K-Pop — our opinion
Basically for those new or unfamiliar with K-pop.
We have to apologize, this post has became a mess, with all the editing, reediting and random thoughts, suspicions and conjecture. We wanted this to be a civil intro to those not familiar with K-pop (not a rant fest😱) We obviously tend to digress, that is one of many reasons we do not do opinion videos (also not overly photogenic 😋).
— We are attempting to clean this up a bit.
We realized that we are combine two separate trains of thought on one blog article. One directed towards new listeners of the music. The second, our opinions on the industry. — and as in the real world, two trains on one track may not always work correctly 😬
Rather than creating a second article, we decided to split this one into two sections, one focusing on our opinions of the music and entertainment aspects, and one about the industry in general
(for anyone interested)
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K-Pop - the music
First of all K-pop is not a music genre in itself, but a collection of different styles of music with the commonality of being made in Korea, by mostly Korean entertainment companies, mostly Asian singers and musicians.
[hint: If you are new to K-pop, do not just settle for the current trending groups and songs, dig a little deeper, go back a few years — explorer the groups from the previous generations (currently K-pop is in its fifth generation — don't worry, you'll figure all that out later) — you may be pleasantly surprised at what you can find.]
Notice when groups and singers that you have never heard of appears in your YouTube feed, and give them a listen. Try searching for “<first/second/…> generation k-pop” YouTube will usually generate a playlist of various random group's and singer's music videos. Search for covers of songs that you like. There are some that may surprise you.
Some live performance shows are horrendous, but some performances are actually pretty good. --- do not ignore the live concert videos (even some shot by individuals)
First we will admit, our taste leans towards the female singers (we simply prefer their voices). The only entire song we have heard of a male K-pop group was Danger by BTS, on the PURPLE KISS dance cover video.
(nothing against the guys, but we still prefer the girls)
If you are not Asian, forget any stupid biased ideas you may have. Oh like; “Asians can not sing.” or “Asians voices sound funny.” or “The songs are probably all stupid.” or probably the dumbest reason, “They sing in a foreign language.” The first three are just wrong, the last is just stupid. — okay, it is all subjective, (and I probably just insulted many of those reading this), but we actually had some of those biases prior to listening to K-pop
A few minor warnings;
1) You may find some music videos to be quite excessive with the jump cuts and seasick camera (what we call their use of the steadycam). However, there are usually numerous versions of videos of the same songs, that are usually at least a bit less annoying. --- look for full focus and full camera versions (you can also find audio only versions)
— Check out the it's LIVE (https://youtube.com/@itsLiveOfficial) channel.
2) Some (many) of the videos are highly sexualized, both with the clothing and the choreography.
3) Some groups can drift into some very dark territory.
— if you can ruin an otherwise good song with a single word or line, some of the groups will do it 😒
However, do not let a few negative impressions effect your quest to find new and different music that you may actually like.
There is a wide range of styles and many different groups within K-pop, ranging from softer ethereal sounding songs by groups such as IVE and LE SSERAFIM. Straight up pop, from groups like BABYMONSTER and Kep1er. Latin leaning songs by groups like TRI.BE. R&B influenced songs by groups such as Baby V.O.X. To harder, edgier songs from groups like i-dle and PURPLE KISS.
— oh and do be sure to check out Dreamcatcher
(see our list of groups we like, and links to their YouTube channels later in this post)
(and no, we are not obsessed fans that think everything about K-pop is wonderful, see the list of things we dislike about the genre near the bottom of this post)
The behind the scenes and "making of" videos are usually fun to watch, but for something a little different (laid back and slightly more realistic), you may like some of the various V-log videos found on the various groups YouTube channels.
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Here is a short YouTube playlist of a quick mix of some various K-pop girl group music videos:
[not necessarily a good representation of K-pop or the individual groups]
As with anything potentially addictive, it is a good idea to occasionally take a break from watching any music videos. Watch other videos on subjects that you are interested in: cars, gardening, travel, …. Watch movies. Take a walk, watch birds, go fishing, …. The longer the break, the better. --- At least a day or two.
