Hello readers, this is Gen Next talking to you straight.
I want to start a new series on this blog called ‘Ask the USA‘. This series will tackle questions about the USA asked by people from outside of the USA, questions coming from Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, and on this blog.
What inspired this series? Much of American entertainment and news are available around the world thanks to the internet. The news media and internet have turned American issues into global ones. American topics are beginning to affect people around the globe. Because of that, many foreigners are watching and wondering about some of the things going on in the USA. American issues also affect the responses people of the world get from Americans on social media websites, chat rooms, news websites, and other places that provide an opportunity for comments.
As a result, I’ve heard so many different questions about the USA. I’ve heard some of the same questions about the USA so often, I feel compelled to respond.
It’s natural for people to be curious about other nations, especially if people plan to travel one day. I’m naturally curious about issues going on in other countries as well. With that being said, I think a lot of people around the world would benefit from reading the articles in this series.
People from the USA may find these articles interesting as well. Other Americans may even want to add to these articles in the “comment” section.
I felt the need to write these articles because I’ve been in discussions with people from different countries and they’ve come to me about many things they’ve heard or experienced in the country and online with the citizens.
As a natural-born citizen, an African American woman, an adult working citizen (I pay my taxes), I think I am fully qualified to answer some of the questions people around the world have. I also think I’ve improved on my writing well enough for most people to understand. Hopefully, my humor has improved as well. Forgive me if it hasn’t. XD I’m working on shortening my articles as well.
I planned on starting this series in January, but so much has been going on in my life and in the world, I just couldn’t start this series that soon. Hopefully, I can start the series sometime this month or next month.
If you’re from outside of the USA, and you have questions, you can leave me a comment with your question and I will try to answer it in this series. Of course, the priority questions will be the questions that more than one person asks. Please be patient for all other questions. I will try to get to everyone’s questions.
So far, the topics that have been of interest include:
Donald Trump’s presidency
Racism and Race relations in the USA
Native Americans
The Constitution and the Bill of Rights
American English versus British English
Americans’ Views on Women and Sexualization
These topics are just a starting point.
I am really excited about this series and I hope that I can answer everyone’s questions. Don’t be afraid to ask!
Last year, f(x) pulled me into the “Hallyu Wave”, the Korean “wave” of interest from countries all over the world. The “wave” introduced many nations to Korean dramas, music, and culture. It’s literally a modern trend. Last year, I found a new obsession with Korean culture.
I was seriously obsessed with that K-pop group, f(x), in the year 2014. I had an f(x) month, an f(x) summer, and too many f(x) articles to count.
This year, my latest fascination is with the all-boy band, Got7.
Usually, I dislike boy bands, with a passion. Check my archives-You won’t find me talking too much about boy bands. Don’t we have enough of them in the world? I guess, I don’t hate the boy bands themselves so much as the concept or “idea” behind boy bands. Even though I’m a female, and I like attractive and talented men, I just have a hard time being drawn to the phony “glitz and glam” of boy bands. I just couldn’t believe that men in boy bands hardly had any creative freedom, so I disliked the fact that many were made to be something they weren’t. Those expectations are hard to live up to for imperfect humans. It just always felt like I was being deceived, and it felt that the men were being drained by the constant…well, objectification. And I just didn’t want to be one of those girls who liked boy bands just because of their looks. In my heart, I WANT to see a man for who he is and his abilities. Though, honestly, I’m just always trying too hard to be different. 😛 I would appreciate them more if fan girls didn’t act like maniacs over them. Screaming over them and supporting them is one thing, but death threats when their “idols/favorite celebrities” are dating someone else? Ridiculous.
I also dislike the fact that boy bands in Korea get so much more attention than girl bands. I want to promote more female acts in Korea, especially the unique female groups.
It’s also hard to find unique boy bands, too. Again, there are too many around the world.
But Got7…I honestly couldn’t ignore them for too long. Got7 celebrated the anniversary of their debut on January 17, 2015 KST, so I thought this would be the perfect time to create an article about this group. So, here goes!
Got7 is a seven-member, multinational group, brought together by the label JYP Entertainment. JYP is known to be one of the more well-known labels. Got7 got much attention for their amazing flips and cartwheels onstage, as well as their handsome individuality, diversity, and strong charisma. As a group, they each work well in a team effort and support one another, giving dynamic impressions on any audience.
Their CEO, Park Jin-Young, also known as J.Y. Park, was the first Asian producer to cross over into America successfully. He did music for Cassie, Will Smith, and even Mase. He was the first Asian song-writer to hit the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. His resume gives the label a good reputation. He is also known to be the more “ethical” boss among all the CEOs in charge of the other Korean labels, as he is often seen showing more concern for his artists. Part of the reason he’s so kind to his artists, and so personal, is because he was once a back-up dancer and in an idol group himself. Park met rough spots during his time as an idol, so he understands his idols in ways other K-pop label CEOs would not.
Just like with f(x), the title of this article was meant to compare Got7 to a popular 1990’s group that was similar called New Kids on the Block. I will tell you, just as I told readers last year when it came to f(x), this comparison is in no way meant to be offensive. New Kids on the Block were one of the few boy groups of the 1990s that I actually liked. Got7 reminds me of them in many ways. I love the fact that they do. The same things I loved about NKOTB are the same things I love about Got7.
New Kids on the Block was an R&B, Pop, and Hip-hop group with an urban style. They were the first Caucasian American boys to be recognized with this image and style, and they were the first to gain fame from it. They were the first Caucasian males designed to have the appeal of “boyfriends” and designed to show their “visual appeal”. Like New Kids on the Block, Got7 exudes that same urban, “boyfriend” charm. New Kids on the Block had a boyishness about them that made them appealing to youth. They were meant to be the “white” version of New Edition. Got7 is also similar to New Edition as well. Got7 presents themselves as “normal city boys”.
It’s also a bit clever to call them the “New Kids on the Block”, don’t you think? 😉 Many of you probably thought this is what I meant when I put it in the title…Got7 just debuted in January 2014, so they are still a “rookie” group. They are sort of the “new kids on the block” in Korea…Honestly, though, they are so talented and natural, they hardly seem like rookies.
Got7 is a group that was designed to convey an urban style. They are known for their Pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop genres, just like New Kids on the Block. Their name reflects their members and the “appeal” they want to have with women. Many of their sayings reveal this image. For instance, “instead of having one handsome guy for a boyfriend, she’s ‘got 7’.” Their fan club name is IGOT7.
Though the group reminds me of NKOTB, Got7 has quite a few differences that make this group individual and helps them stand out. Some of these differences create challenges that New Kids on the Block never had to deal with.
Got7 has to deal with huge cultural differences. In fact, Got7 has to deal with the cultural boundaries that most groups around the world would never have to deal with…Not even K-pop groups EXO-M and Super Junior-M (because their Chinese groups are distinctly separated from their Korean groups, so they speak the same language among their own peers). f(x) is probably one of the only groups that go through the same thing.
Out of the seven members in Got7, three of the members are from different countries. Between these members, there is an exchange of, at least, SEVEN languages! Two of the seven members can speak a different dialect. Many Asian languages have several dialects that sometimes reflect the unique region they come from within their own country. It’s the same language, just a different style of speaking it. Usually, the words are spoken with a different term, wording, or sound than what is commonly heard in the language.
