Soyoung Kim
Look Out, World: K-pop Acts Worth Watching
While there are numerous sub-genres under the greater umbrella of “popular Korean music” (such as talented ballad singer K. Will, indie-folk group Busker Busker, or rock band CN BLUE), here are a few groups worth watching for a potential breakthrough in the U.S. mainstream market.
K-pop and Social Media
Imagine it’s the morning of your birthday, or the afternoon you’re headed to the airport, or the evening when your new relationship status (#taken) was unveiled. You turn to your cell phone to share this news with your Twitter fam and discover that the top trending topics in the Twitterverse are actually already about you. Sound exciting? Frightening? Bizarre? Welcome to the social media world of K-pop.
The Breaking Point
The U.S. has witnessed its share of fans-gone-obsessive, including occasional celebrity stalking cases. However, in the U.S., even the most devoted fans don’t physically interfere with artists’ lives (except for the occasional crazy fan who might make a tabloid headline for trying to steal Britney Spears’ wig). In contrast, there is an entire breed of K-pop fans who have taken fandom to an alarming level.
Old-School K-pop
Just as American blues evolved into modern day mainstream pop, rock, and hip-hop music, “pansori”—or Korean opera sung along to a drum—was the cornerstone for what developed into K-pop.
B-List Star to Worldwide Phenomenon
On a sweltering August evening in 2012, a plump, 34-year-old hip-hop artist, father of twins, college dropout, and self-proclaimed “B-list star” dropped his sixth album. Within hours, he became the world’s most sought-after musician. Twelve years into his career, Psy (Park Jae-sang) witnessed his fame skyrocket overnight. A few short months later, the music video for his song “Gangnam Style” hit a record-breaking one billion views, becoming the most watched video in YouTube history.
Portrait of an Artist: Christine Bennett
Assistant Dance Director Christine Bennett gives dance advice and discusses her high-risk choreography.
Breaking Racial Boundaries
The BAAFF returned this weekend with the aim of empowering its community.
Elizabeth C. Walker ’11
Walker graces Harvard’s stages with ballet of a professional caliber.
Yardfest 2011 Primer
For the second year in a row, Yardfest will feature three artists. A College Events Board (CEB) survey earlier in the school year revealed that the majority of students wanted to hear performances from the genres of Top 40 and Hip-Hop/Rap so the CEB delivered with a line-up of Far East Movement, Sam Adams, and the White Panda.
HRO Reaches New Heights
This past Saturday, it became easy to forget that the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra (HRO) is a student orchestra. In a stunning ...
Gorillaz Succumb to the iPad on ‘The Fall’
Damon Albarn maintains some of his power to form densely emotional songs, but the limitations and distractions of recording on the iPad overcome the songs on “The Fall.”
Dancing Flash Mob Brightens Annenberg
As the Class of 2014 experiences reading period for the first time, many students find themselves struggling with the stresses ...
Looking Back at Harvard-Yale
The Game is turning 127 years old tomorrow and the campus is anxiously awaiting the confrontation. It’s easy to get sucked into the excitement, but it might leave you to wonder how it all got started in the first place.
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