An Extrememly Biased Introduction to Kpop

*Some of the videos I linked have English lyrics, so make sure your captions are turned on*

Note: Kpop is an abbreviation for Korean Pop, but it's often used as a general term to refer to all Korean music and it's various genres.

An idol group is made up of anywhere from 4-12+ members, usually all male or all female. They sing and dance. While this may conjure up images of 90s boy bands in your head--and you won't be entirely mistaken in some cases-- some of these groups have major talent. The training process they go through to become part of an idol group is usually 2-5 years of singing lessons, dancing lessons, language lessons (if they're not Korean, they need to know Korean, and they probably learn some English and/or Japanese, depending on what group they'll end up a part of and what the target audience of that group is). Many of the members of idol groups also compose, write, and choreograph, and some act or direct.

Dancing is also very important for an idol group. Most groups will release a music video, and then a dance practice video of them in a studio performing the choreography. They're sometimes judged on their dancing in the industry as much as they are the quality of their music.

Of course, I don't just listen to music made by idol groups. I like something from almost every genre of music. My favorites include:

• EXO. They debuted in 2012 with 12 members, and now there are 9 members, and they just debuted their first sub-group EXO-CBX. I like them  because their music ranges from dancey-pop to ballad, they don't seem afraid to experiment with sound, and many of the members are just seriously talented.

• Red Velvet is a female idol group. I like them because they're super weird and artsy. And their STYLE. Just so good.

• Zion T is an R&B singer. *insert heart eyes here*

• Roy Kim is a singer-songwriter with the voice of an angel and no further description needed than to click this link and watch.

• FTISLAND is a pop-rock band with lead singer Lee Hong Gi, who is also an actor and has solo music. I really like them because all of their albums don't sound the same--they're not afraid to play around with their sound. They're not an idol group but a band, meaning they play instruments when they perform and they don't dance. (My favorite video by them is actually in Japanese).

• Akdong Musician (!!!!). I give them exclamation points because so good. This brother and sister duo debuted in 2014 after winning a reality show similar to American Idol. Her voice is amazing, he writes a lot of (if not most) of their songs, and they're adorable.

Now, I take a moment to mention Girls Generation (SNSD) & Super Junior, because these are probably two of the most popular idol groups in Korea. Everybody knows them, mostly because they've been around for so long (Super Junior debuted in 2005 & Girls Generation in 2007). While I'm  not a huge fan of either, I do listen to several of their songs, because a) catchy and b) catchy.

I'm also going to throw in GOT7 and SEVENTEEN, because I have to admit they're two of my favorites. SEVENTEEN is a new group and they're music is STUPID CATCHY. It generally has a happy, dancey vibe. And while GOT7 isn't always exactly my taste, I'm pretty crazy about a lot of their songs, and they have the funniest dance videos.

If you liked FTISLAND, another pop-rock band, but much lesser known, is Royal Pirates.

There is a specific kind of genre of Korean music called trot. It came to be called this because of it's beat, and it's basically the oldest form of Korean pop. I think it has the stigma of being "old people music" but GUYS IT'S GREAT. A modern trot singer I like is Hong Jin Young.

If you already listen to Korean music, who are your favorite singers/bands/idol groups, or what are your favorite songs? If you don't listen to Korean music but would like to try, what genres do you generally like the best?

Happy listening!

<3 강다은 Da Eun