The seven members in the group are: JB, the leader, from Seoul, South Korea. He is known for his vocals. He and Jr. were originally a part of the JJ Project, a pop duo. Both ended up in Got7. Jr. is also from Seoul, South Korea. He speaks a different Korean dialect. Yugyeom, the “maknae” or youngest member in the group, though he doesn’t look it, is also from Seoul, Korea. He is of high school age. Youngjae, the fun-loving member, is from South Korea and also speaks a different dialect of Korean. He was the last member to join, and only trained for seven months before debut! Mark, Jackson, and Bam Bam are from different countries. Mark is the oldest (though he doesn’t look it) and one of the most handsome members. He was born in Los Angeles, California, USA. He lived in Brazil for two years. He speaks English, Chinese, and Korean. Jackson is one of the oldest, and is considered the “vitamin” of the group. He is from British Hong Kong. He attended an international school, which is why his English is impeccable. He also speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and French! Bam Bam, the cutie who looks like the “maknae”, is from Thailand and speaks Chinese, Thai, some English, and Korean! There really are many languages flowing through this group. This is why they reach a diverse group of fans. Their communicative abilities make them a gem in K-pop.
Jackson
Mark
Bam Bam
Youngjae
@17:20
Jr.
Of course, all of these languages make it hard to be understood. Misunderstandings may have come up all the time. The group has a hard time relating to a Korean audience, as a result. Cultural mannerisms probably clash. Many of the international members suffer from loneliness, as some are far away from their friends and family. Their personalities are different, too, even among members from the same nation.
Still, despite the challenges, Got7 has received significant popularity in less than a year! Last year, they were considered the biggest rookie group to debut according to many polls online. They are probably one of the most successful multinational boy groups in the world. I mean, multinational groups are hard to find, but they are even harder to find among males….
FIVE REASONS YOU SHOULD LOVE GOT7:
1) Got7 has a diverse mix of abilities and talents
Got7 has many members who can sing and dance well. JB has amazing vocal abilities, and never misses a chance to use them, on or off stage. Youngjae plays piano and writes his own songs. In fact, many members have said they like to write their own music. Jackson has expressed interest in producing music. Some of the members also have some awesome rapping abilities. Mark, Jackson, and Bam Bam are known for their rapping abilities.
New Kids on the Block was like this. They were probably the first pop group to have a “rapper”. Each member had a role. Got7 is very similar.
Their most distinct talent is their martial arts contribution. In their performances, Mark and Jackson are in charge of providing the martial arts, but lately JB and Bam Bam have jumped in with the music video “Around the World”. They do cartwheels and back-flips on stage and in MVs flawlessly. This obviously enthuses the crowd and draws new interest in the group. There are no other K-pop boy bands that do this.
2) Got7 can speak so many languages
Again, Got7, as a group, speak over 7 languages. This helps them bring their charm to many fans all over the world. As an English-speaker myself, this is also why I’ve shown interest in the group. They can seriously bring their music to more than one nation, which could expand their popularity. Multilingual abilities are seriously an asset to any business venture.
Kpopstarz Korean news outlet and blogging website made this interesting statement about the group:
“Global fans are able to engage with the group in unique ways because of this.”
“This” was in regards to the fact that they speak so many languages.
3) Got7 has many experiences, backgrounds, and personality traits
Got7 is very diverse in background as a result of being a multinational group. Many of them have resumes that are inspiring, such as Jackson’s fencing abilities. Because of their individual backgrounds, you can imagine that they have some of the most colorful personalities. Even the Korean members are very diverse in personality and characteristics.
4) Got7 is physically attractive
Let’s face it. Got7 is attractive. The moment I laid my eyes on Mark and Jackson, I recognized that this boy band had some eye-candy that would please the hearts of many fan girls. As much as I hate to objectify anyone, I have eyes, too. After watching Real Got7, I’ve gotten to know the members really well. They definitely know how to entertain a crowd, and this makes them attractive as well.
5) The group has SWAG
There are a lot of K-pop groups that try to exude “swag” or a hip-hop image. But Got7 is one of the few that successfully translates that energy in a charming way on stage. B.A.P. and Big Bang are two other groups that have successfully exuded a significant “swag” factor. However, those other two groups are missing the nice combination of “swag” and “charm”, which helps Got7 relate to those who like both a tough energy and a soft energy.
There really should be a 6th reason. The 6th reason you should love this group is because of member, Jackson Wang. That’s right. I’m about to put Jackson on BLAST.
Jackson Wang IN the SPOTLIGHT
All About Jackson
Jackson is the “vitamin” of the Got7 group. He is called the “vitamin” of the group because of his high-spirited energy and “wild and sexy” presentation. He literally brings “health” or “life” to the group. When he’s not around, something seems very strange. In fact, when he’s not around the group, it feels too quiet. Jackson adds the “fun” aspect to the group. Jackson is not afraid to be himself. Jackson shows an “alpha” personality at times, but there are other times he shows a charming, cute, and sweet side to him.
Many have noticed that Jackson shows the most interest in his fellow members. In Season 2 of Real Got7, Jackson won the challenge of showing “secret care” for one of his fellow members frequently during their promotion of the song “A”. Jackson never expected to win, but Jackson was always there when one of his members needed him.
Jackson has a high-pitched laugh that reaches the ends of the room he is laughing in. His laugh is distinct, and his fellow members didn’t hold back from imitating him in Real Got7.
5:00-5:01
Jackson’s boss, J.Y.Park, described Jackson as someone who “tries too hard”, but is “affectionate” and easily “attaches himself to people”. Out of all of his members, Jackson gets the most frustrated when he can’t get something right the first time. Jackson has the hardest time practicing for long hours. J.Y.Park is very hard on Jackson because of it.
As you can tell, he enjoys dancing, rapping, and beatboxing. Basically, he loves music. He’s also quite athletic, and has an Olympic and Martial Arts fencing background. His mother was a gold medalist at the 1982 World Gymnastics Championships. His father was a former coach in a Hong Kong fencing team. He also once won the Asian games in 1978. So, he comes from a pretty accomplished family.
Jackson has an older brother, who is also athletic. He and his brother won the men’s pair category at the Acrobatic Gymnastics Championship. Jackson was only 9 years old! It’s no wonder he’s such an excellent acrobat.
Jackson mentions that his specialty is “fencing”, and most know him from his Junior Fencing team, though he is also a good gymnast as well.
Jackson was born in British Hong Kong. He attended American International School, which is why he speaks English so well. While in fencing matches, he often had French partners, so he learned some French as well. He’s a pretty “international” guy.
Jackson loves his family and worries about them often since he’s so far away in Korea.
At first his parents did not want Jackson to start training to be an idol. His father cut him a deal. He told Jackson he would only let Jackson go to Korea if he became the best fencer in Asia. Jackson eventually won 1st place at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championship.
Jackson likes to skateboard and also plays basketball.
He also likes animals.
Got7 is still new, so we may learn more about Jackson in the future.
Jackson, A K-pop Star
Jackson is a normal guy usually, but he is a K-pop star, too. As a K-pop star, as was mentioned before, Jackson presents himself as “Wild and Sexy”.
Jackson lives up to this presentation. He is known as the loud, competitive one. He has an extroverted personality, and brings a lot of boyish charm to Got7. And it’s pretty evident he has most of the “swag”.
Jackson presents himself as an “alpha male” type, but he has a sensitive side that makes him appealing.
The guy is absolute scrumptiousness. You can’t deny it. I’m about to Jacksify you:
Someone is talented!
Scrumptious, doe. It’s hard to deny this man’s sex appeal. He surely lives up to his label.
But just how “wild and sexy” is Jackson?
Looking at many videos with Jackson, he seems to love attention. This gives him the “wild” streak we know and love. Jackson is not afraid to “strut his stuff”, so that makes him sexy as well.
Watching Jackson, you probably wouldn’t be able to see him as anything but confident. But fans know better. Fans who have been following Jackson’s work can see right through his actions.
