Kpop in America
K-pop has taken the world by storm and although you don't know it, you've probably listened to one K-pop song in your life. In recent years I have seen a growing popularity of K-Pop in America. Yes, it has been making it’s way overseas, but I am surprised that it is being taken so well here. Girl groups are especially popular and are received very well. Earlier this year 2NE1 was on “The Bachelor” teaching the women dance moves from “I’m the Best”. SNSD did a publicity tour for a week, performing on shows like the Late Show With David Letterman and Live With Kelly and Michael.
I think that K-pop is becoming so popular because it is just very different to what we normally listen to. Unfortunately, because of their want for international success companies are making their artists change and make themselves more European. Chopped up English is heard in almost every song and there is even a girl group that has brought twerking to the K-pop scene. I think that this needs to stop before K-pop becomes something it isn’t. K-pop has so many fans because of it variety and differences from what we find in our own country and changing the music so it can sound like everything else we hear on the radio will not make fans happy.
I don’t think K-pop will garner huge success in America due to what we believe to be talent and attractiveness. Perhaps girl groups will fare better than boys, but they still won’t be at any music awards or on MTV. I don’t the bubblegum pop groups are going to make it in America. Unless groups have songs like Gangnam Style, they won’t get much attention here.
K-pop in the Menlo Community
As the Hallyu Wave comes West I have been wondering how much it affects my community. I had the opportunity to interview classmates and friends, some who were K-pop fanatics and some who had no care for it, at Menlo to ask them what they knew and thought about K-pop. Here are some of the truthful and disheartening answers from them.
Q: Do you know what K-pop is?
K-Pop Fanatic 1: Of course, yehet!
Other 1: A little bit. Isn’t it like Korean pop culture music?
Q: Have you ever made a conscious effort to listen to k-pop? Why? Why not?
K-Pop Fanatic 2: Yes, it’s so catchy! The first time I listened to it I didn’t like it at all. But then like, the hook just grabs you and you can’t stay away and then before you know it your whole life is K-pop! It’s true isn’t it? You can’t escape!
Other 1: I was forced to listen to K-pop but I didn’t actually know what I was listening to.
Did you like it?
No.
Why?
I didn’t understand it.
Other 2: Um, I randomly stumble across it on YouTube sometimes.
cont'd. on page 13