Lauren Shade / Contributing Writer
I first noticed it while I was waiting in traffic; my front windows were rolled down letting in a soft breeze and pouring out one of my favorite songs “One of a Kind” by the infamous Korean idol Kwon Ji Yong, better known by his stage name: G-Dragon. We were at a standstill on the Turnpike in 7pm traffic cluster when I looked over to the idle vehicle beside me to see a pair of curious dark eyes and lips that formed a frown as they took in the foreign sounds that were in every way similar to Western music save in speech. When after a few minutes the passenger didn’t look away but still stared inquisitively into my car, I rolled up my window’s embarrassingly. I was glad that they were tinted. Of course, this scenario can be looked at from many different angles–the driver could have been looking at me, or was interested in my car, so on and so forth.
However, these scenarios in which attention suddenly surrounded me each time my ringtone sung out EXO’s “Mama” or I tuned Pandora to my Kpop Beats station, played over and over in my head. One occurrence became two, two became three, and so forth until I couldn’t help but trace back everyone’s curiosity to the second I pressed play and the music started drumming out in creative beats, or the Youtube video’s pumped with ostentatious colors and animated themes on my MacBook.
The first negative comments I received in response to my listening to Korean Pop was from my co- workers. Mind you, I work with a very diverse group of people whom I’ve known forover two years. Their music tastes vary from country, pop, rap, hip hop, metal, rock, electronic, alternative, etc. When I played Korean music I’d get everything from prejudice remarks about North Korea to accusations about being “obsessed” with Asian culture. Others would refer to me as “the girl who listens to that Asian stuff,” a title that did no justice to my taste in music. Yeah, I like Big Bang and BTOB but I also like Led Zeppelin and The Strokes. So, why did my affection towards Korean pop music suddenly overshadow every other genre of music that I prefered?
For months I only heard responses like: “Korean music? Don’t they want to bomb us?,” ” But you can’t even understand what they’re saying.” “They sound weird.” “I can’t take them seriously.” “They all look the same.” “They’re trying to be too much like America.” Listening to Korean music has solidified my belief that a majority of people in the West are closed- minded to things and even concepts that they are unfamiliar with. People in many parts of the East, Latin America, and even in various countries in Europe openly listen to American music. For instance, in Germany, English isn’t a native language, yet, as someone with first hand experience I know that when Germans listen to American music they aren’t indiscriminately judged and automatically labeled nor do they have to turn down the volume or roll up their windows.
Though, I’ve found support for my love of Korean music in the form of small, select groups that dedicate themselves to Korean sub-culture it hasn’t changed the looks I get or the whispers that are tossed around me when I play some of my favorite Korean pop songs. I wondered if I were alone until I spoke with the Vice President of FIU’s Korean Culture Club, Stephanie Montes De Oca, “It [KPOP] definitely has changed my opinion on music. I had people judge me because I like Korean culture and music. They would think it was weird and just make fun of me. [But] They don’t have a passion for something they really love to talk about. So, I don’t let it get to me because it makes me happy.”
It took me a long time to embrace the differences between South Korean music and Western music. It’s different–I get it. But, Skrillex did a track with G-Dragon and CL from 2NE1, Block B is having a showcase in Miami, and this year is the first opening of KPOP Convention in Miami. Give or take a year or two, I think Korean pop music will be popular in the States. I’m not ashamed to say that I love KPOP and I shouldn’t be judged for it. I’m coming out of my proverbial KPOP closet. Don’t be so quick to judge because before you know you may be listening to it too.
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