WHY DO WE ENJOY K-POP SO MUCH?

Okay. So, Wikipedia defines Korean pop (K-pop) as a musical genre consisting of electronic, hip-hop, pop, rock, and R&B music originating in South Korea. But do we really need to know the dictionary meaning of K-pop when we can experience the ongoing K-pop pheno...menon around us?

Nowadays, more and more people are either discovering, being introduced to, or are accidentally stumbling upon K-pop. Whether it be through Facebook fan pages, iTunes, Twitter profiles, or by watching a music video through YouTube, K-pop has become so well known that it’s somewhat of a sub-culture among teens and young adults around the world. This developing phenomenon is what inspired me to write the very article you’re reading right now.

So, I was wondering. What is it about K-pop that appeals to people who aren’t Korean? Yes, you. Even if you’re not Korean, you can sing along to SHINee‘s Hello. You have a massive crush on Ki Kwang rather than Brad Pitt. You’d rather listen to After School versus the Pussycat Dolls. You still wish that Se7en was your boyfriend. You’re mentally married to your bias…the list is endless.

What is it about Korean music that makes mainstream American music less appealing? Is it the catchy beats? The idols’ adorable personalities? Or maybe the addictive dance moves, awesome props, and glitzy stage costumes? Is it their over-reactive and overprotective fans, or even possibly the antis? The appeal of k-pop is most likely a culmination of all of the aforementioned factors. These details that make up the ‘k-pop experience’ are not as present or as valued in American music culture. One thing is clear: whatever it is, it makes a hell of a difference.

It is possible that people prefer K-Pop over mainstream American music because of the emphasis on K-pop idols being so normal and down-to-earth. Sometimes, the music even becomes irrelevant, with the fan focusing solely on their admiration of the artist. Fandom becomes less about music and more about the people. Real people, just like you and I. By watching their variety shows, such as U-KISS‘s Vampire, SHINee’s Hello Baby, 2NE1 TV, Almighty BEAST and many more, stars begin to seem even more ‘normal’. It’s nice to know that our idols are real people with real feelings.

K-Pop artists are good looking, beautiful, talented, and a majority of the time, nothing much is known about them–which adds to their appeal. Fans are free to use their imagination to shape these beautiful people into whoever they want them to be. Although there exist many upsides to fandom, there exist downsides as well. Suddenly anyone that comes close to a fan’s bias becomes their mortal enemy. The moment fans find out their bias is in a relationship with so and so, they feel as though it is their duty to ‘hunt down’ so and so. It becomes serious.

K-pop artists have some of the most dedicated fan bases on Earth. All celebrities have fans, but in few other music cultures will you find legit fan clubs, complete with a name and official color. Color? Say what? Yup, and not just any color — K-pop fan bases are “assigned” colors that differentiate one fan club from another. ‘Antis’ and ‘biases’ are also common in the K-pop fandom.

One netizen commented:

“I’ve never heard of the word anti or bias, until K-pop.”

On the other hand, another netizen commented saying:

“It’s the same with American music, Beyonce haters call her Beywolf, while Ciara haters call her Ci-error.”

Once upon a time, America had its share of boy bands and girl groups. Don’t remember? Let’s take a trip down memory lane! N*SYNC, Backstreet Boys, Take That, Boyz II Men, Spice Girls, Atomic Kitten, Girls Aloud, and the Sugababes are the older examples of American (and European) groups. Some newer examples would be the Jonas Brothers and the Pussycat Dolls. To be fair, I’ll also name a few older Korean boy bands and girl groups: Seo Tai-Ji & Boys, Deux, Fin.K.L, g.o.d, H.O.T, Shinhwa, S.E.S and CHJS. (Fair, right?)

Some people have said:

“Never really had a fan girl moment until I discovered K-Pop.”

“American pop fans don’t hold as much power as K-pop fans.”

” They’re both the same, its just a different language.”

A difference between American music and Korean music can be noted concerning the messages conveyed in the differing music cultures. Concepts relayed through in popular American hip-hop music often consist of money, sex, alcohol, drugs… etc. For example, Rihanna‘s song S&M:

“Sex in the air, I don’t care, I love the smell of it.”

Although I myself may not understand Korean, I would say that K-pop is more modest and innocent, a factor that reflects upon Korean culture. The entertainment business as a whole incorporates a more playful, colorful, and energetic vibe to the music.

The best way to analyze the two genres would be by comparing K-Pop artists and American artists side by side.

CLIP #1 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =YrKg-nJPd-k
CLIP #2 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =Iv_kSc0W-u0

America and the rest of the world is slowly becoming more open minded and accepting towards the Hallyu wave. For example, America is said to be developing an ‘Asian’ version of Jersey Shore called K Town. Comcast includes a K-pop section in On Demand Music, updated every month with different popular and indie K-pop music videos. There even exists an MTV K channel, especially for K-Pop. Awesome or what?! Hopefully, we’ll eventually be able to have a nationwide Korean channel in our living rooms.

Don’t get me wrong, although I’m a hardcore K-Pop fan, I also appreciate American music, reality shows, and celebrities. To sum up this article, I would just like to say that regardless of whether you prefer mainstream American music to Korean music or vice versa, racism shouldn’t be an issue. Also, I believe people who say they enjoy American music better “because they understand it” should take Korean music into further consideration, as music is a universal language.

Sources: Original article by mutiarachoicampos; Wikipedia,
Picture Source: Seoulbeats
Video Source: YouTube
Posted by mutiarachoicampos @ Hellokpop

Credits: Universal Records Philippines