Explained: K-POP A Review
Image source: Netflix
Netflix Documentary Series: S1, EP 4
A Review
By
Emma Norman
Explained is a documentary series on Netflix; and
episode 4 explores K-Pop and its rise in popularity in the west.
The creators of this documentary begin by talking about some iconic moments in western music which they predict viewers would all be aware of; examples included Madonna at the very first Video Music Awards (1984) and the Beatles arriving in the USA in 1964; setting off the British Invasion into mainstream US music.
One moment they expect viewers not to be so mindful of is Seo Taiji & Boys’ 1992 performance on a South Korean contest show.
Although the audience of this documentary may not be aware of this performance, what was to follow from it certainly received attention around the globe; and is known to us as K-Pop.
Korean pop culture swept across Asia and is now travelling further afield. At this time, fans of K-Pop can be found in countries on almost every continent thanks to the so-called K-Pop Invasion.
The creators of this documentary begin by talking about some iconic moments in western music which they predict viewers would all be aware of; examples included Madonna at the very first Video Music Awards (1984) and the Beatles arriving in the USA in 1964; setting off the British Invasion into mainstream US music.
One moment they expect viewers not to be so mindful of is Seo Taiji & Boys’ 1992 performance on a South Korean contest show.
Image source: Dictio Community
Although the audience of this documentary may not be aware of this performance, what was to follow from it certainly received attention around the globe; and is known to us as K-Pop.
Korean pop culture swept across Asia and is now travelling further afield. At this time, fans of K-Pop can be found in countries on almost every continent thanks to the so-called K-Pop Invasion.
To
understand how K-Pop and BTS has become so popular, this documentary explores
one key question:
How did South Korea create such a globally successful
music industry?
To
answer this, we must go back to Seo Taiji & Boys 1992 performance on a
popular contest show. The judges of this show didn’t give the most accepting response
to their performance.
As K-Pop expert Gyu Tag Lee explains, their performance and stage sparked shock in many viewers.
To know why, all you must do is to listen to hit Korean songs from just a few years before (for example: Chung Soo Ra ‘Ah! Republic of Korea’). Such songs had the melody of an 80s pop song but praised the Republic of Korea in their lyrics, and to us today, can easily be recognized as patriotic anthems.
Such songs were labelled as ‘Healthy Songs’, which were controlled and promoted on TV and Radio by the government. Other songs excepted were safe G-rated love songs. So, when Seo Taiji & Boys televised debut was aired, it was a marked symbol for a new era of cultural change in South Korea.
As K-Pop expert Gyu Tag Lee explains, their performance and stage sparked shock in many viewers.
To know why, all you must do is to listen to hit Korean songs from just a few years before (for example: Chung Soo Ra ‘Ah! Republic of Korea’). Such songs had the melody of an 80s pop song but praised the Republic of Korea in their lyrics, and to us today, can easily be recognized as patriotic anthems.
Such songs were labelled as ‘Healthy Songs’, which were controlled and promoted on TV and Radio by the government. Other songs excepted were safe G-rated love songs. So, when Seo Taiji & Boys televised debut was aired, it was a marked symbol for a new era of cultural change in South Korea.
Seo
Taiji & Boys rapped, wore baggy trousers and danced like ‘D-Boys; something
Korean audiences had rarely witnessed a Korean group do. In fact, their
popularity rose to the point where if the group wore something, it would become
a fashion trend in South Korea. Thanks to them, what was seen as ‘normal’ in
Korean culture was expanding.
Their 1995 classic ‘Come Back Home’ (of which BTS covered in 2017), explored the topic of teenage runaways with lyrics about a building rage towards society. Whilst this song escaped from censorship, another song of theirs didn’t, as their lyrics directly disrespected the older generation.
However,
this had no effect on their popularity, as they rose to be one of the most
popular acts in South Korea. At the height of their popularity, they decided to
go out on a high and released a music video in 1996 saying goodbye to fans.
From such success and a rise of South Korea in the rankings of wealthiest countries, business men concluded that they should market music just as they would cultural commodities, and after a financial crash in 1997, the president too agreed that culture could be the next big export industry. Next came the rise of entertainment industries and the first to be developed were the ‘Big 3’ as we know them now, with the founder of YG being a member of Seo Taiji & Boys himself.
Entertainment companies began establishing ‘manufactured’ so-called idol groups with a strong image and presentation, producing music with happy beats and optimistic lyrics; a process which can take years.
Image source: K-Pop Amino
Image source: www.generasia.com
Their 1995 classic ‘Come Back Home’ (of which BTS covered in 2017), explored the topic of teenage runaways with lyrics about a building rage towards society. Whilst this song escaped from censorship, another song of theirs didn’t, as their lyrics directly disrespected the older generation.
Seo Taiji & Boys - Come Back Home
BTS - Come Back Home (Remake)
From such success and a rise of South Korea in the rankings of wealthiest countries, business men concluded that they should market music just as they would cultural commodities, and after a financial crash in 1997, the president too agreed that culture could be the next big export industry. Next came the rise of entertainment industries and the first to be developed were the ‘Big 3’ as we know them now, with the founder of YG being a member of Seo Taiji & Boys himself.
Entertainment companies began establishing ‘manufactured’ so-called idol groups with a strong image and presentation, producing music with happy beats and optimistic lyrics; a process which can take years.
Tamar Herman, a contributor to the Billboard Magazine, comments on the fact that members of the same idol group are rarely similar and will often have titles for their position. Showing a clip of BTS, we see the members introducing themselves with their roles, RM being described as the leader, J-Hope the dancer and Jungkook the Maknae, which creates a great harmony between members.
