Got7, The Korean “New Kids On the Block” + Jackson Wang in the Spotlight

Last year, f(x) pulled me into the “Hallyu Wave”, the Korean “wave” of interest from countries all over the world. The “wave” introduced many nations to Korean dramas, music, and culture. It’s literally a modern trend. Last year, I found a new obsession with Korean culture.

I was seriously obsessed with that K-pop group, f(x), in the year 2014. I had an f(x) month, an f(x) summer, and too many f(x) articles to count.

Click to find out more about it here: f(x), the Korean “Spice Girls” +Amber Liu in the Spotlight

This year, my latest fascination is with the all-boy band, Got7.

Usually, I dislike boy bands, with a passion. Check my archives-You won’t find me talking too much about boy bands. Don’t we have enough of them in the world? I guess, I don’t hate the boy bands themselves so much as the concept or “idea” behind boy bands. Even though I’m a female, and I like attractive and talented men, I just have a hard time being drawn to the phony “glitz and glam” of boy bands. I just couldn’t believe that men in boy bands hardly had any creative freedom, so I disliked the fact that many were made to be something they weren’t. Those expectations are hard to live up to for imperfect humans. It just always felt like I was being deceived, and it felt that the men were being drained by the constant…well, objectification. And I just didn’t want to be one of those girls who liked boy bands just because of their looks. In my heart, I WANT to see a man for who he is and his abilities. Though, honestly, I’m just always trying too hard to be different. 😛 I would appreciate them more if fan girls didn’t act like maniacs over them. Screaming over them and supporting them is one thing, but death threats when their “idols/favorite celebrities” are dating someone else? Ridiculous.

EXO fans stop supporting member after he dates

I also dislike the fact that boy bands in Korea get so much more attention than girl bands. I want to promote more female acts in Korea, especially the unique female groups.

It’s also hard to find unique boy bands, too. Again, there are too many around the world.

But Got7…I honestly couldn’t ignore them for too long. Got7 celebrated the anniversary of their debut on January 17, 2015 KST, so I thought this would be the perfect time to create an article about this group. So, here goes!

Got7 is a seven-member, multinational group, brought together by the label JYP Entertainment. JYP is known to be one of the more well-known labels. Got7 got much attention for their amazing flips and cartwheels onstage, as well as their handsome individuality, diversity, and strong charisma. As a group, they each work well in a team effort and support one another, giving dynamic impressions on any audience.

Their CEO, Park Jin-Young, also known as J.Y. Park, was the first Asian producer to cross over into America successfully. He did music for Cassie, Will Smith, and even Mase. He was the first Asian song-writer to hit the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. His resume gives the label a good reputation. He is also known to be the more “ethical” boss among all the CEOs in charge of the other Korean labels, as he is often seen showing more concern for his artists. Part of the reason he’s so kind to his artists, and so personal, is because he was once a back-up dancer and in an idol group himself. Park met rough spots during his time as an idol, so he understands his idols in ways other K-pop label CEOs would not.

Just like with f(x), the title of this article was meant to compare Got7 to a popular 1990’s group that was similar called New Kids on the Block. I will tell you, just as I told readers last year when it came to f(x), this comparison is in no way meant to be offensive. New Kids on the Block were one of the few boy groups of the 1990s that I actually liked. Got7 reminds me of them in many ways. I love the fact that they do. The same things I loved about NKOTB are the same things I love about Got7.

New Kids on the Block was an R&B, Pop, and Hip-hop group with an urban style. They were the first Caucasian American boys to be recognized with this image and style, and they were the first to gain fame from it. They were the first Caucasian males designed to have the appeal of “boyfriends” and designed to show their “visual appeal”. Like New Kids on the Block, Got7 exudes that same urban, “boyfriend” charm. New Kids on the Block had a boyishness about them that made them appealing to youth. They were meant to be the “white” version of New Edition. Got7 is also similar to New Edition as well. Got7 presents themselves as “normal city boys”.

It’s also a bit clever to call them the “New Kids on the Block”, don’t you think? 😉 Many of you probably thought this is what I meant when I put it in the title…Got7 just debuted in January 2014, so they are still a “rookie” group. They are sort of the “new kids on the block” in Korea…Honestly, though, they are so talented and natural, they hardly seem like rookies.

Got7 is a group that was designed to convey an urban style. They are known for their Pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop genres, just like New Kids on the Block. Their name reflects their members and the “appeal” they want to have with women. Many of their sayings reveal this image. For instance, “instead of having one handsome guy for a boyfriend, she’s ‘got 7’.” Their fan club name is IGOT7.

Though the group reminds me of NKOTB, Got7 has quite a few differences that make this group individual and helps them stand out. Some of these differences create challenges that New Kids on the Block never had to deal with.

Got7 has to deal with huge cultural differences. In fact, Got7 has to deal with the cultural boundaries that most groups around the world would never have to deal with…Not even K-pop groups EXO-M and Super Junior-M (because their Chinese groups are distinctly separated from their Korean groups, so they speak the same language among their own peers). f(x) is probably one of the only groups that go through the same thing.

Out of the seven members in Got7, three of the members are from different countries. Between these members, there is an exchange of, at least, SEVEN languages! Two of the seven members can speak a different dialect. Many Asian languages have several dialects that sometimes reflect the unique region they come from within their own country. It’s the same language, just a different style of speaking it. Usually, the words are spoken with a different term, wording, or sound than what is commonly heard in the language.

The seven members in the group are: JB, the leader, from Seoul, South Korea. He is known for his vocals. He and Jr. were originally a part of the JJ Project, a pop duo. Both ended up in Got7. Jr. is also from Seoul, South Korea. He speaks a different Korean dialect. Yugyeom, the “maknae” or youngest member in the group, though he doesn’t look it, is also from Seoul, Korea. He is of high school age. Youngjae, the fun-loving member, is from South Korea and also speaks a different dialect of Korean. He was the last member to join, and only trained for seven months before debut! Mark, Jackson, and Bam Bam are from different countries. Mark is the oldest (though he doesn’t look it) and one of the most handsome members. He was born in Los Angeles, California, USA. He lived in Brazil for two years. He speaks English, Chinese, and Korean. Jackson is one of the oldest, and is considered the “vitamin” of the group. He is from British Hong Kong. He attended an international school, which is why his English is impeccable. He also speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and French! Bam Bam, the cutie who looks like the “maknae”, is from Thailand and speaks Chinese, Thai, some English, and Korean! There really are many languages flowing through this group. This is why they reach a diverse group of fans. Their communicative abilities make them a gem in K-pop.

Jackson

Mark

Bam Bam

Youngjae

@17:20

Jr.

Of course, all of these languages make it hard to be understood. Misunderstandings may have come up all the time. The group has a hard time relating to a Korean audience, as a result. Cultural mannerisms probably clash. Many of the international members suffer from loneliness, as some are far away from their friends and family. Their personalities are different, too, even among members from the same nation.

Still, despite the challenges, Got7 has received significant popularity in less than a year! Last year, they were considered the biggest rookie group to debut according to many polls online. They are probably one of the most successful multinational boy groups in the world. I mean, multinational groups are hard to find, but they are even harder to find among males….

FIVE REASONS YOU SHOULD LOVE GOT7:

1) Got7 has a diverse mix of abilities and talents

Got7 has many members who can sing and dance well. JB has amazing vocal abilities, and never misses a chance to use them, on or off stage.  Youngjae plays piano and writes his own songs. In fact, many members have said they like to write their own music. Jackson has expressed interest in producing music. Some of the members also have some awesome rapping abilities. Mark, Jackson, and Bam Bam are known for their rapping abilities.

