Just about any Korean pop music - K-pop fan wouldn't wonder that Bangtan Sonyeodan is South Korea's #1 band. At the very least, this group would make anyone's Top Ten list. Perhaps you don't recognise them by that name but, surely, you've heard of BTS? Did you wonder what those letters stand for? Now you know.
This seven-member group had their debut in 2013 in South Korea. Four years later, they were leading the global Korean Wave - the Hallyu Wave, with their hit Mic Drop sitting at the top of the US Billboard charts. In a very real sense, despite being currently on hiatus, they still occupy the apex of the South Korean entertainment Wave. But BTS didn't start it all.
Those with slightly longer memories aver that Psy gave the world its first taste of K-pop. His smash hit, Gangnam Style, broke the internet. It went viral in August 2012 after its debut at Number 1 on Korean music charts. By that year's end, it claimed the #1 spot on 30 countries' Billboard charts.
Gangnam Style is an original parody track mocking the wealthy Seoul district of that same name. The song earned its entry into the Guinness Book of Records for being the first YouTube music video to hit one billion views (September 2012). At this time, the official video has racked up 4.5 billion plays.
Clearly, the South Korean entertainment industry has hit upon a winning formula. Not just with all that great music, either. Consider all the Korean television shows available for streaming. It seems the Hallyu Wave grows taller every day. Let's get a close-up of South Korea's best bands and their music to find out why.
Boy Bands and Korean Songs
Many South Korean music groups project a beguiling blend of hot sensuality and aching vulnerability. They are masters of innocent appearance contrasting with streetwise toughness. And nobody does it better than the Bulletproof Boy Scouts - the literal translation of BTS. Indeed, their name reflects that concept. Bulletproof = tough. Boy Scouts = innocent.
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You might be tempted to stop at Dynamite, their first original, English-language track. Released worldwide in August 2020, it meant to cheer everyone while we were locked down. Bright colours, hot dance moves, upbeat music... But don't stop there, or with their follow-up hit single, Butter. Go back in time, maybe to 2016, to their single Am I Wrong?. It's far too profound a message for anyone innocently bulletproof to sing.
The boy band Ateez is a relative newcomer on the K-pop scene but they're no less polished. Their start was a bit of a wonder. Kim Hong-hoon sent a mixtape to KQ Entertainment company in February 2018, expressing his wish to become a K-pop idol. Typically, entertainment companies hold auditions specifically for either boys or girls. They generally don't have time for unsolicited mixtapes.
This eight-member group had their debut in October 2018, just in time to sweep the Music Awards. They were named Worldwide Fan's Choice in 2019, and for good reason. Their range expands from the Jamaican-sounding track Wave to the introspective hit Deja Vu. And all of that and hot, sensual dancing, too! Who knew Korean pop culture could be so exciting?
Monsta X is no slouch in the vulnerable toughness department, either. One minute into the Love music video proves they're equally at home in spangly blazers as they are in gangsta wear. And you might wonder if their hard-hitting rap hides their inability to sing. Until you hear that cool, clear countertenor.
This six-member group came together through a reality show. In December 2014, contestants were pitted against one another over 10 episodes and were ranked after each episode's performance. The final instalment saw three groups of three battle it out. Monsta X members were selected from among those finalists. Since then, they've cultivated an original music style that blends electronic dance music (EDM), pop and hip hop.
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Best KPop Songs from Girl Bands
Rap music seems to be today's dominant style of music. Every band and group we've featured - and plenty of other K-pop groups include at least a rap break in every song. Some, like Monsta X, rely more heavily on rapping than harmony for their tracks. Red Velvet members present a beguiling blend of both.
This five-member girl group hit the airwaves in August 2014, with the debut of their first single, Happiness. The video for this upbeat track garnered over two million views a mere day after its upload. By the time August closed out, Happiness was the second-most-viewed K-pop video on YouTube. It's no wonder why. This group has serious vocal talent laced through every one of their peppy songs.
If this were a quiz show and the question was "Hottest girl music group", the correct answer would be Blackpink. They are the most popular girl group in the history of South Korea. Their Billboard chart performance bears this out. Blackpink's first single album, Square One, sizzled up the Billboard World digital song sales list in August 2016. It featured twin tracks Whistle and Boombaya.
This four-member girl group trained much longer than the boy bands we featured. In 2009, YG Entertainment invited teen girls to try out for a trainee position. After years of gruelling formation, members Jenny, Rosé, Jisoo and Lisa were ready for their debut week media blitz. YG failed to debut them in February 2012, as promised. It wasn't until August, four years later, that this idol group finally got their day. They were well worth the wait.
How the girl group Twice managed their launch ahead of Blackpink isn't much of a mystery. Each of the group's nine members was already an idol trainee. Their entertainment company, YJP, announced a forthcoming new band in December 2014 but, just like Blackpink, the timing was off. The following February, YJP said the reality show Sixteen would determine the band members.
The group released their first original pop single, Like Ooh Ahh, in October 2015. It failed to overwhelm and rapidly fell down the Billboard ranks. Throughout November, word of mouth got around and it started climbing again. By December, the band's hot, poppy sound was known well enough to earn Twice members a place at the year-end music festival.
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Korean Lessons with Korean Songs
For language learners, improving listening skills with music is not an original idea. Teachers have been recommending it for years. If you're a beginner Korean speaker, you might not be able to understand much of anything groups sing about, at first. Keep listening every day. Soon, you'll be able to pick out individual words and syllables.
The particle 'eseo' will probably be the first one you'll isolate. It's used quite frequently to signal direction or location. It's very easy to confuse with 'kkeseo', an honorific marker. The Korean language is full of these near-misses!
Take 'yeo', a particle used at the end of words as an exclamation. It's not the same particle you'll hear at the end of 'I love you' - salanghaeyo. Note that 'love' (salang) features in many of the best music tracks; it's a word you can start focusing on to kick off your listening drills no matter what your level.
If you're learning how to speak Korean, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to music selection. You might prefer listening to EXO for their edgy style but it might be hard to pick words because of the way they rap. Why not give NCT a try, instead? They're a bit more laid back but their pronunciation is the best. The more you listen, the easier it will be to pick out individual words.
Should you prefer rock music to rap and pop, give Xdinary Heroes a listen. They're a fairly recent addition to the South Korean rock music scene. They had their debut in December 2021 with their single Happy Death Day. That title sounds gloomy but this track makes a good point. This six-member group makes sure you know what they're singing by pronouncing every word clearly.
Listening to EXO or NCT - or any other band on our list or yours, you're giving yourself the best tool to understand Korea. These original songs give us insight into Korean culture and the social issues faced every day. K-pop and other music genres from Korea aren't all sunshine and happiness.
Many Korean songs are indeed about love - having it, wanting it and missing it. But some songs are very deep. For instance, the aforementioned BTS track, Am I Wrong?, talks about the need for change for urgent social issues and how people don't seem to care about those problems.
We'll not spoil your joy of discovery by listing song after song, from the Billboard chart or not. You have an entire catalogue of original Korean music to explore. Just remember that every rock and K-pop single, no matter how high it ranked on a music Billboard, is an occasion to enhance your Korean lessons. Sure, you could listen to podcasts and read books in Korean, but would their content give quite the zing that a snappy track delivers?
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