Korean Job Discussion Forums

Apple Scruff · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

I am going to slit my wrists before this year is out and it's because of the incredibly bland, repetitive, sappy, sourpuss music that clogs the airwaves in this country. Not only is the music all the same, but the singers themselves all look the same, particularly the men - girly-boys done up with hair and clothes that even Boy George would feel gay wearing. They are so into themselves and take their "art" so seriously that it's funny, in a sad and bewildering way. Watch any interview with a Korean singer - they'll go on forever about the deep meaning behind each song. Oh shut up - it's about the same dumb shit that every other pantywaist in Korean music sings about: I miss my true love, we are meant to be together, blah blah blah. Cut your hair, buy yourself a regular pair of jeans and listen to some Black Flag records or something. Stop smothering me in gay.
And I am aware that 99% of all music throughout the world is about love and whatnot, but Koreans have a way of making it look and sound really irritating.
Thank you very much.

skinhead · Joined: 11 Jun 2004

Congrats on the century of posts Scruffy. I agree. Most pop music is IMHO. But yeah, K-Pop is the lamest. My wife'll kill me if she reads this.

Love to you all, Skinny

Jack Bauer · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 10:46 am Post subject:

Jack Bauer says that it is yet another example of the sameness of Korea. Jack has been teaching in China for a bit and is still suffering Korean music here on the Mainland. Jack looks forward to returning to Korea next month--while on sabbatical from the Counter-Terrorist Unit--but is not looking forward to endless repetitions of Korean music.

little mixed girl · Joined: 11 Jun 2003 Location: shin hyesung's bed~

................

toomuchtime

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

If you think that's gay just tune into a korean hip hop music video with matching costumes and syncronized dance.

*shudders*

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Hrm is western pop music any better (Britney, Janet, JLo...)?

I find when you first get here you think "god, what is this miserable crap?" but it starts to grow on you.

Of course when you have a class room of 10 year olds all break out into rounds of "hot diggle diggle" or whatever the hell they're singing, you're reminded how much you hate pop music of all stripes.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

emailandrewnow · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Location: Korea

When you can't understand the words, you realise how simple and repetitive pop music can be...now imagine hearing your favorite tunes from back home, without being able to understand a single word. It's the same as with korean music; the same little riff and melody or whatever repeated endlessly like a mantra. Think of listening to a Nirvana song in Korean....

I'm not defending K-pop though!! Not for a second! It SUCKS!!! There's no doubt about it!! It's the image and the dancing boys/girls and the fans waving those stupid balloons that gets me the most...arghhh...

This is why I listen to METAL!! METAL!! METAL!!! AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH SATAN SATAN SATAN AAAAARRRGHHHHHHHH *SCREECH* AAAARRGGHH SATAN SATAN AAAARRGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Now THAT'S what I call music!!

mog · Joined: 06 May 2004

I'd take K-Pop over K-rap/hip-hop any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

skinhead · Joined: 11 Jun 2004

mog wrote

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

I have found that the Korean pop music scene is very similar to the US scene, only magnified.

They just seem to go overboard on the style, and seriously lack substance.

The Korean rappers are especially guilty of this. There was a very popular rap song a few years ago, with lyrics talking about how poor his family was. "Why do we always eat Ja-jang-myeon/ I love you mother, but I want to eat watermelon..."

Seriously, this was the song, set to some hardcore rap beat, with the singer vocalising in a "get out of my hood before I cap ya" attitude.

A nice message, for sure, but so incongruent, it was laughable. This incongruency is what makes a lot of K-rap funny. I am not black, and am no rap musicologist, but I am fairly certain it grew on the streets out of desparation for expression of the woes of being a victimised minority, poor and without avenues for change. Very desparate stuff indeed. I believe this is the soul of Rap music. It certainly is not for privilaged metro-sexuals to sing about food or their parent's love.

It's like tofu Pop-tarts. Not necessarily such a bad thing, but just so weird.

Seo-tai-ji is the only Korean pop artist I have any respect for because he really has substance and a unique style, not only in Korea. He is very cool and his early music was a good social reflection of youth sentiment/angst. Parents truly reviled his music, as it really threw a wrench into the social system by giving a voice to the youth who were rebelling against the stifling traditions of Korea. Sort of like if Rage Against The Machine suddenly became radio kings in the US.

He has since grown well as an artist, and his newer stuff finds him out of the angst and into the exoerimental a bit more.

Anyways, I never listen to it....the smatterings of K-pop I get in the supermarkets, taxis, etc... is more than enough to remind me why I think that modern pop music the world over is souless, empty and in a lost state.

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 7:56 pm Post subject:

lepid gecko · Joined: 28 May 2004