“K-Pop? Excuse me, what?” If you are someone that has yet to learn about this captivating genre of music, let’s have a quick chat about what it is and why it is taking over the world.
K-Pop is a music genre originating in South Korea. Surprisingly, the music doesn’t have to be “pop” to be considered K-Pop. K-Pop includes a variety of singing and visual styles. What commonly translates across all K-Pop is outstanding music videos, boy/girl groups, and impressive choreography. K-Pop is intrinsically linked to music videos. Most popular songs are accompanied by videos with amazing dance sequences. Think of One Direction, but every member is Korean and capable of winning So You Think You Can Dance.
K-Pop’s well-deserved popularity has skyrocketed in the past couple of years. What began influencing only South Korean crowds exploded with Psy’s “Gangnam Style.” Things seemed to go quiet again, until music groups like Girls’ Generation, EXO, and BTS rose in popularity. The music, mainly sung in Korean, targets larger audiences by including some English words and phrases in the lyrics. Just this year, the K-Pop group BTS made their American debut performance at the American Music Awards. The same group also beat Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez for a Billboard Music Award. Fans are obsessed. Language barriers cannot stop talent like this from reaching all corners of the globe. This music genre shows art’s power to connect people of all nations. If entertainment is what you seek, fall into the colorful and brilliant universe that is K-Pop.
Some Artist Recommendations:
BTS
EXO
Girls’ Generation
BIGBANG
Twice
GOT7
2NE1
Monsta X
SISTAR
SHINee