Well, I suppose this is my world of K-pop. As someone who usually turns their nose down at most current pop music, that sentiment also extended to K-pop, if not more so. That’s why I’m as surprised as anyone who knows me would be that I’ve fallen hard for a few K-pop groups.
I can actually even tell you how this spiral started! Back at the start of the year I decided to see what concerts were happening on Veeps. I came across a group called Monsta X. Now, of course I’d never heard of them before, but their name was pretty cool and from what I could tell in the still frame, was that they were all pretty cute. So, to Youtube I went! When searching the band, I selected a more recent song with a really intriguing thumbnail and that introduced me to the song “Love Killa.” The video also totally sold me on the group, as they paid homage to a lot of really cool and hyper-stylized films.
From watching that video ten times over, the almighty algorithm led me to the song, “Case 143” by the group Stray Kids. These guys were fundamentally different from Monsta X, but certainly no less catchy. Thus, these two songs were on repeat for a few weeks before I started expanding my radius of their songs. And let me tell you what, each of these groups have an obscene amount of songs! Monsta X has been around since 2015 and Stray Kids since 2018, but each group probably has at least 200 songs on their rosters, if not more. They crank out EPs like the world’s about to end, and for longtime fans of the groups, I am happy for them!
My range is still not large by any means, but I’m slowly picking my way through the hits. After a few months now, I totally get why they are hits. Personally, I’m not looking for the slow stuff. If I’m going to listen to some music who’s lyrics I can’t sing because I don’t speak the language, then I want something fast-paced and catchy as hell. Everything I’ve come into contact with so far has been just that, and I’m always surprised by the amount of English that actually makes its way into the songs. It certainly allows more rhyming options! Both groups also do have some fluent English speakers, so that helps, as well.
I could honestly talk about these groups to anyone who would listen for days, and I think I’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s out there musically and otherwise. So instead of bore you with the facts, I’ll hit you with some songs that are a must-listen. Let’s start with the more mature Monsta X. This former group of seven, currently six, and most recently on a mandatory military hiatus, are just so cool. I don’t know that I have any other word to quantify it. Outside of their music and videos though, these guys are actually fun dorks, so that just makes their duality that much more neat. “Gambler,” “Alligator,” “Shootout,” and “Trespass” are all mandatory listening alongside “Love Killa,” but there’s plenty more in that same vain out there.
Stray Kids are younger guys, and you’d think with eight different voices it’d be hard to pin any one of them down, but they expertly incorporate everyone a fair amount in each song that I’ve listened to. Songs that I love from these guys have varied a little bit over the last few months, but you can’t go wrong with “God’s Menu,” “Domino,” “S-Class,” and “Venom.” Not only are their songs great, but their music videos are on a whole other level. I can’t tell you how many reaction videos I’ve seen where the reaction to the videos is pure awe. Speaking of awe, this group also has a Korean-Australian member named Felix, who looks like sunshine but has the deepest voice I may have ever heard. You just have to go listen (and watch) for yourself to really get it.
Now that my life has been fully saturated by these two groups, it only made sense that Youtube would introduce me to another one. Of course there are a multitude of K-pop groups out there, but Ateez is the next one that snuck in. I actively avoided listening to their music for about a week because I really didn’t want to introduce another group into the rotation, but after just watching compilations of the members goofing off, I knew I had been sucked in. I started off with one of their most recent singles, “Bouncy,” and it was the right move. The chorus of this song was stuck in my head for days. With that being said, this song was so strong that I had a hard time really vibing with any of their other popular tracks. Eventually, “Guerilla,” “Crazy Form,” and “Fireworks (I’m the One)” really grew on me. Also, the two eldest members of the group did a track together called “Matez,” and it’s unlike anything I’ve heard from K-pop so far.
I’m sure the obsession with these groups has really only just begun, and I know if given the chance I will try to see them in a live setting. I can only hope for some world tours from Stray Kids and Ateez. Unfortunately, I think I’ve got another year before Monsta X regroups from their mandatory military service. I actually did do something crazy and got a one day ticket to Lollapalooza because Stray Kids is co-headlining! I’m going to try my best to get my old and short ass to the barricade, so wish me luck this summer!