What style do pop groups dance in? K-Pop is conquering the world! What is it and who should I pay attention to? 21st century: the beginning of the Hallyu wave

*Unnie and Oppa are a way to address a girl and a guy in Korean.

“K-POP”, “k-pop”, “K-pop” - I began to hear more and more often from people I know, see comments on social networks and see various posts and images. “Kay-po-o-op”, yes “Kay-pop”, but what is it?I climbed websites, read a lot of literature, talked to people from this field and was stunned. It turns out that this is a whole subculture that is gaining popularity around the world. A WHOLE SUB-CULTURE! And I didn’t even know.

K-POP, or Korean Wave, or Hallyu is a subculture consisting of fans of South Korean musical groups. If one of your friends puts a picture of some cute, cute Korean resident on their profile photo, and the corresponding slang appears on the wall, then you know that this is it. These are the most “yummy” adored celebrities that fans call "oljan", which means models with big eyes, small noses and lips. This doll-like appearance is achieved through plastic surgery, makeup and photoshop.
In general, K-pop (keɪ pɔp/, an abbreviation for the English Korean pop) is a musical genre that originated in South Korea and incorporates elements of Western electropop, hip-hop, dance music and modern rhythm and blues.

Rolling Stone magazine stated that " K-pop is a "mixture of trendy Western music and high-energy Japanese pop" and "preys on listeners' heads with repetitive hooks, sometimes in English"; K-pop “treads the line of mixing styles, combining both singing and rapping and placing a special emphasis on action and powerful visuals».

In Korea, the term K-pop refers to almost any genre of Korean pop music. In other countries, “K-pop” refers exclusively to music performed by so-called idols, similar in concept to Japanese idols, performed in a mixture of the above genres. Also, this concept outside the country includes modern South Korean fashion and style.

One of the distinctive features of Korean groups can be read in the number of participants within one project (about 12-15 people). As a rule, they all live together in the same house and spend all their time in each other’s company. Some members prepare from childhood for their role as a “music idol.” To enjoy success, Korean performers need to train a lot, because in their work a lot of emphasis is placed on the visuals.

Despite the large number of participants, the group performs all choreographic movements with amazing precision and synchronization. Another feature of K-pop performers is their constant interactive way of communicating with their fans. Performers maintain their own forums, create their own pages on social networks and channels on YouTube. It is largely due to this that the popularity of Korean groups has grown so much.

Capepers

So, after knowing all this, I still couldn't understand how K-pop owes such popularity. This is why I met (even if not in real life, but on the Internet) with a representative of this subculture and asked her a couple of questions. Terry (that's what she called herself) described herself this way.

Terry

“I’m not such an active person, but I really like to go to various festivals created by K-pop fans. These are various dance parties, gatherings and just weekly meetings of K-pop culture lovers. Many of my friends arrange cover dance team. They dress up in clothes similar in style to the style of one or another group they are dancing with, stage dances, as well as crossovers of dances of different groups, perform with this and win in various competitions.

They also speak at various city events as activists. They gather for meetings in the youth palace, where we listen to music and dance unprofessionally for the soul We discuss news from the world of K-pop.

I’m not one of those fans who want children from idols, but personally, Korean music really lifts my spirits, I want to dance, smile, jump to it, it charges me with positivity.” One of my favorite groups is BTS (note: BTS (Korean: 방탄소년단, also known as Bangtan Boys) is a Korean hip-hop group formed in 2013 by Big Hit Entertainment).

I love them for their bright, fiery videos, funny songs, and high level of choreography. Their group, in fact, is divided into guys who dance, rap, and sing well. And many of them cannot do what others can. But for group dances they train a lot.

There are various video projects where they participate for fun and to show their abilities to the audience. Just recently I watched a funny video where they switched parts and the guy who raps tried to sing. They are not afraid to show their weaknesses. In various humorous shows, they come up with poems/compose songs and raps on the fly, trying to repeat their speed dances and the dances of others, including girl groups. Cheerful guys, in general, very open.”

After this answer, I came to the conclusion that, apparently, K-pop just had to hook me. And I can’t help but insert the answer of another very interesting girl.

Sania

“K-POP is something like my hobby. I'm following the news. I sometimes save photos biases(note: favorite boy band members), I watch various shows, videos, reactions, sometimes dramas (editor's note: Japanese television series. On Japanese television channels they are among the highest rated programs. Despite the name, dramas are produced in various genres - comedy, detective stories, horror, etc.) . I vote for biases on various sites and battles.