New Kids on the Block was like this. They were probably the first pop group to have a “rapper”. Each member had a role. Got7 is very similar.

Their most distinct talent is their martial arts contribution. In their performances, Mark and Jackson are in charge of providing the martial arts, but lately JB and Bam Bam have jumped in with the music video “Around the World”. They do cartwheels and back-flips on stage and in MVs flawlessly. This obviously enthuses the crowd and draws new interest in the group. There are no other K-pop boy bands that do this.

2) Got7 can speak so many languages

Again, Got7, as a group, speak over 7 languages. This helps them bring their charm to many fans all over the world. As an English-speaker myself, this is also why I’ve shown interest in the group. They can seriously bring their music to more than one nation, which could expand their popularity. Multilingual abilities are seriously an asset to any business venture.

Kpopstarz Korean news outlet and blogging website made this interesting statement about the group:

“Global fans are able to engage with the group in unique ways because of this.”

http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/148372/20141215/3-reasons-why-got7-deserves-the-hallyu-special-award-at-the-2015-seoul-music-awards.htm

“This” was in regards to the fact that they speak so many languages.

3) Got7 has many experiences, backgrounds, and personality traits

Got7 is very diverse in background as a result of being a multinational group. Many of them have resumes that are inspiring, such as Jackson’s fencing abilities. Because of their individual backgrounds, you can imagine that they have some of the most colorful personalities. Even the Korean members are very diverse in personality and characteristics.

4) Got7 is physically attractive

Let’s face it. Got7 is attractive. The moment I laid my eyes on Mark and Jackson, I recognized that this boy band had some eye-candy that would please the hearts of many fan girls. As much as I hate to objectify anyone, I have eyes, too. After watching Real Got7, I’ve gotten to know the members really well. They definitely know how to entertain a crowd, and this makes them attractive as well.

5) The group has SWAG

There are a lot of K-pop groups that try to exude “swag” or a hip-hop image. But Got7 is one of the few that successfully translates that energy in a charming way on stage. B.A.P. and Big Bang are two other groups that have successfully exuded a significant “swag” factor. However, those other two groups are missing the nice combination of “swag” and “charm”, which helps Got7 relate to those who like both a tough energy and a soft energy.

There really should be a 6th reason. The 6th reason you should love this group is because of member, Jackson Wang. That’s right. I’m about to put Jackson on BLAST.

Jackson Wang IN the SPOTLIGHT

All About Jackson

Jackson is the “vitamin” of the Got7 group. He is called the “vitamin” of the group because of his high-spirited energy and “wild and sexy” presentation. He literally brings “health” or “life” to the group. When he’s not around, something seems very strange. In fact, when he’s not around the group, it feels too quiet. Jackson adds the “fun” aspect to the group. Jackson is not afraid to be himself. Jackson shows an “alpha” personality at times, but there are other times he shows a charming, cute, and sweet side to him.

Many have noticed that Jackson shows the most interest in his fellow members. In Season 2 of Real Got7, Jackson won the challenge of showing “secret care” for one of his fellow members frequently during their promotion of the song “A”. Jackson never expected to win, but Jackson was always there when one of his members needed him.

Jackson has a high-pitched laugh that reaches the ends of the room he is laughing in. His laugh is distinct, and his fellow members didn’t hold back from imitating him in Real Got7.

5:00-5:01

Jackson’s boss, J.Y.Park, described Jackson as someone who “tries too hard”, but is “affectionate” and easily “attaches himself to people”. Out of all of his members, Jackson gets the most frustrated when he can’t get something right the first time. Jackson has the hardest time practicing for long hours. J.Y.Park is very hard on Jackson because of it.

As you can tell, he enjoys dancing, rapping, and beatboxing. Basically, he loves music. He’s also quite athletic, and has an Olympic and Martial Arts fencing background. His mother was a gold medalist at the 1982 World Gymnastics Championships. His father was a former coach in a Hong Kong fencing team. He also once won the Asian games in 1978. So, he comes from a pretty accomplished family.

Jackson has an older brother, who is also athletic. He and his brother won the men’s pair category at the Acrobatic Gymnastics Championship. Jackson was only 9 years old! It’s no wonder he’s such an excellent acrobat.

Jackson mentions that his specialty is “fencing”, and most know him from his Junior Fencing team, though he is also a good gymnast as well.

Jackson was born in British Hong Kong. He attended American International School, which is why he speaks English so well. While in fencing matches, he often had French partners, so he learned some French as well. He’s a pretty “international” guy.

Jackson loves his family and worries about them often since he’s so far away in Korea.

At first his parents did not want Jackson to start training to be an idol. His father cut him a deal. He told Jackson he would only let Jackson go to Korea if he became the best fencer in Asia. Jackson eventually won 1st place at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championship.

Jackson likes to skateboard and also plays basketball.

He also likes animals.

Got7 is still new, so we may learn more about Jackson in the future.

 Jackson, A K-pop Star

Jackson is a normal guy usually, but he is a K-pop star, too. As a K-pop star, as was mentioned before, Jackson presents himself as “Wild and Sexy”.

Jackson lives up to this presentation. He is known as the loud, competitive one. He has an extroverted personality, and brings a lot of boyish charm to Got7. And it’s pretty evident he has most of the “swag”.

Jackson presents himself as an “alpha male” type, but he has a sensitive side that makes him appealing.

The guy is absolute scrumptiousness. You can’t deny it. I’m about to Jacksify you:

Someone is talented!

Scrumptious, doe. It’s hard to deny this man’s sex appeal. He surely lives up to his label.

But just how “wild and sexy” is Jackson?

Looking at many videos with Jackson, he seems to love attention. This gives him the “wild” streak we know and love. Jackson is not afraid to “strut his stuff”, so that makes him sexy as well.

Watching Jackson, you probably wouldn’t be able to see him as anything but confident. But fans know better. Fans who have been following Jackson’s work can see right through his actions.

Actually, Jackson is also known by fans as sensitive and a bit shy, especially when he’s around a girl he likes and respects. Jackson has stated that he likes “healthy, athletic girls, with a tan and charm”. When Jackson was around Ga Yeon in the Korean reality show Roomate, a girl who fit his ideal, he revealed another side to himself. He was very nervous, shy, and extremely polite.

Then, there are those other times when he gets competitive around a girl that he likes. He has mentioned that one of the girls he is most close to is Amber Liu from f(x). He showed an intensified competitive spirit on We Got Married Global when Amber was posed with a question that made her choose between him and fellow members Bam Bam and Mark. And even when Amber rejected him, he continued to fight to win!

We Got Married Global: Bam Bam or Jackson?

Jackson also shows himself to be very protective and nurturing.

Jackson is generally known to be competitive. I would say he likes to challenge himself. He is always “involved” and tries to put his heart into everything he does. He is enthusiastic and colorful.

But Jackson isn’t the bravest member, though many would be shocked to know it. Aside from Jackson being completely terrified around his favorite female idol, he also showed slight fear of an amusement park ride in Real Got7 Season 2.

Jackson really has many layers to him, which is why he grabs so much interest from K-poppers. He’s really not afraid to be himself, and is often being bluntly honest to a fault. But there are many things in him that he probably doesn’t notice. If one looks hard enough, they could find those hidden gems in Jackson.

