Reasons K-POP is (going to) conquer the world (?)

Hi, this is my first official post (?)

Tbh I don't have a clue where to get started, this time I really want to give it my hardest but I have frankly no clue where and with what. But, since I'm listening to K-POP right now, and it inspired me to work a bit harder (this song I'm listening to did - of course with english subtitles, but I hope one day I won't need them) why not start with K-POP.

Everyone knows PSY - I mean, since his MV (=Gangnam Style) went viral on youtube, he became a very big deal. People forget however, that he is only one of many. Well, about 70% of the crowd will belong to this forgetting category, the rest have definitely heard it before and have one favorite group they can think of right away.

However, if you're not a fan, then would you truly understand all this love that K-POP is getting? Probably not, because face it! We're a very prejudice-prone group of people, most of the world is.
I know I was, before my 'eyes opening to the world episode' (thanks to watching so many dramas and not being 'UGH I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT ANYWAY!!! WHAT's THE POINT IF I HAVE TO READ TO UNDERSTAND?!!!!') I was totally the same. My parents are also the type to say it as is, as what they see, only that. Our eyes only see skin-deep. We're born & raised believing that, and we grow up believing that and then we pass it on to our kids.

In recent years, I think around 2010... K-POP hit the rails... If it was using its feet to go through the world until then, now it started using the train. That probably doesn't make any sense because I said it off the top of my head, but you get the metaphor, right? Forgetting this for a moment...

Let's first break down the differences between well English-spoken music (by that I mean the songs which hit the billboard music top 100 or any other music show there is <- and there are a lot )and K-POP

UK/US characteristics

K-POP characteristics

Up there you can see the main characteristics of each genre, K-POP is literally a genre so...
Okay let's discuss:

K-POP:

• You will rarely find solo-singers, even those who have debuted as solo were first in girl or boy groups. This is mostly, always the case.
• Dancing is a major deal, check out one MV and you will see a trademark dance, which with enough practice you may just master.
• Image for K-POP idols is super important. You're the face of your group. If you're in a scandal, your sales and fans will drop. Which brings us to...
• The Fans!!!! The most important factors to the successes of K-POP groups. Everyone knows how important fans are, they are the reason that everything exists. By that I mean, if a show wasn't popular it would get cancelled. If a musician didn't receive the love of people, then no tickets would be sold, no one would bother listening to their music. Somehow, for K-POP the fans come in so many forms. In every part of the world, what makes them even more special is because how unexpected it is.
• Usually idols start training (for debuting as idols) from a very young age by going to auditions and if luckily getting picked, going after school to the company to train every single day. Some people give up, because usually they can't handle it (the training, the patience, the work) or they simply don't want to anymore. Those who persevere and with lady luck at their side, get to debut. Usually trainees are put together in groups (not a bunch of friends sharing a passion for music and deciding to work together to become rock-stars) which can be changed on multiple occasions. Sometimes, the debut can be cancelled, or it doesn't work out. Then you're back, working harder and harder. That is, if you still have the will to continue this hard journey.
• In most countries (by this I mean Europe), military service isn't mandatory. However, in South Korea -> it is! Usually by the end of their 20s male idols have to go join the armed forced for a period of 2 years saying a temporary farewell to their fans. (SongJoongKi comes to mind who left last month, and Leeteuk who's been gone for so long as well >~<)
• They're trendsetters. One point I'd like to refer to is 'airport fashion'. Doesn't matter if it's comfortable or not. It's a very very big deal. Because usually, if you're successful -> you have fans waiting for you at the airport while they're holding cellphones in one hand and posters in the other saying 'OPPA!!!!!!! SARANGHAE-YEO!!!!!' What they wear there, will appear on a lot of social networking sites and possibly news stories.
• Once the group picks up the next stop for them is: Acting/MC'ing/Variety appearances. Idol careers are somewhat like model careers. They're there with an expiration date. Not saying that they lose all their fans, but face it... There are new, younger groups coming every year and frankly at some point you just don't move the way you used to. The break up, and the final farewell~~~ If in this period they blew all their money on living in extravagance and didn't save up~ I sincerely think that that was being really stupid. So, another path that opens up once the group gains popularity is Acting. Cameo appearances. South Korea, next to known for k-pop is there for their dramas. Every season bringing more >amazing< to the screen. Variety appearances are also very important. That way people, especially fans get to know the group better. You know when you search for the word idol in a dictionary. They're seen as something representing Gods deserving of admiration and adoration. But, they're people like you and me! Only they worked their butt off to get where they are. 
• Abs - Unlike what people have prejudiced, working out that much, training that much and dancing like that. It's not possible to not have amazing abs:

