In 2008, my sister introduced me to Korean pop music, K-Pop, but it wasn’t until this past March that I became an avid fan. K-Pop has been increasing in popularity over the years. In 2012, PSY’s song "Gangnam Style" reached number 2 on the Billboard chart, but there have been other groups and solo artists that have expanded into the U.S. Just last month, CL, a K-Pop idol, made her American debut. This increase in popularity is referred to as the "Korean wave." "The Korean wave refers to the phenomenon of Korean entertainment and popular culture rolling over the world with pop music, TV dramas, and movies."
Many K-Pop groups have started to tour and hold fanmeets in the U.S., and many groups have already visited this year. This past July, I went to Dallas with my mom and sister to attend my first K-Pop concert. We saw Got7, a Korean boy-band with 3 international and 4 native Korean members. The majority of the members were able to speak English, but there was an interpreter for the members that were unable to. The Got7 "Fly in USA" concert was the best concert that I’ve ever been to. Even though the majority of their lyrics are in Korean and some of the members knew very little English, I was able to connect with the songs and gain an even bigger appreciation for K-Pop idols and Korean pop-culture.There is a convention known as KCON that celebrates Korean culture. The first KCON was held in 2012 in California. KCON later expanded to New York and then to other cities in countries across the world. There are many activities at KCON. "KCON is the one place where every element of Hallyu [Korean wave] encompassing pop music, TV dramas, movies, fashion, food, and beauty can be experienced and celebrated."
K-Pop is growing, especially in the teenage and young adults age groups, but there are also many adult fans, my mom being one of them. My mom became interested in K-Pop after we convinced her to watch a Korean drama. Korean dramas appeal to various age groups, and it is a great way for families to spend quality time together. My mom discovered Jang Keun Suk, a Korean actor and K-Pop idol, from one of the dramas, and later, she joined his fan club, which has a large international fan base. This just proves that it doesn’t matter what our age is, Korean music can have a great impact on our lives.
K-Pop has made a big impact on my family as well as many other people in the United States and other countries. There are many K-Pop songs to explore. "Every K-Pop song you can think of is online, and most of them have videos, and the videos are usually wickedly entertaining and fun." Finding K-Pop music is simple if you know what you’re looking for. I hope the videos I listed below will spark an interest in you, and that you will continue to explore the world of K-Pop and learn about Korean culture.
"If You Do" by Got7
Have you ever been so angry that you wanted to punch something, destroy a picture of your ex, or beat a car with a baseball bat? If you have, this song and video might be just what you are looking for. "If You Do" is a song about not knowing what your crush or significant other wants, and you become angry and frustrated because you feel like you are the one that’s blamed in the relationship, even if you did nothing wrong.
"Fantasy" by Vixx
This video was released in August, and I fell in love with the music video as soon as I saw it. This video is the second part of their three-part conception. Their song "Dynamite," the first part of the conception, was released earlier this year. Both "Dynamite" and "Fantasy" involve Greek mythology. The theme for "Dynamite" is Zelos, the god of jealousy, and the theme for "Fantasy" is Hades, the god of the underworld. This is a theatrical-type music video, and it’s a must-see!
"Borders" by Amber Liu
"Borders" is a K-Pop song that’s completely in English. This song is about overcoming stereotypes. We have to fight through the "borders" we might face in life and learn to love and appreciate ourselves. I think this song is truly beautiful.
