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On the Scene: NCT 127 Perform Sold Out ‘Neo City: The Link’ Show in LA

by Serena Khahera
written by Serena Khahera

NCT 127’s ongoing world tour headed to the United States after announcing only two stops in Los Angeles and Newark. On October 6, The Knockturnal was invited to attend the sold out NCT 127’s ‘Neo City: The Link’ show at the Crypto.com Arena in LA. This concert was extremely special for NCT 127 and their fans, also known as NCTzens or Czennies, because it was the first time NCT had been back performing in the states in 3 years post-pandemic. “The Link” world tour was first announced back in November 2021 and began with a three-date concert at the Seoul Sky Dome. Since then the boys have already performed in Singapore, Tokyo, and Manila. The group also announced that there will be dates and cities for Latin America coming soon. The Newark show will be taking place on October 13 at the Prudential Center.

This tour follows the release of NCT 127’s fourth studio album, ‘질주 (2 Baddies)’. The 12-track album showed fans a variety of different genres while staying true to the distinct NCT sound. The album featured tracks that showcase hip hop and R&B influences as well as the groups’ familiar soulful pop sound. Their album ‘질주 (2 Baddies)’ debuted at #1 on Billboard’s World Albums Chart, #2 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales, and NCT 127 charted on Top 3 on the Billboard 200 twice in a row.

When I arrived to the Crypto.com Arena, I was immediately amazed by the dedication Czennies had with their neon green fanbase color when coordinating their outfits. The arena was buzzing with excitement as fans ran to collect merch, lightsticks, and pre-concert photos. Once seated inside the stadium it was almost impossible to find an empty seat. Fans sat syncing their lightsticks while singing along to their favorite songs until the moment they had been waiting for when the two screens split to reveal all of the members. Immediately the whole venue erupted in cheers, arena shaking as the boys began with a powerful performance of ‘Kick It’. As a fan of K-pop for over 10 years, I have attended my fair share of K-pop shows and seen how loud fans can be, especially when they are finally seeing their favorite group for the first time. After witnessing ‘Neo City: The Link’, it is safe to say that no fanbase can compare to the volume of an arena full of NCTzens.

The members, consisting of TAEIL, JOHNNY, TAEYONG, YUTA, DOYOUNG, JAEHYUN, JUNGWOO, MARK, and HAECHAN, made sure to make up for lost time since their last show with the amazing setlist they had. The fans spoke, and NCT 127 listened setting the standard for all K-pop groups to follow with their immaculate setlist that no one was expecting. As a long time fan, watching the show was like an emotional rollercoaster where I found myself constantly screaming, “Oh my god!” with each song they performed. With tons of classics like ‘Regular’, surprise throwback performances like ‘Touch’ and ‘Back 2 U’, and new hits like ‘2 Baddies’ it was a concert that no one wanted to end. Just when I thought the concert couldn’t get any better, Taeil appeared on stage kicking off all of the members solo performances.

After almost three hours of consistent performing, laughing, and throwing signed balls into the crowd the concert finally came to a close with each member narrating a personal letter written to the fans while preparing for their final stage. They thanked everyone for waiting for them and hoped they enjoyed the show promising that they will return soon. The concert ended with each member giving their closing ments while fans and members started to tear up. Even up until the last minute the boys kept up their energy cracking jokes and screaming thank you’s into their mics as ‘Promise You’ played. NCT 127 will be missed, but now it’s time for fans in Newark to experience the same amazing show Los Angeles got.

Neo City: Los Angeles The Link Setlist

Kick It

Lemonade

Cherry Bomb 

Elevator (127F)

Dreamer 

Love Song 

Taeil Solo (Another World)

Taeil and Haechan Stage (Love Sign)

Run Back 2 U (Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, and Jaehyun)

Highway to Heaven (English Version)

Breakfast 

Mark Solo (Vibration)

Taeyong and Mark (Himalayas)

Jungwoo Solo (Lipstick Remix)

Focus

Johnny Dance Solo (Focus)

Jaehyun Solo (Lost)

Yuta Solo (Butterfly)

The Rainy Night 

White Night 

Back 2 U (Rearranged Version)

Doyoung Solo (The Reason Why It’s Favorite)

Favorite 

Regular (English Version)

Love On The Floor 

Paradise 

Touch 

Love Me Now 

Sticker 

Faster 

2 Baddies 

Dreams Come True 

Promise You 

Don’t forget to check out our TikTok @theknockturnal.com and follow us on Instagram @theknockturnal for clips and interviews of your favorite celebrities and exclusive events.

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Tomorrow X Together Returns To NYC For ACT: LOVESICK Tour

by Emerson Unger
written by Emerson Unger

BigHit

It’s been almost 3 years since Tomorrow X Together,  or  TXT,  made their NYC debut at the Time Square showcase. During that show the boys, Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun and HueningKai, showed off their individual talents and skills that their label Big Hit Music so rightly scouted and tapped. Now, the boys returned once again to the big apple, but this time to showcase their evolution as a cohesive group as well as share the love with their super fans, MOA. The performance certainly showcased how much the boys had really missed performing in front of their fans.

