What exactly is K-Pop? Does it exclusively refer to mass-produced idols, or is there room for a broader definition? Is it kosher to call independent artists K-Pop? How about artists that arenât even Korean?
I bring this up because Neon is bound to become a lightning rod for this argument. Yukika, the artist behind this wonderful ode to 80s city pop, was a Japanese celeb first before she crossed the pond to debut in Korea. Not that youâd know it from listening to Neon; her accent is flawless. But is it K-Pop?
Once you start straying from the mainstream, the exact definition of the term can get surprisingly muddled. Thereâs no question that groups like Twice, BTS, Super Junior, or Miss A are considered K-Pop. But what about 2AM, a ballad-focused group? Or a rock band like LEDApple? If we take K-Pop as a stylistic measure, can we say with absolute certainty that an artist like Sunny Hill can be considered K-Pop?
Alsoâhow Korean does K-Pop have to be? Would Big Bang or TVXQâs Japanese-language tracks be considered K-Pop? How about Tiffanyâs English debut, or Wonder Girlsâ ill-fated collaboration with Akon? When does the boundary between K-Pop and Just Pop occur?
Personally, I couldnât care less, which is why Iâve gamely featured artists like Jaurim and Norazo under the K-Pop banner, and have also spotlighted lesser-known indiesâwhich, according to more conservative viewpoints, would never quality as K-Pop by definition. All words are made up, anyway.
