[Misc] Girl Group Member Hall Of Fame

What would a Kpop Hall Of Fame look like? This was a fun thought I had been toying around with over the last few days as I was shamelessly delaying reviewing WJSN's "Secret," as well as reading too much NFL-related material. If we had to construct a Kpop Hall Of Fame or a Mount Rushmore, who would belong in it? Let me first list some points of order regarding my thought process. For starters, this will be a group member HOF, so no soloists. That will unfortunately leave out legends such as BoA, Hyori, etc. whose careers are extensive. Conversely, I'd be looking at the industry as if it stopped existing after today (like a meteor was about to destroy the planet or something). This means it's unlikely to include members from newer groups, which is unfair but we're looking at the complete body of work which will naturally favor veterans. Without further ado, here is my suggested list of 12 members (because formatting), presented in alphabetical order.

CL (2NE1)

CL is perhaps in many ways a no-brainer for a list of this kind. Upon debut, she separated herself from the crowd of girl group rappers with her fiery energy (pun most definitely intended). Her stage presence is insane and is (was?) the driving force behind 2NE1. She had strong raps throughout her career, and is gifted in the vocals department, too. In Kpop's heyday she made a name for herself as both a rapper and as the iconic fearless leader of one of Kpop's most badass girl groups.

Erin (9MUSES)

It's without a doubt that a cornerstone of success for 9MUSES during the 2013 era was Erin's rapping. Her rap breaks displayed all her talents: flow, speed, charisma, etc. "Wild" was the best song in all of 2013 and Erin's rap is a top 3 girl group rap of all time. The consistency she showed with 9MUSES is nearly unmatched by any other girl group rapper, and only now do they get a chance with her no longer being active in the industry. She'll always be in the discussion for best girl group rapper of all-time.

Hani (EXID)

Hani represents the hope of all groups struggling in the mire. EXID were a relative unknown before her fancam blew up and now her group enjoys success at the top of the girl group ladder. She has a striking appearance that captivated many, but what's most addicting about Hani is her personality - which is unstoppable and perfect for the variety world. Hani's personality and visuals are enchanting, but people forget that she has a wonderfully smooth voice, too. Her conquests in "Ah Yeah" and as part of Dasoni are criminally underrated.

Hara (KARA)

Visuals play a huge factor in Kpop, whether you like to admit it or not. I wanted at least one member that was renowned for her looks, and KARA's Hara narrowly beats out After School's Nana for the spot. She was the leading lady in a group with stunning visuals from every position, and the term "ant waist" literally stemmed from her. Furthermore, her eyes are beautiful and to be honest her dance skills are also a bit underrated (though mostly because KARA's choreography wasn't always super tough to begin with).

Hyorin (Sistar)

There are few idols with jack-of-all-trades status, and fewer still whose JOAT status is easily visible through their music. Hyorin is someone that is hard to come across these days. She's a top-tier vocalist whose ability to cover multiple genres is dynamic. Her rapping ability has been presented in both solo material ("One Way Love") and the variety show world (Unpretty Rapstar). On top of that, she's got a super healthy body (contention for best in Kpop) and the Sistar choreography archive is full of treats - body rolls, anyone?

Hyoyeon (Girls' Generation)

As someone who is a terrible dancer, the most I can evaluate an idol as a dancer is through a few ways. The difficulty / intricacy of the choreography and their energy / charisma while performing on stage. In this regard, Hyoyeon kills it. She's always on fire during her moments she gets to shine, and is like the CL of the Kpop dancing world. Girls' Generation are more known for their iconic dance moves rather than difficult choreography, but her activities in special dance units cements her status as one of the best (female) dancers in my eyes.

Hyuna (4minute)

I don't think there's an individual that is more explosive than Hyuna. Hyuna has constantly pushed boundaries and whether through solo material or group activities, will always be a force to be reckoned with. She is responsible for being a figurehead of viral efforts: through her own "Bubble Pop," and the work of others ("Gangnam Style"). She's synonymous with 4minute which was both a blessing and a downfall, but will now embark on an even more extensive solo career.

LE (EXID)

When looking at an idol's body of work, the words "complete" and "consistent" are what you want to see. And LE embodies both elements in spades. Her resume is loaded with potent raps from as early as debut to the most recent section of "L.I.E." Sure, LE has had glimpses of struggle, but she always seems to return right to form the next time you see her on stage. She always contributes to the music of EXID and represents what all girl group rappers should aspire to be. Confident, powerful, and consistent on the mic.

Minzy (2NE1)

Minzy truly epitomizes the jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none character. If she was a videogame character she'd be a balanced class for sure. She's got powerful efforts in singing and rapping - her lower register can be mesmerizing while her flighty rapping abilities were seen early on. Of course, Minzy's highlight is definitely her dance skills, which carry that wow factor. Even though she and Hyuna are now on the solo path, they will always be remembered for their group efforts.

Seolhyun (AOA)

Appearance-wise, Seolhyun boasts consistency and versatility. She's a dual-threat on both ends of the visual spectrum, and has been a top-tier looker since AOA came out with "Confused" in fall 2013. Speaking of, outshining Hyejeong, Yuna, and Choa at center is a difficult task but Seolhyun manages to do so. She is the face of AOA who have had a very strong run, and her status as one of the "it girls" furthered her (and AOA's) advancement. A silly little controversy won't hold her back any way.

Suzy (miss A)

While her group's future is still in the air, Suzy's development from innocent maknae to one of Korea's "it girls" can't be overlooked. She's got a pure appearance and carries miss A on her back in terms of publicity. Furthermore, her maturation of her vocals and visuals has been impressive and consistent since day one. She earned the title of "Nation's First Love" and through that continued to expand on her acting opportunities. Hopefully she'll be back on the stage soon.

Taeyeon (Girls' Generation)

Last but certainly not least, is Taeyeon. Taeyeon is one of the most popular members of one of the most popular (and successful) girl groups out there. From the leadership position, she has put her beautiful voice on display. Taeyeon is deceptively versatile and there are few vocalists who are so balanced that they sound excellent no matter the genre. She flourished along with SNSD, and further cemented her legacy with the releases of "I" and "Why."

For some closing thoughts, here are my 10 picks for a boy group member HOF, with significantly less time spent thinking about them: G-Dragon (Big Bang), Heechul (Super Junior), Jo Kwon (2AM), Junsu (JYJ), Kyuhyun (Super Junior), Rap Monster (BTS), Sandeul (B1A4), Taemin (SHINee), T.O.P (Big Bang), and Zico (Block B).