Actually, Jackson is also known by fans as sensitive and a bit shy, especially when he’s around a girl he likes and respects. Jackson has stated that he likes “healthy, athletic girls, with a tan and charm”. When Jackson was around Ga Yeon in the Korean reality show Roomate, a girl who fit his ideal, he revealed another side to himself. He was very nervous, shy, and extremely polite.
Then, there are those other times when he gets competitive around a girl that he likes. He has mentioned that one of the girls he is most close to is Amber Liu from f(x). He showed an intensified competitive spirit on We Got Married Global when Amber was posed with a question that made her choose between him and fellow members Bam Bam and Mark. And even when Amber rejected him, he continued to fight to win!
Jackson also shows himself to be very protective and nurturing.
Jackson is generally known to be competitive. I would say he likes to challenge himself. He is always “involved” and tries to put his heart into everything he does. He is enthusiastic and colorful.
But Jackson isn’t the bravest member, though many would be shocked to know it. Aside from Jackson being completely terrified around his favorite female idol, he also showed slight fear of an amusement park ride in Real Got7 Season 2.
Jackson really has many layers to him, which is why he grabs so much interest from K-poppers. He’s really not afraid to be himself, and is often being bluntly honest to a fault. But there are many things in him that he probably doesn’t notice. If one looks hard enough, they could find those hidden gems in Jackson.
Jackson’s Talents
It’s time to get to the main deal. After all, he is an artist. Jackson has many talents, both well-known and hidden, even from himself.
Jackson is the rapper of the group. He likes the rap group G-Unit and Dr. Dre. Rap is one of his favorite genres, and it’s the genre he is most comfortable with.
But Jackson is also a pretty good singer, even if he doesn’t feel as confident with singing as he does rapping. He once sang a lullaby to JB, and it was really nice. According to his boss, J.Y.Park, Jackson is very good at breathing even though he has not trained his voice to sing just yet. Perhaps, in the future, he will get more moments to sing.
Jackson is also good at beatboxing. He did say it was one of his hobbies, so I’m sure he practices all the time. He’s really good at it.
And it’s pretty obvious Jackson is an excellent dancer. Jackson adds martial arts to his dancing abilities, making his dance routines even more powerful. Jackson also gives facial expressions when he dances, adding character to every performance. He is a very charismatic performer, both in a group and solo.
Jackson may not be aware of this talent, but Jackson is a good television personality and excellent with comic timing. This is probably why he is a favorite among fans and why he won the Newcomer of the Year award.
Jackson’s Personal Challenges
Jackson may seem all smiles and confidence, but as an international star, there will always be challenges in a foreign nation. Jackson is far away from family and friends. His mannerisms are different, and often times it clashes with the more reserve mannerisms of Korea. Jackson just doesn’t fit that small box.
Jackson Misses His Family
Jackson has been away from his family ever since he began training. Even though he and his group debuted in 2014, he’d been training with JYP years before his debut. Jackson left everything he knew and loved in order to become a K-pop star. He sacrificed a lot, even if he didn’t initially realize the sacrifices he would have to make at the time he decided to train.
I know. Many people will say, “But he chose to be an idol. He’s sad but he made the choice”. Many people get jobs that are not in their own countries, especially when the opportunities are lower in your area. Sometimes, people have to travel for work. It doesn’t mean he won’t miss his family.
Jackson showed how much he missed his family on an episode of Roommate. J.Y.Park, his boss, surprised Jackson with the best Christmas present ever: Jackson’s parents. He arranged for Jackson’s parents to fly all the way from Hong Kong, just so they could spend Christmas with their son. (Talk about a kind boss!) The scene was quite emotional.
Jackson is often worried about his mom. His father often works overseas which leaves his mother at home alone and lonely. This is Jackson’s sensitive spot and one of his greatest challenges.
I think he is pretty strong to leave his old life to start a whole new one in Korea. Could I have done it? Probably not…Unless I could bring my loved ones with me. He has to be strong in order to deal with a different culture and language.
Controversy
Yep, a bold and flamboyant man like him won’t always come across easy to deal with to people. It’s never easy to be a foreigner, but it’s even harder when your personality is so strong and dominant.
“Jackson is so rude. He gets on my nerves.”
I hear this comment at least once on almost every Youtube video that deals with Jackson (excluding the episode with his parents).
True, Jackson likes a LOT of attention. True, Jackson often interrupts people when they talk. True, Jackson is competitive when someone else gets more attention than himself. True, he appears to think too much about himself. And sure, Jackson is blunt.
But aren’t these what make him stand out among, not just his fellow members, but ALL OF THE OTHER boys in other groups? Korea likes to put a lot of emphasis on “aeygo”, or “cuteness” in the public media. It’s a “selling tool”. Korea also designs it’s boy bands to have some of the most chivalrous personalities. Korea encourages a reserve disposition.
Jackson is one of the rare gems that doesn’t fit that perfect “Korean” mold people like to place on idols.
I’m sure these comments must offend and hurt him. In We Got Married Global, Jackson gave kudos to one fan who actually described Jackson as sensitive and caring, qualities he feels people don’t often recognize in him.
Koreans can be very detached, or are expected to be. Jackson is easily attached, as was mentioned before, very friendly, and assertive. It’s not hard for him to hold out his hand in friendship. To some people, especially Koreans, Jackson comes on a little strong.
Yet, despite what anyone says about Jackson, he makes the whole group stand out in his own special way. He gives the right spice. His presence makes him feel like a leader, even though he is not the leader of the group. People will always have their perceptions of other people, but as they always say, “It doesn’t matter what they say, as long as they know my name”. Jackson brings a lot of promotion to the group. His distinct mannerisms are what make Got7 likable to nations who are not so reserved, or to more extroverted personalities. I’m sure there are some Koreans who are not so stereo-typically reserved.
Well, it doesn’t matter who hates Jackson. Jackson is making his mark as a K-pop star, even winning the Newcomer Award this year.
Well, that’s my spin on Got7 and the amazing Jackson Wang!
Check out their latest albums on Youtube!
You can also watch Got7’s Jackson on Roommate Season 2!
For the month of September, I focused on BoA’s Japanese comeback! She hasn’t had an album in four years!
For the month of May, I am focusing on BoA’s Korean comeback! She hasn’t had an album in Korea for THREE years!
I’m so excited for BoA! She has been in the limelight for 14 years! She is a pop star veteran, at the age of 27! She has more awards and accolades than many TWICE her age, and she has the kind of resume and experience that makes her a superstar! Many K-pop stars can learn from her!
She is more of an international superstar. Her fame in Japan is even greater than her fame in Korea, though she is pretty famous in both nations. She has had plenty of tours in Japan, and just finally had her first Korean tour LAST YEAR. It’s easy to tell that she is well-received in Japan based on the differences of her sales between the two nations since debut…In Korea, she is in the thousands with hard copies, but in Japan? That’s the millions, baby! Her debut album sales in Japan were much higher than her debut sales in Korea. This is why I’m glad she’s having a Japanese comeback this time around.
