Why is singing in English considered selling out? (1 Viewer)

[Abeamus]

Considering that I don't see anyone really calling Japanese releases selling out when groups do that to appeal to the Japanese audience however when it's done with English to appeal to a more international audience it seems like suddenly people are against which I don't understand how it's more sellout than Japanese releases.​

 

[blueberries]

I guess some want to be puritan and keep their kpop different and niche.

But i get some concerns if the group also changes their sound to more western and that sound isn't why people became a fan

Still I like some of the English songs and versions, depends how well they are made and if they keep artists sound.

 

[Willow]

Because making music in English is mainstream

 

[Abeamus]

Because making music in English is mainstream

Well Kpop itself is trendy right now so if being mainstream is the problem then groups would need to stop releasing music to not be sellouts

 

[Willow]

Well Kpop itself is trendy right now so if being mainstream is the problem then groups would need to stop releasing music to not be sellouts

I don’t listen that much to Kpop for exactly this reason

 

[Abeamus]

I don’t listen that much to Kpop for exactly this reason

That involves the ones you do listen to as well though

 

[Willow]

That involves the ones you do listen to as well though

Who

 

[brekker]

Well Kpop itself is trendy right now so if being mainstream is the problem then groups would need to stop releasing music to not be sellouts

nagh, a casual listened with no interest in kpop might know Blackpink and BTS and that´s where it starts and ends. the rest groups haven´t made it into the knowledge of most people. unless you actively dive into kpop industry ,it is unlikely you´d know groups like Ateez or Oneus or ACE. whenever I ask he plebes about kpop, all they know is BTS.

 

[LoveYooShaSha]

Considering that I don't see anyone really calling Japanese releases selling out when groups do that to appeal to the Japanese audience however when it's done with English to appeal to a more international audience it seems like suddenly people are against which I don't understand how it's more sellout than Japanese releases.​

Anti-western bias, japan is asian(but its contorted logic cos japan =/= non-benign country in regards to korea). Ig it might be economics too, japan money is there and relatively easy; like i just thot of this-sour grapes, rite?

If western market/english songs reception is meagre pickings, then they (whoever they are)say its selling out. If its a success, they (again whoever they are) say its selling out. Either way the ones who say its selling out kpop keeps their k-cred.

I liked dynamite tho. My only critique is tat its too 80s-ish in feel (to me). But i dont listen to much (or get) modern pop music tats popular. So my opinion is just tat, my opinion.

 

[Willow]

Anti-western bias, japan is asian(but its contorted logic cos japan =/= non-benign country in regards to korea). Ig it might be economics too, japan money is there and relatively easy; like i just thot of this-sour grapes, rite?

If western market/english songs reception is meagre pickings, then they (whoever they are)say its selling out. If its a success, they (again whoever they are) say its selling out. Either way the ones who say its selling out kpop keeps their k-cred.

I liked dynamite tho. My only critique is tat its too 80s-ish in feel (to me). But i dont listen to much (or get) modern pop music tats popular. So my opinion is just tat, my opinion.

While I didn’t like Dynamite and I usually hate all pop songs released in the US

 

[Lovely_Cornchips]

First of all, in my opinion, Kpop isn't mainstream. Trendy and mainstream are also very different things. Trendy means it's really cool and interesting right now. Being mainstream is adhering to something that is common and liked.

English is super mainstream because it's such a common language so when you go from Kpop which is trendy (right now and I would even argue it's really only BTS and BP who are trendy right now not Kpop as a whole). To making music that is basically English and has no real wow factor to it you are in fact going or trying to be mainstream and go from something (that in my opinion is unique) to something isn't.

That's why I personally do see it as selling out and typically find Kpop songs that aren't Kpop but English and regular pop...to be pretty lackluster. Also, it just lets you see how BAD the lyrics are too. I'd rather have bad lyrics in a language I don't understand that bad lyrics in a language I can understand.

 

[karinaknows]

All pop songs are basically sell outs so you could say that every single kpop group is selling out for clout.

Tbh, most kpop fans don't like English songs because listening to Korean music makes them feel special. They don't want to listen to "trendy pop music" and if their fave sings in English, they are bound to get more achievements internationally and become trendy.

I know a lot of fans don't like it when BTS sing in English (so, Dynamite) because they would rather them promote Korea and its culture.

 

[RandAlThor]

I think an English version is ok.
A Japanese version for release in Japan ok.
one or 2 b sides cool enough.
but releasing a English only title song or album in Korea its like you are too cool for Korea.
Now that fits bts and bp neither of whom i like :)
but i will say bts does try to stay connected to korea form what i can tell. BP and YG do not give 2 cents about it.

 

[AmysTeri]

I think most non-native Koreans or people who don't speak Korean like the fact that they can't understand the lyrics. I know that was one of the draws for me when I was younger -- I can't understand it so the voices just become one more instrument at play. Sometimes lyrics can take you out of a song, after all, when it's bad or cringe or just plain stupid.

HOWEVER, as I am today, and as I see music as universal, and as I still do not speak/understand Korean, I just don't care to see it as selling out. And I also consider this -- there are a lot of Korean POP songs are not penned by Koreans. I also consider this -- that a lot of popular songs penned by Koreans/produced by Koreans, like with any other person involved in the music industry globally (I'm not wording this right, but basically American, Japanese, Chinese, European, South American, Hispanic, etc.), rides the trends both nationally and internationally. They want what's hot and what's going to sell.

So, just as I'm not gonna call a K-group a sell out for having someone like Teddy Riley pen their lyrics (because even if they translate the majority to Korean, at it's core it's written by a non-Korean and produced to reflect a sound that's popular/derived from African-American R&B), I'm not gonna immediately think "sell out" when I hear a Korean group produce English songs. I never thought it years ago when Miyavi crossed over and I don't think it now when BTS/BP/MX/etc. do the same.

 

[SHlNEE]

Considering that I don't see anyone really calling Japanese releases selling out when groups do that to appeal to the Japanese audience however when it's done with English to appeal to a more international audience it seems like suddenly people are against which I don't understand how it's more sellout than Japanese releases.​

people really need to hate less on english songs by kpop idols
period

 

[Darkseid]

I don't mind releasing songs entirely in English, its clearly made to appeal to the western audience and get more radioplay- nothing wrong with that. BTS and Blackpink have done it, NCT and Monsta X have also dabbled in it, as well as SuperM and many other groups.
Sometimes it's just an English version of a Korean song and other times it's an original song entirely in English.

I just wouldn't call it Kpop if there's only one version which is entirely in English. But it's not selling out, the entire point of the business is to make more money. Of course I'm not a fan of most western releases but groups can go ahead and release stuff they want to by all means.

 

[VillageIdiot]

Because they want to defeat asian xenophobia in the west with their groups "maintaining integrity" instead of playing on someone else's terms.

Which in my opinion, is a bit foolish