But in the alternate reality zone that was the inaugural YouTube Music Awards on Sunday night, that's exactly what happened.
The nine-member South Korean ensemble won the video of the year award in a move that could catapult them to stardom in the US market which, despite the breakout success of their South Korean colleague Psy remains notoriously resistant to foreign acts.
Already the hottest and biggest-selling girl group in South Korea and all over Asia, Girls' Generation is a product of the country's regimented schools for pop stars, run by management companies that perform talent searches and train candidates for years in the art and science of being a pop star.//DPA