I know. Judging by all of the recent articles on f(x), it may appear to you that f(x) were my first favorite international artists. But no, they weren’t. I just like them A LOT. But BoA was the second foreign artist that I got into (My first was Utada Hikaru). BoA was the artist that introduced me to other J-pop artists. I first heard of her on Bratz “Show Me What You Got” music video. I was a big Bratz fan at the time. She broadened my music world. At the age of 13, I really didn’t know that there were other pop artists around the world besides the ones in my own backyard. And sure, you modern kids may think that’s pretty ignorant of me, but internet wasn’t quite as advanced as it is now, and people didn’t have I-pads and I-phones yet. I just simply didn’t have exposure to world music yet. However, I did learn about BoA on the internet on a Bratz Yahoo Group (a major fan message board at the time). Once I visited BoA’s website for the first time, I kept following her music closely. I started researching other J-pop artists, and found out about Namie Amuro, Crystal Kay, Ayumi Hamasaki, Firstklas, M-flo, Soul’d Out, Koda Kumi, Hitomi, and many others. Even though I knew about Utada first, I knew about her from the English Kingdom Hearts. I thought she was an American artist because she spoke English so well…so I usually consider BoA my first favorite foreign artist. It wasn’t until later that I learned she was actually Korean. Later, when I started getting into her K-pop work, I was introduced to DBSK (or TVXQ, as you all may know them). However, I was still into J-pop more than K-pop until f(x) stepped into my life…But I was, in fact, introduced to f(x) through boajjang.com…a BoA fan website…
So, now that you know my BoA story, you understand why I have to make this month special for BoA’s comeback album and tour.
And in honor of that tour, I am taking you on a walk down memory lane with BoA. I will be posting all of BoA’s music videos from her debut up until now from both Korea and Japan! I am proud of BoA’s success, and I want to share it with fellow BoA fans and new people who are reading (or watching)!
Let’s begin with BoA’s first MV ever, ID:Peace B! Such a long time ago! It’s hard to believe! We were all so young…*Tear* 😥
Korean
Other
Japanese
*Most of the videos may seem the same, but if you look closely, you will notice the difference in editing in some of the videos that are for the same song.
**Listen to My Heart was posted again because of it’s higher quality.
(My FIRST OFFICIAL BOA SONG EVER is NEXT! So Nostalgic… :’3 )
(The VIDEO THAT INTRODUCED ME TO BOA is NEXT! OH MY GOD! 😥 Nostalgia for real! )
BoA’s resume is GREAT and this is just the beginning! Enjoy BoA’s years of success as we enjoy BoA’s Anniversaries!
So leave me a comment! If you were already a fan of BoA, let me know what your first BoA moments were. If you are a new fan after watching these videos, let me know your favorite song and/or video!
After listening to F(x) for months now, I decided to share with others my top ten F(x) songs. F(x) has some really great songs. They are very original, upbeat, and experimental. This K-pop group is always introducing a new concept.
So, here are my top 10 songs that I’ve been listening to:
10. Hot Summer
This song is so catchy. I really just can’t get it out of my head. Anyone can enjoy this song, no matter the age, ethnicity, or gender. And it’s a song that comes to mind every time I think of summer. It’s a song that’s fit for a fun occasion.
9. Dracula
Edgy, cool, catchy, and amazing vocals. I ❤ this song.
8. Mr. Boogie
This song is sexy. The song is magnetic. I have literally listened to this song 10 times a week.
7. Red Light
This song is stuck in my head. It was awkward at first, but now, it’s stuck there in my head! I love the pumping sound. I love the Music Video! I love the deep meaning. I love this song.
6. Electric Shock
This song is powerful. It is different from most K-pop female groups in the fact that it sounds more like the “male” groups you hear in K-pop. It’s very lively, catchy, and not boring at all. Sex does not sell in this song, only their choreography and powerful sound. I bump this song loud in my car. I’m not ‘shamed.
5. Beautiful Stranger
Meaningful. This song makes me think. Amber wrote the song, so it really has a personal feeling to it. The sound is very good. The beat is sick. Luna and Krystal’s vocals do justice to the song, even though all the members aren’t singing in it.
4. Airplane
This song is beautiful. I love the vocals. This sounds like it belongs on an anime. I love the lyrics, I enjoy the melody. The English parts I understand, so I enjoy it more.
3. Pretty Girl
I relate to the lyrics of this song most. I love the vocals in the chorus, the overall flow is excellent. This song has a sick beat, is really catchy, and I never get tired of it. Again, the English draws me to this song.
2. Butterfly
The vocals in this song mesmerize me! I absolutely can’t stop listening or singing to this song!
1. Ending Page
This song, to me, is honestly F(x)’s best. The lyrics are meaningful, the vocals are amazing and show improvement, the beat and melody are just amazing. This song is a piece of art.
By now, if you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’ve been f(x) crazy for the last two months, and my obsession doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. It won’t slow down until my big “promotional move” I have planned this summer. But that will be kept under my hat until then…
Just remember to #bfx2us and put your town behind it to show where your love for f(x) is coming from, if of course, you’ve fallen in love with this group as much as I have.
Well, this article is a part of that promotion. My goal is to push for an f(x) tour for, at least, next year.
To all of you who have watched the music videos, and who doubt the talent of the f(x) members, I will be doing something similar to an artist “portfolio”. In this case, I will be showcasing the musical background and skills of each f(x) artist. This resume “portfolio” of sorts will show all readers why I think these girls qualify to be a part of f(x), why I believe them to be SM’s major female multi-national group, and why I think f(x) has what it takes to make it internationally.
Basically, this is why I think you newcomers should hire them as one of your new favorite K-pop groups. 😉
Drum roll please…
Today, Ladies and Gentlemen, I will be introducing the power vocalist, the amazing dancer: LUNA!
Park Sun-Young “Luna”
Luna is the sweet, compassionate, and extremely talented member of f(x). There is no denying how talented this girl is. This girl has some seriously powerful vocals! She’s been compared to BoA, Queen of K-pop and SM Town’s first major international star.
Luna has a lot of “soul”. Her inspirations include Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson. She is very fascinated with African American culture and music. She often mentions her fascination with African American dances and R&B sounds.
Luna is, by far, the kindest. She has shown the most compassion out of all the other f(x) members.
She is also the most hard-working, as one psychologist in a radio interview pointed out. She LOVES music, anyone can tell, because all she does is sing!
Luna is a bit dorky and funny, too!
Speaking of music, it’s time to review Luna-Bear’s credentials! This should be good.
Luna Can Sing
Really? Do I have to explain? If I do, that’s a shame, because this girl…she’s A-MAZING! If you have never heard her vocals, I suggest you do an about-face and head back to youtube to listen to more f(x) music. Luna is the lead vocalist for a very good reason. She loves to sing and music has a lot of meaning to her. You can tell. She’s not just a great singer, but she feels the music, which is why she’s so good.
I honestly feel she is the best singer in SM Entertainment.
Luna sang “And I Am Telling You (I’m Not Going)” at the Samsung-deong F(x) Showcase performance.
Luna sang “One Thousand Days” on Immortal Song 2.
Luna sang on Immortal Song 2 featuring f(x) mate Amber.
Luna sang Michael Jackson-inspired “I Don’t Know” on Immortal Song 2.
Luna sang “Stupid” on Immortal Song 2.
Luna performed quite a musical number called “Travel Companion” for Immortal Song 2.
Luna singing “Don’t Forget”.
Luna singing “Calling Out”.
Luna singing with Onew the song “Beauty and the Beast”.
Luna sings to the Rumba dance in Girls’ Generation Live.
Luna unveiled herself as the “masked singer” in King of Masked Singer. She sang “Sad Fate” as her final performance.
Luna sang with top vocalists Ailee, Eunji from Apink, and Solar from Mamamoo!
Luna Can Dance
As if that wasn’t enough, Luna can DANCE. The girl was a hip-hop star as a kid. She can REALLY dance.
Luna dancing to “Maybe”.
Luna dancing as a child on Truth Game.
A compilation of Luna’s dancing.
Luna dancing pre-debut.
Luna dances in her new solo music video “Free Somebody”!