Jackson’s Talents

It’s time to get to the main deal. After all, he is an artist. Jackson has many talents, both well-known and hidden, even from himself.

Jackson is the rapper of the group. He likes the rap group G-Unit and Dr. Dre. Rap is one of his favorite genres, and it’s the genre he is most comfortable with.

But Jackson is also a pretty good singer, even if he doesn’t feel as confident with singing as he does rapping. He once sang a lullaby to JB, and it was really nice. According to his boss, J.Y.Park, Jackson is very good at breathing even though he has not trained his voice to sing just yet. Perhaps, in the future, he will get more moments to sing.

Jackson is also good at beatboxing. He did say it was one of his hobbies, so I’m sure he practices all the time. He’s really good at it.

And it’s pretty obvious Jackson is an excellent dancer. Jackson adds martial arts to his dancing abilities, making his dance routines even more powerful. Jackson also gives facial expressions when he dances, adding character to every performance. He is a very charismatic performer, both in a group and solo.

Jackson may not be aware of this talent, but Jackson is a good television personality and excellent with comic timing. This is probably why he is a favorite among fans and why he won the Newcomer of the Year award.

Jackson’s Personal Challenges

Jackson may seem all smiles and confidence, but as an international star, there will always be challenges in a foreign nation. Jackson is far away from family and friends. His mannerisms are different, and often times it clashes with the more reserve mannerisms of Korea. Jackson just doesn’t fit that small box.

Jackson Misses His Family

Jackson has been away from his family ever since he began training. Even though he and his group debuted in 2014, he’d been training with JYP years before his debut. Jackson left everything he knew and loved in order to become a K-pop star. He sacrificed a lot, even if he didn’t initially realize the sacrifices he would have to make at the time he decided to train.

I know. Many people will say, “But he chose to be an idol. He’s sad but he made the choice”. Many people get jobs that are not in their own countries, especially when the opportunities are lower in your area. Sometimes, people have to travel for work. It doesn’t mean he won’t miss his family.

Jackson showed how much he missed his family on an episode of Roommate. J.Y.Park, his boss, surprised Jackson with the best Christmas present ever: Jackson’s parents. He arranged for Jackson’s parents to fly all the way from Hong Kong, just so they could spend Christmas with their son. (Talk about a kind boss!) The scene was quite emotional.

Jackson is often worried about his mom. His father often works overseas which leaves his mother at home alone and lonely. This is Jackson’s sensitive spot and one of his greatest challenges.

I think he is pretty strong to leave his old life to start a whole new one in Korea. Could I have done it? Probably not…Unless I could bring my loved ones with me. He has to be strong in order to deal with a different culture and language.

Controversy

Yep, a bold and flamboyant man like him won’t always come across easy to deal with to people. It’s never easy to be a foreigner, but it’s even harder when your personality is so strong and dominant.

“Jackson is so rude. He gets on my nerves.”

I hear this comment at least once on almost every Youtube video that deals with Jackson (excluding the episode with his parents).

True, Jackson likes a LOT of attention. True, Jackson often interrupts people when they talk. True, Jackson is competitive when someone else gets more attention than himself. True, he appears to think too much about himself. And sure, Jackson is blunt.

But aren’t these what make him stand out among, not just his fellow members, but ALL OF THE OTHER boys in other groups? Korea likes to put a lot of emphasis on “aeygo”, or “cuteness” in the public media. It’s a “selling tool”. Korea also designs it’s boy bands to have some of the most chivalrous personalities. Korea encourages a reserve disposition.

Jackson is one of the rare gems that doesn’t fit that perfect “Korean” mold people like to place on idols.

I’m sure these comments must offend and hurt him. In We Got Married Global, Jackson gave kudos to one fan who actually described Jackson as sensitive and caring, qualities he feels people don’t often recognize in him.

Koreans can be very detached, or are expected to be. Jackson is easily attached, as was mentioned before, very friendly, and assertive. It’s not hard for him to hold out his hand in friendship. To some people, especially Koreans, Jackson comes on a little strong.

Yet, despite what anyone says about Jackson, he makes the whole group stand out in his own special way. He gives the right spice. His presence makes him feel like a leader, even though he is not the leader of the group. People will always have their perceptions of other people, but as they always say, “It doesn’t matter what they say, as long as they know my name”. Jackson brings a lot of promotion to the group. His distinct mannerisms are what make Got7 likable to nations who are not so reserved, or to more extroverted personalities. I’m sure there are some Koreans who are not so stereo-typically reserved.

Well, it doesn’t matter who hates Jackson. Jackson is making his mark as a K-pop star, even winning the Newcomer Award this year.

Well, that’s my spin on Got7 and the amazing Jackson Wang!

Check out their latest albums on Youtube!

You can also watch Got7’s Jackson on Roommate Season 2!

Check out my other articles featuring Got7:

Got7’s Mark, BamBam, Jackson on We Got Married Global

Generation Next’s Top 20 Asian Artists; Got7 made it among the 10

‘Why f(x)?’ (Out of Korea’s Three Most Unique Groups: 2ne1, Crayon Pop, F(x))?

F(x) has become my favorite Korean pop group for a little over four months now, since February. Many people wonder why I’ve only focused on f(x) and hardly any other K-pop groups. Here’s my story…

Before f(x), I was not very interested in K-pop. I thought it was the most annoying thing for music labels to poop out pop groups all the time. My introduction into K-pop was through BoA Kwon, but that was years ago in 2003, back when J-pop was still a thing. One day, all of these groups just started showing up out of nowhere. Many of them seemed like sad imitations of one another.

When I was first introduced to F(x), I was on http://www.boajjang.com . I was introduced, in fact, to 2ne1 and F(x) in 2012. Someone was telling me about how different their music was. When I first heard both groups, they didn’t sound very different to me. I first heard 2ne1’s “I Love You” and then I heard F(x)’s “Electric Shock”.

“I Love You” didn’t sound any different from any other American artists I hear on the radio. “Electric Shock” sounded like the other K-pop boy bands…

But that was just it. When you place these two groups against the other female groups, you can get the sense why they are such a big deal in Korea.

No other K-pop girl group has an American sound like 2ne1. 2ne1 is not “cutesy” or catered to appease the eyes of men exclusively (though they do and have been known to show sex appeal, and are still feminine in their own way). 2ne1 has an edge about them that other K-pop girls don’t have. From their lyrics to their image, they focus on real-life situations, like in the song “Come Back Home”. They also sing a lot of hip-hop and they rap occasionally, too. Most of the popular groups sing pop music. CL has a very distinct voice as well. I don’t think hardly an K-pop boy groups sound like them, either…

I wouldn’t say F(x) has never had a sound like other K-pop girl groups, but often, it is hard to define them. What makes them distinct is that they are more like the boys, rather than the girls, especially when it comes to their difficult dances. Unlike most girl groups, including 2ne1, they are tomboyish. They hardly wear heels, tight-fitting clothing, or tight skirts. They are definitely not designed to appease the eyes, even though their members are attractive. They are always doing something that has never been done before. They are always trying “cutting edge” material. This makes them quirky and unconventional. It seems like they are always doing something different from everyone else. What won’t this group try? F(x) is also bubbling with unique talents. Another unique trait is that they are multi-national. They have different backgrounds. The only member from Seoul, Korea is Luna! Sulli is from a town outside of Seoul, and the other three are from different countries. And Amber Liu, one of their members, is very interesting as a person…

Both groups also have one quality that no other group has: they both are bursting with individuality. Their members hardly ever dress exactly alike. They have their own personalities, tastes, and identities. 2ne1’s charisma and charm is being a little edgy, powerful, and confident. F(x)’s charisma and charm is being lively, experimental, and fun.

