I officially renounce everything I said in my Tupac thread. With that said, I bid you farewell Straight Dope. I’m packing up and moving to the moon. This world is no longer something I can call home, I don’t know the first thing about things that always made sense to me.
Watching that damn video, I had no fucking clue whether i was watching a boy band, a girl band or a clay band. I couldnt shake myself of the terrifying certainty that underneath those garish outfits, everything was smooth. Everything.
Or, the BTS band is like the characters in the episode of South Park in which ads had finally become sentient. Maybe theze things arent human?? Maybe they are all actually just ads that ultimately, at a time programmed in their software when they’ve got us wrapped around their fingers, will drop the charade and start pushing Hyundai’s in earnest.
BTS is by far the most popular band in the world right now. I don’t understand it myself. In my opinion some of their songs are pretty good, but many are mediocre. But their fandom is far, far bigger than any other musician right now. Say anything bad about them on Twitter, say, and you’ll have the wrath of thousands come down on your head in milliseconds.
Put it this way: a little while ago BTS announced a stadium tour with five stops: The Rose Bowl in L.A., Soldier Field in Chicago, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Wembley Stadium in London, and Stade de France in Paris.
That’s true of pretty much any band, though. Heck, some of the Beatles work was mediocre, and they filled basically the same niche. K-Pop is just generally popular these days, as parts of the world that have only recently had the ability to reach large audiences start developing their own musical traditions and phenomena. This isn’t my cup of tea, but even I can recognize that it’s light-years better than, say, “Gangnam Style” or that weird Chinese Apple Tree song.
The music at the link in the OP sounds sorta like the logical extension of Northern Soul/Disco/Rap/Kiddy Pop. So… not unexpected. But, very homogenized.
Ahh, yes, that special moment in every young person’s life when they suddenly realize that a new generation has come up behind them and pop culture is no longer aimed at them.
My 13 year old looooves BTS. As stated they’re huge right now. They’ve been on Ellen a few times, they played (or attended?) the Grammys, other artists have worked with them or expressed interest in working with them. They’re the current Backstreet Boys/N’sync.
I had to explain to my, again 13 year old, daughter that no, she can’t go see them in Chicago, 90 miles away, at Soldier Field. On top of all that, I know she loves them, but she’s going to be disappointed with $200 nosebleed seats for her first concert. Too big of a venue, too far away, too expensive.
Anyway, unless you’re really, really on top of pop culture it’s entirely possible not to notice them. I certainly wouldn’t have heard of them if it wasn’t for my kid. However, ask just about any middle school or high school aged kid and they’ll know who they were. At least as much as you knew of New Kids on the Block when you were that age.
Obligatory Simpsons quote: “I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I’m with isn’t it, and what’s it seems weird and scary to me. It’ll happen to you, too.”
I listen to KPop and I’ve known BTS for a few years now. They’re alright and have a few catchy songs, though as far a boy bands go I prefer VIXX and Monsta X, and my all-time favorite was Big Bang.