Luna Can play the Keyboard and Speak Sign
Yep, we have to add this talent to that list: She can play the keyboard!
Luna signs her song in sign language, and shows off her keyboard skills in “The Day the Sun Rises” on Immortal Song 2.
Luna Writes Her Own Music
For Luna’s recent solo mini album, Free Somebody, Luna has written two songs! Apparently, she has come out of the box with song-writing talent!
Luna wrote the songs “I Wish” and “My Medicine”.
Isn’t Luna amazingly talented?! And Luna is all about the music! She may not get as much attention and promotion as the other girls, but she doesn’t need it. She DESERVES to be called Queen!
Luna has acting experience as well. She acted in Saving Mrs. Go Bongshil and the Broadway musical High School Musical in Korea.
Luna always struck me as dramatic, so it’s no surprise she’s a pretty good actress!
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
By now, if you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’ve been f(x) crazy for the last two months, and my obsession doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. It won’t slow down until my big “promotional move” I have planned this summer. But that will be kept under my hat until then…
Just remember to #bfx2us and put your town behind it to show where your love for f(x) is coming from, if of course, you’ve fallen in love with this group as much as I have.
Well, this article is a part of that promotion. My goal is to push for an f(x) tour for, at least, next year.
To all of you who have watched the music videos, and who doubt the talent of the f(x) members, I will be doing something similar to an artist “portfolio”. In this case, I will be showcasing the musical background and skills of each f(x) artist. This resume “portfolio” of sorts will show all readers why I think these girls qualify to be a part of f(x), why I believe them to be SM’s major female multi-national group, and why I think f(x) has what it takes to make it internationally.
Basically, this is why I think you newcomers should hire them as one of your new favorite K-pop groups. 😉
Today, this article will focus on the lovely, ever-popular Krystal Jung!
Chrystal Soo Jung “Krystal”
Krystal is the beautiful “maknae” of the group, which simply means she’s the youngest. She’s always envied for her striking looks. Many people deem her the prettiest member, and she was even on a poll for “Most Enviable Body”.
Krystal is easily recognized as Girls’ Generation (SNSD) Jessica’s sister. But she has formed her own identity.
Krystal is often called “Ice Princess” because she’s a good ice skater and…because some people think she has a hard time appearing sweet and kind, so they might take her as “cold”. She was said to “struggle with an aeygo” on a radio interview, which means she struggles to have a cute and charming personality, even if she appears cute and charming.
I like that about Krystal. It means she’s not phony. She seems like a very honest and straightforward person. Her humor is very cynical and she quickly cuts her eyes.
She has an edge about her, but I like it.
Most people think Krystal is the most stylish out of everyone in f(x). But that depends on your taste.
Isn’t she gorgeous! I especially like when she smiles, I mean when she has one of her genuine smiles…which is rare to find, but like finding a hidden treasure.
Oh, but enough about Krystal’s lovely edge. Let’s get right to her credentials as a K-pop star!
Krystal Can Sing
Just about everybody knows Krystal can sing. She is often compared vocally to her sister Jessica and to group mate Luna. But her voice is unique and powerful in its own right. She and Luna do many duets together.
Even Amber said she is a fan of Luna and Krystal’s duets, which is probably why she let them take over her song “Good-bye Summer”…
Krystal is apart of SM’s The Ballad
This is a solo song Krystal sang called “Because of Me”
Krystal sang a duet called “Dear Daddy” with Luna for the Nu Abo EP
Krystal sang a duet called “You are my Destiny” with Luna for the single Chu
Krystal sang “Be My Baby” in the drama High Kick 3
Krystal Can Dance
Krystal isn’t given credit as lead dancer or anything like that, but Krystal is a polished dancer! Many people have to recognize that she is a powerful dancer. It just adds to her list of talents. But Krystal is one of the f(x) members who gets the most attention, so…many probably wouldn’t be surprised.
Krystal’s skating helps her to be a graceful dancer!
Krystal danced with Victoria during SMTown Week
Krystal danced pre-debut
Luna and Krystal dance together
Krystal and Luna Dance to Lady Gaga
F(x) had a dynamite dance intro to “The Jump Off” and “Freeze”. Krystal, of course, shined.
Krystal Can play Piano
Unless you are a fan of Krystal or her sister, you probably didn’t know Krystal could play piano. Why? Because SM doesn’t show this talented side of hers very often. That’s why. And it’s such a shame, because Krystal has amazing piano skills.
Please, have a listen. Hopefully, somehow, someway, SM will open their ears, too.
Krystal featured with sister Jessica from Girls’ Generation and showed off her piano skills
Krystal plays a piece on the piano and on the harmonica in the drama High Kick 3
Krystal Catches on to Languages Quickly
Krystal is the best member when it comes to catching on to new languages. She was born in the USA, but was basically raised in South Korea. This means she speaks fluent English and Korean. But she caught on to Japanese and the Thai language pretty quickly, too!
Krystal English compilation
Krystal and Victoria change between Korean and their own native languages
Krystal caught on to Thai quickly
Krystal speaks the best Japanese out of all of the f(x) members, which is why she was asked to sing for The Ballad
Krystal is really talented, isn’t she? WOW. Simply stunning! Beauty and talent! Very hard to find both in one body sometimes…
Krystal is also an amazing ice skater!
Krystal is also quite the actress as well. She’s a very talented person!
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
By now, if you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’ve been f(x) crazy for the last two months, and my obsession doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. It won’t slow down until my big “promotional move” I have planned this summer. But that will be kept under my hat until then…
Just remember to #bfx2us and put your town behind it to show where your love for f(x) is coming from, if of course, you’ve fallen in love with this group as much as I have.
Well, this article is a part of that promotion. My goal is to push for an f(x) tour for, at least, next year.
To all of you who have watched the music videos, and who doubt the talent of the f(x) members, I will be doing something similar to an artist “portfolio”. In this case, I will be showcasing the musical background and skills of each f(x) artist. This resume “portfolio” of sorts will show all readers why I think these girls qualify to be a part of f(x), why I believe them to be SM’s major female multi-national group, and why I think f(x) has what it takes to make it internationally.
Basically, this is why I think you newcomers should hire them as one of your new favorite K-pop groups. 😉
This article will be about the flexible Victoria!
Song Qian “Victoria”
Victoria is f(x)’s oldest member, but most youthful member. She is the leader of f(x). She is also the lead dancer. Many people are aware of her flexibility. Victoria has a lot of personality, as was evident in the American online show Funny or Die with Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect).
Victoria has a mature beauty that is hard to deny. She has the most mature-looking body in f(x). She has a full chest, full butt, and just not SUPER SKINNY or scrawny. And she’s not always eager to flaunt it like some other girls in K-pop.
She’s always “everyone’s girl”. She was in Bi-Rain’s video, she was Shinee’s girl in their video “Replay”, and she “married” 2 PM’s Nichkhun in We Got Married.
She has this girly, yet classy, look about her.
Victoria is well-known for her flexibility and her acting abilities, but many have never heard her vocally.
So, let’s review her credentials!
Victoria is a Flexible Dancer
Everybody knows Victoria can dance. She learned to dance at the Beijing Dance Academy!
Victoria is an amazing performer, and never ceases to amaze the crowd.
Victoria danced with Bi-Rain in the Samsung video “AnyDream”.
Victoria is challenged by Miss A’s Jia to a battle of “flexibility”.
A Compilation of Victoria’s flexibility.
Victoria and Exo’s Tao perform together, showing off their flexibility.
Victoria dances to “Love, Sex, Magic”.
Victoria dances with Super Junior.
Victoria and 2 PM’s Nichkhun performed a steamy dance together during their time “married”.
