K-pop and me? I practically screamed when I saw this week’s prompt. BTS’s face showcasing as the cover had me squealing and talking to myself, imagining various ways to write about it. So here’s my experience with Korean Music.
So here’s how it all started. I was scrolling through my phone and I saw this group of boys in a facebook page. I thought they were all the same people, it got really confusing. It started with Jeon Jungkook, a member of BTS and of course, my bias. It was kinda hard picking one favorite as they were all so good in their ways.
And then I saw a video of them dancing to Dynamite, that was the first k-pop I heard and I loved it. I loved them at that moment and I researched. I practically browsed everything there is to know about them. From their names (that was hard), to their birthdays, favourite food, drinks, colors and everything. And I have been a proud Army since 2021.
There’s RM, the leader and so very fluent in English. Jin, he’s really funny because he always goes (My name is Jin, I’m worldwide handsome), that cracks me all the time. Suga, calm and funny. And J-hope (My hobi, he’s a sunshine that could light up a dark room). There’s Jimin who’s soft and has a small stature (like me, hehe), Taehyung, who’s pretty talented and also my bias wrecker. And Jungkook my bias who’s good at everything.
What really got to me was his song, Euphoria, released in 2018 in compilation with one of their albums.
BTS’s songs have a way to connect to people, they’re the first kpop band to connect to fans throughout the world. Their songs are about life, pain, self love…the things that we usually keep quiet about.
BTS’s songs taught me that its okay to feel lost sometimes, it always gave me joy and that comfort whenever I listened to it.
When I first listened to Magic shop, I almost cried, I did actually. That song was so comforting and all. “On days where I hate myself for being me. On days where I want to disappear forever. Let’s make a door, inside your heart. It’s okay to believe, the magic shop will comfort you.” It stuck. It was like having someone who understands you without you having to say anything.
To me, BTS is the best k-pop band out there, they bond like brothers and they’re also pretty chaotic in their best ways.
After some time, I started exploring other K-pops and that’s how I discovered Stray Kids earlier this year. This happened by accident but I call it a lucky accident. I was watching some Youtube compilation videos and I came across God’s Menu and it was sooo good. Especially Felix, (p.s my bias) why is it always so hard picking a favorite.
And then I found out about Seventeen, Enhypen, TXT, Exo, Ateez. And daebak, they are all amazing.
I tune in to their concerts and see how fans travel round just to see them. I’ll be like “Wow, that really is the love for music.” It’s not about understanding what they say, my friends tease me about that a lot, its about feeling the music.
Whenever I’m sad or stressed out, I go to BTS. Sometimes I wonder if my life would have been dull and quiet if I did not discover K-pop. I started learning Hangul just so I could watch their live videos without subtitles, that’s going fine by the way.
When I got to the university, I didn’t have any one to talk to so I was in class one day and my coursemate saw my wallpaper (a photo of Jungkook) and she was like, “Shut up, you know Jungkook?” To cut the story short, we’re best friends as of now. I love K-pop, like really love it, it isn’t just a music anymore to me, its also a part of who I am.
The songs and artists makes me feel hopeful and makes me me. It makes me one of those delulu girls who think they could see their bias if they go to Korea, people say that a lot. But if loving them really is me being delulu, then I never want to cured.
With love – An Army, Stay, Carat, Engene, all of the above 💜.
