This is an issue very close to my heart. I'm always sad whenever I think about this too much and notice this, especially nowadays when K-Pop is more mainstream than it used to be back in the days.
I don't actually consider myself an "old-school" K-Pop fan, I started listening to Korean music in 2014 but it's still been 4 years already and I still remember a time when BTS wasn't as big as they are now. That being said, the time of truly legendary groups such as TVXQ were long-gone when I first got into K-Pop, I only learned about them later on and the glory days were behind them (I don't mean that in a bad way, btw). As for TVXQ, the original line-up of 5 members was long over in 2014 so I never truly knew the power group in their prime but still. I do pride myself in knowing and appreciating a lot of old groups and songs that don't get the recognition and appreciation they deserve nowadays. I don't want to offend anyone but to me, a true K-Pop fan is someone who still knows anthems like Mirotic by TVXQ, the early songs by Super Junior (like Twins) and groups like Secret that have long been disbanded. As unimaginable as it might seem now, there was a time when EXO and BTS didn't exist yet and other groups dominated the market. The one group I always feel especially bad for is (as you might have guessed by now) TVXQ. Yunho and Changmin will always have a special place in my heart because even though it took me some time, I grew to love them and their music because even the latest TVXQ songs are bops. Another example is BoA. She is truly a pioneer for the entire Korean music industry but gets easily overlooked by newer fans. She was 13 when she debuted as a soloist after 2 years of training at SM and still works for the company today. She's been active for 18 years, that's more than half of her life and recently she released her 9th full-length album Woman which is seriously so so good and everybody needs to listen to it! To me, BoA is like a bridge between K-Pop generations. Most of the first generation groups like H.O.T, Shinhwa, Fin.K.L, Baby Vox, Chakra, S.E.S, g.o.d and Sechs Kies were still promoting in 2000 and then the second generation of idol groups started with TVXQ, Super Junior, Big Bang, 2PM and 2AM, and F.T. Island. I haven't really thought about when the third generation of groups starts (for me) but whenever that may be, BoA promoted through the years until today. Lastly, Super Junior. I don't wanna say they're not popular anymore because I certainly still love them but keeping in mind that they once dominated music charts, their success nowadays is definitely more reserved although in my opinion, the Replay album was one of their best records overall (I loved all the songs so much). I'm not sure whether newer fans are aware but their song Bonamana (which was released in 2010) stayed as the #1 song on a Taiwanese chart for 61 consecutive weeks - that's more than a year! Of course, with SuJu I do kind of know where the "loss" of popularity came from as ever since 2012 members were completing their military service. But this year with Kyuhyun as the last member serving, the end of SuJu's military days is near. Now, with all of that being said. I strongly urge you to maybe pay attention to the groups I mentioned. You should at least check out their music, you will not regret it, I promise! I'll recommend a few of my favorite songs: TVXQ: 주문 (Mirotic), 왜 (Keep Your Head Down), Catch Me, Humanoids, 수리수리 (Spellbound), 운명 (The Chance of Love), 평행선 (Love Line), Jealous BoA: No. 1, 아틀란티스 소녀 (Atlantis Princess), My Name, Girls On Top, Eat You Up, Hurricane Venus, Copy & Paste, Who Are You, Camo, 내가 돌아 (Nega Dola), Everybody Knows, One Shot Two Shot, Woman Super Junior: Twins (Knock Out), U, Sorry Sorry, 미인아 (Bonamana), Mr. Simple, Sexy Free & Single, Spy, Mamacita, This Is Love, Devil, Magic, the entire Replay album, One More Time
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So underappreciated in my opinion. Literally legends, they deserve more attention.