Victoria danced solo for “Telephone”.
Victoria danced solo on Happy Camp.
Victoria…SINGING? WHAT?
You know why Victoria doesn’t sing often? Because her Korean isn’t as good as her Chinese. And she shines in Chinese! Wow! I was quite impressed.
I’ve also heard some negative things about her vocals (just like Sulli), and she doesn’t sing much. But when I heard her sing in Chinese, I was quite impressed! That is her first language, so…please give her a chance. She actually can sing!
Why doesn’t SM give her more lines? I don’t get it…
Victoria sang with Super Junior-M’s Zhou Mi at SM Town in Beijing…Wow.
Victoria sings with Kyuhyun.
If you can hear above the crowd, this is Victoria singing live in Bangkok.
Victoria sang “Tian Mi Mi” in Chinese, along with her fellow members.
Victoria Speaks Chinese and Korean
Victoria was born in Shandong, China, so she speaks Chinese Mandarin. She also speaks Korean, as she is a Korean pop star. She is more popular in China than in Korea, which can’t be helped. That IS her hometown after all, and apparently, she shines most in China. I really hope Victoria gets a Chinese song for f(x)’s next comeback., at least as a bonus track…if they do that in SM…
Victoria and Krystal speak Chinese, English, and Korean.
Victoria at the Sina interview.
So, I hope you all have learned a bit about Victoria. I know I learned A LOT from the research I’ve done.
Hopefully, now you might fall in love with Victoria and the rest of f(x)…right? 😉
Victoria is also quite the actress and has acted on several dramas.
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
By now, if you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’ve been f(x) crazy for the last two months, and my obsession doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. It won’t slow down until my big “promotional move” I have planned this summer. But that will be kept under my hat until then…
Just remember to #bfx2us and put your town behind it to show where your love for f(x) is coming from, if of course, you’ve fallen in love with this group as much as I have.
Well, this article is a part of that promotion. My goal is to push for an f(x) tour for, at least, next year.
To all of you who have watched the music videos, and who doubt the talent of the f(x) members, I will be doing something similar to an artist “portfolio”. In this case, I will be showcasing the musical background and skills of each f(x) artist. This resume “portfolio” of sorts will show all readers why I think these girls qualify to be a part of f(x), why I believe them to be SM’s major female multi-national group, and why I think f(x) has what it takes to make it internationally.
Basically, this is why I think you newcomers should hire them as one of your new favorite K-pop groups. 😉
This article will be about the cutie Sulli!
Choi Jinri “Sulli”
Sulli is f(x)’s “Giant baby” because she looks the youngest, is one of the youngest, has a baby face, but is SUPER tall. Okay, maybe not super, but she’s pretty tall.
Sulli is so pretty that IU was inspired to write the song “Peach” based on her beauty! She is often praised for her unique features. She has “kiss kiss” lips.
There are many beautiful girls in Korea and in f(x), but Sulli’s beauty is strikingly unique. Her face is so different.
Sulli is very cute. She’s always wearing loose clothing, particularly skirts and t-shirts, and often sneakers.
Sulli is very well-known for her acting skills (To the Beautiful You), but many people misjudge her when it comes to music.
So, let’s review her credentials, shall we?
Sulli can Sing and write music
I’m here to tell you that Sulli isn’t all beauty. She actually has a pretty voice!
I used to hear a lot of negative things about her, so I wondered: Can she really sing or dance?
SO, like I usually do, I decided to do deeper research, since I like to go beyond the surface. I happened to find some clips of Sulli singing, and she’s actually pretty good.
Sulli has recently come out with her own song “Goblin” , written and sung by her.
Sulli also wrote and sang two other songs on her single Goblin called “On the Moon” and “Dorothy”.
Sulli sang the song “Nagging” in To the Beautiful You
Sulli also sang “Peach” in To the Beautiful You. The song was originally written and sung by IU, but the lyrics were about Sulli, who is IU’s best friend.
Sulli sang “White” on Music Bank with f(x) Krystal, 4Minute’s Sohyun, Miss A’s Suzy, and Kara’s Jiyoung
Sulli sang “Circus” in English in a “Maknae” performance
Sulli sang “The Way Idols Break Up” with Heechul from Super Junior
Sulli sang “7989” with Kangta
Sulli Can play piano and guitar
Yea, isn’t it shocking? I hate that SM hides such talent. Sulli is actually really good at this! But she showed more of it as a child.
This is what I notice about women: They show most of their talents as children, and then grow up to just show mostly their beauty. Which isn’t bad, but it dampens the quality of the music, ya know? I wish she would show people this side more often.
Sulli can dance
Sulli is always attacked as being the “weakest” dancer. Well, maybe it’s because F(x)’s choreography doesn’t bring out the best of her abilities. Sulli is very good at dancing the Rumba.
Sulli dancing the Rumba.
Sulli had a medley of dances.
Sulli dance cut with Taemin and in a commercial.
Sulli has rap experience
I’m not going to call Sulli 2Pac here, but she has pretty good flow considering her experience is limited. Not bad.
Sulli rapping on the radio
This is proof of Sulli’s musical experience and why I feel she is worthy to be a K-pop idol and a member of f(x). She is very misjudged.
Sulli is also an amazing actress, as many saw in To the Beautiful You and Ballad of Seo Dong.
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
By now, if you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’ve been f(x) crazy for the last two months, and my obsession doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. It won’t slow down until my big “promotional move” I have planned this summer. But that will be kept under my hat until then…
Just remember to #bfx2us and put your town behind it to show where your love for f(x) is coming from, if of course, you’ve fallen in love with this group as much as I have.
Well, this article is a part of that promotion. My goal is to push for an f(x) tour for, at least, next year.
To all of you who have watched the music videos, and who doubt the talent of the f(x) members, I will be doing something similar to an artist “portfolio”. In this case, I will be showcasing the musical background and skills of each f(x) artist. This resume “portfolio” of sorts will show all readers why I think these girls qualify to be a part of f(x), why I believe them to be SM’s major female multi-national group, and why I think f(x) has what it takes to make it internationally.
Basically, this is why I think you newcomers should hire them as one of your new favorite K-pop groups. 😉
I will begin the first article with my ultimate f(x) bias, and the most popular f(x) member, Amber Liu!
Amber Liu
Amber Liu is the charming tomboy in the f(x) group. You really can’t miss her. She stands out, not only in the f(x) group, but in the sea that is full of K-pop idols. Amber has a unique appearance, but she also has a very charming personality. She’s funny, friendly, and open-minded.
Amber is boyish, but Amber is also very beautiful, too. Anyone can see that she has striking features: beautiful eyes, lovely lips, a bright smile, and nice hair texture.
But enough about how pleasant she is and how unique her sense of style is. Let’s review her credentials. Let’s look at what makes her a true K-pop artist and musical icon.
Amber Liu Can Sing
If you were to just observe the f(x) music videos, you would mostly hear Amber rapping briefly in each song.
What you may not always hear is Amber’s vocal abilities. And yet, Amber passed through the SM auditions because of her vocal abilities. I would like to share with you a collection of Amber’s vocal abilities:
Amber sings the opening part of “Rocketeer” with Minho from SHINee.
Amber sings “We Belong Together” on Radio Star.
Amber sings “Sadness Guide” on Radio Star.
Amber sang the English version of “Good-bye Summer” that was originally titled “I Just Wanna”. Amber originally wrote this song, along with a friend of hers.
Amber sang Lee Seung Gi’s “White Lie”.
Amber sings Henry Lau (Super Junior-M)’s song “Weibo”.
