K-pop: More than a genre | Part 2
Following my previous post about K-pop, let's discuss the last point of it!
Music
In the past, K-pop idols were extremely “manufactured” and companies didn’t let them write or produce their own songs, they just were in charge of performing what they were given. Nowadays you can find “self-producing idols” in almost every group creating their own lyrics and music but at the end, they only have a little taste of freedom because the management staff still has the last say.
Leaving all the rules behind, what I really like about entertainment companies is that they are very open-minded about learning what sells internationally. They are always experimenting with the latest trends from different music genres to create the diversity you can see in their groups, bands and soloists. Not to mention that some of them hold auditions in countries like China, Japan, Canada, the US and more, with the purpose of discovering and fostering young talented people.
As a result, K-pop has always been influenced by Western styles, with the difference that they add their own colour to it. Maybe it’s the energy that you feel when you listen to the songs or the catchy lyrics and beats or when you see the amazing choreographies and incredible music videos.
You can find different types of songs, from one regarding the problems in our society:
To a cute and upbeat one about love:
And let’s not forget the high-quality dance movements and visuals:
Additionally, it’s completely common seeing K-pop idols going to Japan or China to perform songs in another language or making collaborations with international artists since they are “export” minded from day one, often learning new languages and trying to engage with all of their fans.
South Korean modern music is becoming more and more popular. People are starting to expand their knowledge of their culture and history. And even though for some language can be a barrier, for me it's an encouragement to find out something new and embrace the unknown.
K-pop is more than a genre and to me, its artists should get the recognition and respect they deserve for all of their hard work.