— strangely enough, you may realize that some groups do not sound as good as you previously had thought. However, you will probably (most likely) still like your favorites. — perhaps even more
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Okay, since we are over the drama, concerning the industry. We have decided that since we like some of the music, we are just going to do that, and start making a few random comments about the genre in general.
Honestly, we have (with very few exceptions) seen more talent in the few months we have been watching K-pop videos than what we have seen in many years here in the U.S. — Some called rappers in K-pop are better singers than what is passed off as singers here in the U.S.
Actually, in my opinion, some of the best singers I have ever heard are (or have been) members of some K-pop girl groups.
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Q: As a Christian, should one listen to K-pop?
A: For our opinion, there is not a lot of any modern lyrical music that could be considered Christian safe. Whatever that means? That includes a lot of the so-called Christian contemporary stuff.
We do not think listening to any particular music will turn you into something that you are not (nor do not want to be). We try to live as a Christian, but we generally listen to whatever we want, in many genres, but there are songs that we do not listen to.
There are songs that we use to listen to all the time, now we do not. Use to be a big fan of heavy metal (still like the genre), we will occasionally listen to some of the songs, when heard on the radio, but there are some songs we absolutely will not.
As for K-pop, we like various groups, but there are some videos of theirs that we do not watch.
We think that the real question (and perhaps answer), about music and life in general, may be, “What do you want to do?” (it is called free will, and your choice)
( --- although, we have not been watching K-pop very long and there does seem to be quite a few people that stop watching it for various reasons --- and as much as we hate to say it, we can see why, — even we have a saturation point for some of the stuff in some of the videos)
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Q: I do not understand Korean, and the subtitles often makes no sense?!
A: The human voice is like an instrument. We do not understand what a piano is saying, but we like the way it sounds.
As for the subtitles, they can be confusing, there sometimes seems to be a loss in translation. 😒
— as if mixing Korean and English makes it any easier 😒
— sometimes it might be better not knowing
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Q: Autotune?
A: Well, of course (unfortunately), but usually not excessive, if at all. However, it can sound somewhat amusing when too much is used.
You will probably find a few songs that are drowned in reverb, but they generally sound more nicely ethereal than muddy.
Of course, it is mostly all processed to some extent, some to the point of nearly outright fake (or lip synced), but that is the music industry in general (not just K-pop). To be fair, have you ever heard a totally clean electric guitar (no effects, no tubes)? Unless you play, or know someone who does, you probably haven't. — they do not sound like you may think (not even a Gibson)
--- but the finished product is really what matters, isn't it ? (unless you are some kind of puristic snob 😉)
It is funny how so many insist that "autotune can not make a bad singer sound good", but they neglect how autotune can help hide that fact.
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If you are new to K-pop, you may want to check out some on the following list of girl groups:
Do not just stop at these, look for more that you may like as well, or better. There are hundreds of groups (female, male and mixed genders) to listen to. --- also, C-pop (Chinese), J-pop (Japanese), as well as various rock and hard rock bands from all three countries (and more)
[ --- it is estimated that there is at least a 21% probability that you will like at least one of these groups — but be careful some of these girls may dance their way into your dreams 😁 ]
[ for those who may care (unlike us), we have also listed the names of the companies these groups are (or were) under ]
[ name * indicates group that have disbanded ]
aespa — electronic, dance, pop, heavy pop
SM Entertainment
BABYMONSTER --- pop, heavy pop
YG Entertainment
https://youtube.com/@babymonsterBaby V.O.X. — pop, r&b
?