Click for source on PIC

• Then there's the actual music - notice how much I had to say about everything else, but their music. And how that is not going to be the case with the other part of this differences thing. It's catchy, it's a mix of I don't know what. But, it captivates you. The MV gives you enough eye-candy. You get excited by the dance and even though you might not understand a thing they're saying you still feel like wanting to sing along. It's the music, it really does make something tick inside and you won't know what that is until you hear it.
• + I forgot to add that there's the confusion about mini-albums, come-backs (even though they didn't go anywhere) and full albums etc. It really confuses me. They have so many different words for everything, so unlike every other genre.
• + The guys wear make-up, but check all of them yourself! Is there a moment they don't look - for a lack of a better word - hot?
• Occasionally there has been some dress-wearing been going on (usually as a punishment for not winning a game or sth in a variety show) but that's all to bring us - the people - the chance to laugh our asses off ^^

UK/US :

• 'It's all about the music' according to many and it truly is all about it. Unlike K-POP you don't have to be really good looking to break through. You need the ability to... There are so many to's. First and foremost: The voice- your vocals are very important since it's very important you need to be able to sing. You need to be able to express yourself. Music is expressing what you feel, and you need to convey the lyrics well so others understand because if they don't then it wasn't a very good performance. All the blitz and glamour which K-POP uses, isn't really needed.
• You don't crash and burn because of a scandal. Fans won't be very pissed off at you and stop listening to your music because you started dating someone.
• Usually you come across more solo singers, though the amount of groups has been rising recently.
• Your performances are what you live and train for, because these singers are known by all all over the world.
• I can't say more because what I said first is truly what music is about: 'It's all about the music' and nothing else, everything else plays a role, of course. But, it doesn't matter as long as you can reach the heart of those listening to you, move them, touch them with your voice. Convey what you need them to understand.
• No expiration date. Of course, groups break up, singers retire but... You can be 40 and still have an amazing singing career. Look at Madonna who's in her 50s and still rocking it.
• Everyone is welcome to join this scene, because music is for everyone. You don't need years and years of training and  practice.

Another difference, not really to do with their characteristics but more like -> the CD's. I couldn't help but put a bit about it here, by how 'OMG' I am about this. Normal CD's are like enough to cover the CD and cost like 15 euros or less. The limited edition CD's of KPOP are of a whole different world. A friend of mine bought a Teen Top limited edition album and it was huge. Like the size of a notebook...

CD's K-POP limited edition VS UK/USA

By now, you should have a pretty good idea of what the differences are between K-POP and the UK/USA. Now, let's see... I think the characteristics of K-POP explained them for themselves. It's amazing, but it's a genre of music. Like rock/pop/classical... You need to think of it like that. If you don't like it, you don't. But a prejudice against it is just something you need to work on, honestly. For me, I can listen to K-POP love the songs, but not know who's who or really pay attention to the dance moves and they guys (I can't tell them apart in videos if I haven't seen them in variety shows, because I don't bother... It's not like I'm a fan of any particular group, so I don't bother looking up every detail, which is kind of :( Because I wish I had one group I could go 'OHMAIGAWD' over.) I can only tell them apart if they've made an impression on me, and  I think that that's the case for many of you. Unless someone makes an impression, a remarkable one, you don't bother saving them in your memory and why should you? It's your brain, do with it what you wish... In this post I just wanted to discuss this topic a bit, and if for some it's their first time hearing over this and me talking about K-POP got you excited to see if what I'm talking about it right, then I'm now going to provide you guys with some MVs. If you already love K-POP, still check these out because they're amazing.

So... Is K-POP going to conquer the world? Maybe, maybe not. I just hope that one day, everyone knows about it. They won't be prejudiced as much towards it and that it will be considered another genre like jazz/pop/rock etc. This barrier between cultures, I just hope that maybe (on the off chance) it's been slightly cracked by my post (but that'd be going overboard) but it's a prospect I'd be very happy about thinking.

With this, I conclude my first post. Put in a substantial amount of work. Wrote it as I went along, so hope there aren't any wrong sentence wordings (I don't notice these myself). Tell me what you guys think!!! Any comments? Opinions? K-POP fan? Never heard of it before? Anything?

Thank you for reading, and if at all possible, please follow ^^

Have a nice day !!!! & I hope your Friday the 13th went well and passed safely :P

The song which inspired me to start working right away.

I just loved this song. Though the ending I don't completely get.

You don't need to understand her. This is truly one of the best songs ever.

Listen to her amazing voice. This MV solely stands on its music-legs (?) and then a cute cameo with Gikwang but that's much later.

I literally cried, since I'm always prone to second lead syndrome

and this... T.T amazing ❤❤❤

An MV which took 1 billion won which is about 694 000 euros O.O

Do you guys think it was worth it?

Finally I want to leave you guys with a move you might want to try practicing because it's so cool. This move became popular thanks to Infinite and it's called the Scorpion Dance. Try it out and see if you can do it. I truly hope that after much much practice, I might one day be able to do it.

Adele performing. I couldn't not put her here, because I just wanted to ^^

Truly amazing, I totally love this song.

© PrinCkhera