Maybe you’ve heard of the phrase and want to know more about why it’s getting so much attention.
Or perhaps you’re interested in South Korean culture and music and want to learn more.
This article will answer all of your questions about K-pop and explain everything you need to know about this musical craze.
Why Is K Pop So Popular?
Kpop, or Korean pop music, is a popular genre. The term “K-pop” is most frequently used to refer to popular music that has its roots in South Korea.
Similar to Taylor Swift in the US, K-pop is a popular music genre in the nation.
K-pop, K pop, K pop, and KPOP are all common abbreviations for Korean pop.
Numerous distinct musical genres and aspects fall under the banner of K-pop. It may also include Korean rock, hip-hop, and electronic music in addition to Korean pop. K-pop is regarded as a relatively new genre of music. You’re currently listening to K-Pop songs that first emerged in the 1990s.
However, K-origins’ pop dates back to the 1950s and has since then been greatly inspired by various styles of Western music and pop bands. In particular, American pop music culture has had—and continues to have—an impact on K-Pop.
What Distinguishing Qualities Does K-pop Have?
Different K-pop music concepts are created using many different genres. Like how most K-pop groups have a designated rapper and include English words in the South Korean lyrics of the song. The South Korean-American idols, like Fly to the Sky, are credited with starting this trend because they sought to demonstrate their command of English in their music. In K-pop choreographies, members frequently alter positions throughout a routine while performing hard-hitting, synchronized moves. This technique is known as jaribaggum, which translates to “formation change” in English.
The movements are also intended to be monotonous and visually appealing, fitting the theme of each song. This is referred to as a “point dance” and helps some dances and tunes flow especially well.
Examples of songs with memorable choreography include Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” Super Junior’s “Sorry Sorry,” INFINITE’s “Be Mine,” Brown-eyed Girls’ “Abracadabra,” and Blackpink’s “DDU DU DDU DU.” In addition, the striking attire worn by the bands or performers in performances and music videos is also significant.
What Is a K-pop Idol?
K-pop idols are musicians and ensembles that have been created by a variety of entertainment businesses with the aim of appealing to younger audiences. The music groups are made up of people who are all extremely skilled at at least one of the following: singing, rapping, and dancing.
Consider pop bands like One Direction, Little Mix, and Fifth Harmony in the West if you’re still utterly unfamiliar with Kpop music; they’re similar to the idea of idols.
These idols frequently begin their careers in the entertainment industry while they are teenagers and work hard for years to perfect skills like singing, rapping, dancing, and foreign languages. Then, if they are fortunate and skilled enough, they may be chosen for an idol group by the end of their adolescent years.
The K-pop groups then release albums and singles that are full of upbeat songs on a regular basis. For a month or two, they will attend numerous music festivals each week to perform their lead single. A high-quality music video, well-synced choreography, and styling of the group members are always given great consideration in addition to the song’s importance.
Top Kpop Girl Groups
Since its inception in the 1990s, K-pop culture has spread around the globe, but K-pop boy groups typically steal the show. Even while there are many amazing K-pop girl groups making great songs, only a few have been able to steal the show. It’s past time to give credit to K-pop girl groups. Each K-pop girl group has its own distinct sound and persona.
Many people have opened up about their personal lives and grown their fan bases on social media. For instance, Blackpink’s Lisa is the most well-known Kpop Instagram influencer of all time, topping the popularity of any Kpop performer, male or female.
Blackpink
In August 2016, one of the most well-known all-girl K-pop groups, BLACKPINK, debuted. The four-member South Korean pop quartet broke a record with their 2018 single “Ddu-Ddu Ddu-Ddu” off of their mini-album Square Up under the label YG Entertainment. The other members of the quartet, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa, are well known for their sense of fashion and have been dubbed “fashion idols.” Despite the fact that they can all sing, Jennie and Lisa are rappers, giving the group’s generally positive outlook a unique edge. The fans of this K-pop group go by the name of Blinks.
Girls’ Generation
The eight-member, all-girl K-pop group made its debut in August 2007 under the SM Entertainment brand. The group is also known as SNSD and consists of Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, YoonA, and Seohyun. Girls’ Generation is credited with launching the Hallyu wave before bands like BLACKPINK. The group’s catchy songs “Gee,” “The Boys,” and “Oh!” have amassed over 100 million views on YouTube. They gained notoriety for their protest song “Into The New World,” which was played at several women’s rights gatherings, including the Me Too and LGBTQ+ campaigns. The gang had just recently gotten together for the You Quiz on the Block episode that aired on television on September 1, 2021.
Twice
The group has constantly released new music, in Korean and Japanese, at least three times a year and has released more than ten albums and EPs since their debut in 2015. Even for K-pop, where it is customary to promote one or two comebacks per year, that is a demanding schedule.
Twice’s rise to the top echelon of Korean performers has been aided by their frequent releases. Only BTS, Blackpink, and Psy as solo artists have more Twice-competing music videos on YouTube than any other K-pop group. The nine-member group has seen near-unprecedented success in Japan, in addition to frequently topping charts and taking home music prizes in South Korea.
Twice made history earlier this year when they held the first K-pop girl group dome tour in Japan, drawing an estimated 210,000 spectators over the course of five performances. All the performance stops on this type of tour take place in enormous dome facilities; the ones in Japan, for example, have capacities of about 50,000 each. As such, they provide unquestionable proof of a group’s capacity to increase ticket sales.
Although Twice has always had a sizable foreign fanbase, the year 2019 has seen the group make tremendous progress toward being a dominant force in K-pop worldwide. In July, Twice started their first U.S. tour, opening a new door for them to interact with people outside of Asia.
The group’s management company, JYP Entertainment, also recently disclosed a partnership with YouTube that would result in the creation of a docu-series about Twice, providing another chance to connect with people around the world.
Apink
Play M Entertainment made the debut of the six-member South Korean female group in April 2011. The same year, Apink won the Mnet Asian Music Award for Best New Female Artist (MAMA). They are one of the most well-known all-girl K-pop groups, and their upbeat bubblegum pop aesthetic and carefree dance skills helped them to become well-known.
Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatcher has a big fan base all around the world. In February 2021, they became the first all-girl K-pop group to top Billboard’s Next Big Sound Chart. The group, one of the top K-pop girl groups, is well known for portraying “dystopian” narratives with strong visuals and distinctly stylized choreography.
