What is your opinion regarding to english albums become commonplace in K-pop?

  • (G) - I-DLE announced the release of a full English album, rumored to be an English album for Aespa. TWICE has hinted a few times that they intend to release a full album in English in the future. And now, apparently, BTS's JK album will also be entirely in English.

    Do you believe that entire albums in English will become an increasingly common practice in K-pop from now on? If so, what do you think about this launch strategy?

  • Hitman Bang a while back made clear his view that "the letter K needs to be diluted" because K-pop is "a culture encompassing everything from fans, their consumption behaviors, production and industrial system" rather than a music genre.


    I think this will become more common for groups beyond a certain size since they need to look for new ways to grow.


    But what we've seen recently is that it's also a way for new groups who need to or choose to bypass domestic gatekeepers (Fifty Fifty, XG) to do so. Korea didn't like this and I tried to brainstorm why in a post last month.


    Add to this, the developing model of global groups based abroad, there is a lot to think about in terms of competitive strategy for new or existing groups who have only really focused on the domestic market.


    I just wonder if trying to cater to both the Korean and the global market at the same time instead of fully commiting to one may become increasing less workable in the future.

  • I think it's a brilliant strategy to secure listeners outside the kpop community. I didn't understand the point of english kpop music until I work further from home and have to stuck in traffic jams for hours a day, with the radio being the only thing that calms the nerves. I don't even listen to my own playlist at that point bc I would be looping the same songs hundred times a week lmao. Radio is the way to go to find random new bops. You have no idea how many times Left and Right and Cupid being played in one single day on radio. Both songs successfully become certified bops to me after listening to the songs on radio for days straight lol. It's rare for korean songs to be played multiple times a day outside korea (songs like NJ's OMG and Ditto are outliers). I just hope they do well in the lyrics department.

    x o x o

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  • the reason i like k-pop is that it's mainly sang in korean which as a language has it's own distinct personality which gives the songs a unique sound so if everybody just started singing in english then it would just completely defeat the purpose for me. it'd be like going to a japanese sushi restaurant and being served a cheeseburger or something

  • It makes sense, to me, for the groups that have members from the West (especially 2 or more members who speak English on a native level). Also for the groups with an edge that appeals more to western audiences.


    I don’t know if it will be a common practice. If agencies see money in it, I think more will attempt it..heavy emphasis on ATTEMPT because everybody won’t get it right.

  • Well as long as they release bops, I am fine...


    But again, I wouldn't exactly call it kpop.. And only a very few can pull it off well..

    Most english songs released by kpop idols are extremely safe/non experimental songs.. so if they are really great, nice, but if not, I would just listen to ton of english artist doing that better.


    I think Monstax are pretty good with their english stuff from the kpop groups..

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