Mom! You can't imagine who the judges were. It was amazing, including Justin Timberlake's vocal coach and a Disney choreographer! I don't even remember what I wore or what I sang. One of them said they were inspired by me.
Boys from different nationalities, languages, and backgrounds gathered in one place to pursue the same dream, embarking on an exciting journey in a foreign land. This is the story of the reality series 'Santos Bravos' by HYBE Latin America, which selects male idol groups locally. Among hundreds of participants from around the world, 16 who passed the first audition have taken their first step toward their debut dreams.
The second episode of 'Santos Bravos', released on YouTube on the 22nd, featured their intense competition and training process. The participants passionately performed the mission song 'Amor de mi Vida' by Maluma. They then faced a more advanced mission, challenging themselves to sing and dance simultaneously with the classic song 'Claridad' by Menudo.
Not everything was a 'flower road'. The coaches emphasized the unique Latin emotional singing style, performance, energy, teamwork, and responsibility, warning about members' dropout due to lack of preparation. Ms. Kwon Ae-young from the HYBE Latin America Training & Development Center said, 'The summer camp is over. You are not even halfway to what you need to achieve.'
Tension lingered among the participants, who were filled with excitement. Some struggled with fear and a lack of confidence, while others overcame crises with a sense of challenge and passion, hinting at growth. Their stories, having left their hometowns and families to join the 'Santos Bravos' camp, honestly captivated viewers.
The stories of participants, such as Iannis (21), who pursued his dream of becoming a singer while missing his late mother, and Priano (24), who overcame childhood scars through dance, brought tears to viewers' eyes. The anxious hearts of parents seeing their sons off on a long journey toward their dreams reflected a sentiment no different from that of Korea.
Participants with varied backgrounds and experiences quickly opened their hearts, sharing the same passion while using different languages, including English, Spanish, and Portuguese. They showcased their unique dance and singing skills, creating harmony while encouraging each other and transforming from momentary companions into friends. Fans are sending supportive messages. One viewer commented on YouTube, "I support the participants not because of their nationality but because of their talent and effort; the desire for dreams transcends borders."
'Santos Bravos' is generating anticipation as the first long-form reality music program attempted in Latin America and aired on the world's largest music platform, Spotify. This project aims to transplant HYBE's multi-home, multi-genre strategy to Latin America and is the second major Latin project following the local first band audition program 'Pase a la Fama.'
The response is hot. As of the 24th, the total impressions of social media content related to 'Santos Bravos' have exceeded 60 million, and the cumulative views of related videos on YouTube have surpassed 2 million and are steadily rising. According to HYBE Latin America, 77% of viewers are women, with half of them belonging to the Gen Z generation aged 13 to 24. A strong resonance among young female fans is expected.
'Santos Bravos' will not only be available on YouTube but also new episodes will be released weekly on Spotify, the U.S. streaming service ViX, and the music channel EXA TV. After the competition, the final selected debut team will operate under the same name as the series (SANTOS BRAVOS), leading the globalization of Latin music.
[Photo provided by HYBE]
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