Before reading, just know I love all Kpop but I’m just a old honmoon soul lerking at the new trends.
I feel like everything has sped up so fast. In the blink of an eye, we have groups debuting left and right, and trends changing so quickly that I can’t even keep up anymore. I’m probably going to get called old for this, but whenever I talk about K-pop or step into a K-pop store, a majority of people don’t even know what I’m referring to 😭. They’ll say things like, “I’ve heard of Taeyang,” or “I’ve heard a song or two from Girls’ Generation,” or they’ll just stare blankly when I bring up KARA, MBLAQ, or the Naengmyun song, which was basically our PSY “Gangnam Style” before Gangnam Style 😂.
It honestly makes me sad that I can’t relate to most K-pop listeners anymore. I feel like the old man in the corner reminiscing about the good old days. Besides BTS, who I remember from when they all lived together in the same dorm, I miss the era of idol shows with bunk beds, ramen cups everywhere, and merch scattered all over their rooms. Back when it was normal to gift each other signed albums.
I miss shows where idols were woken up early and filmed bare-faced and half asleep. I miss Running Man when it first started, especially the Yoo-mes Bond series. I miss Star Golden Bell, where artists just cracked jokes and teased each other naturally.
When I hear people tuning into 2nd gen now and saying it sounds “old,” “weird,” or “different,” all I can think is, mannn, this was the era when I was trying so hard to convince my friends to even give K-pop a chance, and they would not hear a word of it.
I remember talking to a girl on the bus and trying to get her to listen to B2ST because she was a huge One Direction fan. She got upset because people thought she was Asian just for talking to me. Fast forward to now, she’s been to Korea a few times, is a die-hard Jimin fan, and is married to an Asian person. Times really have changed. Not in a bad way, but it’s wild that all the excitement I had for K-pop back then, and the desire to share it, only really makes sense to people 15+ years later.
Second gen Asian pop really leaned into synth and electro. The sound hit hard right from the start, like walking into a nightclub with heavy bass, dramatic bridges, pauses, and then WHAM, a full-on explosion. Songs like Lucifer and Sherlock by SHINee, Sorry Sorry by Super Junior, Run Devil Run and Mr. Mr. by Girls’ Generation, and Lupin and Jumping by KARA. I could go on forever. Back then, tempos were higher in terms of BPM, and songs relied on slow, dramatic buildups that led to pauses, freeze frames, or iconic dance breaks. The dancing was different and maybe less complex, but it relied heavily on synchronized vocals. I miss all of it. The awkward slow buildups where you’re not even sure where the song is going, and then suddenly you’re questioning if you’re listening to an entirely different song 😂😂. I’m looking at you, I Got a Boy and Volume Up.
I’m really just here to vent and reminisce about jamming to K-pop when barely anyone knew what it was. I will say, I’m glad the merch has stepped up ALOT. As much as I loved $80 calendars and banners, I much prefer key rings and versatile merchandise. If anyone can relate, feel free to share. And to the newer 4th and 5th gen fans, honestly, I don’t even know what generation we’re in anymore. If you’re a newer Kpop fan that recently tuned into 2nd gen, I’d love to hear how it feels for you and what shows/music you’re listening to. Even if you tuned in due to realizing the actor was a 2nd gen idol. The good and the bad. Just don’t be too brutal, I’m an old soul walking haha.
submitted by /u/Goosecave
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