K-POP

Since I was able to receive KBS World on TV, I was reacquainted with Korean pop music. I was sort of into K-Pop just before the turn of the century but there was a period of time I was “out” of it. Don’t know and can’t remember why I stopped in between these two periods. Maybe the disbanding of some of my favourite groups?

Was into Clon, Fly to the Sky, S.E.S., Baby V.O.X., H.O.T. and practically everyone’s favourite, Shinhwa.

Clon (formed in 1996) and Fly to the Sky (formed in 1999) were duos. There were lots of high power energy rap from Clon and Fly to the Sky stood out as their music had a lot of american influence. Unfortunately, Kang Won-Rae, one half of Clon, met with a tragic motorcycle accident in November 2000, which left him paralyzed from the waist down.

H.O.T. (formed in 1996) was undoubtedly HOT as many would say that they set the trend and standards for subsequent boy and girl bands in Korea, including Shinhwa. H.O.T. (many think that it stands for High-five Of Teenagers) had five members including Kangta. H.O.T. disbanded in 2001.

S.E.S. (formed in 1997 till 2002) was the female equivalent of H.O.T. The name of this band is made up of the initial of each of its members’ names, just like Taiwan’s SHE.

Amongst the female bands that tried to ride on the success of S.E.S. and actually do made a mark for themselves was Baby V.O.X. (Voices Of Xpression; formed in 1999 till 2005), with five members.

Shinhwa (formed in 1998) is legendary just like its chinese name, 神話. With six members who are not only musicians in their own rights, they are the only band that had survived for more than 10 years. The last album was released last year in 2008. Whilst members had gone solo, they are still officially together as a band. It is rumoured that they will be together for another five years before disbanding.

I am not sure whether it is fair for me to say, but I think that many members of the current new bands may not be able to stand on their own unlike the earlier members mentioned above. Some of the earlier members had gone solo and are just as popular now. Some of them, who might no longer be on stage, are well respected behind the scene.

My comment is based on my observation of current new groups: the members are very young and the sheer size of each group. The earlier groups had 2 to 6 members. Now it is like you need at least 5 and up to 13 members: Big Bang (5 members), Wonder Girls (5), 2 PM (7), Girls’ Generation (9), Super Junior (13). Maybe they are from what is called idol faction [偶像派] and not strength faction [实力派] (having good looks versus having good singing skills).

Notwithstanding the “quality” of the current new groups, their music is characterized by catchy tune and beat with simple yet slick dance moves. The choreography when done by one person might seem silly but when executed in unison and precision as a group it can be quite entertaining. Like many Mandarin and Japanese songs, a simple but mandatory English word or phrase must be thrown in. So for people like me who doesn’t understand Korean, it is usually the part with the English word or phrase that catches on with us.

You can watch Music Bank (Korea Top 20 music chart show) every Tuesday from 6.00 pm to 7.20 pm on Starhub (free) Channel 173. At this time, I am usually just chilling after dinner and checking out what’s on TV anyway.

Not decided whether you want to tune in? Well here are three of the past and current holders of the Number 1 spot in the Music K-Chart, arranged chronologically:

Wonder Girls - Noboby



Girl's Generation - Gee



Super Junior - Sorry Sorry



I want nobody nobody but you, nobody nobody but you, gee gee gee baby baby baby, gee gee gee baby baby baby, sorry sorry sorry sorry!!