the official channel doesn't have much
but here is a playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGOTOK8mUoOXt85yNeEzAJBH7i6RmtbMM
BLACKPINK --- pop
YG Entertainment
Dreamcatcher * — pop, heavy pop, rock
Dreamcatcher Company
(now a subgroup going by UAU)
EVERGLOW --- pop, heavy pop
YueHue Entertainment (has changed)
GIRLS' GENERATION --- pop
SM Entertainment
i-dle — pop, heavy pop, rock
CUBE Entertainment
( note: they do drop an occasional f-bomb )
ITZY — pop, heavy pop
JYP Entertainment
IVE --- pop
Starship Entertainment
Kep1er --- pop
WakeOne/Klap Entertainment
LE SSERAFIM — pop
HYBE Entertainment
MAMAMOO --- pop
RBW Entertainment
MEOVV --- pop
The Black Label
Pink Fantasy * — pop, heavy pop, rock
MyDolls/Play Makers Entertainment
PIXY * --- pop, heavy pop
AllArt Entertainment
PURPLE KISS — pop, heavy pop, rock
RBW Entertainment
TRI.BE --- pop, often with a Latin twist
TR/Mellow Entertainment
(actually, it may be more tribal than Latin)
tripleS — pop, house
MODHAUS
TWICE --- pop
JYP Entertainment
------- and for K-rock, Rolling Quartz [Rolling Star Entertainment] (https://youtube.com/@rollingquartzofficial), may be your thing?
--- and for some other interesting music videos you may like Lee Jung Hyun (a first generation soloist). Apparently, no official channel, her dance/pop music videos are scattered all over YouTube. So, you are on your own.
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Just for kicks, see if you can spot what is not exactly right about these two groups:
iii - Forbiden midnight
MAVE - Pandora
Not sure? See the answer at the very end of this post.
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K-Pop - the industry
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Q: Is it satanic?
A: Do not know. Is it?
Regardless, may they all find salvation through Jesus Christ. [ yeah, there I said it; and may you too ]
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Q: What about some of the clothing worn by some singers (especially the girls)?
A: What about it? Okay, yeah, we get the question, but (...)
Some people are critical (of course 🙄) of the clothing worn by some groups (especially the girls), but how does that compare to singers in other places, like the U.S.?
--- anyone been to a beach lately 🤔? 😉
Although one could easily dismiss many of the girl groups as “pretty girls, with too much makeup, wearing short skirts and flashing their panties” — but that sort of ignores the talent many have (doesn't it?)
Although, we might be a little concerned about the boots being worn by many (of either gender) when they dance (some almost seeming bigger than the wearer 😋). Wondering about how that may adversely effect their bodies (especially legs, hips and back). ( — also applies to singers and dancers elsewhere)
We will say that, there is no excuse for having a singer (or dancer) do or wear anything that they are not comfortable with. ( — that borders on pathological —— you know who you are 😒)
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Q: What is the entertainment companies selling?
A: We suppose music and merchandise. 🤔?
--- but it is too easy for some to suspect something else, 🤔?
— and perhaps occasionally Harley Davidsons, which seems like a desperate attempt by the motorcycle company to regain any semblance of cool, — we do not think it will work, — but hey, we are not highly experienced/educated business executives ….
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Q: Groups that were mismanaged or abandoned by their companies?
A: Well, some may have been, but not knowing all the details behind the scenes, it is hard to say for sure.
It is like a candy bar that you really like, but if not enough people are buying it the company will naturally discontinue making it. Just standard business practice. So, probably a lot of K-pop groups are the same way.
We will admit that there does seem to be at least a couple groups that were victims of mismanagement, but again hard to say.
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Q: Cultural misappropriation?
A: Honestly, do not give a fig about it, but since some people make such a big issue of it. Isn't there a non-Korean K-pop group currently doing that? --- oh, but they are a "K-pop-inspired international girl group". (my bad) 🤔
--- I'm trying to think of the name of that other reality show created girl group .... Oh? It had a lot of hype, um? .... What was the name ...? 🤨
oh yeah --> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eden's_Crush
Considering how some people blow a gasket over a group member's hairstyle, a teepee, or the pronunciation of a word, — but somehow, we are not hearing that with this group (at least not enough, yet), instead it is hype, hype and more hype …. — Oh, but wait, those other things were being done by the Koreans, not a U.S. company, — okay, uh huh ….