It has been shamefully long since my last post again but I was busy with all my exams and I didn't have much time which is why I actually haven't even listened all that much to new releases and so on... The only thing I've heard from the last half to full month is the new B.A.P title song "Feel So Good" and I enjoyed that a lot. But tbh, I haven't even watched all that much TV recently and rather finished a few of the books that have been waiting to be read for a long time. But now: The actual main topic of this post. Youtubers were actually the reason I got introduced to K-Pop in the first place. Back in 2014, I was incredibly obsessed with countless ones, I spent all my time watching Youtube videos from various creators and I loved it so so much. Then, I came across TheFineBros, a channel by two brothers who often produce "React videos" where Youtubers, teens, kids or elders react to certain videos. And because I knew a lot of the featured Youtubers and I just couldn't get enough of all of them, I watched the React episodes from episode one until the latest and so on. And they happened to have filmed a "Youtubers React to K-Pop" which also included Smosh, my favorite Youtubers (of all time hehe). Of course I had to watch it and I actually was a little surprised and I thought the music videos were strange. But at the same time, I was intrigued - a lot. Especially when I watched "Fantastic Baby" by Big Bang which turned out to be my favorite band of all time months later. I enjoyed Girls' Generation a lot so I downloaded a few songs and I downloaded a few Big Bang songs as well and that's how I got into K-Pop. After a few months, another React episode about K-Pop was uploaded and I watched it and that's when I first fell in love with EXO because of "Overdose". At first it never got any further than listening to the music now and then and watching some few MVs but then, in November I decided to create a Tumblr and join to EXO fandom on there. And that's when I lost (completely). It took me (from my current point of view) painfully long to distinguish between the members and I mixed them up so often. There are twelve of them after all. But after I watched EXO's Showtime, I got a hang of it and managed to keep them apart. I only listened to EXO back then. Some time later, Super Junior followed and after that I found BTS at some point. And countless other bands came after that as well up until today and I think there will be tons of new ones, too... Maybe some of you even read all of that and liked my storytime (I can't seem to exclude this, I love talking about K-Pop and how I got into it). Well, I wanted to share my love for K-Pop and also my love for Youtubers and what would be a more perfect way than Youtubers React to K-Pop? I hope you enjoy the video as much as I do! COMMENTARY I love seeing others reactions to K-Pop and I'm okay with the fact that other people don't always love it as much as I do. I found it strange at first as well until I became used to it at some point. (I'm now watching the video to comment on it here, just so you know.) First of all, they put Fantastic Baby first and that's good because this is like a perfect description and introduction to K-Pop. This is everything that is K-Pop, I'm sure all of you agree. Plus it's Big Bang, so no argument there! First comment being about the hair. Yes, oh yes, fabulous Jiyong as always. But the hair is definitely something else - if you're not used to it. By now, I've watched so many Jiyong videos, I don't always notice it anymore when it's a little weird or outstanding or whatever. "I think I've seen this video." This always makes me laugh. This is popular even though I think she doesn't know the band (which is like a huge sin as a K-Pop fan if you don't just stick to one group whcih I also did in the beginning...)! Tyler being Tyler, I love his reactions so so much! He's so refreshing in all of his ways and I love his personality a lot! He always makes me smile with what he does and when he laughs, I instantaneously have to laugh as well. Ryan (being probably my second favorite Youtuber out there) is also great and I love him being so calm although shit is going down in the MV. Catherine is just like I was at first. It was the exact same reaction, seriously. I was completely stunned and I wasn't sure what to think about it haha. And then, Ian and Anthony, who were the main reason I watched this in the first place, always make me laugh when I watch this. Especially when they think it's "I got a boy on my chin" in the SNSD song. Now that I know what it actually says, this is just hilarious! Also, my thought on this was just like this one guy's: "I don't know what this is but this is awesome." HELLS YEAH! And then, Seunghyun's (for all of you who do not know: that's TOP's real name) part comes on and now, I'm just sitting here like "EFF YEAH THIS IS MY MUSIC!" but when I saw it for the first time I was like "Who is that mint dude hanging around in a painting?!" although even back then I loved the concept and style of the video, it was just so badass. (And yes, amen to what Tyler says haha.) And because of the Final Fantasy comment and even though I have never played Final Fantasy, I now always have to think about it when I watch the MV. HAH JIYONG IS KILLING ME... Ryan is right again haha, that was so me! And now: GIRLS GENERATION! This was the first time I fell in love with K-Pop. The beginning of this song was just so addictive, I listened to it so many times. And then, Anthony's comment about PSY's music video. Now, I could like literally hold a lecture about it but back then, I was just as clueless as they are. Then, Tyler laugh. And I was actually taken aback a little because they changed the style of the song so much but that's what I love even more now. OH DEAR LORD, I forgot about SHINee in the first video :O But yeah, I always thought (back then) that they were kind of... weird... Especially because Taemin looked like a girl to me with his long hair and the music video just didn't speak to me as much. Although I loved their dancing even back then. And seriously guys, their hair styles during "Lucifer" were just crazy! The "care bear stare" also sticks with me whenever I watch this video. (And also when I watch "Overdose" by EXO.) And I just noticed again how synchronized SHINee's dances are, oh my god :O COMMENTARY (I don't have much time left so this is super short.) Lily, Dan and Phil are perfection. Also, the featured songs are "Overdose" by EXO-K, "Catallena" by Orange Caramel and "Catch Me" by TVXQ (or DSBK). I especially like the reactions to "Catallena" because the MV is really weird. COMMENTARY (Again, I don't have much time left ahhh.) Lily and Dan and Phil and also Connor... *heart eyes* Featured songs are "Dope" by BTS, "Every Night" by EXID and "One Shot" by B.A.P. Also, this was the first React to K-Pop video I watched after I got into it and I knew the songs and MVs beforehand but I found it even as enjoyable watching their reactions. I hope you guys enjoyed these videos as much as I did and still do to this day!!
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AlinaI'm a 20 years old from Germany. I am studying Asian Studies and Korean at university and I fell in love with Korean music, television and culture (also the food) a few years ago Go to the NAVIGATION page to find the categories & an overview of companies / groups / members.
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