Many people think that K-pop is not very widespread in Russia, and, in general, in the world, but this is not so, there are a lot of fans. Sometimes groups come to Russia, mainly to Moscow. In addition to Moscow fans, fans from other cities also come. Tickets sometimes sell out in minutes, which means there are a lot of fans. Many fans buy albums, stuff stuff, etc. Fans provide friendly support to people from different countries with the same interests. Many people, including myself, look up to some of the members as role models.”

K-pop fan profile

Then I put together a tiny questionnaire with simple questions and asked K-pop fans to answer them as well. I would like to thank the same Terry for her help in finding interested people and very unusual interlocutors.

1. Favorite artists (groups, songs, videos, whatever)
2. How do they catch you?
3. How do you show your interest in K-pop?
4. Who are you in everyday life?
5. K-pop for you is...
6. Do you participate in any festivals? If yes, then tell us about them.

Alexey Verner

1. Nu'est, BTS, Got7, Big Bang, EXO, Block B.
2. Very cool voices and appearance. I like that the songs combine English and Korean.
3. I listen to a lot of songs, watch videos, look for information about groups and their members.
4. Man, no?
5. Sweet for the ears.
6. It hasn’t happened yet, but that’s it for now.

불

1. Wonder girls, 4minute, Mamamoo, Exid, Dlackpink, Red velvet, k.a.r.d, cl, taeyeon.
2. I like the songs. As soon as I hear it, my ass immediately begins to twitch.
3. A strange question, to be honest.
4. I run a special public page.
5. An ordinary schoolboy.
6. And “Who Knows.”

Aldyn-Ay

1. Big Bang, 2ne1, Super Junior, SNSD, BTS.
2. Big Bang opened the world of k-pop to me, it was the 2009 video “Lollipop”, which hooked me with its brightness and the catchy chorus “” lali lali dad”
2NE1 - they are cool, they have their own style, incomparable CL.
Super Junior is the original 13 charismatic and dancing idols, I love them very much for their songs and amazing choreography.
SNSD - they are all very beautiful, they are nice to look at, I like their choreography.
BTS are like a big and elegant candle on the K-pop cake.
3. Now I’m trying to keep track of new products, I’m subscribed to the groups’ YouTube channels. During my school years, there was some kind of obsession, I was learning the language, I wanted to delve deeper into Korean culture.
4. Student.
5. This is a movement that unites and brings people together.
6. No, I don’t participate.

Ember

1. Bts, block b, got7, 2rbina 2rista, iamx.
2. K-pop dances and idols, turbine with positivity, and iamx with relaxation.
3. Dancing, clothes and walls hung with idols in the room.
4. Special chan.
5. Movement and admiration.
6. I am participating. As a cosplayer and now as a dancer. There were a lot of impressions from the debut, considering that my team won the title of 3rd degree laureate, including me.

White

1. Favorites... this is difficult because I often listen to just selections. Well, most often in my playlist there are “imagine dragons”, “bts”, “arctic monkeys”, “coldplay”, “exo”, “bap”, etc.:d
2. In principle, I love music - sometimes the sound is awesome, and sometimes the text is awesome.
3. Memes and checking for updates on YouTube.
4. I’m finishing 11th grade, I have close friends... I don’t even know. How can I answer?
5. A special genre of music.
6. I rarely go to festivals, but I often go to K-pop parties.

Remy

1. Groups: V.A.R, BlockB, BigBang, 2ne1. The songs are difficult, there are many of them 😀 . Clips: B.A.P - power\young,wild & free; BTS - Young Forever; BigBang - tonight
2. I don’t even know, everyone? In some places I like the concept of the group, in others the participants themselves, their character, behavior, etc. I only listen to someone’s songs, without knowing anything about the group. Everything catches on.
3. Well, there’s only one concert here on May 9th, so I’m going there.
4. Student.
5. Music, beloved and dear.

Catherine

1. There is no beloved at the moment.
2. Usually the song has a catchy motive, a solo on some instruments (violin, flute, trumpet, not guitar xd).
3. I listen to songs, watch videos. Occasionally I attend parties dedicated to this topic.
4. Man.
5. Music and videos with handsome guys.
6. Every year I participate in the local anime festival Animia.

It turns out that people are simply rushing. Cheerful music with a beautiful picture – that’s the whole secret or what? Perhaps I’m tired, perhaps I’m getting old, but I wasn’t drawn in or caught. But, to each his own, right? And for some, this is what K-pop is all about.

Everyone has probably heard or seen the word “K-ror” at least once, but what does it mean?

Organization and management

Popularity and influence

Having attended many different concerts, I was amazed by Korean pop music. The staging, choreography and performance were amazing, but more importantly, I felt the soul of the music. Korean music has a bright future. Quincy Jones in an interview with a Korean magazine.

