Why do (international) fans (or critics) expect #kpop to somehow espouse strong social positions?
1). Koreans get their pointed social criticism in music from independent Korean music. Being independent means you actually can express your ideas as you choose, right?
2). Idol pop performers are often young and working incredibly long hours-- they may not have time to stay up to date on issues and make an informed statement. That issue may mean the world to you, but they're under so much pressure with their job, and their job is performing.
3). Idol-pop music is produced by an agency that has deeply invested in a stars image (and wants it to be unobjectionable). Until some group is very popular much more money comes from modeling than selling music-- you get those advertising jobs with a clean image.
4). Idol pop is usually performed by a group (that can be impacted if one member does something controversial). This can keep a member from speaking out too frankly.
5). Very popular and senior members of the idol pop industry (esp. when they're solo) do espouse stronger viewpoints. As seniors in the industry it's more socially acceptable and they take less risk by speaking out.
If you want to hear social or political Korean music I suggest you listen to the same artists a Korean activist might enjoy. In fact some of those artists are people your fave idols might be enjoying, too.
And if you wait and keep supporting them your fave idols may (musically or otherwise) share their own social stances. Haven't we seen many artists grow into such a role?
Why don't you share some recommendations for more pointed socially conscious music, so that everyone can see that this does exist and has existed in Korea-- even if it's not what idols (usually) make.
Forgot to point out that idols will get a lot of criticism if they make overly controversial or strong statements particularly on Korean society, especially now that the world is watching idol K-pop, as it can be seen as airing dirty laundry in public.
So, I was hoping some of you all would link up some socially conscious music. There's so much it's hard to know where to start. Please, add on! First, one of the most contentious and famous activist songs in Korea (you can find countless other versions):
Another famous activist song in Korea. "늙은 노동자의 노래"
A classic #해야 by 마그마
(note who the MC is who introduces the song).
(note who the MC is who introduces the song).
Who could forget @Yoonmirae's "남자 남자 남자"
Some details from #KimIljung's article on women in Korean #hiphop
Some details from #KimIljung's article on women in Korean #hiphop
#Diva's "Lady First" from 1997 speaks for victims of sex crimes.
#SLEEQ "36.7"
And really, most of what Sleeq has done.
And really, most of what Sleeq has done.
Here's one of my faves with a solid translation: #선우정아 #SWJA mongkibijeuniseu.wordpress.com/2019/12/17/714…
Here's @JamesTurnbull explaining #선우정아's "Spring Girls" (#선우정아 is amazing, keep your eye on her-- I have a whole YouTube playlist of her) thegrandnarrative.com/2016/09/19/spr…
There are songs about all sorts of issues-- here's one on the #SewolFerry disaster: --Say Their Names, right? It has power.
A classic from #김광석
This is technically sort of an activist song, teaching kids the #DokdoIslets #Dokdo is Korean and not Japanese territory.
This is a powerful labor activist song, performed live by #안치환 :
This whole album is something every activist would have been listening to in the late 1980s, represented by this song here:
Someone strung together all these activists songs for 45 minutes of solid activist music, I've linked some of the same songs (perhaps other versions) above.
It's really interesting the commonalities in the song structure which are basically created by these songs being made for rallies and marches.
There are just so many amazing songs by #안치환 #AnChihwan that fit into the theme of "activist" music. And he has a LOT of songs (check out the wiki for a full list) ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%95%88…
Not sure anyone is paying attention to these activist songs... but anyway, here's the classic song for protesting American presence in Korea. Loose title translation "Yankee Go Home"
And here's #한대수 #HanDaesu singing his hopes for a better country, such a beautiful song and really you should check out all his work-- he even had a new album in 2020 (2019?)
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