Back to Basics – Who Influenced Today’s K-Pop Acts the Most?

Alona

August 8, 2013

In its article, Billboard wonders who, from the original K-pop artists, ifluenced today’s biggest acts the most.

Billboard goes all the way before PSY and his worldwide hit song ‘Gangnam Style’ and reminisce about the history of idol groups. They started, “Idol groups hit the scene in the 1990s. The idol phenomenon came about after the 1992 debut of Seo Taiji and Boys, a trio of hip-hop singer/rappers who fused American pop music with Korean lyrics. Thanks to their ability to meld Eastern and Western styles, Seo Taiji and Boys experienced immense popularity in Korea. Seeing their popularity as an opportunity for profit, entertainment companies jumped on this new style of music, and began creating copy-cat groups.”

They did not forget to mention Seo Taiji and Boys’ great influence in changing Korea’s modern popular music that most followers mark the date of their debut as the definitive genesis of K-pop. Thanks to them, a renaissance period in which a first generation of idol groups, such H.O.T. and Sechs Kies, became incredibly popular.

The 2nd generation idol groups came right away with incredibly popular TVXQ and BEAST who assumed a charisma reminiscent of H.O.T. and Sechs Kies. The promotional activites did not change that much since then. Billboard reminds its readers that “second-generation idols also borrow the over-the-top fashion sense, unique hairstyling and meticulously choreographed dance moves from their predecessors.”

Billboard compared 2AM to g.o.d. because they had “fangirls swooning with their boy-next-door wholesomeness. ” Surprisingly, they found a lot of similarities between B.A.P and H.O.T as well. They wrote, “The debut singles of both B.A.P and H.O.T. show similar musical roots, both displaying strong hip-hop tones with a unique twist. B.A.P.s debut track, “Warrior,” and the H.O.T. smash hit “Warrior’s Descendent” both deal with school violence and the the groups both use “shouting” vocal methods in the bridge of the song. The charismatic, highly technical choreography is also very similar.”

A Pink was compared to S.E.S and Fin.K.L because of their innocent, schoolgirl charms that stands out from most girl groups who have been attracting viewers for their skin-showing outfits and provocative dance moves.

What is different, is the fact that even tough the formula created twenty years ago by Seo Taiji and Boys is followed by idol groups today, the new groups managed to made a international careers with their tours all around the world.

Source: billboard

Article by: Karolina

Edited by: Alona

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