Despite the many girl groups that keep debuting each month, industry representatives are already calling it the end of the girl group era. Variety programs that catered to girl groups like "Invincible Youth", "Heroes", and even "Bouquet", have either been canceled due to low viewer ratings, or have undergone a concept change departing from girl groups entirely. The competition still remains fierce though, and if a group doesn't have that special something to set them apart from others, it only takes a second to be buried by the next. It's certainly a game of survival out there, and SISTAR has managed to play their cards right.  It hasn't even been a year since their debut, but they've already got three hit tracks under their belt, as well as a 'K-Chart' trophy. So what made them so appealing?  They chose the combination of their powerful vocal talent and their dance choreography. Soyu commented, "Even when electronic sounds and auto-tune were all the trend, we didn't use it.  There's no auto-tune in our MRs because when a song has a strong electronic sound to it, it eats up your vocals. We emphasized the sound of our natural voices instead." The girls have already had their vocal talent acknowledged by netizens through MR-removed videos, and since the girls are from a smaller label and didn't have a strong fanbase to begin with, all they had to rely on to set them apart was their raw talent alone. Although "Push Push" didn't give them the push that they needed, "Shady Girl" put them on the right track until they finally hit their home run with "How Dare You." Out of the three, "How Dare You" is Bora's favorite, as "it really brings out the characteristics of what makes up SISTAR." Hyorin's voice is also worth noting, as it's not only husky, but refreshing to hear. She's been put in the same ranks of Taeyang and Taeyeon amongst idols in terms of talent, so naturally, she does have plans for solo activities. Hyorin commented, "These days, I've been holding my breath while watching senior singers from 'I Am A Singer.' It'd be such an honor for me to be able to stand on such a stage some day." As previously reported, however, the girls really kicked off their popularity through variety shows like MBC's "Idol Star Athletics Championships." They've garnered nicknames like 'athletic idols' and have shown a healthy image to the public. They've also since expanded their variety realm to include talk shows like "Radio Star" and "Strong Heart," where they were both noted for their witty remarks. Maknae Dasom has plans for pursuing an acting career once she feels she's secured a position with SISTAR. Thanks to their growing popularity, the girls are not only receiving more event requests, but OST participation and a growing uncle fanbase as well.  "Whenever we perform at army events, it feels like a riot!" These days, the girls are busily preparing for their next comeback and are more confident in dreaming of a win on a music program. Dasom concluded, "Just thinking of consecutive wins makes me happy." Source: HeraldM