Zitat:
After reading through the comments, I have come to the conclusion, your overwhelmingly dislikes are coming from EXO-Ls who don’t like that you aren’t calling BTS bad vocalists. Which is stupid because you are saying they are both talented, what’s wrong with that? Anyway, I did a bunch of historical research into Korea and its music scene recently (deeper then I have researched in the past) and I feel like there is something particular that sets BTS apart.
Since the conception of Trot music (tradition music, like a combo of country and opera), a huge amount of Korean music was inspired by American sounds because after the Japanese colonial rule, Korean musicians were trying to cater toward the American troops stationed in Korea during the Korean War. Very folksy in the 50s-60s and then in the 70s rock music became huge and was used by young people to express deeper messages of social issues, politics, and ideologies. Musicians where sometimes banished due to over powering censorship by the government, as this was during Korea’s long fight for democracy and getting rid of their dictators.
The 80s spoke the rise of heavy metal, with the same purpose of lyrics and messages. Headliners of the time were groups like Sinwae (most popular Korean heavy metal band in history). Then the 90s came and so did democracy, and that’s when Seo Taeji a former member of Sinwae, decided to use a mixture of what the youth was listening to (American hip hop and r&b over American army radios) to spread those messages. They were now focussed on the suffering the youth had to deal with, like mental illness, depression, over power and control of schools etc. similar to what what plagues the youth today still. He formed Seo Taeji & The Boys, the first Kpop group (mixture of hip hop, rock and pop). After that they challenged conservative society and are today considered legends of the music industry in Korea. The other groups formed in their footsteps like H.O.T and so on.
However the down fall of 1st Generation idols was the 2nd Generation. Not because 2nd Generation groups aren’t talented(in fact they are what introduced me to Kpop in 2013), but because they were managed mostly by companies and were more conservative in lyrics, contrary to the original purpose of Kpop. It only escalated from there. Naturally groups now a days will make meaningful songs, but minuscule in number then the greater picture of Kpop. However what the Korean general public over 20 acknowledge, is the lack of “Korean” Kpop has. In fact they don’t even call it that, they call it “Idol music”. It’s because these young kids are making music that is devoid of meaning almost every comeback, and the songs are often produced by foreigners and sometimes even rejected tracks by western artists (SM does this ALOT) and the general public think “why must we listen to B-Grade American music here, when we could listen to A-Grade American music?”.
Also, the particular thing about Kpop, is it often lacks “Han”. Which can’t be translated directly to English, but it’s meaning is something similar to intense longing, anguish, and hope. Something derived from the countries dark history and prominent in 1st Generation Kpop. While Idol music is popular across Asia, it’s “Han” that the Korean people long for, and why nowadays people are starting to consider BTS true Korean music. This of course does not mean EXO or any other Kpop group aren’t talent in their own right. Of course they are, in fact I long for a day where I can see Baek and Chen star in The Phantom of the Opera lol.
However my point is that corporate greed changed Kpop from its original form, and the reason BTS where suppressed for so much of their career till 2015 when they started to be sorta noticed...but that just meant a lot of people hating on them. That was because they were a threat to the structure of Kpop, a small company group meant to disband in a couple years was succeeding. And with music that spoke to all generations struggles. This is also why I believe the future of Kpop, or the image of Korean Music, will be heavily influenced by acts like Epik High, Michelle Lee, B.A.P, MFBTY, Amber/f(X), Holland (just to name a few), and of course BTS.
There is a reason Seo Taeji himself picked them to remake his hit Come Back Home, and told them to call him Father. He sees his vision of music in them. They are a revolution for Korean youth and music. After all, music is ingrained deeply into Korean culture, as the Arts are revered greatly in Asian society in general, especially Korea. EXO are talented by all means, however the reason they aren’t popular internationally, the reason no other group has been, is because they lack “Han” which was built on grit. Which you mentioned was what appeals to American general public listeners. I think “better vocalist” is stupid. Because it means so much more to be an artist and a musician then just “vocal technique”.
Times are changing as well, it’s the time for better representation in media, and time for the world to truly except its globalization and embrace it in the future.
BTS and EXO aren’t the same thing, so comparing them doesn’t make sense. What you are doing in these videos isn’t comparing them, however because of the hunger games mentality of Kpop, some fans can’t stand the idea of a person who is neutral on a topic.that and can’t stand someone not shitting on BTS. Like I don’t get how it’s that hard to just appreciate two different music entities and what they have to offer. Sorry so many idiots are getting mad at you over nothing.
Hier im übrigen das erwähnte Remake von Seo Taijis Come Back Home: