Today, we are going to learn how our beloved K-Pop stars are made. Let’s find out why and how our idol groups are so popular in Asia, South America, and Europe. Also, let’s see why our idol groups’ songs and dance are being highly regarded in foreign countries. Meanwhile, idol groups have formed a new fan base. Previously, young peopleenjoyed young K-pop stars’ music and older generations enjoyed older songs. Recently, there has been a shift in this relationship. It is truly amusing. This may be showing a side of transition and change in the Korean society. Now, let’s get started on our fun and interesting lesson.
Idol group stars are undoubtedly at the forefront of Hallyu wave. Standing for Korean Popular Music, ‘K-Pop’ and the idol groups and their songs are taking over the world. Korean idol groups have performed in Paris, London, and metropolitan cities in Europe. A famous newspaper headlines ‘Le Monde’ and ‘Le Figaro’ had articles on K-Pop stars. Other media showed great interest in Korean idol groups. They have started to analyze our idol groups. What they found was our focused education system and endless practice.
An entertainment company called OO Entertainment has produced ‘DongBangShinGi,’ ‘Super Junior,’ ‘Girls’ Generation,’ ‘Shinee,’ ‘F(x)’ and many more. The following steps are taken to produce idol groups in this company: Trainees are selected through auditions each year from a pool of more than ten thousand applicants. The selected trainees are given training through the OO Academy in singing, dancing, acting, as well as foreign language for 3-5 years. It takes about 2 years for each trainee to develop his or her own style of appeal to the popular culture.
Now, how much do you have to practice to become a star? Let’s examine the daily schedule of trainees practicing to be an idol star. Their day starts at 10AM after they wake up and eat breakfast at their dorms. An English-speaking teacher visits their dorms toteach English for 2 hours. They have quizzes and tests each time. After lunch, they have individual practice for 2 hours starting at'1pm. At 3 o’clock, they receive vocal training and music theory education in groups or receive acting lesson or special lessons once a week. These trainees are preparing to become stars not only in music, but also in acting and entertainment programs. From 8 o’clock'in the evening, they have 2 hours of dance practice. They practice everything from basic moves to hip hop, jazz, and Latin dance. After,they practice for another 2 hours until 12am when their day ends. Each lesson has evaluation forms and through this, they are forced to compete with fellow trainees. There are no exceptions for Sundays either. Current K-Pop stars have gone through this schedule for at 'least 4 years and at most for years. Isn’t it amazing?
From a certain point, the term ‘hook song’ became a word to negatively point out K-Pop idol groups songs’ addictive nature. In a hook song, its chorus is short and repetitive, making it easy for the listener to sing along without noticing. For example, Wonder Girls’ ‘Nobody’ and Girls’ Generation’s ‘Gee’ are hook songs, representing idol groups with hook songs. Those who are against hook songs believe that this type of music is detrimental to the variety of Korean music industry. They believe that these songs are focused on the dance more than the song, lowering the standard of artistry and musicianship.
On the other hand, the popular appeal and simplicity of hook songs are peeking the interest of foreign ears. A K-Pop personnel stated that the hook songs in K-Pop music and its easy-to-follow words are popular, even though one may not know what he or she is singing. Local song writers and producers are working hard to make more hook songs, and this this effort is seen positively in foreign countries. Many song writers, who used to be DJs, know the trends of other countries, making it easier to produce songs that are going to be popular in the Americas and European countries. Therefore, these songs should have the label of‘trendy songs’ instead of ‘hook songs.’ That is the view that people have about K-Pop’s positive influence. In other words, K-Pop has figured out the overarching music trend of the world.