Millions of millennials around the world credit K-pop with helping them destress and escape to a happier place. It’s easy to see why.
K-pop transcends genre with incredible ease, drawing on influences from dubstep drops to Swedish hitmakers, hip-hop to R&B balladry, new jack swing to soul and beyond. It’s borderless eclecticism that has made it one of the most popular music genres in the world.
Music
K-pop music is a hybrid of genres and styles from around the world, including pop, hip-hop, R&B, rock, jazz, gospel, reggae, electronic dance, folk, country, disco, and classical. It originated in South Korea and has since spread across the globe.
It has a very distinctive sound, with a four-chord progression and catchy lyrics that are usually accompanied by bouncy beats and EDM elements. Many of the most successful groups are formed of numerous members that specialize in different skill areas, such as rapping or singing.
Often, groups use big choreographed dance numbers, which are designed to have notable movements within them and help songs go viral. This can include dance moves like kung fu panting or spinning.
K-pop also focuses on social commentary in its lyrics. This can be as simple as a message about self-love or something more complex such as political activism. Groups such as BTS regularly speak out against anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. and have even been known to perform for the UN.
Dancing
K-pop’s success in gaining wide geographic distribution and popularity has been aided by its prominent dance component. While singing along has tended to amplify song-related emotions, dancing allows fans from different cultures and countries to share the same musical love.
In addition to music videos, K-pop also features dancing in the form of fan gatherings. These public events, such as the Random Play Dance (raendeompeulreidaenseu), or RPD, in China and New York City’s Washington Square Park, invite global K-pop fans to collectively dance choreographies they know.
By acting out “kinesthetic sympathy,” participants reinforce their affective ties with idols by subliminally replicating their muscular sensations. They thus enact physicalized empathy, negotiating the dichotomy between performers and audiences.
Through this face-to-face practice, local amateur dancers connect with each other and intervene in local politics under the rubric of K-pop choreographies. They negotiate the dialectic mediation between proficiency and amateurishness, discipline and joy, individuality and communality, as well as the local and the global, especially as a neoliberal epoch shapes K-pop’s re-appropriation of the cultural sphere.
Style
Kpop (or Korean pop) is an internationally renowned musical genre that has become a staple in many people’s music playlists. It has a distinct sound that incorporates multiple types of music, including pop, rock, R&B and hip-hop.
The success of the genre stems from its emphasis on boy and girl groups, extravagant choreography and unique visuals. It is now a cultural phenomenon that is influencing music and fashion worldwide.
Style is a huge component of kpop and it’s used in a number of ways, including as an inspiration for new trends in clothing and makeup. For example, it’s a popular trend for kpop singers to wear bright colours and bold prints.
It’s also popular for the singers to wear sequins and glittery accessories, which is another great way to add some glamour to your outfit. It’s a simple way to elevate your look without breaking the bank! Other ideas include wearing a statement jacket, similar to the ones worn by Zico and Sehun.
Influence
K-pop has influenced the culture in ways both positive and negative. The music genre originated in South Korea, but has gained international attention due to its unique combination of high-quality performance and polished aesthetic.
The K-pop culture has influenced everything from how young people dress to how they interact with others. Members of a group often have eye-catching outfits and hairstyles that fit their personalities, which helps make them stand out in the crowd.
In addition, the groups themselves have a cohesive style that they adhere to through all of their actions. These dances and movements are planned so that they’re repetitive and addicting to look at, matching the concept of each song.
In addition to these factors, a large part of the popularity of kpop comes from the fan community that follows these groups. The community is also known as Idol Culture, and it’s a thriving online and offline phenomenon that includes a virtual metaverse that allows fans to meet their favorite artists in the comfort of their own homes.
