Fan Life

spice up your playlist

- K-pop is always fun fare, but if you’re looking to add a different flavor to your musical diet, go beyond bubblegum with a list of artists worth sampling.

Hip-Hop

DRUNKEN TIGER
Debuting in the late ‘90s, they paved the way for other Korean hip-hop artists. More than a decade later, Tiger JK and his crew still command much respect from the industry.

EPIK HIGH
One of the most prolific hip-hop groups in South Korea, Epik High is famous for their witty wordplay and constantly evolving musical style. Last February 2010, rapper and leader Tablo was interviewed on CNN’s Talk Asia, the first Korean hip-hop artist to be featured on the show.

KERO ONE
His fresh soulful music sends good vibes all around. Three albums in, Kero One still keeps it low-key, writing, recording, and producing everything on his own.

Indie Pop

LUCID FALL
Armed with an acoustic guitar, Jo Yun-Seok softly rocks you into the land of daydreams. Unrelated but worth mentioning is his Ph.D. in bioengineering.

TEARLINER
The indie genius is heavily featured on The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince soundtrack. Poignant and cinematic, his music is perfect or reliving your favorite K-drama scenes or real-life memories.

Rock

SEO TAIJI
The granddaddy of modern K-Rock, he’s popularly referred to as the cultural president of South Korea. Throughout his almost 20-year career, he’s reinvented himself several times, infusing his music with elements from hip-hop, nu metal and electronic. Famous Seo Taiji fanboys include Kim Hyun Joong and the boys of BIGBANG.

HOT PATATO
Popular on the K-indie scene, this band’s brand of alternative rock has a bit of everything mixed in, from the blues to classical music to Britpop. K-drama addicts should check out the adorable MV for their latest hit, Confession.

 

turning japanese

Want to expand your musical horizons?
Check out the Japanese counterparts of your favorite K-pop artists
With a trendy Westernized sound, LSS-inducing rhythms, and eye candy artists, it’s easy to see why K-Pop has spread like wildfire across Asia. J-pop, on the other hand, is unapologetically Japanese, with their own quirky-cool, progressive sound and fashion sense-the kind you either love, hate, or simply don’t get. If you’re used to the sexy- slick styling of K-pop, you might be turned off (or surprisingly charmed) by J-Pop’s wholesomeness. And if you haven’t devoted yourself entirely to K-Pop yet, make some room in your heart for some kawali goodness.

POP 101
While K-Pop is relatively new, J-Pop has quietly thrived for over two decade. Case in point: Japanese boy band SMAP still thrills fans and tops chart after 20 solid years. Though not the most gifted vocalists, they have an instinct for crowd-pleasing and are masters at flaunting their individual charms in hosting gigs, variety shows, TV dramas, movies, and voicing anime characters. This multimedia approach at keeping in the public eye and winning their hearts has been emulated by succeeding generation of pop artists, making SMAP the unofficial godfather of Asian Pop. There is also the magic of SMAP member Takuya Kimura (Kimutaku), who remains the ultimate Japanese idol-even he is already pushing 40.

BOY BUFFET
Super Junior has conquered the Asian music scene with 13 pretty boys. Their less prolific Japanese counterpart is Hey! Say! Jump, a pop group formed from 10 Johnny’s Juniors (of leading idol agency Johnny and Associates).

There’s also the more mature 14-member pop/urban dance group EXILE, which displays smooth vocals, slick dance moves, and the best video productions in the Japanese pop/R&B scene.

CATFIGHT!
When it comes to pure entertainment value, no one can touch pop princesses SNSD, 2NE1, and the Wonder Girls. But before this wave of uber-stylized, synchronized pop, there was pioneering ‘90s Japanese girl-group Speed, who disbanded but has recently reunited for good with the single “Ashita no Sora.”
If your boyfriend is a fan of the J-Pop group AKB48,be very afraid. Consisting of a whopping 48 girls, AKB48 is a theater/idol group that performs in their very own theater and are seen at anime conventions around the globe.

POP DIVAS
If you love (or love to hate) sex kitten-ish Korean star Lee Hyori,check out Japanese pop goddess Namie Amuro, credited for starting the Amuraa trend (tanned skin, dyed hair, skin-baring outfits) in her teens.

BoA, who has infiltrated Japan and is currently making a Korean comeback, is often compared to “Empress of Pop” Ayumi Hamasaki, as they both have a sweet/sultry image and share similar success in the Japanese pop/rock/electronic genres.

FEEL-GOOD POP
With the future of SS501 hanging in the balance, hearts are spintering across Asia. Meanwhile, the longevity of Japanese boy bands equals less fan heartbreak! If you like SS501’s or SHINee’s brand of foot-stomping pop, you might like Japanese boy band NEWS.
Their unofficial leader, Yamashita Tomohisa (a.k.a. Yamapi), is wildly popular on his own thanks to sexy solo songs and dramas. When this hottie’s hair isn’t badly permed, he bears an uncanny resemblance to Kim Hyun Joong.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE
DBSK, also known as Tohoshinki and TVXQ in China/Taiwan, are record-breaking crossover artists, boasting an 800,000-strong fan base in South Korea alone. If you like DBSK’s sex appeal, fluid dance steps, and stylized videos, you may like KAT-TUN, the bad boys of Japanese pop (a reputation partly due to ex-member in Akanishi’s scandals). FYI: KAT-TUN holds the distinction of being the first artist to hold eight consecutive days of concerts at the huge Tokyo Dome (averaging 50,000 people per day)!

SUPERSTARS
BIGBANG’s massive appeal can probably only be matched by the Japanese pop force that is Arashi (“storm” in Japanese), though they’re worlds apart musically-BIGBANG has bad-ass hip-hop, R&B, and electronic leanings, while Arashi is happy pop. Their first few years may have been purely manufactured fluff, but they’ve since exercised some creative control in songwriting, choreography, and production. Following in the footsteps of SMAP, ARASHI has deftly kept the public invested in them individually and as a group through their own variety shows, dramas, films, and projects (most notably baby-faced Ninomiya Kazunari’s dramatic role in Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima). Their latest coup as Japanese pop ambassadors is having their faces emblazoned on a Japan Airlines Boeing 777-talk about talking the world by storm!

GLOBAL ICONS
With Hollywood movies, commercials across Asia, sold out concerts, and a fan base of salivating women of all ages and races, Rain (Bi)is probably the most global of Korean pop stars. Interestingly enough, his Japanese counterpart is a singer/songwriter/producer who deviated from the traditional “idol” formula. Sans flashy image and dancing prowess, Utada Hikaru’s crystal voice and catchy original songs penned in both English in Japanese stole the hearts of millions right from her debut album. Her unique brand of progressive music earned her international collaborations with the likes of Ne-Yo, Timbaland, Foxy Brown, and even Disney/Square Enix.

HIP AND HOT
If you like pop/hip-hop/R&B newcomer One Way, you might like the Japanese trio Funky Monkey Babys, who are making waves with their fresh music and energetic performances.

credit: Sparkling Magazine