Sharing this wide because I think it's a really interesting article discussing the BTS phenomenon and Kpop in general; he's one of the few critics who understands both the US and the Korean perspective and industries equally well, and has an excellent knowledge and understanding of their music (I have read the book and think it's really good, especially for fans since it's such a deep dive):
Reviewing BTS’ music: ‘BTS was not made in a day’
BTS’ meteoric rise to stardom has been the subject of a plethora of books, articles and discussions. What’s the secret behind the dizzying success of the seven-member boy band from South Korea?
Many say it’s the artists’ great music and stellar performances, together with their relatable message. Others say it’s their strong social media presence and loyal fan base, or all of the above.
But for music critic Kim Young-dae, who lives in Seattle and has been a close observer of both US pop culture and K-pop for over a decade, something was missing from those assessments.
“Many tend to focus on the outcome and what’s shown on the surface level, and less on BTS’ path that led to where they are today,” Kim said in an interview with Kpop Herald last week. “The statistics and sales are impressive, but that’s not the full story. BTS was not made in a day, but it’s a result of each and every step they took to get here.”
Kim, who contributes to Vulture, New York Magazine and MTV, wanted to tell the whole story about the band that made its debut in 2013. In his new book, “BTS -- the Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Music of BTS,” which is available both in Korean and English, he uses the language he is most familiar with: music reviews.
“First and foremost, BTS are musicians,” he said. “Their great appeal and secret to success lie in their music and their performances. But not many try to take their music seriously or discuss it in depth, brushing it off as simply idol music.”
So Kim went through a hefty discography of BTS’ work, including the mixtapes, and carefully reviewed all the band’s songs. He inserted columns to provide insights into the band and its significance to the K-pop industry. There are also interviews with industry experts including hip-hop journalist Kim Bong-hyun; composer Brother Su, who worked on several BTS tracks; and Lim Hyung-joo, a “popera” tenor who is a voting member at the Grammys.
At more than 300 pages, this information-packed book is a gem for BTS fans and anyone else who is curious about the band and its music.
Here’s more from the interview:
Q: What made you decide to write a book?
A: There have been many discussions explaining the success of BTS and its global phenomenon, but I wasn’t satisfied with them. Mostly because they focused only on what is on the surface and on statistics, such as saying it’s a natural outcome of K-pop’s popularity, with less focus on their music, their message and what is at its core. As a music critic, I thought I could delve deeper into BTS’ music, review the discography of the band and provide meaningful dialogue on BTS.
Q: Why hasn’t there been a compilation of reviews covering BTS’ full discography until now? Did you face any difficulties when reviewing BTS’ songs?
A: Some still are hesitant about reviewing BTS’ music because they regard the band as another idol group, while some still undervalue BTS’ achievements. So fighting that prejudice against reviewing “idol music” was difficult.
For me, though, finding the middle ground between fans who know BTS’ music by heart and ordinary people who are less familiar with its music was tough. I wanted the reviews to not bore the fans but to give them fresh insight, while providing in-depth reviews for regular readers to help them get into BTS’ music.
Also, it took a long time to listen to all the songs on all their albums. In order to review them, I had to listen to each song repeatedly. So that was also a lot of work.
Q: Who is this book for?
A: It’s for anyone who is curious about BTS’ music. It could be fans who want to obtain fresh insight, or ordinary people who are less familiar with the band’s music and BTS’ appeal.
Q: How would you describe BTS’ music and its style?
A: While it’s hard to put one label on all the songs, there is some kind of raw beauty in BTS’ music. When I listen to the songs, there is something sentimental, lyrical and deeply moving about it. It’s hard to explain in a single word, but it produces a sort of sadness and nostalgia, yet makes you feel hopeful at the same time.
When you dig deeper into the lyrics, BTS honestly expresses what they feel as young artists living in this time. It’s a message that not only resonates with young people, but transcends age, culture, language and gender boundaries.
Q: When did you start following BTS?
A: I first heard about BTS before their debut from hip-hop journalist Kim Bong-hyun. He told me a hip-hop band was making its debut with Big Hit Entertainment. In 2014 I was in the US and saw BTS’ name on the lineup for the KCON that year. So I was curious about the band and went to see them. When I saw their performance, it was a mere hunch, but I felt like something very new was about to begin. There were many idol groups, but BTS felt different, with a certain intensity and charisma even for a rookie band. It’s hard to explain, but there definitely was something, so after that encounter, I kept an eye on BTS.
