Korean Music + fans = ?

On April 17, singer, Taeyeon from SNSD, or Girl's Generation was attacked by a man during a performance in the Angel Price Music Festival.

This may speak to lax security (I'm not really sure how he managed to get all the way up on stage...), but I wanted to bring up a different point- the fans. After something like this happens, kpop fans get very emotional and start clogging up blogging sites and other social networks. Each Korean music group, if they are big enough, have a fan base. Those fans have special names. For example, SNSD's offical fan club name is 소원, SoWon, which means "wish". It is stylized as S♡NE. Fans are called SONE, meaning "so one" as in, SNSD and the fans are one. Popular boy group Super Junior's fans are called E.L.F's, meaning everlasting friends- their fans will always be there fans and that they are more like friends to SuJu.

This labeling creates a sense of belonging and a community where people who love a group can interact with each other. For concerts, fans will put together chants to sing during a singer's performance. So in the lulls of a song, the whole stadium will be chanting a group/singer's name. Fans put so much effort into showing their love for a group...can you imagine how intense anti-fans are?

When these two groups clash, it's like an online war... comments are overwhelmed by the number each side defending or provoking the other. So why is this different than any fan in other countries? It's how much a Korean music fan is invested in a singer. Just go to a concert, or a blog, or just a youtube video comment section.... then you might get a slightly better understanding.

9th Korean Music Festival in LA

So Korea is bring the music to LA on April 30th. It's the 9th Annual Korean Music Festival and the lineup is as follows:

Jay Park
U-Kiss
4minute
SECRET
SISTAR
K.Will
Baek Ji Young
G.NA
DJ D.O.C
Jeong Soo Ra
Sul Woon Do
Kim Jang Hoon
Jeon Young Rok
Song So Hee
Lee Eun Ha

There are many familiar names as well as not so familiar ones. Last year's festival can be seen on allkpop's site.

It's nice to see a concert in the US dedicated to Korean music. It gives everyone who cannot fly to asia to a concert to experience the kpop culture in person.

Allkpop even has a facebook page dedicated to the event.

Sigh.. wish I could go. Hope everyone who goes has a blast!!

Hallyu to America!

Hallyu movement in America- more and more singers/rappers/etc. are pointing towards Korea with their music. will.i.am's Check It Out features a Korean man introducing him in Korean. Also, throughout the music video, there are Korean phrases thrown around the screen. Although this video/song is not something new, I just found it and thought that it was pretty cool.

Also Far East Movement went to Seoul to perform a last month. Here's a link to an interview about the group. The article mentions will.i.am's mv as well!

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about will.i.am's mv and his use of Korean... but I think its kinda awesome that American artists are starting to use the Korean language as well as collaborate with Korean artists and producers.

For me... "Turn it up" rather than "Turn it up to 11"

After watching the documentary, Turn it up to 11, on a few notable Indie Rock bands in Korea, I conclude that I still prefer mainstream music. HOWEVER, this might be because the documentary shows more of how each band acted and what their success and failures were. I did not get to listen to their music as much as I saw bits and pieces of them on stage or getting ready. The energy is definitely there and obviously attracts crowds. Galaxy Express (above) in particular, has been doing well and even came to the US for a concert this past Friday. However, I would rather listen to TOP's Turn it Up (sub-titled in English):

Korean indie rock bands Fight Hunger in North Korea

Someone I know put together a concert to Fight Hunger in North Korea.. and what do you know.... Galaxy Express, who was featured in the documentary from my last post, will be performing in New York tonight.


Date: Friday, March 25, 2011
Venue: Soirée (199 Bowery Street, New York, NY 10002)
Ticket Price: $18 online; $25 at the door
Student Discount: $12 online; $15 at the door (with student ID)

http://hanconcert.blogspot.com/p/han-concert.html

Idiotape
Vidulgi ooYoo
Galaxy Express
Paper dolls