Quick Rant 6 | Why Do You Like Kpop?
A Foreign Fan's Most Hated Question
(A not so quick rant after all)
Miranda Rodriquez
First Posted |12/21/19 | 2:50 AM PST
How often do us fangirls/fanboys get the question, "why do you like kpop?" I don't know about everyone else, but when I hear that the first thing that crosses my mind is, "Why do you like American Pop? Why do you like movies? Why do you like video games?" We're often asked this question as if liking Korean music is such a huge and completely foreign concept. I'm often torn on how to reply because it seems like such a stupid question to answer. I'm often stuck with replying with "what's not to like?" And that’s when I get even more snide comments.
Some that I've heard:
1. "They don't even sing in English! How can you understand what they are saying!"
2. "They all look like girls."
3. "They're just trying to copy (insert artist here)"
4. "They're all gay huh?"
5. "I bet you only like them because they're trending."
6. "So they're the Korean (insert artist here)"
You know what?!:
1. SUBTITLES
2. Stop putting genders in cages without flex! Men with make-up is SEXY. Girls don't have to wear dresses and heels!!!
3. NO THEY ARE NOT!!! And if they do have a similar dance move or song, guess what? They probably collaborated with a producer that WORKED with that artist!!!
4. No, and even if they were, what does that have to do with how amazing their music is?
5. I'm a second gen myself, so this REALLY gets me mad. I sit there and I name off all the old artists I started out with and have to explain that I heard of PSY and BTS before they became global. Hell, I knew about BTS pre-debut! And guess what, new fans do enter because of trends, and that’s a good thing! As long as they're actual fans and not bandwagon riders! Build up them fan clubs!
6. No, they're the Korean them! [or whatever country they're from because not all Kpop artists are KOREAN!!!]
So WHY do we like Kpop then?
There are a few things that come to mind instantly, and a few things that fans learn over time.
1. Stage Presence/Performance
2. Dedication
3. Dance
4. Vocal/Rap
5. Instrumentals
6. Breaking Gender "Boundaries"
7. Fan Service
8. Human Quirks
1. Stage Presence/Performance
The very first thing I noticed when I got into Kpop was the performance aspect as well as how they carried themselves on stage. Pure energy. Every time I watch a music video it's as if I'm watching a movie. They don't just sing in front of a camera or standing still on stage. They show emotions when they sing. Happy, sad, flirtatious, etc. They don't hold back.
2. Dedication
Something every fan learns later on is about the dedication each artists puts into making their debut, as well as during promotions. Artists train for years, practice for hours, and have little to no sleep. They go to school, travel year-round, and even if they get a day off, some of them will still go out to be with fans! Some artists know more than five languages, all so they can communicate with fans or promote overseas.
3. Dance
One thing I absolutely love is how most groups not only sing and rap, but they dance too! They bruise their bodies, tear ligaments, and nearly fall off stages in order to give fans a visual connection with whatever they're singing. Body language is a huge part of how a person communicates, which K-pop represents extremely well.
4. Vocal/Rap
Have you HEARD some of these artist voices? Yun from Lunafly made me swoon every time he opened his mouth! And Cheetah is such a bad-ass! The list can go on and on. When you hear that smooth voice, or you get that perfect rap or vocal insert, it's perfect! Rappers are often overshadowed in Korea or stereotyped if they're in idol groups. This can lead to many different conflicts that artists must push through.
5. Instrumentals
For band groups, artists learn so many different instruments. They have to play those instruments live at every even. And although this isn't any different from other bands around the world, I felt like I needed to mention that not all Kpop groups dance. And there are those who dance, but also know how to play as many instruments as a band does. And when you work in an industry that caters to mainly dancer artists, the struggle to transport instruments and make sure those instruments are kept up is hard. Unlike other bands around the world, they still fall under the Kpop logo, which comes with a lot of restrictions.
6. Breaking Gender "Boundaries"
One thing I absolutely hate is when someone mentions femininity and masculinity boundaries. I hear it so often here in America. I'm not even a part of LGBTQ and I think views today are so messed up. Saying guys shouldn't wear make-up or girls shouldn't cut their hair short is ridiculous. Excluding any LGBTQ, fashion does not have a gender norm. If it looks good on a person, even if it was meant for a specific gender, that person should wear it. I love it when I see artists wearing clothes that cross genders.
7. Fan Service/Personalization
VLIVE. Enough said. No, but really. Artists have such a huge social media connection with fans. They post pictures or videos between places. They will take the time to stream and talk with fans. Shows like After School Club are my favorite things to watch. You don't get this kind of dedication from a lot of other global artists. This also ties in with the next part, human quirks!
8. Human Quirks
They're not just idols, they're human. They show off weird traits or talents every chance they get. Want to see a female artist burp the alphabet? We got that. Wanna see a male artist do the splits dressed in drag? We have like a hundred of those. They're not afraid to embarrass themselves. They talk about what they ate or what they're craving. About how they miss they're families. They go down on their knees in the middle of concerts to bow to their parents in the audience. Amber Liu went on a hunt to "find her boobs" as a reply to a malicious commenters. She didn’t cry, get mad, or stay quiet. She did what she did because of her amazing personality.
Finally, here are a few videos and photos to show off how amazing K-Pop artists are!
1. STAGE PRESENCE/PERFORMANCE
2. DEDICATION
3. DANCE
4. VOCAL/RAP
VOCAL
RAP
5. INSTRUMENTAL
6. BREAKING GENDER BOUNDARIES
7. FAN SERVICE/PERSONALIZATION
8. HUMAN QUIRKS
NOTE: I do not own ANY of these videos!!! Credit belongs to the owners for these lovely gifts!!!
