Complex psychological essay on why Korean Pop is so fascinating on a deep level (srs)

[BloodDiamond]

A lot of you might be aware of the recent K-Pop explosion but most of you might have just grazed the surface from the perspective of shallow goofy exotic whimsy but I am posting this to share some of my more interesting sociological implications of this phenomenon. The bottom line is that K-Pop is a manifestation of some of the most beautiful and endearing personal and national insecurities that have ever been rendered in pop-culture.

The angle that makes it all so endearing is the idea that all of their works are derivative of American culture and pop/dance music. Despite that this genre of music is lacking in the originality department it more than makes up for it in the fact that it is a case of the pupil become the master in certain elements such as fashion and eye-candy-esque Koreaography.

Before we get into the music tho consider this video about how Koreans have surgery to try to look more white:


Or this one where it shows some school girls and how insecure they are:


Facts:
-Unlike most Asian nations who are rooted in communism and eastern philosophies, Koreans are Christian based and its fascinating to study how they differ and that they act a lot more "American" than any other Asian nations in a very dynamic and differentiating way. They just act different and more "human" for lack of a better word. They are not as silent by nature and shy and awkward.

-They have a very strong sense of wanting to learn how to be American due to pressure from the media and movies and music and the kids who are most Americanized are the coolest ones and the ones that are traditional are considered lame and uncool.

-They have a huge idol culture that is very materialistic and cold blooded when it comes to looks and status way more extreme than in the states.

-If there is a hit iconic artist or show that is influential, it will change the face of their culture and kids in school will actually try to emulate and be more like characters on a K-Drama or pop group.

-Its so serious that there are reports of girls taking photos with their pop-idols and then getting so bullied by viciously jealous peers that they commit suicide. Its that serious.

-There are only 3 major music labels and they are run like institutions but instead of school it is a school for learning how to move, and pose and dance and be sexy. They get "scouted" at like 10 years old and spend 5 years just training and being groomed to be a pop-star and then they "debut" 5 years later. Its like what the Chinese do in the Olympics but for being a pop-star, not a gymnast.

-Girl/boy bands started there in the early 90s like here but unlike America, its didn't climax and die in early 2000, they kept going all the way until now and the music is hybrid pop/trance/urban in a very evolved way albeit being derivative.

-Even from a music elitist perspective the music is legit good and well produced, catchy, creative and delicious on just a music level. Kinda like how a Britney Spears album is really good because its over-produced, same with K-Pop.

-Since the demand is so high for the genre and the lifestyle coaching, they debut dozens of new groups every year and make hundreds of hits, way more than in the US because they are so hungry for it.

-It is more than just music to them, its education. When they consume these music videos it is like training on how to be more American and possess skills of a modern society such as charm, charisma, dancing, posing, style, --all taught to a people who specifically don't have that rooted in their culture by previous generations and who are desperate to be that.

-There is a clear need and demand for it in Asian culture and this music is a way for them to feel alive and relevant because there is such a general sense of insecurity and wanting to compete with the rest of the world.

-At some point in 2009-2010 their productions, fueled by this huge cultural demand, started to produce some real gems that transcend their boundaries and are genuinely cool pieces of art and expression. Furthermore, it is almost as if they are built to do it better than anyone (Asian girls in particular are the best at being the definition of bubble pop) because they apply Asian elegance and vulnerability better than other cultures. They have a certain aesthetic that is beneficial to that classic pop feeling.

-They are not afraid to just be cold-blooded about beauty, in a way that might be socially sensitive in American culture. They are the underdogs and they cant afford to have second rate stars. They don't care, if you are not hot, you're not a pop-idol, period. Beauty in their culture is almost a communal ego-centric necessity in their avatars. Its not like One Direction (They are not traditionally attractive) and the insecurity movement, no they don't give a damn. They are all hot and they all wear make up and pose like Final Fantasy characters and to me that is refreshing and allows for better art exploration.

Lets start with 7 essential videos that are overall the whole package and are good starting points to get the vibe and start to understand how to enjoy this genre. They are catchy, delicious songs, modern, extremely well choreographed and even more importantly well edited. Probably nobody is over 21 years old and nobody is less than like an 8/10. Note: all these have tens of millions of views.

SNSD - Paparazzi (dance edit)
Look at that choreography its so organic and all their movements are so svelte. Besides the obvious deliciousness of having nine 9/10 Asian girls dance around its just so pleasing to the eye rhythmically, visually, with such style and charisma. Its like a beauty overload. And the beat is so sexy and catchy is stays with you for days after. The choreography is hypnotic and world class.


