The James Logan Courier

By Christine Cortes, Courier Staff Writer

If you are not familiar with the term "K-pop", it stands for Korean pop music. How is this relevant to the lives of Americans? While there is an obvious language barrier, for most of the songs are in full Korean, the cookie-cutter music is creating a craze all over the world.

The songs themselves are not that great, simple melodies that are addicting and lyrics that seem to be copied from a thirteen year old girl's diary. The random English inserted into the choruses of the songs tend to make no sense, and there is no depth in the meanings. It is as if one just took the most effortless, but appealing recipes for music and gave it to the South Koreans. There are few Korean celebrities with amazing voices, with just an average singing voice. So what is making it so big?
Even though the music is mediocre, it is so addicting. So addicting that it is able to make successful boy bands and girl groups. It starts out as a song that is annoying and that one just wants to get out of their head, but ends up becoming an obsession. With the members dancing perfectly in sync, carrying out difficult choreography while singing, a person cannot help but repeat the video to see if what they saw was real. When promoting a single, the celebrities perform every week on music programs. Because of the too good to be true performances in which they sing live and dance at the same time, they groups are known as 'idol' groups.

You can get to know these celebrities by watching variety shows, where the idols are featured and mostly play games and talk. Some may not be attracted to a certain group's music at first, but there are cases where people fall in love with the group because they watch their crazy antics on tv.

Many are taking interest in this new fad. Girl groups 2NE1 and Girls Generation are doing well with their fan-base in America despite not making their official debuts. 2NE1 is being managed by Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and their first English single is probably going to be released sometime this year, especially after all the attention they garnered after winning the title "Best New Band in the World" from MTV Iggy. Girls Generation recently performed on Late Show with David Letterman and Live! with Kelly. The Wonder Girls have made their American debut with their own tv movie on Teennick, even getting a nomination in the Kids Choice Awards.

Keep an eye out (and ear out), K-pop is coming to America!