2ne1 seems so much older than all the other girl groups. Adults over the age of 30 can take K-pop seriously after hearing 2ne1. The other girl groups act too innocent, like they are naive high school girls forever…The other girls bank on their youthful good looks to strike it big, but of course, beauty fades with age.

On the other hand, F(x) members seem like big kids, like they never grew up, in comparison to other female K-pop groups. They act like little boys, running around, jumping around, doing flips and back-bends! Victoria, the oldest, hardly seems to have aged! The other girl groups don’t even perform flips or back-bends. Some may feel like they are too old. Not Victoria! They also don’t bank on their beauty, but they just seem to be forever young and full of energy. They show no signs of slowing down, just like Madonna…

So with these two groups, I have nothing but respect. Both groups debuted the same year, 2ne1 being first. I respect 2ne1 and F(x) because of their ability to express themselves, because they create quality music, because of their unique talents, and because they actually have a personal hand in their music. Music appears to be an art-form for them, a way for these groups to express themselves, not just for them to entertain others or to strike it rich.

Crayon Pop is another unique group, but I don’t get the feeling that their music is very personal or expressive. I admire that they cover themselves up, are good for kids, and have catchy, happy music. I also admire that they their concept isn’t like everybody else in K-pop. Maybe Crayon Pop would fade in Japan. Aya championed that quirky-like concept there.

Crayon Pop is quirky and colorful, but I don’t sense the kind of art I see with the other two groups. Their music is also no different from the music we heard in Girls’ Generation’s “Gee” days. If you listen to their complete albums without watching the video, it wouldn’t be different from how Girls’ Generation sounded during their debut days.

Their members have never composed or written music for their group. Their vocal abilities are hidden, if they have any, and the musical instruments they can play…I’m not too sure. Their dancing abilities are anything short of spectacular. They just simply have a unique concept and sound, but no particular talents to back all of that up. I don’t sense that they are true music artists. I only sense entertainers. However, their image is quite creative and artistic…

Look at all of these popular K-pop groups:

I can’t tell the difference between any of these groups sometimes. All I know is Girls’ Generation was first, but when they all perform together, I often forget which one is Girls’ Generation…

Only fans care to know the difference. Girls’ Generation was unique at the time of their debut, but their concept was easy to imitate. The sexy, cute concept can be done by any girls who look good. It’s been done for years around the globe, since Britney Spears…Since Cyndi Lauper…

Now let’s compare them to the three unique female groups in K-pop

2ne1

Crayon Pop

F(x)

Of  course, they’ve all had one song on trend, but they did it with their own distinct flair:

So, why haven’t I taken off with 2ne1 like I have f(x)?

Many people say I’m biased. But that isn’t very logical. I have many good reasons why I love f(x). But if f(x) were to disappoint me, no, I wouldn’t support them. I’m the kind of person that expects quality when I put money on the line. I wouldn’t buy orange juice if it had low quality and tasted bad, so why should it be any different for music? I won’t buy the albums of any group with money just because I like their personalities, or because they are under a particular label, or because I always have, especially if I believed their music sucked. I might like f(x)’s charm, but there’s a lot more than that to a group when listening to an album. We can only see these “charms” when we watch a video or see a live performance. Their charm is enough for me to buy a ticket to see them live.

But what do we hear when we’re not watching a video or performance? That’s what I care about. And what I want to hear is effort and hard-work, even if the music isn’t my taste. So no, I’m anything but biased. To call me biased is to say I’m prejudiced. To say I’m prejudiced is to say I have a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or experience…which isn’t the case.

What sold me on f(x) was Pink Tape. As I said, I didn’t really care for f(x) that much a couple of years ago. But when I heard their music on that album, I gave the other albums from them a chance. The music videos show their performance quality, but doesn’t nearly convey the potential of this group like when you hear their complete albums. I heard potential.

To add, their sound was always distinct. More on that later…

Even though their personalities don’t guarantee that I will buy their albums, I do enjoy watching variety shows, dramas, and Instagram videos of them because they do have a lot of personality…

Click to read my Pink Tape review.

Click to read my Red Light review

Which is GN’s Least favorite f(x) album?

2ne1 on the other hand simply sounds too American.

Maybe in Korea, 2ne1 is something different, but around the world, they are nothing different in Europe or America. Their image stands out in Korea, but if you listen to their albums, their music isn’t different from music that’s trending now. Their image isn’t even very unique in comparison to artists around the world, except for the fact that they are Asian girls doing it. Their lyrics are usual, except in Korea, and there’s nothing particularly interesting or noteworthy about their lyrics. However, they are the only female K-pop group that may not mind using profanity. But their albums don’t tell me a story. I can see any Western artist singing the same songs they sing.

The reason I latched on to global music in the first place was because I was sick of auto-tune, synchronization, and other vocal processors piercing it’s way into music. While I admire 2ne1’s ability to create music that is personal and expressive, and not just a catchy, up-beat song that could be designed by a 10-year old, I can’t hear the beauty of their voices behind all of that auto-tune. Their talents are buried beneath electronics. CL and Bom have amazing vocal abilities that I would like to hear in softer sounds that don’t transform into hip-hop beats…

F(x) has just enough auto-tune, not too much, and mostly on Electric Shock alone. 2ne1’s album Crush is buried in that auto-tune, as well as other albums, and it makes my head hurt. Though they do have other amazing songs that don’t have auto-tune, most of their music has it. It has the same affect on me that Nikki Minaj’s music has. It’s not garbage at all, it’s very artistic, and there’s nothing wrong with auto-tune…sometimes. But I would like to see some variety. I would say that is 2ne1’s weakness. They lack the ability to adapt to different genres and concepts.

The upside is that 2ne1 has the most distinct vocals of everyone.

2ne1 has limited themselves to one concept, so it’s hard for them to feel fresh and new every comeback. Imagine 2ne1 trying a cute concept or an overtly sexy concept or a youthful concept. It just wouldn’t work. So, they don’t display the kind of creative freedom that can help them become a “new group” every year. They specifically design their music to appeal to one audience: the hip-hop audience, rather than widen themselves out. It’s very exclusive taste.

Though 2ne1 is individual, they all seem to have three things in common: femininity, sexiness, and edge. F(x) is even more individual in this regard. Some are feminine, some are not, some are edgy, some are not…some are cute, some are sexy…but all can’t be combined in one category, though I think all f(x) members are casual to some degree.

On another note, I am not fond of the “conceited diva” display in 2ne1’s music. It’s so prevalent in American hip-hop music, it’s sickening. Songs like “I Am the Best” and “Can’t Nobody” show 2ne1 as a group of women who think too highly of themselves. Thus, they don’t convey that “personal touch” with fans, that sense of humility that puts them on the same level as everyone else. F(x) always seems to reach out to fans and talk to them. They feel like some girls-next-door. 2ne1 seems to be throwing a party only for the “cool crowd”. Their music sends out a sort of “challenge” that excludes shy people, cowards, and wimps. F(x) seems to be throwing a party for everyone. That’s just the feeling I get when I see the two groups perform. I’m not fond of 2ne1’s message all the time, but this isn’t a reason I wouldn’t support their music. It’s just something about their message that irritates me…

On the other hand, an irritant that does influence my decision-making  is when I feel the group has some members that are destined to fade eventually. I feel like CL and Minzy outshine the other members. It’s hard to guess what unique talents the other two girls have. How does Dara or Bom add to the group? It’s not enough just to sing and dance. Because all of them know how to sing, the best or most unique singer will stand out, so that’s not enough. What particular dancing abilities do they have that the other two don’t have? What instruments do they play, and how does that influence their music? What draws the crowd to the other two girls?