Q You met BTS in person at the Billboard Music Awards last year. What was it like?
A: It was brief meeting so we didn’t get to talk much. But one thing that impressed me was that the members were very calm and humble, even though they were at one of the most prestigious venues. They were modest and honest during the conversation, and also authentic and raw -- similar to how I felt when I listened to their music.
Q: BTS was nominated in two categories at this year’s BBMA. How do you think the band will do? What’s the significance of those nominations?
A: Frankly, it’s very hard to make predictions because BTS has achieved many more records, faster than I had anticipated. For the past two years, BTS won Top Social Artist. And this year, the band was nominated both for Top Social Artist and Top Duo/Group, one of the major music categories. It’s a feat that cannot be ignored. BTS’ music is not in English, but it penetrated the highly elusive US music industry, which is known for its tough entry barriers and its aversion to non-English-language songs. The nomination makes sense, considering BTS’ strong song sales and streaming globally.
Q: BTS first started out as a hip-hop idol band and then branched out to other genres, including pop and R&B. What drove the change? Was the transition necessary?
A: Back then, “hip-hop idol” was a new format, and it was significant that BTS tried out this new concept. It was a natural choice because the band’s roots lay in hip-hop, and they still do. But after a while, BTS began exploring a new genre and expanded its music to tap into the larger audience in keeping with the general music trends and what contemporary audiences demanded.
The change was inevitable as BTS became bigger and its influence grew. But what I found interesting is that these changes happened very naturally.
Q: By nature, hip-hop and idol music are very different. Do you think BTS succeeded in blending these two contrasting genres?
A: I also think hip-hop and idol music are polar opposites by nature. K-pop idols are heavily manufactured (by their agencies), while hip-hop stresses authenticity and being “who you are.” These contrasting genres are bound to collide. But BTS accepted those clashing dynamics.
I think BTS’ song “Idol” describes what they really felt. The lyrics say, “You can call me artist, you can call me idol. You can call me whatever, and I don’t care. I am proud of it. I am free, because I was always just me.” From the industry’s standpoint, BTS is a K-pop idol band, while their musical identity is hip-hop. Many people complain that this is a contradiction. But BTS accepts it. They don’t pretend they’re not K-pop idols. Instead, they worked hard to break that musical stereotype about K-pop idols.
Reviewing BTS’ music: ‘BTS was not made in a day’
Reviewing BTS’ music: ‘BTS was not made in a day’
BTS’ meteoric rise to stardom has been the subject of a plethora of books, articles and discussions. What’s the secret behind the dizzying success of the seven-member boy band from South Korea?
Many say it’s the artists’ great music and stellar performances, together with their relatable message. Others say it’s their strong social media presence and loyal fan base, or all of the above.
But for music critic Kim Young-dae, who lives in Seattle and has been a close observer of both US pop culture and K-pop for over a decade, something was missing from those assessments.
“Many tend to focus on the outcome and what’s shown on the surface level, and less on BTS’ path that led to where they are today,” Kim said in an interview with Kpop Herald last week. “The statistics and sales are impressive, but that’s not the full story. BTS was not made in a day, but it’s a result of each and every step they took to get here.”
| Music critic Kim Young-dae |
Kim, who contributes to Vulture, New York Magazine and MTV, wanted to tell the whole story about the band that made its debut in 2013. In his new book, “BTS -- the Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Music of BTS,” which is available both in Korean and English, he uses the language he is most familiar with: music reviews.
“First and foremost, BTS are musicians,” he said. “Their great appeal and secret to success lie in their music and their performances. But not many try to take their music seriously or discuss it in depth, brushing it off as simply idol music.”
| "BTS The Review" (RHK) |
So Kim went through a hefty discography of BTS’ work, including the mixtapes, and carefully reviewed all the band’s songs. He inserted columns to provide insights into the band and its significance to the K-pop industry. There are also interviews with industry experts including hip-hop journalist Kim Bong-hyun; composer Brother Su, who worked on several BTS tracks; and Lim Hyung-joo, a “popera” tenor who is a voting member at the Grammys.
At more than 300 pages, this information-packed book is a gem for BTS fans and anyone else who is curious about the band and its music.
Here’s more from the interview:
Q: What made you decide to write a book?
A: There have been many discussions explaining the success of BTS and its global phenomenon, but I wasn’t satisfied with them. Mostly because they focused only on what is on the surface and on statistics, such as saying it’s a natural outcome of K-pop’s popularity, with less focus on their music, their message and what is at its core. As a music critic, I thought I could delve deeper into BTS’ music, review the discography of the band and provide meaningful dialogue on BTS.