The narrator discusses how the creators of these K-Pop groups often look beyond Korean borders for an audience, which can be seen in the names of groups. For example, BTS, an acronym which creates no problems when translating it to a wider market. They then go onto discuss the whole image of K-Pop which includes impeccably polished dance routines, at which point a clip of BTS’ music video for DNA gets played. Also mentioned are story lines which can run throughout music videos. At this point BTS’ Blood Sweat & Tears gets highlighted, where few know what is happening unless previous videos have been watched, which lead to theorists posting their opinions online. This music video in particular was noted as being ‘a driving force of K-Pop’s viral success around the world’.
Of course, where there is a K-Pop documentary, there is a mention of Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’ of 2012. A video which took K-Pop style to a magnified extreme, was the first ever YouTube video to reach 1 billion views and marked K-Pop as being a worldwide sensation. The narrator highlights that…
‘Even after Gangnam Style’s incredible success, the US market was still stubbornly hard for the K-Pop industry to penetrate, and for one key reason. The US market has historically been really averse to non-English music; that is, until BTS’.
Showing clips of BTS in 2017 at the American Music Awards and American Talk Shows such as Ellen Degeneres; their achievements get are mentioned, being noted as the group to smash every US record for a K-Pop group. To understand how these records were achieved, just look at the Billboard Social Media Chart, of which BTS have been ranked number one for 57 weeks (at the time of the documentary). Tamar Herman goes on to say that whilst their music is great, there is something phenomenal about their social media presence that makes them very accessible to millions of fans, fandom name ARMY, around the world.
BTS performs DNA at 2017 American Music Awards
However, the best bit of this documentary was of course saved for last. It mentions that what sets BTS apart from all other K-Pop groups out there is their lyrics. This leads to a clip of RM: ‘We always talk about the young people’s lives’. Mentioned are the lyrics of Baepsae: ‘Our generation has had it hard’, No More Dream: ‘Rebel against the hellish society’ and Dope: ‘The media and adults say we don’t have willpower’, which speak directly to a generation that feels enormous pressure.
Given more light are the lyrics from BTS: N.O.
‘Who made us a study machine?
It’s either the number one or a failure
Adults made this frame and we fall into it’
Such messages are similar to those of Seo Taiji & Boys in ‘Come Back Home’. Socially conscious and well thought out messages can be seen throughout BTS discography. In fact, when Seo Taiji gave a concert to mark the 25th anniversary of the groups debut, BTS were asked to join him on stage. BTS have a good relationship with Seo Taiji as discussed when BTS were on a popular Korean show ‘Men on a Mission’. Here BTS shared the impact Seo Taiji & Boys had on them, marking the group as one of their biggest inspirations. Kim Taehyung/V also discussed how Seo Taiji wanted the members of BTS to call him ‘father’, something they felt very privileged to hear. In fact, Seo Taiji, the considered father of K-Pop said to BTS in his concert ‘It’s your era now; Show them’. Indicating that he was now handing over the torch for them to carry for the next generation.
The documentary ends by saying groups like BTS, who are becoming so popular around the world, are opening people’s minds to the culture of a country which previously, they knew little about.
When groups who are deemed to be different such as BTS, go outside what is thought to be K-Pop, write their own lyrics about taboo topics in their country, or include universal topics such as loneliness, friendships and life pressures, there are millions of fans around the world who are eager and ready to listen. Whilst Seo Taiji & Boys were seen to be the new era of a cultural change in Korea back in the 1990s, it could be said that BTS are following a similar path and during, becoming a worldwide phenomenon.
We hope that you have enjoyed this post, meanwhile if you have anything you'd like to add or have any ideas why not contact us. Leave a comment below or alternatively we can be found on:
Twitter: @BTSRadioUK
Facebook: BTS Radio UK
YouTube: BTS Radio UK
Or you can email us at btsradiouk@gmail.com & please subscribe to keep up to date with new posts.
Such messages are similar to those of Seo Taiji & Boys in ‘Come Back Home’. Socially conscious and well thought out messages can be seen throughout BTS discography. In fact, when Seo Taiji gave a concert to mark the 25th anniversary of the groups debut, BTS were asked to join him on stage. BTS have a good relationship with Seo Taiji as discussed when BTS were on a popular Korean show ‘Men on a Mission’. Here BTS shared the impact Seo Taiji & Boys had on them, marking the group as one of their biggest inspirations. Kim Taehyung/V also discussed how Seo Taiji wanted the members of BTS to call him ‘father’, something they felt very privileged to hear. In fact, Seo Taiji, the considered father of K-Pop said to BTS in his concert ‘It’s your era now; Show them’. Indicating that he was now handing over the torch for them to carry for the next generation.
Seo Taiji & BTS (Time Traveller 25th Anniversary Concert)
Image source: Soompi
The documentary ends by saying groups like BTS, who are becoming so popular around the world, are opening people’s minds to the culture of a country which previously, they knew little about.
BTS winning Billboard Music Award for Top Social Artist (2018)
Image source: Billboard
When groups who are deemed to be different such as BTS, go outside what is thought to be K-Pop, write their own lyrics about taboo topics in their country, or include universal topics such as loneliness, friendships and life pressures, there are millions of fans around the world who are eager and ready to listen. Whilst Seo Taiji & Boys were seen to be the new era of a cultural change in Korea back in the 1990s, it could be said that BTS are following a similar path and during, becoming a worldwide phenomenon.
We hope that you have enjoyed this post, meanwhile if you have anything you'd like to add or have any ideas why not contact us. Leave a comment below or alternatively we can be found on:
Twitter: @BTSRadioUK
Facebook: BTS Radio UK
YouTube: BTS Radio UK
Or you can email us at btsradiouk@gmail.com & please subscribe to keep up to date with new posts.
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