GD&TOP - Knock Out
Produced by Diplo so you know its legit lol. These guys say so many cocky lyrics in this song that it got banned because it might "demoralize the youth" in Korea. When one of these guys do something its so iconic that everyone in Korea bites their style. They in fact make music in a way that their ego can be reflected by the listeners. They are directly trying to teach their culture how to have swag. The guy in this famously got a Wu-Tang CD when he was younger and has had a Korean hip-hop vibe his whole career and as a result influenced a lot of people as a fashion and cultural icon.



f(x) - Hot Summer
This is my favorite group and has all of the above elements. When this drops in a club that plays this stuff. My lord... This beat drops so hard and is catchy for days. Before I studied K-Pop I heard this in a club and the next day could not stop playing it over and over dozens of times. Its all in the details and the little faces they make and how they have perfected the "art of being cute" through years of training. Its like they have PhDs in looking cute and being sexy in a charming world class way that transcends Korea.



2NE1 - I Am The Best
Probably the most well known non-gangnam style artist from the movement, its an example of super catchy lyrics and exotic exciting fun interesting fashion. Compared to most pop-music, K-Pop employs the most elite fashion standards barring no-one. A lot of these pieces look like they would be something out of a Louis Vuitton or Prada ad with bold ideas and pure confidence in style and charisma. Especially the blonde girl lol. When this beat drops (the saw synth) in the club... Jesus Christ its catchy.


Super Junior - Mr Simple
This is in that same vein of awesome trance and pop rhythms combined. Song has 7-8 verses, 2 different hooks, 2 choruses, 3 bridges, and 12 members; but somehow still works. When that hook drops in the club... forget about it. Its a great example of well done over-production and the melody hits the spot hard.


f(x) Nu Abo
Perfectly implementation of Trance into pop music and some more charm and charisma for sale. Its all about the swag of being young, positive, stylish, beautiful and making the viewer feel like they are part of that energy, done in a cool way. I dunno whats up with the dyke tho. (jk) The beat goes hard as fuk tho.


Big Bang - Fantastic Baby
This also is a perfect example of extreme fashion and a dope beat. The other aspect of Koreans is that their language is a lot more delicious in lyrics compared to other Asian languages because they have a lot more Rs and lyrics that don't sound like ching chong ching and are more tolerable despite it being a foreign language. Its like in a way how French sounds sexy even though I don't know what they are saying, its a similar principle. I didnt think its possible to have foreign lyrics stuck in my head but it happens with these songs. Also its an example of how they are not as homophobic and not afraid to explore facets of androgyny and pushing the boundaries of style and fashion why still being swagged out.


Finally here is an example of a Korean drama that changed the landscape called Boys Over Flowers to where all the young men in Korea tried to be and act more like the main characters.



So you guys might have came in contact with some of this stuff on your own and maybe didn't latch on or didn't see the cream of the crop so that's why I organized it like that to get a taste of what this phenomenon is about and how its so adorable how hard they try (and succeed) to be like us. If anything the music is refreshing and catchy for awhile, and more-so there are all types of psychological elements that are again, super fascinating and how this culture has began to produce such a high level of talent and beauty and entertainment from such a refreshingly unexpected place. There is a reason they have so many millions and millions of views on their videos. With a slightly open mind and the right context these can be very enjoyable and there are so many more because they produce so much. You can spend days just browsing and getting lost in their wonderfully exotic culture.

[DasNeun]

That is a lot to read about a genre I have zero interest in.
At least you get a bump.

[WizBrah]

[hardestout89]

cliffs:

-didnt read
-kpop is gay and not fascinating on any level

[TrainH.]

interesting op. not sure if you made it yourself but good nonetheless

[ChikN10der]

sub'd

will read later


jk, unsubbed

[SteelSS]

explosion? its one song son. please no more of this *******ry.

[demfeelsbrah]

Only reason people like it is because korean girls are hot, the ones in the videos look 14, they act cute, and we have yellow fever.

/endthread

[sciencesgenius1]

interdasting

[CFRAmustang]

How deep in the red are you? Strong ass post, that's interesting.

[puddlestheduck]

explosion? its one song son. please no more of this *******ry.

this

[Z49]

Can we all agree that we just want PSY and his Gangnam Style to go away? Okay. Cool.

With that said, interesting read, OP.

Yes, I'm aware of my age, but the truth is, I like K-POP. I don't listen to the boy bands or guy singers though. Just the girls. The fact that they're cute girls is a big reason I listen to it. Anyway, I first was aware of K-Pop a few years ago with women like Lee Hyori. Look her up, you won't regret it. I listen to a lot of the girl bands now. No denying, they're f'n hot.