It seems as if the U.S. company may be attempting to hijack Korean music (no surprise).
However, what makes K-pop unique is the fact that it is Korean.
We would give a slight bit of advice to the Korean entertainment companies (not that any will listen); stop trying to turn K-pop into western Pop music, and; PLEASE STOP TRYING TO MAKE YOUR ASIAN SINGERS LOOK LIKE ANYTHING OTHER THAN ASIAN!!!
--- ignore the critics and do not be afraid to step even farther outside the box (while you still have the opportunity to do so)
(also, for the few companies still controlled by the Korean owners/founders; Do not let your controlling percentage fall into the wrong hands, or your company will be gone — in fact it may be a good idea to claw back as much ownership as possible --- that is, if your company is not entangled in the f***ing rats nest of mergers, aquisitions and subsidiaries --- my gosh what a f***ing mess that is ⁉️ --- For those not knowing, and scratching your head, do a little research in the ownerships and partnerships of some of the entertainment companies 😱)
[ we are beginning to suspect that some of the negative criticism of K-pop may actually be being perpetuated by some of the big international music companies, --- just a hunch ]
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Q: Boycotts?
A: Do not know. Do not really care.
Do not see any particular company as being any better or worse than any others, just like in the U.S. — often times boycotts do little good, unless a large number of the potentially millions of customers actually participate, and even then the long-term results many not be suitable.
Debuting underage singers? Should some even be training underaged singers?
DEI/ESG? 🤨
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We will say this; the more we hear about what supposedly goes on behind the scenes, the less we like some of the people running some of the companies. Such as this ridiculous BS: https://www.google.com/search?q=tzuyu+controversy%3F&oq=tzuyu+controversy
🇺🇸 🇦🇺 🇨🇳 🇯🇵 🇰🇷 🇳🇿 🇹🇭 🇹🇼
not to mention; the seeming lack of concern, by some companies, for the health and safety of the singers
It seems to be an industry doing anything it wants, and getting away with it — at the moment.
( --- just to clarify, we do not care much for some of the entertainment companies here in the U.S.)
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Q: Is K-pop a psychic (or if you prefer, psychological) weapon?
A: 🤔 ?????????
But considering the excessive jump cuts, flashing lights, swaying cameras and high frequency audio; who knows ? — The Korean's were supposedly using it on the border against the North, so ….
Do not think, for a minute, that some of the companies are not trying to manipulate you.
search: "psychological manipulation by k-pop"
[YouTube is also attempting to manipulate you, but that is a whole other article, which we will leave to someone else]
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Q: Considering aegyo, fan service, …. Is any of it real?
A: Probably not, but who cares if you like the songs/videos?
Personally, I think it makes some of the singers look a little dumb (and I really don't think that is true). ( — we actually like intelligent girls … 🤔)
What do we actually know? Usually only what the companies want.
Some singers are married, some have children.
Sorry to ruin your fantasy, but it is a fantasy designed to make the owners (/shareholders) of the companies rich.
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read more about the genre at Wikipedia: https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-pop
You may want to watch these two short YouTube videos (do not know her, but we tend to agree with what she says on these videos):
kpop is destroying your brain
kpop is kind of bad for culture
... another YouTube video you may want to watch
(note: she does drop a few expletives, but we basically agree with her point)
mediasexploitation of K-pop idols
... and another:
The K-pop Industry is Playing A Dangerous Age Game
Do not waste your time trying to find anything negative about K-pop on search engines, especially Google search. We have, and for some reason it seems that the search engines are broken when it comes to that. 🤨?