Bom is an amazing vocalist, but lately, it appears CL can do that job all on her own just fine. In fact, I’m feeling a “solo artist” coming out of CL, which may weaken the unity of the group.

I feel like Dara and Bom don’t get enough attention, and it’s not fair. I sometimes feel like the group can move on strong without them, and I’d be fine, and I don’t like that feeling.

I’ve seen a few compilations of them singing live, and poor Dara isn’t even given songs that bring out the best of her vocals.

Their performance value is also mediocre. While the singing side is usually pretty good live, the dance factor is average. Their choreography is simple and not very impressive. I somewhat think it would just be better if they didn’t even have choreography. But because they do, I can’t help but analyze it, and the performance quality is low in that area. They have the kind of music that doesn’t need dancing.

Their outfits are usually really cool, though. But it looks like without the outfits, and the fancy lights, everything would be a little confusing and disarranged…

Their songs are great, but I can buy an album, watch a video, and enjoy. I really wouldn’t want to spend money to see them perform unless the tickets were dirt cheap.

What I didn’t like about the performance above is that it was set up in a way that made it obvious they were trying to put Minzy and CL as central focus points. Bom and Dara didn’t come out until later in the song…

Despite the message they send, no matter what I think of their performances, they express their thoughts clearly, artistically, and sincerely, unlike other groups. They are still artists. They let their identity as a group shine.

Even though I sound critical, this isn’t to say that their music isn’t my taste.  I do like some songs from them, and I even like some songs from the artists above. I’m African American and grew up on hip-hop, so if anything, my bias would lean to 2ne1, just because they sing hip-hop. But this is my analysis of an artistic group, whether I like them or not.

Because this group is so artistic, we can only expect them to improve and become better and better. That’s more than I can say about most K-pop groups, who may remain stagnant or disappear or just end up copying everyone else successfully…2ne1 can only move upward.

However, my ultimate favorite is F(x). F(x) has the potential to be an all-around group for everyone around the world. To me, they make a complete well-packaged idol group. Here are my top 3 reasons why:

3). Image Impact

F(x) shows a strong sense of individuality with their image. They never wear the same outfits as one another. And their styles are very different from one another, too. Imagine androgynous Amber dressed like Sulli…Krystal dressed like Amber…etc…a bit awkward. Even if they DID wear the same styles, they have such distinct personalities, it’s hard to confuse them. Sulli’s cute face shown youth even when she was ‘boyish’ for To the Beautiful You. Amber was still boyish in a dress she wore in the show Hello f(x) for her African shoot. Their personalities shine through whatever they’re wearing.

This is not to say 2ne1 isn’t the same way. They also have a strong image impact. 2ne1 is hard to imitate in Korea…but maybe not in the rest of the world.

This does bring up an excellent point about f(x): they are willing to try just about anything. This is why f(x) has the ability to appeal to a wide-ranged audience. And f(x) has been known to pull off just about any concept, no matter how unusual or quirky. They are geniuses when it comes to trying new concepts. And yet, f(x) knows how to try new concepts without losing sight of who they are. I think it’s because they have five distinct personalities, and often have to cater their images to fit all five girls. Since all five girls have different tastes, this leaves their concepts open to change at any moment.

For instance, f(x) Amber was very sexy for the MV “Chocolate Love”. The style of the MV seems more suited to Krystal, but Amber brought her own little flair to it. She seemed different…but genius!

Their photos always look so artistic. Their photos draw me in, and I find myself pondering over what their photos mean. Pink Tape‘s booklet, and I’ll throw Electric Shock in there too, tell a story through the photos. They aren’t just pictures designed to appeal to the senses. Their photos reflect true art-work.

1) Why is it so important for the group to display individuality? Well, some people of the world think all East Asian people look alike. If you’re not around a particular race a lot, everyone will look alike. Some Asians from Japan told me they thought all Black people looked alike. They’ve never been around Black people. So, it’s understandable. But with a group that displays individuality, people aren’t left wondering who’s who. This can help them appeal to different cultures and nationalities.

Also, when some companies have girls who seem too much alike, they look at them as replaceable should a problem come up. We saw this happen with the Swedish group, Play, the African American group, Destiny’s Child, and the American multi-cultural group, Pussycat Dolls. When there is no sense of individuality aside from the hair and skin tone, those girls become replaceable in a company’s eyes. Why? Well, did anyone besides major fans care when Destiny’s Child went from four girls to three? No. Did anyone care when they replaced LaTavia and LaToya with Michelle? No. It didn’t effect their success because they only banked on catchy songs and Beyonce, the lead vocalist and most attractive member. I don’t care how talented they all were, individuality was important for the strength of that group. But they didn’t have it. So, the group moved on without them, and eventually, disbanded altogether, with the real star, Beyonce, moving on. The other girls were unsuccessful with solo debuts because people didn’t care about them. You see? In groups like that, one girl will outshine the others. And companies will deal less with a demanding pointless member than a demanding popular member.

When Amber went on hiatus in 2010, people had a conniption. It definitely hurt the group. They looked boring. It’s the same when any of the members are missing. The group couldn’t even sing certain songs without Luna. Who would hit those high notes? And “Chu” can’t even be performed without Victoria…Without Krystal, they lack sass. When Sulli isn’t there, they seem old. If they were to agree to break up as a group, they’d all still be successful with their own solo projects, and we still would see them as f(x). Each member has established themselves as individuals, so they could do well by themselves. But we’d be wishing they’d be a group again…

However, if just one person were to leave the group, the group could not simply just move on like Destiny’s Child, as was proven in 2010. So, they all add to the strength of this group.

Another perk to having a strong sense of individuality is that any girl can relate to this group. If you’re girly, maybe you can relate to Victoria. If you’re not so girly, maybe you can relate to Amber. Without individuality, we don’t sense that the girls are different from one another, so we can only relate to the idea behind the group, and not the girls themselves.

This also makes them independent. They are so different from one another that they always end up learning some new talents and skills from one another.

2) Why is it good to have an adaptable image? Because when you limit yourself, you limit your abilities. As humans, we are evolving creatures that are meant to grow and learn. If the fans love a particular idol for only one image, it will be hard for that idol to grow and expand. It will be hard for the singer to try new things, therefore their creative expression would be limited. We wouldn’t see the group’s fullest potential. We would always be wondering, “How far can this group go”?

f(x) Sulli

f(x) Amber!

f(x) Amber!

Regardless of what they try, they are usually wearing something casual. F(x) isn’t as glam as the other K-pop idols. They are usually always in simple, sensible shoes, never spiked stilettos. They are usually always seen in sneakers in their music videos…or combat boots…or moon boots. Did you guys see one idol group above that wore sneakers in every video? Well, yes, Crayon Pop did, too. Girls’ Generation only wore sneakers in one video above, but the rest of their videos show them in heels. 4 Minute tried to imitate f(x)’s look in “Hot Issue”. But of course, they were missing the same boyish attitude. They ended up just adopting the sexy image in “Volume Up”. Now, they look more like the other groups. It’s easy to see that f(x) is the most tomboyish group of them all. And they can make tomboys look cute and sexy, without showing any flesh!