Amber sang “Talking to the Moon” on Global Request: A Song for You episode 3.
Amber sang a solo song that was never released called “So Good” featuring Chad Future.
Amber sang a song called “Beautiful” for her solo album of the same name.
Amber sang a song called “Heights” for her solo album Beautiful.
Amber sang a song called “Love Run” for her solo album Beautiful.
Amber Liu has a knack for writing and composing music
Amber is a very expressive girl. She is always collaborating with other artists, and she seems to have her hand in many songs floating around in the K-pop world. She makes some pretty interesting songs. She also works with other song-writers, helping them translate English songs into Korean songs.
Amber helped in writing “Beautiful Stranger” for the f(x) EP Electric Shock. She personally re-wrote the song in Korean. The original song was in English.
Amber, and a friend of hers, wrote and composed “Good-bye Summer” for the f(x) album Pink Tape.
Amber, and a friend of hers, wrote and composed “Summer Lover” for the f(x) album Red Light.
She wrote, composed, and arranged the song “Beautiful” for her mini album of the same name.
She had a hand in the writing for the song “Shake That Brass” for her mini album Beautiful.
Amber also wrote the songs “Love Run” and “Heights” for her mini album Beautiful.
Amber wrote the song “I Just Wanna” for her mini album Beautiful and the Korean version for Pink Tape.
Amber Liu Plays Guitar and Drums
Amber has said she likes Rock music, her favorites being Linkin Park and Taking Back Sunday. So, it’s not surprising that Amber has taken up guitar and drums.
In this song “Someday at Christmas” with Henry (Super Junior-M), Amber shows off her guitar skills.
Amber plays the guitar for the acoustic version of “Nu Abo”.
Amber played the guitar for “Goodbye Summer” on A Song for You.
Amber played the guitar for a song she made up with Eric Nam on One Fine Day.
Amber Liu Can Dance
Amber not only CAN dance, but she ENJOYS dancing as well.
In Amber’s song “Lost at Sea”, Amber showed off her amazing dancing skills.
Amber had a solo dance in the Mnet 20’s Performance “Hot Summer”.
Amber danced to “Disturbia” with her fellow members in pre-debut era.
Amber is involved in three “Harlem Shake” videos.
Amber Liu Can Rap
Despite the brief rap segments she has in the f(x) songs, Amber actually has some seriously amazing skills.
Amber rapped “Believe Me”.
Amber rapped “Me against the World”.
Amber rapped in the song “Baby” along with Henry (Suju-M).
Amber rapped “Where is the Love?” with SHINee’s Key.
Amber rapped “Lose Yourself”.
Amber raps “Caution” with CSJH The Grace members Dana and Sunday.
Amber raps in the song “Airplanes” with John Park.
Amber Liu works really well with People
Amber’s “people skills” are amazing. She not only works well with her fellow members, but she also works well with many other people. She has featured with many artists.
Amber has collaborated with Henry (Super Junior-M) on many occasions. “1-4-3 I love You” was one of the songs she worked on with him. They have a lot of stage chemistry.
Amber has also provided the rap segment for Yuri (Girls’ Generation: SNSD) in “1, 2 Step”.
Amber and Minho had an amazing short performance with “Rocketeer”.
Amber has also performed with Kris (EXO-M) in the song “Thrift Shop”.
Amber performed “Like a G6” with Key (SHINee) and Kris (EXO-M)
Amber was included in C-pop Danson’s comeback “I’m Back”.
Amber talks about her connections on Global Request:A Song for You episode 3.
Amber Liu Speaks 3 Languages
Amber’s first language is English, then Mandarin Chinese, and then Korean. She is also working on Japanese!
Amber films, produces, and directs Music Videos
Amber is also getting all kinds of experience with short film and video production! She has produced teasers for friends and even some of her own music videos! This girl is stretching her hand towards any skills and opportunities available.
She produced a comeback teaser for her fellow SMTown member KyuhYun!
She and her team filmed, produced, and directed several of her own work, including “Beautiful”, “Borders”, “On My Own”, and “Need To Feel Needed”.
SO, this is full proof of her musical skill and range of talents. I hope that I have shown you what she’s made of.
Amber also makes an amazing MC, as people have noticed on Show Champion and We Got Married Global. She’s also doing Youtube videos now!
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
I know you’re wondering why I suddenly have this inspiration to create an article about the Korean Wave. Well, the other day (as in last week), I was watching Crayon Pop’s song “Uh-ee” and “Bar Bar Bar” when I heard the news that Lady Gaga wants to have Crayon Pop open for her Live Concert Tour. If anyone knows Crayon Pop, they are an all-female K-pop group that went viral awhile back due to their quirky dance moves, bike helmets, and wholesome attire entirely. They are definitely unique, and they seem like they would be Lady Gaga’s taste.
But just hearing how even Lady Gaga is into Korean pop music got me thinking: Just how many people listen to K-pop?
So, I did some research on this subject.
The “Korean Wave” reminds me of the Tulip Era in Turkey in the 18th Century…for all of you historians who are interested…
What is the Korean Wave?
It is a sudden “wave” of interest in South Korean “pop” culture. Yes, not just any Korean culture, but “modern” and “popular” Korean culture. And it has developed into a sub-culture with some cult followers in the mix…
The term “Korean Wave”, also called Hallyu, was said to have been coined by Beijing journalists who noticed a growing interest in South Korean culture in China. More and more Chinese people were exporting Korean merchandise, and supporting Korean music and film.
The Korean Wave shows a huge thrust toward entertainment media mostly, but many foreigners are more aware of the lifestyle in Korea as a result, such as the food (I learned about Kimchi), fashion, language, and even literature. The only thing excluded from this category is history, but that may come soon with the rising popularity of Korean dramas.
Due to increase internet availability and usage around the world, and the Technological Revolution of the early 21st Century, K-pop and Korean dramas are more available to people all over the world! So, Korean pop culture is spreading quicker and easier.
The Korean government hopes they can use this “wave” of interest to gain “soft power”. Not the kind of power where you take over other nations, but the kind that introduces Korean beauty, culture, and art to the rest of the world. They hope to make peace through this “wave”.
After World War II, Japan put a limit on entertainment that came in and out of the country. Once Japan lifted restrictions on international imports (and exports) in the 1980’s, entertainment could be distributed more freely worldwide. This brought about a “Japanese Wave” that was at a much smaller scale than the Korean Wave (mostly due to the fact that internet was a newer concept and not available everywhere around the world), but still, relatively large.
With the “Japanese Wave” came an increased interest in Japanese animation and comics called mangas. Japanese cartoons were fed to children in the 1990’s (I was one of those children). My first Japanese anime cartoon was Sailor Moon. Every day before school, I watched this show! Of course, at that time, the show was butchered so much because they wanted the animes to “relate to American children”. Later, Cartoon Network’s popularity increased as more and more people had access to cable channels in the late 1990’s.
Then came the Pokemon phenomenon, the first major Japanese animation to make millions in the West. It even had a very successful theatrical release! Pokemon is still being aired today.
Cartoon Network began to band together with the popular American animation company Funimation, a company that translated Japanese anime to make it more understandable to American audiences. Toonami, a segment of the day that mostly aired anime, was born afterwards. My next favorite anime to watch on that segment was Dragon Ball Z. This was the start of Japanese influence seeping into the minds of children.
There was also an increased interest in Japanese role-playing games. Sony, a Japanese company, made Playstation and Playstation 2, which made characters come alive on the television screen. The graphics were more real-looking than they had ever been before on any console, controls were easy to use, and Japanese game-makers began to sell their games to the world using this console.