Japan is the largest consumer of Korean pop music, with the genre accounting for 7.81% of its music market and growing. In 2011, sales of Korean artists' products in the country exceeded $300 million, up 22% year-on-year, despite an overall decline in sales in the Japanese music market.

More and more American performers agree to work with Korean ones, including such famous musicians as Kanye West and the Jonas Brothers. In addition, Korean pop music has been positively reviewed by famous music producers such as Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley, and Grammy producer Alicia Keys.

Since 2011, Billboard magazine began publishing the K-pop Hot 100 (Billboard Korea K-pop Hot 100), and YouTube, at a meeting with the President of South Korea, announced the opening of a special channel at “youtube.com/KPOP.” The New York Korean pop festival attracted more than 40,000 visitors, and the French concerts were sold out with 14,000 people. Korean singer Rain topped Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of 2011, and CNN named K-pop as the third reason to visit Korea. Big Bang reached the top 10 on iTunes, SHINee became the first Korean group to hold a concert in London, while other Korean groups began to appear frequently in the top charts of German MTV. Wonder Girls became the first Korean pop group to top the Billboard Hot 100.

Analysts attribute the success of the Korean pop industry to the fact that its marketing model differs from world practice. First of all, this is a developed system of fan clubs, themed establishments and services for fans, as well as the active participation of idols in communicating with fans through social networks. This was also facilitated by active support and distribution of products and information via the Internet through social networks, portals and video resources.

In modern society, it is difficult to find someone who has not heard of the popular phenomenon of k-pop. This musical direction arose in the early nineties of the last century, and is Korean pop music (hence the name - short for Korean pop), known for its interesting genre component, incorporating elements of Western electropop, hip-hop, dance music and modern rhythm -and-blues. Let's understand the origins of k-pop and, finally, decide what kind of beast this is.

What it is?

Having emerged as a musical genre, k-pop eventually turned into a large-scale musical subculture that spread throughout the world.

One of the most important features of this style is the complex stage choreography. The videos of k-pop groups are always shot with high quality and brightness. And the script and direction are not far behind.

Examples of the popularity of k-pop are literally everywhere: for example, the awards ceremony was recently held in Las Vegas Billboard Music Awards 2017, where they were recognized as the most stylish group BTS- a project from South Korea. And the song "Fantastic Baby" groups Big Bang got into the famous American TV series "Glee".

It should be noted that k-pop culture does not stand still. So singer C.L. She has gone beyond k-pop music and now performs songs in English. Her unusual, shocking image is immediately remembered. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why it is so popular in the USA.

The genre has not spared England either. At the 2011 Korean Festival "United Cube" spoke 4minute, B2ST, SISTAR, SHINee and other famous k-pop teams. Even then, many journalists noted that the K-pop industry had suddenly burst into Europe and was rapidly gaining popularity.

Photo by Callie Morgan on Unsplash

Why did it become popular?

The answer is partly that society prefers more and more unusual forms that do not fit into the box. A kind of rebellion on the scale of one’s own musical tastes. In addition, what is captivating about k-pop is its lively, complex choreography, high, strong voices, unusual outfits, and melodies that are memorable the first time.

The genre is extremely popular among teenagers: girls from all countries imitate their idols in clothing, style and lifestyle. But unlike American and Russian stars, Korean performers are always modest and well-mannered. In numerous entertainment television shows they are characterized only on the positive side, often talking about the fact that, in addition to musicality, they still have many untapped talents.

Photo by Anthony Delanoix on Unsplash

When will it end?

It is too early to say that Korean music will soon leave the world stage. It is only gaining momentum, and it certainly has no intention of losing ground. Koreans have a competent approach to everything related to marketing and any organizational and technical issues. Plus, you will never see anyone on the Korean stage who can't sing or who can't learn to dance.

K-Pop is an abbreviation for Korean Pop, which is simply Korean pop music. The trend appeared in South Korea in the middle of the last century, but it has gained enormous popularity just now.

K-Pop combines an energetic beat, catchy phrases in English (so they seem to be at least somewhat understandable to an English-speaking listener), bright costumes and aggressive rap.

But perhaps the most important thing is the dancing. Not a single video or live performance can do without them. The choreography is very difficult and at times even at the level of fantasy. That is why the Internet is full of lessons with choreography, which were recorded by the artists themselves.

Another distinctive feature of Korean groups is their size. The super-popular Super Junior (and they were the best-selling Korean artists for four years in a row) has 13 members, BTS has seven, and Girls’ Generation has eight. There are very few solo artists in Korea and they don't get much buzz overseas.

Who should you pay attention to first?