Yet, they can be a little gaudy and quirky in their appearance. They don’t care about fitting the trends, that’s for sure. But they always make an impact. Amber Liu inspires girls everywhere with her androgynous fashion. And yet, she’s still one of the hottest members in the group. Can you imagine that girl dancing girly and sexy moves? She does it. And she stays comfortable while she’s doing it. She often said skirts aren’t secure, and I agree, unless you want everyone looking at your ‘johnson’s’…

f(x) the Korean “Spice Girls” + Amber Liu in the Spotlight

F(x) also wears very little make-up. They are natural girls. And they are all naturally beautiful! Very few people think differently of them on-camera than they do off-camera. They show us sincerity when they show the world their real faces. To me, their image encourages “being yourself”. F(x)’s version of beauty is so different from everyone else’s.

This makes F(x) seem normal, and other girls can relate to them. They just don’t seem fake.

F(x)’s song “Step” is about them not being the type of girls who wear heels and make-up.

Showbiz Korea and Olleh also emphasized this.

And tell me, how many artists are like f(x) around the world? Compare their image to any artist. Give me a name. I’ve searched and I just can’t find a group like f(x) around the world. They are more similar to the Spice Girls, but they are even more casual than the Spice Girls, so not even.

2) Performance Value

F(x) always gives dynamite performances. F(x) is not like the other prissy groups. The other females are often looking too cute to do real dancing. F(x) always dances real choreography. Shinee praised their “epic and legendary” dance moves. F(x) has done some hard-core dances, matching the K-pop boys in choreography. “Chu” and “Lachata” show more than rolling around on the ground, flipping hair, and shaking butt. Most female dancers use those “cheating moves” that don’t require effort. Any female can roll around, flip their hair, and shake their butts. Women attempting F(x)’s “Chu”? Not likely.

F(x) is so good, they danced and sang LIVE in the slippery rain. I can only respect a group that does that!

F(x) can even take other people’s songs and nail it, like they did with 4 Minute’s “Mirror Mirror”.

They are usually never boring. They usually keep the crowd engaged. Their performances are usually very impressive.

One of the many reasons f(x) is able to make such an impact onstage is because they have so many unique talents and plenty of charm. Victoria’s flexibility makes her an asset. Luna’s powerful voice can hardly be matched. Amber has a lovely angelic voice, and can play the guitar and drums. Amber can also rap. Sulli can also play the guitar and the piano. Krystal can also play the piano, dances, and ice skates well. All of the members have their own unique talents.

All of F(x)’s members do many different things solo, so they get time to showcase their individual talents.

They are also all popular as individuals. Not one outshines the other. F(x) Sulli is so cute and fresh-faced. K-drama fans support her most, since she began as an actress. Krystal is absolutely icy, mysterious, and attractive. SNSD fans side most with her, since she is the sister of SNSD’s Jessica. Amber is just down right charismatic all the way through. She gets the most support from English-speaking countries, especially America, and the LGBT community because of her bold, androgynous fashion and boyish attitude, her charming, American mannerisms, and her interest in rock music. Luna is dramatic onstage. Broadway experts and those of African descent respect her voice and support her. Victoria always has a smile on her face. She gets all the love and support from China, as well as from those who are experts in dance and acrobatics. Without even one member, the group feels so strange. The group can only be strong with all five girls.

And the one thing that’s noticeable is they always seem to be having fun. Even when they mess up in their performance, they laugh it off and just have fun. Anyone can tell that they enjoy being onstage and that they enjoy music. Thus, they energize us, and we can’t help but have fun, too. A real artist loves what they do.

This is why I don’t mind spending money to see them perform. I know I will have a good time.

Just how Talented is f(x) Sulli?

Just how Talented is f(x) Victoria?

Just how talented is f(x) Amber?

Just how talented is f(x) Krystal?

Just how talented is f(x) Luna?

Being multi-national is a perk. F(x) has performed songs of all kinds. They have performed in Korean, English, and Chinese. This helps them to appeal to many different types of people around the world.

Everyone wants to collaborate with this charming group. Amber has collaborated with too many artists, it’s hard to count!

There are no female groups around the world that dances and performs like f(x) does. Most are usually sexy or don’t dance at all hardly, like the Spice Girls.

1) Artistic Quality: Music and Presentation

Pink Tape proved to me that f(x) is a real, artistic group.

From the packaging for the album (styled as a box-version of a VHS tape) down to the music, f(x) produces nothing but the best quality. Pink Tape‘s covering was so detailed, I simply wanted to buy the box! It literally feels and looks like a VHS tape. So much care was done, it let’s me know that they know how to treat their fans well. This was so touching to me because I buy a lot of albums. Usually, the albums come in cheap, plastic coverings that get broken. My albums never looked like they would be protected. Usually, the most interesting thing about an album cover is the booklet inside. Not with f(x). The booklet is great, but the whole box package makes the physical copy more worth the price than a digital download.

To add, the music inside!

F(x) shows that they can draw inspiration from a variety of different sounds and concepts. Just like their photos, their music titles, lyrics, and concepts are always unique. Pink Tape had a collection of many different genres.

Pinocchio was no different actually!

We never know what to expect from f(x), so it’s always exciting to anticipate their comebacks. They keep their fans on their toes.

F(x) can be up-beat and happy, but f(x) can be meaningful and expressive. They have songs that touch them personally. Amber even wrote and composed songs for f(x)! That’s a true artist!

“Beautiful Good-bye” is about the girls having to leave everything they know to become K-pop idols, especially particularly the girls who had to move from a completely different country. “Dear Daddy” seemed directed to the girls’ fathers, seeming to point out all the things they wish they could fix to improve their relationship with their fathers.

“Good-bye Summer” and “Beautiful Stranger” are two songs Amber had a hand in. Amber wrote and composed “Good-bye Summer” with a friend of hers.

F(x)’s lyrics are always different from most artists’ lyrics around the world. They never try too hard to be edgy or catchy. Their lyrics are personal and mean something to them. That is what art is all about.

F(x) doesn’t use any profanity to express themselves, which shows respect and intelligence, and their music is something my younger cousin can listen to without thinking it’s a little lame…(Crayon Pop is clean but a little too child-friendly).

They talk about unique situations. For instance, “No More” is about a girl who changes everything she is just to get a boyfriend, and even ditches her friends when she gets a boyfriend. She only talks to her friends when she’s single, then moves along when she finds a man. I don’t think there are any K-pop songs like that. Most K-pop songs are love songs and are meant to make the girls singing it look good. “Shadow” was a very unique love song as it almost represented a “stalker”. They focused on how the “shadow” is in love with it’s owner, and is the most loyal to the person. “Airplane” compares love to an airplane, how you fall in love quickly and soar, and how pain follows afterward as the plane descends. “Good-bye Summer” is about two high school lovers who never got to get together. The female is thus “friend-zoned”, and only left with her summer memories. “Pretty Girl” is about f(x) not being those hotsy-totsy girls.

Their lyrics are just very interesting and unique. Anyone can talk about a man they’re in love with. Anyone can talk about how hot they are. But these songs are deeper than that.

Who has the kind of lyrics f(x) has? Most artists around the world sing songs about how messed up they are, how the world is awful, how someone broke their heart, how in love they are, and how sexy they are. But f(x)? They sing songs about being pop stars and missing their families. They sing songs about being “friend-zoned”. They sing songs about being like an ignored “shadow”.  They sing songs about boy-obsessed friends who “diss” them. Give me a group that sings something like that?