Square-Enix was one such company. They are known for making the popular Final Fantasy series as well as the phenomenon Kingdom Hearts.
Japanese anime brought a wave of interest from the generation exposed to it. Interest in animes like Inuyasha and video games like Kingdom Hearts led to a growing interest in J-pop music (as you can hear an artist at the end of every anime or video game, particularly the legend Ayumi Hamasaki), Japanese food (teriyaki and goyza), Japanese language (Kawaii, Sugoi), fashion (cosplays and lolita came out of this wave), holidays, festivals (like Hinamatsuri), and destinations (like Osaka and Tokyo).
An interest in Japanese culture, thus, led to an interest in all modern Asian culture.
This is where Korea comes in.
Korean Dramas and Manga
Korean film producers banked on this rising interest in Mangas and Animes. Korean drama adaptations of these animes spurred a fascination for Korean dramas in general. One of the biggest dramas a part of the “Korean Wave” is the drama Boys Over Flowers, based off of the popular Japanese manga series Hana Yori Dango. Meteor Garden, a Chinese versionmade in Taiwan in 1999, was the first live adaptation of the popular manga series. It was big in all of Asia. Since most southeastern Asian countries speak Chinese, other people were exposed to the drama. The Korean Boys Over Flowers had come out a decade later in 2009, updating the original adaptation and giving a modern feeling. Other Asian countries remembered Meteor Garden and heard about the new adaptation, which exposed many people to Korean culture.
Winter Sonata was Korea’s own major masterpiece, and it equaled the success of Meteor Garden. This drama was said to have been the drama that launched the “Korean Wave”.
These Korean dramas were popular because of two factors as quoted from Wikipedia:
Emotional engagement of the audience with particular emphasis on forging an emotional bond with the protagonist
Explicit attention to female sexual desires — Departing from conventional dramas that tend to eroticize the female body, these dramas market the sexual attraction of the male actors, giving women a certain freedom of sexual expression.
SM Entertainment
“Powerhouse” label SM Entertainment brought Korean music to the world for the first time. H.O.T. was the first all-boy Korean group to perform a sold-out Concert outside of Korea. This group particularly targeted teenagers and were the first of their kind. They were the pioneers of what we know as the “idol group trend”. They were meant to bring K-pop to the younger generation. Their debut was in 1996.
Then came BoA Kwon, the reigning Princess of K-Pop. BoA was the first Korean artist to sell over a million copies of her albums outside of Korea. She was Korea’s first international superstar. She was an extremely young artist, and the youngest artist to debut at the time of her debut (2000 at age 14).
My first taste of K-pop was also through BoA. I was first introduced to BoA after my favorite doll brand, Bratz, did a collaboration with BoA and Howie D (Backstreet Boys) back in 2003. It was my second taste of foreign music (my first was Utada Hikaru from the Kingdom Hearts series, but she sounded so “American”, I didn’t realize she was a Japanese superstar at the time).
I started looking up more about BoA. That’s when I found out she sang the ending song to the popular anime, Inuyasha, which also made BoA more popular. That’s when I realized just how popular BoA was in Japan.
Then I found out she wasn’t Japanese. Little did I know, at the time, I was a part of a movement that shaped the next generation.
She is still the only Korean artist to have six consecutive hits in Japan, and is considered a household name in many Asian countries.
Soon, other K-pop artists from SM began to pop their way to stardom.
The groups I remember distinctly popping up was TVXQ (DBSK), Super Junior, SHINee, and Girls’ Generation. With the Youtube phenomenon, these groups spread Korean pop music internationally. Many of those groups had international members in them. The male groups broke Asian stereotypes around the world, and gave Asian men a “beautiful face” in the Western world.
At the time, SHINee was the most unique. SHINee embraced their more “feminine features” and made it more attractive to girls! They also started the new generation of dance-pop music with complex dance moves. After their debut, the other artists started imitating their style. Originally K-pop boys showed more edge, but SHINee softened their blows, wearing eyeliner, long hair, and shaking their butts in “Ring ding dong”.
Girls Generation brought Asian beauties to international audiences, and paved the way for the female “idol group” trend.
My biggest sweep into the Korean Wave was with the group f(x). Amber was Korea’s first androgynous pop star! Ever since, I’ve been an adamant follower of K-pop “idol groups” rather than Japanese, and recently, C-pop (Chinese pop). I’m just so darn addicted to that group! Once you get swept into the ocean of K-pop, with your favorite K-pop artist, it’s hard to swim back to shore…rather, it’s hard to want to.
The rising popularity of these groups contributed to the “group” trend that is known in Korea today…
Adding these idols to K-dramas spreads Hallyu further.
Psy and Gangnam Style
Psy made K-pop a global phenomenon in 2012 to 2013 with his smash Youtube hit “Gangnam Style”, an upbeat, electro-dance pop/rap song, put to funny, satirical lyrics, and choreographed with humorous “galloping” dance moves. Psy made a statement in Korea, and brought Korea to everyone’s backyard. He was the first viral artist to have over a billion views! He broke a world record!
Unlike most idols, he wasn’t slim-trim, with a “Justin Bieber” haircut, skinny jeans, and hot dance moves. He was an “average” guy. His music also made a statement. He pointed out satirically about the lavish lifestyle in Gangnam, a district in Seoul, Korea, the center of Korean pop culture. This appealed to audiences worldwide.
Psy also put his label, YG, on the map. Korea hopes to use his fandom as a sign of diplomacy and “soft power”.
What Makes the Korean Wave Unique from other “Asian Waves”?
The Korean phenomenon wasn’t the first international fascination with Asian culture. Asian persuasion has been around since the growing popularity of Kung Fu films in the 1970’s and 1980’s, which put Chinese cinema on the map and popularized Chinese culture and history in many parts of the world. The growing popularity of Japanese culture dominated the 1990’s.
But what makes the “Korean Wave” unique is that it is getting popular in an era that is influenced by the “Digital Revolution”. It is spreading at a much faster rate and on a more universal scale than the other two phenomenons.
It’s also unique in the fact that Koreans are popular for their “modern” culture, and not stereotyped, historical depictions of them that may no longer ring true (like all Asian men learning martial arts). Koreans are looked at as more of an advancing society, as their modern culture is more popular than their ancient one, and that’s what makes this “wave” special.
Finally, what makes the “Korean Wave” unique from the other two “Waves” is the fact that the “Korean Wave” shows a huge support from the female audience. Kung Fu movies and the “Japanese Wave” mostly had male audiences wrapped around their fingers. Though, as a female, I’ve been into all the waves at one time…
This also helps to change the world’s views on Asian culture. It helps to diminish biases, prejudices, and stereotypes. It creates mutual understanding and peace between nations.
What are characteristics of those involved with the Korean Wave?
1) Lots and Lots of fan girls-Because of the increased female fan-base, men are more objectified in K-pop and K-dramas, and female sexuality is highlighted. This makes Asian men more desirable to women.
2) K-pop Group biases and fan wars-With the rising popularity of K-pop groups, you find tons of fans defending their favorite “idol” groups. My favorite is f(x) recently. They helped sweep me into this “Korean Wave”. But I hate fan wars.
3) K-Drama discussions-K-dramas can be so dramatic, you will find tons of message boards about them. Prepare to cry.
4) Eclectic clothing-Korean clothing can be trendy and sometimes downright eccentric.
5) A bunch of young college kids-While you might think mostly teenagers are into this wave, sources show that the biggest support comes from young adults in their 20’s. So, this is what the college kids are into. I sort…of…um…am apart of that demographic. :3
Well, that’s all for now folks! Leave me a comment let me know what you think about Korea’s growing popularity!
Generation Next 