Super Junior

Super Junior

Super Junior

Super Junior

Super Junior

Long-lived K-pop stars Super Junior have been on stage for 13 years. Their first successful single U was downloaded more than 400 thousand times in the first hours. Their most famous tracks have long been considered K-pop anthems and role models - Bonamana, Sexy, Free & Single and Mamacita.

The group consists of 13 members: Leeteuk, Heechul, Hankyung, Yesung, Kangin, Sindong, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, Siwon, Donghae, Ryeowook, Kibum and Kyuhyun.

SHINee

SHINee

SHINee

SHINee

Jonghyun's funeral

They are called the "princes of Korean pop." The lineup consisted of five members - Onew (group leader), Khee, Minho, Taemina and main vocalist Jonghyun. Late last year, Jonghyun committed suicide - he checked into a hotel, texted his sister saying “this is the last goodbye” and lit the coal in the room - the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning. After his death, the group did not look for a replacement and is touring as a four-piece.

SHINee's main hits are Ring Ding Dong, Lucifer and Sherlock.

EXO

EXO

EXO

EXO

In general, Exo are divided into two subgroups, Exo-K and Exo-M. They perform the same songs and dances, the only difference is that the first sings in Korean, the second in Chinese. In total, Exo consists of 9 people. Exo became the most influential artists according to Korean Forbes in 2014 and 2015.

There are plenty of hits: Mama, Call Me Baby, Overdose, XOXO and others.

Girls' Generation

Girls' Generation

Girls' Generation

Girls' Generation

Girls' Generation

A girl pop band of eight beautiful ladies who were already famous in Korea - they were DJs, models and TV presenters. They first appeared on stage on M.Net’s School of Rock in 2007.

Hello, I would like to talk about one of your hobbies, K-pop, but first, please introduce yourself.

My name is Alice and I'm a K-popper. It's a disease.

Let's move on to the first question. I heard that before becoming a direct member of a Korean music group, a person must undergo quite a serious training. Can you comment on this?

People who train in agencies are called trainee . A large number of trainees debut every year. A lot is released every year. Let's say five idols . Some can come and literally debut in three months, while others can stay there for up to twelve years. The leader of the group EXO, for example, trained for nine years and studied a lot, not only vocals and dancing, rapping or something else, but also languages ​​and etiquette.

What are the agencies you mentioned? How can you get into them?

For example, Big three - these are large agencies called " entertainments » in Korea - people are often recruited through simple selection. That is, they have selections once a year, of course, not all over the world, but, let’s say, one of the Big Three companies announces recruitment in different languages.

Please tell us about the process of releasing a new album by the band.

What's a must-have in K-pop when releasing an album: Maybe you don't spoilers the song itself title , but they can, for example, post some “pieces” from the new album. But, in particular, it happens like this: they announce the release, probably about two weeks, maybe a week and a half in advance. Everyone is waiting, and a couple of days before the album release, the company begins uploading teasers. Moreover, there can be as many teasers as you like, although most often there are one or two. Then they release a video, this is mandatory. We released the album and released the video.

Is there anything coming right after the album release?

Yes, there will be further promotion, without it it will be very difficult for groups, especially not very famous ones. The group has been moving forward for a month. It's the first week comeback stage . That is, people are still showing their song, dance and performance on various shows along with other groups. The awards ceremony begins next week. During the three weeks of the show, each group's sales and views will be calculated and a score will be calculated from this. If your score is higher than your opponent's, you receive a reward. There is such a thing as double or triple crown . Let's say one group won every day for three weeks (this happens with famous groups). Then she gets the triple crown at one of the shows.

They say that the huge number of K-pop fans is insane. What can you say about this?

I can comment on this in just one word: sasaeng. Sasaeng fans . Such fans in K-pop and in general in Asia are very common among, probably, the female audience. These are very inadequate people who can
With talk their biases or just your favorite band.

Are there any gestures or rituals that fans can use to publicly express their love for the band, say at a concert?

If we talk about good fans who simply love either the group or the bias... In general, in Korea, every group has so-called light sticks . They come in different shapes and different colors, depending on the group. And very often fans express their feelings with color. These sticks really support the groups. Let’s say there’s some kind of award show going on, and at this award show you have the opportunity to just be a fan and support your favorite.

And the last question: does it happen that the band members themselves and their agencies express gratitude to the fans or try to do something nice, to please them?

At concerts it happens that fans of some pairings can often ship one member of a boy group with another. And within the agencies themselves there are special people who monitor fan activity. They see that there are, for example, two participants whom they really want to see together (they can be written about fanfic or video edited). These band members are then approached and asked to "interact" in front of the fans. It is called fan service .