Most of you probably knew I was going to write about this, considering you know who I am. If you don’t, well then, hello! I have chosen the topic of k-pop because, well, most of you don’t know what k-pop is. For your information, k-pop is just pop with a k in front of it (not really). And, I am taking it as my job to tell you about this wonderful thing! So, settle in! Grab some popcorn, and enjoy!
K-pop originated in South Korea, the year 1992, but recently got very popular with BTS becoming the first k-pop group so far to get to go to a western award show, the BBMAS. They even won an award! (My friend bawled her eyes out and cried herself to sleep because she was so happy). It has been getting quite popular lately. They do tend to incorporate English words into their songs names and into the music nowadays, such as "I Need U", "Signal", "Would U" and much more. This might be contributing to why they are getting bigger.
In Korea, they have a much different way of doing and managing activities/jobs. Their songs have choreography, but here, it is much more uncommon. They also have a thing called Hi-Touch, or in much simpler words, a fan meet. The fans get to talk to the idol for a few minutes, get a poster or notebook signed, then move on to the next member. They do this outside, in an arena, really, anywhere. Bands tend to do this more often, and bands are MUCH more common in Korea then they are in Canada or America. Although, sometimes the fans aren’t that nice to the idols if they don’t get what they want. There have been numerous videos of the idol getting physically hurt because a fan didn’t get their way. It is quite sad.
K-pop also has these three things called visuals, maknaes, and bias. Now, I’m not completely certain if we have it here in Canada or America, but from what I’ve seen, we don’t. Visuals, or, a visual, is the beauty of a group. I’m not saying the rest are ugly, but this one represents the group, aside from the leader. And there is only one of them! The bias is your favourite one in the group, (don’t ask why you can’t just say favourite, because I don’t know). You can have as many as you want! The maknae is just the youngest basically. There is the maknae line, which are all the youngest in the group, and then the hyung line, which are the oldest in the group. One quick thing, if you stan an idol, it means you support them and like the group/idol.
Every year, all the bands get together, no matter girl or boy, and have a get together-ish. Basically me saying they get forced to have physical activity such as races and other things. But I’m sure they enjoy each other's company, maybe? ANYWAYSSSSS. All the groups have to have physical activity once a year. They do races, wrestling, archery, acrobats, high jumping, basically, an idol’s version of sports day. Except, more intense! There are levels to it. So, for example, if you win in the match you played for wrestling, you and your band/group would go to the next round. The semi-finals. And so on. At the end of the day, you go home with the prize of feeling good? Maybe? I don’t know, I’m not an idol. (Idol, as in singer)
Everyday, people ask me why I listen to music I don’t understand, or when they hear my music, they look at me funny. Maybe because I blast it and then dance and sing like a maniac in broken Korean-NAH. On a more serious note, does it honestly matter if I listen to Korean music and don’t understand it? Maybe it’s helping me to learn the language? (Which I am trying to do). I want to ask you one thing, do I really have to understand something to think it’s beautiful?
Lastly, I will describe some of my favourite artists (As in all of them. Oh gosh) Ahhh, the one who started this mess, and the group my sister introduced me to, BTS! Or Bangtan, or Bangtan Sonyeondan, or Bulletproof Boy Scouts. The list goes on. This was the boy group I was talking about earlier! The one who won a award at the BBMAS! They are my favourite group ever, they write their own lyrics, challenge the laws of physics with their dances, and consist of seven members. :)
My second favourite at the moment is Twice. Yeah, kind of funny, you know, twice… two… second? Never mind… ANYWAYSSSS. Their songs are very catchy, great vocals, nine kind, pretty, and talented girls, they are one of the many idols I aspire to be like (along with BTS), I really look up to them.
Another one of my favourites before I go emo. Seventeen! No there are not 17 members, there are 13. Although, they were supposed to debut with 17, four of them left before they did. They are a wonderful band with a variety of personalities and characters considering how many members they have. They are over all, just a good boy group. :)
And another one! Blackpink! They are one of the newer girl group who just debuted in late 2016, with only four songs out. I love them nonetheless though! There are four members and they can all speak fluent English and Korean, but only one of them was actually born in Korea… BUT they all have Korean blood in them! Again, like BTS, they basically break the laws of gravity with their dancing! Seriously, it’s hard… They have very unique vocals and great rappers. Although they give off more of a bad girl image, they are very kind-hearted girls! :)
Got7! This is a 7 member boy group with great visuals, vocals, and rappers. They have so much attitude in them. They never give up and continue to try harder and harder everyday!:0 Well, I think I have just taught you everything you need to know to be a k-pop fan, I’ll leave you to it. Your favourite person,
~Diddley Squat
