{"id":12986,"date":"2020-10-29T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-29T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/?p=12986"},"modified":"2024-01-18T14:54:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T19:54:48","slug":"k-pop-is-pop-dispelling-illusion-genre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/k-pop-is-pop-dispelling-illusion-genre\/","title":{"rendered":"K-pop is pop: Dispelling the illusion of genre"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photo illustration:<\/strong> Celina Pereira<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s no such thing as K-pop \u2013 it’s just pop music created by Korean people.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the first installment of a mini-series exploring K-pop’s history, production, and culture. It’s an expansive topic, and we’re committed to doing our best to discuss and share any thoughts from a place of respect and deference to a rich culture. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reader, it is both simple and complicated to define what K-pop is. On one hand, it’s simply what the title of this series states: it’s pop music created by Korean people. But for those who aren\u2019t die-hard fans or even casual listeners, the mind wanders to the stereotypes: electronic dance music, bubblegum pop, and formulaically choreographed numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Western media often enjoys taking implicit jabs in describing the genre. But the reality is that ‘K-pop’ is made up of elements that we’re more than familiar with \u2013 the Wikipedia page<\/a> lists the influences of K-pop as \u201cexperimental, rock, jazz, gospel, hip hop, R&B, reggae, electronic dance, folk, country, classical, and traditional Korean music.” It just happens to be created by people<\/em> who we may not be as familiar with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why I\u2019m writing this<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I grew up in Nashville, TN \u2013 a.k.a. Music City, U.S.A. I was exposed to every type of popular genre and style of music under the sun, and rarely experienced a moment when I wasn\u2019t glued to the radio listening to the dulcet tones of Ryan Seacrest announcing the American Top 40 on 107.5 The River. Growing up Korean in Nashville meant that most of the musical idols I admired (and belted loudly in the car to) were people who looked nothing like me. It was also an invitation for my peers to ask if I listened to this thing called \u201cK-pop,\u201d and be met with disappointment when I ended the conversation with \u201cI don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My introduction to K-pop started as a birthday gift from a distant relative: it was BoA\u2019s first CD. I added it to my rotation of Backstreet Boys, Avril Lavigne, and Destiny\u2019s Child. To my pop-hungry ears, it felt natural listening to BoA belt in between Avril and Beyonc\u00e9, countered with Justin Timberlake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n