But after getting to know a little more about the culture surrounding K-Pop, I realized just how disturbing it is. Like OP said, a lot of these people are "scouted" and "recruited" when they're very young. And they go into training for a few years. Imagine that. A person going into training like an athlete to be an entertainer by the record company. They're put into dorms where they pretty much stay for the duration of their early career life. Of course, I don't see this as wrong since it's totally by choice of the parents and usually the kid/teenager. But it's still a little shocking.

I was disappointed to realize though that most of the hot girls you see in Korea who are actresses and/or singers have usually undergone facial surgery. That's why the "celebrities" there look so much different than the "everyday" people.

And like op said, the "idol" obsession in Korea is insane. Even compared to the celebrity obsession we have here in the states. Koreans are addicted to celebrities. That's why they have a multitude of shows that center around these same celebrities that range from talk shows, variety shows, competitions, reality shows, etc. Imagine having to see Britney Spears or Kim Kardashian all the time. They can't get enough of their celebrities in Korea.

Even the terms "debut" and "comeback" means a lot in Korea. They make it sound like a birth when an idol debuts into the entertainmet scene. And everytime a singer/band hasn't been in the spotlight for months and are ready to release a single or album, the studios hype the "comeback" like no other, marketing it with teaser videos, audio, pics, etc.

Like I said, I'm a fan of the music a lot of these bands make. I just find the whole culture kind of jarring.

[maynardjames]

Read the article and repped you.....
Didn't like the whole 'they look more HUMAN' part obviously but intredasting read nevertheless....

[Ultraviolence]

Korean Pop sucks.

Korean BBQ however is delicious and worthy of a lengthy write-up. With pictures.

[Rhythm825]

It's K-Pop, as in POPULAR.

Dumb OP is dumb.

[ToXin]

Is that why at the world expo in 2010, the South Korea Pavillion had a fking kpop music video....

[Z49]

By the way, Korea is the world's capital for ****** men who like wearing make up. No joke.

[BloodDiamond]

cliffs:

-didnt read
-kpop is gay and not fascinating on any level

Thats what I initially thought too but then I heard it in a club environment and that shtt slaps. I explored it a little more in depth and there was a gold mine of interesting stuff to discover.

interesting op. not sure if you made it yourself but good nonetheless

Yeah I sure did. Put it together real quick this morning.

sub'd

will read later


jk, unsubbed

So close.

explosion? its one song son. please no more of this *******ry.

lol at unawareness. Most of the videos I posted are from 2011 and have over 50 million views. Gangnam style came out this summer. The Korean wave (called Hallyu) has been well reported for a couple years now way before Gangnam style.

The way Koreans see Gangnam style: a sly sociopolitical commentary on materialism in the rich part of Seoul and a criticism of the many things I outlined above.

The way Americans see it: A fat asian guy dancing around in a goofy way.

Psy is like the Adelle of Korean rappers. He represents a non-traditional look in the business and has had a long career before this hit.

Only reason people like it is because korean girls are hot, the ones in the videos look 14, they act cute, and we have yellow fever.

/endthread

Thats a part of it but then you have to give credit to their world class level of fashion and choreography. Show me a Britney or Janet or J-Lo video that has such mesmerizing choreography as the first vid I posted? This is not just garbage derivitive pop its super high quality and the total package. You have to have an appreciation for the details. There is tremendous quality all over the place.

How deep in the red are you? Strong ass post, that's interesting.

Thanks, only like 5K.

[Z49]

Actually, op, Gangnam Style really is the only K-Pop in American mainstream music. I think that's what that one poster was talking about. And I don't think that song is going to help K-Pop in general go mainstream in America either. Nor would it be a loss. Most of the K-Pop purists hate the new wave of people following K-Pop. I couldn't care less.

I do think there's a lot of money to be made with the genre though. Some American producers are trying to get in on the act.

[BloodDiamond]

Can we all agree that we just want PSY and his Gangnam Style to go away? Okay. Cool.

With that said, interesting read, OP.

Yes, I'm aware of my age, but the truth is, I like K-POP. I don't listen to the boy bands or guy singers though. Just the girls. The fact that they're cute girls is a big reason I listen to it. Anyway, I first was aware of K-Pop a few years ago with women like Lee Hyori. Look her up, you won't regret it. I listen to a lot of the girl bands now. No denying, they're f'n hot.

But after getting to know a little more about the culture surrounding K-Pop, I realized just how disturbing it is. Like OP said, a lot of these people are "scouted" and "recruited" when they're very young. And they go into training for a few years. Imagine that. A person going into training like an athlete to be an entertainer by the record company. They're put into dorms where they pretty much stay for the duration of their early career life. Of course, I don't see this as wrong since it's totally by choice of the parents and usually the kid/teenager. But it's still a little shocking.

