Gangnam
Continued from page 25
belonged to the studios that signed them. This business is rigorous, signing pre-teens to training contracts that prepare them for close to five years before debuting as solo artists or groups. (We’ve got child labor laws for that, here.) Then there are the strict decade long contracts that bind artists to their management and ban contact with friends, family and free time --- even the ability to own a cellphone or date, the name changes, plastic surgery, the surveillance of exercise and diets ... all for the chance and not the guarantee of becoming a star. Despite these hardships, the K-pop formula works. The looks and talent behind the machine continue to attract droves of fans outside of South Korea. PSY may have put K-pop on the map, but its growth overseas continues without him. “I listen to it because I think that K-pop is a refreshing take on pop music,” says City College student Angelica Wallingford. “I think that it’s more of a brand than a musical genre. It’s like everything you would want in a musical group or artist: good music, choreography, fashion, wrapped up in a complete package sent with love from Korea.” City College student Jennifer Valle shared the same sentiments. Valle found her love of K-pop through Japan, where most K-pop artists release their musical catalog after being trained in Japanese by their management companies. “In my opinion, it’s different because of the foreign and interesting beats and rhythm, as well as the language of the music,” said Valle. “Some of my friends say it’s just the ‘Asian version of American pop,’ but I think that K-pop holds and brings a whole new meaning to pop culture entirely.” With the Internet undoubtedly playing a big role in the rise of the music’s popularity and the help of Youtube, these artists are at the forefront of the K-pop game and proving that while we may speak different languages, music truly is universal. Give them a listen, god knows, they’ve worked hard for it.
Big Bang
Big Bang remains Korea’s most established boyband. Even a two-year hiatus couldn’t stop the group from taking Best 26
Legend | Winter - Spring 2014
Worldwide Act at the 2012 MTV European Music Awards, a fan voted event that had them winning against Britney Spears and other famous acts from different regions. All five members have established solo careers, as a group their career transformation has seen them experimenting with everything from hip-hop to electro-pop and slower R&B jams and working with artists such as Diplo and Missy Elliott. It will undoubtedly be fun to see where they go next. Watch this: Their high energy, funky video for “Fantastic Baby” is a can’t miss, as is “Haru Haru” (translation: “Day By Day”), a slow jam the group released back in 2008 that remains the definitive of their repertoire. Leader G-Dragon penned the track and his solo effort, the “Trainspotting” inspired video for “Crooked” is also worth a viewing.
Girls’ Generation
The victims of recent racist Internet backlash after winning the “Best Video Award” at the YouTube Music Awards, CNN dubbed them Korea’s answer to the Spice Girls. While most companies continue
to focus predominantly on the guys, the nine-member group - together since 2007, remains the girl group in Korea, boasting unrivaled popularity and triple threats in their roles as MCs, actresses and even UN Ambassadors. Watch this: They undoubtedly began their careers marketing a cute, flirty image in both “Gee” and “Genie (Tell Me Your Wish)” but it’s the fierceness they’ve grown into on display in “The Boys” that really makes them exciting to watch. With 81 million views to date, even Britney in her hay day couldn’t compete with this dance video.
EXO
Composed of 12 members, the group is split into two, releasing material in both Mandarin and Korean (their subgroups Exo-K and Exo-M, respectively), undoubtedly a clever way to conquer both markets simultaneously. They even garnered a MTV European Music Award nomination earlier this month, pitting them against such namesakes as Justin Bieber and One Direction for Best Worldwide Act. Watch this: EXO’s videography has been epic to say the least, with the prophetic “MAMA” as their debut, but it’s their dance video for “Growl” that really stands apart. Equal parts funk and R&B inspired, the group sports matching school uniforms and showcase the kind of fluidity that Chris Brown and Usher would’ve envied when they were teenagers.
Troublemaker
Americans will remember Hyuna for her turn as the flirty girl who took part in a dance off in Psy’s “Gangnam Style.” Troublemaker sees her teaming with labelmate Hyunseung of BEAST. Their partnership has garnered attention for being sexy and flirty, breaking many idol rules. Watch this: Their unedited Rated 19+ video for “Now” is a dizzying and welcome departure from usual K-pop videos, a portrayal of drugs, doomed love and hustling set to a backdrop of an urban single reminiscent of Rihanna’s “We Found Love.” It’s a refreshingly darker take on what K-pop can be capable of. Look East: Want more? Rap group Epik High, alternative-rock band F.T. Island, electronic masters Clazziquai, pop queen BoA and singer-songwriters K. Will and I.U. are also worth a listen. Illustration by ADAM BAIRD