K-pop: Tired Kids Hitting it Big with Bubblegum
In Spin this last month, there was an article by David Bevan about the pop culture phenomenon of K-pop (“Seoul Trained”). K-pop, or Korean pop music, is similar in flavor to the music of the American boy and girl bands of the late ’90s and early 2000s. K-pop groups are made up of young, cute, energetic and talented performers, and their fans are as rabid as foxes in a hen coop. Their songs are simple and catchy, with Korean words filling the verses, and English phrases in the sing-along choruses.
So, how is this wave of pop music different from BSB or *NSYNC mania? And why is it so popular now?
First of all, these artists didn’t enter the music scene after years of practicing at their high schools or in their garages. K-pop stars are cherry-picked from a young age for their singing and dancing abilities, as well as for their looks. And they are not only Korean. Some of the most popular singers are from the U.S. (such as Jay Park, from California) or of Thai or Chinese descent (e.g., Nichkhun). They essentially become property of the most prominent record label, S.M. Entertainment, as they are trained, day and night, to sing, dance, entertain and present themselves as the perfect product.
By now, the producers know what works in pop music – all the way from the outfits to the key changes – and they implement those strategies through these bands. Unlike in the U.S., where our opinions of pop stars might be marred by their personal lives (e.g., Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, T.I. and others have all been convicted of crimes), the reputations of K-pop stars are protected by S.M. Entertainment. These kids aren’t allowed access to their own social media accounts, so that scandal is minimized. They aren’t even allowed to talk about dating, for fear that their adoring fans will be let down.
The music is wildly successful; while it’s just starting to emerge in the U.S. market now, it’s very popular in Japan and China. But to me, it lacks some of the humanity that I look for in art. Sure, I can separate the person from his creation to some degree. But without feeling like there is some flawed, likeable human being behind the music, it’s hard for me to engage with it. There is a new K-pop band in training now, and S.M. Entertainment has already started to market it on Twitter and Facebook. Even without a band name or any photos, the new band has already been “liked” by thousands of fans! In the article, S.M. Entertainment compares itself to Apple. You don’t have to know what the iPad3 is like exactly to know what its style will be…and you don’t have to hear the new K-pop music to know that it’s going to be in the S.M. style.
Jay Park, whom I mentioned earlier, was a cog in the S.M. machinery for a while, until it was discovered that he made an anti-Korean comment on Youtube. His career seemed to be shot after that, but now he’s back making his own music. It’s still K-pop, but the fact that he is the creative mind behind it, and that he has had to work extra hard to gain a fan base again, makes me want to like his music more. Here is Jay Park’s version of “Nothin’ on You” by B.O.B.
Jay Park was part (and leader) of JYP Ent. Group “2pm” of which Nickhun is still a member. But yes SM is the most prominent entertainment company in Korea. Good article, I would go more in depth about my reasons for not agreeing with your assesment of Kpop but I’m in a lecture now!! Just wanted to clarify on the Jay Park and Nickhun issue!
- Proud Jay Walker (Jay’s famdom group name) and Hottest (2pm fandom name)
Comment by Eileen | March 7, 2012
1. I miss you updating on twitter when you add another article. I didn’t think you’d written anything in a while because you didn’t advertise it!
2. I want to comment on this, but I don’t even know what to say. Even after living in Seoul for a year and trying to keep up with it when I left (I’ve had students send me songs to keep me updated on their favorite artists), k-pop still confuses me. While I really like some songs, I can’t help but feel like I’m partaking in a product. When I first learned how old some of the members of the most popular groups are and then what their lifestyles are like, I was shocked. In a very simplified phrase: children are being controlled and maketed. In reality I know it’s more complicated, but I can’t help coming back to that point. And then look at the audience, like my former students, who are being presented with these “perfect” pictures and being told what do like. And the OBSESS over these groups, and their own looks, and why they can’t be as beautiful/talented/famous etc. Instead of looking inward at their own sources of creativity and talent, their looking outward at carefully constructed images to which they are devoting lots of their money and time.
At least in terms of fan reactions, I can’t say how different the situation is from 90s pop groups (except of course that the internet has completely changed things). It’s a lot easier to look at something and judge it from an outsider’s perspective.
3. It would be interesting to look at the way American pop music of the 90s has influenced today’s kpop. I’m not suggesting you do that… but if someone has, I’d read it.
Comment by ALI | June 7, 2012
I think you’re right that it’s easier to judge something from the outside. Your critique of how Korean kids are being negatively affected by these images could easily apply to American culture as well! It’s just hard to admit that we are “partaking in a product.” I definitely didn’t mean for the post to come across as too judgmental…because perhaps it did. And thanks for sharing your thoughts about what you actually saw when you were in Korea!
Comment by karolina | June 15, 2012