My Ultimate Guilty Pleasure: Korean Pop Music Part 2

Part 2 of My Ultimate Guilty Pleasure: Korean Pop Music is about the GIRL GROUPS. Today, I will focus one of the two, maybe three (depending on time), most popular and influential girl groups of South Korea.

1. WONDER GIRLS- The Wonder Girls was formed and is produced by JYP (same as 2PM). To be honest, I'm not a big wonder girls fan but they are extremely popular not only among asians. Last year, they stepped in the United States with english versions of their smash hits back in their native land. In fact, the 5 gals opened up for the Jonas Brothers' tour!!!!!

Last year, they even made their debut in US Television on The Wendy Williams Shows. Check it out below. Their english is not bad at all...all of them were born and raised in Korea! These girls enrolled in english academies in NYC, where one of JYP's offices are located.



Guys, brace your self. Here's a clip of their song "So Hot". This music video was shown during one of my ethnomusicology classes last year. Many of my classmates who were born and raise in the United States, having no to very limited exposure to Asian pop culture, were very shocked by the level of sexuality and similarity to the pop music storming the United States. What do you think?



My favorite Korean girl group is 소녀시대. Sorry for those who can't read Korean. They are also called Girl's Generation. This pop sensation is made up of 9 girls. These girls make the male population in Korea GO CRAZY. As weird as it sounds, elementary school boys to old grandpas all love Girl's Generation. In the states we have the "All American Girl", these gals are have that kind of title of Korea or heck, all of Asia.
Here's a video clip of their SMASH HIT "GEE".



THEY ETHNOMUSICOLOGISTS! The music video for their song "Tell Me Your Wish" features the TABLA in the beginning. NEAT or...offensive?!



There are plenty of other pop girl groups in Korea but these two are definitely at the TOP of the game. Next entry I will talk about the extent of influence these celebrities have in the people of Korea. There are both pros and cons. I have included a video bar, a fun poll, and links to some websites. Enjoy!