I was disappointed to realize though that most of the hot girls you see in Korea who are actresses and/or singers have usually undergone facial surgery. That's why the "celebrities" there look so much different than the "everyday" people.

And like op said, the "idol" obsession in Korea is insane. Even compared to the celebrity obsession we have here in the states. Koreans are addicted to celebrities. That's why they have a multitude of shows that center around these same celebrities that range from talk shows, variety shows, competitions, reality shows, etc. Imagine having to see Britney Spears or Kim Kardashian all the time. They can't get enough of their celebrities in Korea.

Even the terms "debut" and "comeback" means a lot in Korea. They make it sound like a birth when an idol debuts into the entertainmet scene. And everytime a singer/band hasn't been in the spotlight for months and are ready to release a single or album, the studios hype the "comeback" like no other, marketing it with teaser videos, audio, pics, etc.

Like I said, I'm a fan of the music a lot of these bands make. I just find the whole culture kind of jarring.

Yes all that stuff is incredibly fascinating isnt it, but while you seem apalled, I myself don't stop to judge whether it is right or wrong but rather just ask why they behave like this and the answer to that question is nothing but pure humanity and a reflection of the raw human condition that reflects the truth inside us all. They treat their idols like Gods because they have a deep rooted need to feel special. Everyone does. They are just pure and obvious about it. Yes its unhealthy but it is also the truth and a product of cultural evolution and generational gaps.

Interesting post.

Read the article and repped you.....
Didn't like the whole 'they look more HUMAN' part obviously but intredasting read nevertheless....

Thanks, and as for the look more human part all I mean by that is that because they are Christian based they have different mind states than lets say, the Japanese. It is an explanation as to why for example Japanese pop never was able to cross such boundaries as K-Pop because they are too wildly exotic to the point of no relation culturally, behavior-wise. Even at my job working in retail I have to talk to many people and Asians are notorious for ignoring me or being rude but every once in a while an Asian person will be super enthusiastic and friendly and positive and when I ask them where they are from they say Korea. I have noticed that pattern. Most Asians are Buddhist and have very exotic mind states and are like I said very scary and rude and you have to talk to them like they are slow or retarted becaues they are afraid of strangers and quite frankly they have huge social deficiencies in their cultures but in comparison Koreans are a lot more positive and bubbly and friendly like is common of people with western mind states such as Americans or Europeans.

I wasnt saying they "look" different, but rather just have different mind states commonly speaking and it serves as an explanation of why K-Pop is so delightfully accessible compared to other foreign music.

[WideFajita]

[BloodDiamond]

Actually, op, Gangnam Style really is the only K-Pop in American mainstream music. I think that's what that one poster was talking about. And I don't think that song is going to help K-Pop in general go mainstream in America either. Nor would it be a loss. Most of the K-Pop purists hate the new wave of people following K-Pop. I couldn't care less.

I do think there's a lot of money to be made with the genre though. Some American producers are trying to get in on the act.

Yeah Will i am already produced a 2NE1 album and stuff like that but I never said its American mainstream. Gangnam style is a viral video that is viral for other subtle things not having to do with K-Pop and he himself is not really a traditional K-Pop act. Its a product of internet culture first and foremost.

Considering the amounts of views these real K-Pop videos have globally I would say that it is globally appreciated and specifically it is a phenomenon of the internet giving us major access to this stuff unlike ever before.

But it is also critically appreciated. Example: Pitchfork did a piece on Hallyu the Korean wave in 2011.

There are clubs in major cities that play this stuff on certain nights mixed in with regular dance and pop.

K-Pop is even popular in Japan which is a notoriously hard market to break.

[Dreburden]

Good read, op

[lolgreg]

lol what the phuck is this? srs

[sb327]

Strongest post in the history of the Internet.

[bobbobson]

made op green... feelsgoodman

[biscuitsbrah]

Rustles my jimmies to the maximum brah.

It doesnt get more unhealthy, gayer, and shallower than this. Good analyzing though

[PotatosGonPotat]

repped I love Korean Pop. Shinwa and Big Bang and used to listen to BOA also. Im European, go figure.

[TypeZero]

I'm gonna be honest...I found the title of this thread to be intriguing but that wall of text made me just hit the reply button and type this.

I'm going to just say that the fascination is merely shock value and mildly tasteful. Most of the time the dudes dress like they're on dat peter pan time and when I see it being done here, I can't help but be amazed that someone would actually wear an ascot, penny loafers and pink short pants, then claim to be straight and act like a hard ass.

No hate on korean culture for the most part...still enjoy Korean-BBQ, music and some of their style.

Been chilling to this sht since before Big Bang existed.

[mvk]

lmfao at this thread

appreciate the work though, have a bump