*Note: Maximalism: An aesthetic and musical style characterized by abundance, layered and high energy production, bold styling and the “more is more” approach.
Minimalism: An aesthetic or musical style characterized by stripped-down elements, simple structures, and a “less is more” approach
With the rise of 5th-gen, many k-pop fans have noticed or felt a shift in music and visuals to formulate more soft, fresh, and quiet presentations of media. Due to the impact of EDM, genre mixing, and cinematic explosions that held strong within 4th gen k-pop, many netizens have stated that they feel as though 5-th gen groups are boring by comparison. Marking how it seems that color, and quirkyness that once made k-pop stand out amongst other genres or music groups has all but vanished. With the rise in recognition of how much k-pop has been inspired by black artists and western culture, some fans are starting to question whether or not k-pop can even be considered its own genre. Though that’s a discussion for another time.
An easy way to describe this change in music style would be to call it a surge in minimalism within k-pop. Mainly brought on by NewJeans, hence the start of 5th-gen.
Along with that, due to a rise in certain media platforms, such as TikTok, many groups seem to now chase after quick virality rather than long term impact. They do so by releasing short E.P.’s.
or mini albums featuring short, minimalist, aesthetic tracks based on the design for virality on said social media sites and forgoing longer tracks with a set narrative or story to build on. As it is quite hard to have a story in a song when there is no climax to it, which is the bridge. It seems as though a once expected component in a song’s structure has become optional within the k-pop sphere. Easy-Listening is now seen as an expectation within new releases.
Another component to add would be how homogeneous kpop tends to be, it makes sense that one group’s success would become another group’s future success. It makes monetary sense that a company would follow someone else’s format if they were successful than to take a risk on a concept that is less tested and may leave them in debt.
That has been true in k-pop for years, just look at blackpink and the rise of empty EDM choruses and of course the girlcrush concept. Not to say BlackPink invented that, but they did popularize it within k-pop at the time. And specifically among 4th gen girl groups.
Though the problem between the two generations is that while maximalism was prominent in 4th gen, it had so many components to it that it was easier for groups to create their own style within the category genre. But since minimalism already has so little components, it is hard for a group to stylize it into a signature unique to them. Which in turn makes the groups feel and sound similar to each other with minimal diversification.
4th-gen had unique lore stories among groups, and while they oftentimes made no sense, you could separate Aespa’s A.I. concept from NMIXX’s Mix Music concept that carried some oceanic narratives with relative ease. 5th gen doesn’t have much story beyond aesthetics and retroness and while it’s beautiful in its own right, there are only so many ways to photograph blowing bubbles in a field.
Nostalgia may also be involved, but it is a little jarring to see the change.
I’d like to ask for peoples own opinions on musical preference and likes and gripes within 5th-gen era k-pop songs and what you as fans would love to see more or less of within the musical realm of k-pop.
submitted by /u/Mermaid_Splash1
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