You really have to listen to their albums to appreciate what I’m saying. They really do save their best songs for the album!

F(x) never rushes singles and albums. They take their time, and thus, they end up producing quality work.

All of their vocals may not be on Luna’s level, but their music always fits their voices, and all of them can carry a note. Pink Tape really brought out the best in their vocals.

Their music isn’t heavily steeped in auto-tune and EDM instrumentals. “Good-bye Summer” had acoustic instrumentals. It showed F(x)’s potential.

The way they use their instrumentals is also quite interesting. If you never heard any of them singing, or read any lyrics, each instrumental on their albums conveys the meaning of each song perfectly, like watching old pantomime cartoons, cartoons like Tom and Jerry. For instance, if you hear f(x)’s “Shadow”, the sound in the background seems to convey a silent shadow “stalking” a lover. To add, the vocals are soft as a whisper, showing how quiet and smooth this shadow is. You can almost picture what’s going on. Very, very artistic.

I’ve also noticed that each part of every song is designed to bring out the girls’ individual personalities. “Pinocchio (Danger)” is an example. When Krystal comes on the screen, the song is sassier. When Sulli enters, the tone of the song changes to a “cuter” sound. When Amber enters, it always sounds harsher and tougher. When Luna enters, the music lightens or softens to convey her vocal abilities. When Victoria enters, the music picks up the pace to highlight her epic dance skills. The sound is just artistic, what can I say.

F(x)’s songs may not be everyone’s taste, but most can’t deny their creativity and artistic visions.

So, that’s why f(x) is my favorite K-pop group and this is why I’ve mostly covered f(x). But this doesn’t mean other groups can’t possibly have the ability to impress me.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

A SPECIAL VIDEO FROM GENERATION NEXT:

To Read More About f(x):

f(x) the Korean “Spice Girls” + Amber Liu in the Spotlight

f(x) Red light Review

f(x) Pink Tape Review

f(x) Summer on GN!

Which f(x) member are you? quiz

f(x)’s charm and Venus

f(x)’s Ideal Types by Sun and Mars

f(x) Around the World

f(x) in the USA

f(x) on Olleh: Korea’s most Unique Girl Group

Just how Talented is f(x) Sulli?

Just how Talented is f(x) Victoria?

Just how talented is f(x) Amber?

Just how talented is f(x) Krystal?

Just how talented is f(x) Luna?

GN’s Top 10 F(x) songs (so far)

Girls’ Generation vs F(x): Chocolate Love

Why does GN love f(x) so much?

Who is your f(x) bias?

Funny Reaction videos to f(x) “Red Light”

GN’s LEAST FAVORITE f(x) album?

EXTRAS

USA’s Nylon writes about Girls’ Generation’s Jessica and F(x)’s Krystal, Jungsis!

F(x) Amber and Got7 on We Got Married Global! Which man wins Amber’s heart (Natal chart reading)?

F(x) Gets treated unfair by SM? And EXO is treated better?

Make Your Move, SM’s first American movie has songs from F(x) and Girls’ Generation in it!

F(x) Amber, a part of androgynous inspiration!

The Korean Wave

Venus signs and Love Stories, F(x) Amber Liu is mentioned

Music Core, f(x) mentioned

Jackie Liu, Amber Liu’s Sister, Gets Hurt by Fan

f(x)’s Amber in a parody Korean drama for A Song for you!

SM TOWN WORLD TOUR 2014! f(x) will perform!

The Korean Wave “Hallyu”

I first heard the coined term on an article about f(x) being the first K-pop act to perform at Texas’s SXSW South By Southwest.

f(x) the Korean “Spice Girls” + Amber Liu in the Spotlight

f(x) Brings the Korean Wave to Texas

I know you’re wondering why I suddenly have this inspiration to create an article about the Korean Wave. Well, the other day (as in last week), I was watching Crayon Pop’s song “Uh-ee” and “Bar Bar Bar” when I heard the news that Lady Gaga wants to have Crayon Pop open for her Live Concert Tour. If anyone knows Crayon Pop, they are an all-female K-pop group that went viral awhile back due to their quirky dance moves, bike helmets, and wholesome attire entirely. They are definitely unique, and they seem like they would be Lady Gaga’s taste.

But just hearing how even Lady Gaga is into Korean pop music got me thinking: Just how many people listen to K-pop?

So, I did some research on this subject.

The “Korean Wave” reminds me of the Tulip Era in Turkey in the 18th Century…for all of you historians who are interested…

What is the Korean Wave?

It is a sudden “wave” of interest in South Korean “pop” culture. Yes, not just any Korean culture, but “modern” and “popular” Korean culture. And it has developed into a sub-culture with some cult followers in the mix…

The term “Korean Wave”, also called Hallyu, was said to have been coined by Beijing journalists who noticed a growing interest in South Korean culture in China. More and more Chinese people were exporting Korean merchandise, and supporting Korean music and film.

The Korean Wave shows a huge thrust toward entertainment media mostly, but many foreigners are more aware of the lifestyle in Korea as a result, such as the food (I learned about Kimchi), fashion, language, and even literature. The only thing excluded from this category is history, but that may come soon with the rising popularity of Korean dramas.

Due to increase internet availability and usage around the world, and the Technological Revolution of the early 21st Century, K-pop and Korean dramas are more available to people all over the world! So, Korean pop culture is spreading quicker and easier.

The Korean government hopes they can use this “wave” of interest to gain “soft power”. Not the kind of power where you take over other nations, but the kind that introduces Korean beauty, culture, and art to the rest of the world. They hope to make peace through this “wave”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Wave

Where Did the Korean Wave Come From?

After World War II, Japan put a limit on entertainment that came in and out of the country. Once Japan lifted restrictions on international imports (and exports) in the 1980’s, entertainment could be distributed more freely worldwide. This brought about a “Japanese Wave” that was at a much smaller scale than the Korean Wave (mostly due to the fact that internet was a newer concept and not available everywhere around the world), but still, relatively large.

With the “Japanese Wave” came an increased interest in Japanese animation and comics called mangas. Japanese cartoons were fed to children in the 1990’s (I was one of those children). My first Japanese anime cartoon was Sailor Moon. Every day before school, I watched this show! Of course, at that time, the show was butchered so much because they wanted the animes to “relate to American children”. Later, Cartoon Network’s popularity increased as more and more people had access to cable channels in the late 1990’s.

Then came the Pokemon phenomenon, the first major Japanese animation to make millions in the West. It even had a very successful theatrical release! Pokemon is still being aired today.

Cartoon Network began to band together with the popular American animation company Funimation, a company that translated Japanese anime to make it more understandable to American audiences. Toonami, a segment of the day that mostly aired anime, was born afterwards. My next favorite anime to watch on that segment was Dragon Ball Z. This was the start of Japanese influence seeping into the minds of children.

There was also an increased interest in Japanese role-playing games. Sony, a Japanese company, made Playstation and Playstation 2, which made characters come alive on the television screen. The graphics were more real-looking than they had ever been before on any console, controls were easy to use, and Japanese game-makers began to sell their games to the world using this console.

Square-Enix was one such company. They are known for making the popular Final Fantasy series as well as the phenomenon Kingdom Hearts.