In fact, when asked, Google search AI stated matter of factly, that a certain K-pop music video “is not satanic”, when it certainly seems like it is (or at least very debatable).
(you don't suppose there is a bias somewhere ?)
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--- So, yeah sure, it is all fine and good, if you do not notice too closely, or look too hard into some of their eyes. (but, that could just be us .... ?)
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Some Things We Hate About K-Pop
— more opinion
Well, perhaps not hate, but really dislike.
(To be fair, and preempt any stupid criticism. Some of these things can apply to music in other countries.)
in no particular order:
-- too many deaths
– The seemingly obvious lack of concern, by some companies, for the health and safety of the singers
-- unnecessary competition between groups
(which probably causes most of the toxic fandom)
– toxic zombie fandom
– The excessive, strobing jump cuts on the music videos. Is it intended to present images subliminally, or just give people headaches?
– The constantly moving, swaying, swinging steadycam (boy, talk about a misnomer). Who decided that was clever? (--- again with the headaches? --- or for hiding the fact that some singers are not very good dancers? — or perhaps are not even trying to pretend to be singing at live performances?)
(it is beyond belief how people in the comment sections, especially those of some live performance shows, find this crap not only acceptable, but good, --- along with the horrible editing, which makes one think that some of the directors and editors are either woefully inexperienced, or drinking way too much coffee, --- but in all fairness, we have no idea what drugs some viewers may be using, so ...)
— but again, you can find the audio versions
— people who expect way too much from the groups and members: singing, dancing, maintaining their public image. Seriously, they are real people! (we would like to see some of the critics attempt to reach their expected level of perfection)
— okay, they are called idols (which is another thing we do not like), but regardless of the erroneous labeling, they are not gods
– aegyo (ughh!)
Some songs keep promising to show the real them, --- so we are waiting.
(we suspect that some people may not like the real them)
-- What is the real reasons so many groups loose members? --- we, of course, have heard the rumors of a curse, but seriously ...
(the more we think about it, the more it sucks, but perhaps it is better for those individuals to not be in those groups --- God does work in mysterious ways, and some not so mysterious)
-- The statement, "not popular in Korea", gets said too often, and could be an obvious indicator of the tunnel vision too many of the companies have, rather than thinking outside the box. --- How many potential fans are in Korea, how many potential fans are in the rest of the world? (just saying)
-- Seemingly poor, or just incompetent management of some of the groups.
(such a terrible waste of talent, not to mention money, on some music videos)
One might suspect some of it is intentional, for various shady business reasons. However, do you really think the geniuses running some of the companies are that clever?
(and before anyone asks, if I think I could do better; I will probably never get that opportunity, so the question is moot)
– and the nagging feeling that tragedy is looming somewhere just around the corner
Do you really believe some of the excessively big numbers some groups seem to accumulate on platforms such as YouTube?
Is it just us, or are some companies promoting their boy groups more than the girls?
(although, kudos to the companies seemingly doing a fair promotion of both)
As much as we like the genre, there does seem to be something very wrong in the mix.
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We wonder: If one of the people running one of the big four K-pop entertainment companies has became a born-again Christian, will he notice some of the things in some of the music videos being produced/distributed by his company? 🤔
--- otherwise, it could cause a credibility issue for his ministry 😁
(— but he is obviously not concerned --?)
( – people running megachurches do not seem concerned with their credibility, so … 🤨)
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Although not directly about K-pop, nor sure of the accuracy, here is a somewhat interesting YouTube video:
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"Lost souls who ain't been found"
Midnight Music - The Runaways
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Okay. Since we have only been watching K-pop for less than a year, we can not say with absolute certainty that it is more or less strange than J-pop, but this has to be the strangest music video we have seen yet (and it is a J-pop girl group).
Phantom Siita - Noah
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I am guessing most of you figured it out, but for those of you who didn't; the two groups iii and MAVE are both computer generated. 😳😃
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