K-Pop Is Dominating The World And Blackpink Is At The Forefront
Korean Pop, or K-pop, has exploded in popularity in the last few years.
One of the genre’s breakout acts is the widely-popular girl group, Blackpink. From their intricate dance moves to their perfectly crafted pop songs, the super group has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
Their second studio album, Born Pink, was released on September 16 and Blinks (Blackpink fans) are thrilled.
It’s been two years since the group’s first project, The Album, dropped. The latest project shook the internet to its core. Born Pink debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album 200 in the United States and their hit single Pink Venom got 90 million views in just 24 hours, making it the most significant music video debut of the year.
So why are millions of people from around the world so captivated by pop music from South Korea?
K-pop is more than just a musical style. It provides audiences with top-notch choreography and catchy songs you can’t stop listening to. The K-pop industry produces the best boy or girl groups in the world, something that America hasn’t been able to successfully do since the Spice Girls or Destiny’s Child in the 90s.
Debuting in 2016, Rosé, Lisa, Jisoo and Jennie were brought together by YG Entertainment, a South Korean entertainment agency, to become stars. Blackpink radiates girl power. In fact, Blackpink’s name directly refers to the juxtaposition of the colors Black and Pink. Black represents power and edge, while pink represents the nature of femininity.
The first single from Born Pink is entitled Pink Venom and opens with Jisoo playing the geomungo, a conventional Korean plucked zither with frets and bridges. This small detail in the introduction honors the beauty of Korean culture. Even when implementing their native sounds, much of their music is mainly pop with electronic dance music, hip-hop and trap elements. During Jennie and Lisa’s raps, the singers pay homage to legendary artists such as Rhianna, The Notorious B.I.G. and 50 Cent by sampling lyrics from Pon de Replay, Kick in the Door and P.I.M.P.
Shut Down is the second track on the album. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global Charts and became the longest-running No. 1 K-pop song on Spotify’s global chart. Not only is the song incredibly catchy, but the video is visually satisfying. They even recite their iconic line—“Blackpink in your area”— on the track.
The video also references older music videos from the past, which signifies the closing of one chapter of the group’s musical careers to the next. Shut Down’s overall message that Blackpink is on top of the world.
Born Pink is a powerful album. From upbeat songs to ballads, it has a diverse range of tunes. Every detail, costume, lyric or dance on the project has significance. Whether paying homage to inspirational artists or showcasing the beauty of traditional Korean culture, it has the intention of making a statement that there is power in femininity.