Japanese anime brought a wave of interest from the generation exposed to it. Interest in animes like Inuyasha and video games like Kingdom Hearts led to a growing interest in J-pop music (as you can hear an artist at the end of every anime or video game, particularly the legend Ayumi Hamasaki), Japanese food (teriyaki and goyza), Japanese language (Kawaii, Sugoi), fashion (cosplays and lolita came out of this wave), holidays, festivals (like Hinamatsuri), and destinations (like Osaka and Tokyo).

An interest in Japanese culture, thus, led to an interest in all modern Asian culture.

This is where Korea comes in.

Korean Dramas and Manga

Korean film producers banked on this rising interest in Mangas and Animes. Korean drama adaptations of these animes spurred a fascination for Korean dramas in general. One of the biggest dramas a part of the “Korean Wave” is the drama Boys Over Flowers, based off of the popular Japanese manga series Hana Yori Dango. Meteor Garden, a Chinese version made in Taiwan in 1999, was the first live adaptation of the popular manga series. It was big in all of Asia. Since most southeastern Asian countries speak Chinese, other people were exposed to the drama. The Korean Boys Over Flowers had come out a decade later in 2009, updating the original adaptation and giving a modern feeling. Other Asian countries remembered Meteor Garden and heard about the new adaptation, which exposed many people to Korean culture.

Winter Sonata was Korea’s own major masterpiece, and it equaled the success of  Meteor Garden. This drama was said to have been the drama that launched the “Korean Wave”.

These Korean dramas were popular because of two factors as quoted from Wikipedia:

• Emotional engagement of the audience with particular emphasis on forging an emotional bond with the protagonist
• Explicit attention to female sexual desires — Departing from conventional dramas that tend to eroticize the female body, these dramas market the sexual attraction of the male actors, giving women a certain freedom of sexual expression.

 SM Entertainment

“Powerhouse” label SM Entertainment brought Korean music to the world for the first time. H.O.T. was the first all-boy Korean group to perform a sold-out Concert outside of Korea. This group particularly targeted teenagers and were the first of their kind. They were the pioneers of what we know as the “idol group trend”. They were meant to bring K-pop to the younger generation. Their debut was in 1996.

Then came BoA Kwon, the reigning Princess of K-Pop. BoA was the first Korean artist to sell over a million copies of her albums outside of Korea. She was Korea’s first international superstar. She was an extremely young artist, and the youngest artist to debut at the time of her debut (2000 at age 14).

My first taste of K-pop was also through BoA. I was first introduced to BoA after my favorite doll brand, Bratz, did a collaboration with BoA and Howie D (Backstreet Boys) back in 2003. It was my second taste of foreign music (my first was Utada Hikaru from the Kingdom Hearts series, but she sounded so “American”, I didn’t realize she was a Japanese superstar at the time).

I started looking up more about BoA. That’s when I found out she sang the ending song to the popular anime, Inuyasha, which also made BoA more popular. That’s when I realized just how popular BoA was in Japan.

Then I found out she wasn’t Japanese. Little did I know, at the time, I was a part of a movement that shaped the next generation.

She is still the only Korean artist to have six consecutive hits in Japan, and is considered a household name in many Asian countries.

Soon, other K-pop artists from SM began to pop their way to stardom.

The groups I remember distinctly popping up was TVXQ (DBSK), Super Junior, SHINee, and Girls’ Generation. With the Youtube phenomenon, these groups spread Korean pop music internationally. Many of those groups had international members in them. The male groups broke Asian stereotypes around the world, and gave Asian men a “beautiful face” in the Western world.

At the time, SHINee was the most unique. SHINee embraced their more “feminine features” and made it more attractive to girls! They also started the new generation of dance-pop music with complex dance moves. After their debut, the other artists started imitating their style. Originally K-pop boys showed more edge, but SHINee softened their blows, wearing eyeliner, long hair, and shaking their butts in “Ring ding dong”.

Girls Generation brought Asian beauties to international audiences, and paved the way for the female “idol group” trend.

My biggest sweep into the Korean Wave was with the group f(x). Amber was Korea’s first androgynous pop star! Ever since, I’ve been an adamant follower of K-pop “idol groups” rather than Japanese, and recently, C-pop (Chinese pop). I’m just so darn addicted to that group! Once you get swept into the ocean of K-pop, with your favorite K-pop artist, it’s hard to swim back to shore…rather, it’s hard to want to.

The rising popularity of these groups contributed to the “group” trend that is known in Korea today…

Adding these idols to K-dramas spreads Hallyu further.

Psy and Gangnam Style

Psy made K-pop a global phenomenon in 2012 to 2013 with his smash Youtube hit “Gangnam Style”, an upbeat, electro-dance pop/rap song, put to funny, satirical lyrics, and choreographed with humorous “galloping” dance moves. Psy made a statement in Korea, and brought Korea to everyone’s backyard. He was the first viral artist to have over a billion views! He broke a world record!

Unlike most idols, he wasn’t slim-trim, with a “Justin Bieber” haircut, skinny jeans, and hot dance moves. He was an “average” guy. His music also made a statement. He pointed out satirically about the lavish lifestyle in Gangnam, a district in Seoul, Korea, the center of Korean pop culture. This appealed to audiences worldwide.

Psy also put his label, YG, on the map. Korea hopes to use his fandom as a sign of diplomacy and “soft power”.

What Makes the Korean Wave Unique from other “Asian Waves”?

The Korean phenomenon wasn’t the first international fascination with Asian culture. Asian persuasion has been around since the growing popularity of Kung Fu films in the 1970’s and 1980’s, which put Chinese cinema on the map and popularized Chinese culture and history in many parts of the world. The growing popularity of Japanese culture dominated the 1990’s.

But what makes the “Korean Wave” unique is that it is getting popular in an era that is influenced by the “Digital Revolution”. It is spreading at a much faster rate and on a more universal scale than the other two phenomenons.

It’s also unique in the fact that Koreans are popular for their “modern” culture, and not stereotyped, historical depictions of them that may no longer ring true (like all Asian men learning martial arts). Koreans are looked at as more of an advancing society, as their modern culture is more popular than their ancient one, and that’s what makes this “wave” special.

Finally, what makes the “Korean Wave” unique from the other two “Waves” is the fact that the “Korean Wave” shows a huge support from the female audience. Kung Fu movies and the “Japanese Wave” mostly had male audiences wrapped around their fingers. Though, as a female, I’ve been into all the waves at one time…

This also helps to change the world’s views on Asian culture. It helps to diminish biases, prejudices, and stereotypes. It creates mutual understanding and peace between nations.

What are characteristics of those involved with the Korean Wave?

1) Lots and Lots of fan girls-Because of the increased female fan-base, men are more objectified in K-pop and K-dramas, and female sexuality is highlighted. This makes Asian men more desirable to women.

2) K-pop Group biases and fan wars-With the rising popularity of K-pop groups, you find tons of fans defending their favorite “idol” groups. My favorite is f(x) recently. They helped sweep me into this “Korean Wave”. But I hate fan wars.

3) K-Drama discussions-K-dramas can be so dramatic, you will find tons of message boards about them. Prepare to cry.

4) Eclectic clothing-Korean clothing can be trendy and sometimes downright eccentric.

5) A bunch of young college kids-While you might think mostly teenagers are into this wave, sources show that the biggest support comes from young adults in their 20’s. So, this is what the college kids are into. I sort…of…um…am apart of that demographic. :3

Well, that’s all for now folks! Leave me a comment let me know what you think about Korea’s growing popularity!