show what they've got on the stage.
Except there isn't a dorm. There are tents.
Except there aren't weeks - or even days - to prepare for challenges. They have hours, sometimes even as little as 30 minutes.
Except there isn't a stage. They will be performing on dirt. In the rain.
Except no one is allowed to know their name until they earn it.
And let's not forget about the 3 mile runs into the ocean, the river fording while carrying logs, and doing push ups. So, so many push ups.
Now, do it. Out-sing, out-dance, out-rap, out-visual the competition.
"Oops! All himbos" was the first joke I ever made about this group, well before I watched Wild Idol. But there was nothing "oops" about it. They very deliberately built a group of some of the buffest and (despite appearances) cleverest idols out there.
TAN were created to be the elite government agents of boy groups. And it is imperative to understand this show is how their bonds formed. Without understanding that they literally arm wrestled each other for food and points, the relationships (and the constant inside jokes) make no sense.
I watched Wild Idol on bilibili, but it recently wouldn't let me without a VPN. You can watch it on dramacool for free (but low quality) or subscribe to Kocowa (they do have a free trial).
Meet TAN
This is, as usual, arranged by age order.
( Meet Changsun, Jooan, Jaejun, Sunghyuk, Hyunyeop, Taehoon, and Jiseong )
Boy Content
Obviously, I think you should watch Wild Idol. Not only is it a great way to get to know TAN, it's just really compelling TV. I went in knowing who was in the final line up, and I was still like "oh my god, how is Hyunyeop going to make it!!!".
Outside of that, there's some really good official content even though not all of it is subbed.
TAN Battlegrounds was a pre-debut show done as a partnership with PUBG. It has escape rooms, air soft, and betrayal.
TAN in Wonderland:18-28 is another pre-debut web content series that is all about the lead up to debut.
One of my favorites is the TAN Travel Series, though the last episode is, you guessed it, not subbed.
They also have a ton of vlogs, reactions to their own videos, etc. And Marcus Omakase!!
These two clip videos (Part 1) (Part 2) are also fantastic.
And The Ships
( Oh man. Oh fuckin' man. )
And that's all I can think of for TAN. Please feel free to ask me questions in the comments or over on twitter
boulevarddouble because it's impossible to get everything down in a single post. I'll put up a poll for who should feature in my next primer, too!