Q: Why hasn’t there been a compilation of reviews covering BTS’ full discography until now? Did you face any difficulties when reviewing BTS’ songs?
A: Some still are hesitant about reviewing BTS’ music because they regard the band as another idol group, while some still undervalue BTS’ achievements. So fighting that prejudice against reviewing “idol music” was difficult.
For me, though, finding the middle ground between fans who know BTS’ music by heart and ordinary people who are less familiar with its music was tough. I wanted the reviews to not bore the fans but to give them fresh insight, while providing in-depth reviews for regular readers to help them get into BTS’ music.
Also, it took a long time to listen to all the songs on all their albums. In order to review them, I had to listen to each song repeatedly. So that was also a lot of work.
Q: Who is this book for?
A: It’s for anyone who is curious about BTS’ music. It could be fans who want to obtain fresh insight, or ordinary people who are less familiar with the band’s music and BTS’ appeal.
Q: How would you describe BTS’ music and its style?
A: While it’s hard to put one label on all the songs, there is some kind of raw beauty in BTS’ music. When I listen to the songs, there is something sentimental, lyrical and deeply moving about it. It’s hard to explain in a single word, but it produces a sort of sadness and nostalgia, yet makes you feel hopeful at the same time.
When you dig deeper into the lyrics, BTS honestly expresses what they feel as young artists living in this time. It’s a message that not only resonates with young people, but transcends age, culture, language and gender boundaries.
Q: When did you start following BTS?
A: I first heard about BTS before their debut from hip-hop journalist Kim Bong-hyun. He told me a hip-hop band was making its debut with Big Hit Entertainment. In 2014 I was in the US and saw BTS’ name on the lineup for the KCON that year. So I was curious about the band and went to see them. When I saw their performance, it was a mere hunch, but I felt like something very new was about to begin. There were many idol groups, but BTS felt different, with a certain intensity and charisma even for a rookie band. It’s hard to explain, but there definitely was something, so after that encounter, I kept an eye on BTS.
Q You met BTS in person at the Billboard Music Awards last year. What was it like?
A: It was brief meeting so we didn’t get to talk much. But one thing that impressed me was that the members were very calm and humble, even though they were at one of the most prestigious venues. They were modest and honest during the conversation, and also authentic and raw -- similar to how I felt when I listened to their music.
Q: BTS was nominated in two categories at this year’s BBMA. How do you think the band will do? What’s the significance of those nominations?
A: Frankly, it’s very hard to make predictions because BTS has achieved many more records, faster than I had anticipated. For the past two years, BTS won Top Social Artist. And this year, the band was nominated both for Top Social Artist and Top Duo/Group, one of the major music categories. It’s a feat that cannot be ignored. BTS’ music is not in English, but it penetrated the highly elusive US music industry, which is known for its tough entry barriers and its aversion to non-English-language songs. The nomination makes sense, considering BTS’ strong song sales and streaming globally.
Q: BTS first started out as a hip-hop idol band and then branched out to other genres, including pop and R&B. What drove the change? Was the transition necessary?
A: Back then, “hip-hop idol” was a new format, and it was significant that BTS tried out this new concept. It was a natural choice because the band’s roots lay in hip-hop, and they still do. But after a while, BTS began exploring a new genre and expanded its music to tap into the larger audience in keeping with the general music trends and what contemporary audiences demanded.
The change was inevitable as BTS became bigger and its influence grew. But what I found interesting is that these changes happened very naturally.
Q: By nature, hip-hop and idol music are very different. Do you think BTS succeeded in blending these two contrasting genres?
A: I also think hip-hop and idol music are polar opposites by nature. K-pop idols are heavily manufactured (by their agencies), while hip-hop stresses authenticity and being “who you are.” These contrasting genres are bound to collide. But BTS accepted those clashing dynamics.
I think BTS’ song “Idol” describes what they really felt. The lyrics say, “You can call me artist, you can call me idol. You can call me whatever, and I don’t care. I am proud of it. I am free, because I was always just me.” From the industry’s standpoint, BTS is a K-pop idol band, while their musical identity is hip-hop. Many people complain that this is a contradiction. But BTS accepts it. They don’t pretend they’re not K-pop idols. Instead, they worked hard to break that musical stereotype about K-pop idols.
![WHOS [minsquishy]](/data/medal/1034_1578255280m.jpg)