The second USA stop on their first world tour, ACT: LOVESICK, kicked off in Madison Square Garden’s Hulu theater in NYC on July 9. The show began with a quick video intro that highlighted the wonderment, mystery and self exploration that TXT has become known for and those sentiments were mirrored throughout the show. Fog filled the theater as the boys emerged on to the stage for a powerful and emotional rendition of their hit song, “0X1=Lovesong (I Know I Love You).” As the boys performed the song they were surrounded by huge movable LED lighted performance panels that shared images of blue ice and pink jewels that chilled the audience and warmed the soul. The performance had an extended choreo and highlighted how the boys have evolved not only as vocalists and dancers, but as a unit and cohesive group moving as one to convey strong and powerful emotions.

TXT then performed “Wishlist” and “Blue Orangeade,” before taking a break to chat with fans. The opening set of songs was chocked full of cuteness and charms as well as vibrant colors and flavorful fruit imagery. It literally was positivity overload. One might think that it was the end of the show given how joyful it was, but for TXT it was just the beginning. The group loved getting feedback from their MOA on their performance of “Blue Orangeade.” It was obvious that the group delighted to be back in the presence of their American MOA after such a long break from performing in the US.

It was evident that the boys really enjoyed performing in front of the crowd as they chatted with fans. Yeonjun admitted that the boys really mould over what songs they would perform and wanted to highlight and show off songs that had never been seen before on American soil. He admitted the group wrecked their brains picking out songs. The boys went on to perform their upbeat English song, “Magic” and jumped off the stage and walked amongst the crowd to perform “Ghosting,” while shaking hands, waving, and taking pictures. The moment was so magical and intense that even the in-house camera crew couldn’t keep track of the boys as they became one and merged with Moa.

The boys continued with a new set that was certainly rocking as they were decked out in vintage T-shirts that highlighted groups like Nirvana, AC/DC, and the Rolling Stones. They performed in front of yellow caution tape graphics to begin this set with “New Rules” and then “PUMA” as well as “Balance Game. The boys finish the set by climbing onto a Jeep for “Lo$er=Lover” and “Trust Fund Baby.” As the crowd sang a long, Taehyun’s vocal prowess was on full display for these performances as the boys’ lit up the starry night backdrop just as if the boys were inviting the audience to a warm campfire glowing in the summer night.

After a video break, the boys return to the stage decked out in Sailor Moon-inspired shirts to perform classic monster hits songs like “Crown,” and “9 and Three Quarters (Run Away)” and “Blue Hour” as well as an emotional rendition of “Magic Island.” It was clearly evident that the boys really had matured when it came to their stage presence and ability to perform. Their craftsmanship was on full display along with their development as artists but what really set the tone for the show was how much the boys truly missed and delighted with interacting with their fans.

After a short video break, the guys changed into another outfit that mirrored this set’s darker tone. With a wicked red forest behind the guys and wearing white and black outfits they performed, “Frost,” “Maze in the Mirror,” and an epic performance of “Eternally.” The boys then stopped to chat with fans and share how much it meant to them to perform “Eternally.”

For the next set the boys continue down a path of exploration and were not afraid to confront their Darkside with songs like “Can’t You See Me? (Rock remix)” and “Opening Sequence.” They were clad in blue and black outfits. For this set long gone was the cheerful music that had started the show. Now the boys took on dark imagery with authentic emotional expression. Then only Yeonjun and Hueningkai stayed on stage to perform their song, “Lonely Boy” as TXT’s first subunit. After this song, all the boys united on stage to kid and tease Yeonjun and Hueningkai about their song. After some funny jabs, the whole group performed a touching rendition of “Anti-Romantic.”  They finished out this set with their current chart-topping hit, “Good Boy Gone Bad.”

As the boys disappeared off stage fans were left wanting more which of course TXT delivered. For their encore performances they performed “Thursday’s Child Has Far To Go” and “MOA Diary (Dubaddu Wari Wari)” and  “Sweat.” During their performance of “MOA Diary (Dubaddu Wari Wari)” fans were asked to hold up signs sharing how much they loved the boys of TXT. The boys seem generally touched by this moment.

It was clear from the show, that the boys took the audience on a journey, not only of their own development as artists but as young adults maturing into adulthood. The show started with warm, upbeat, cheerful, and innocent songs that only TXT can deliver to the world of K-pop, but eventually morphed into a much darker moodier, and more authentic tone with songs that the group has become known for. However, the most touching part of the entire concert was seeing how much the boys delighted in seeing, entertaining, and connecting with their fans that they have clearly been longing for and waiting to entertain.

Tomorrow X Together and the ACT: LOVESICK tour will continue in the US for the rest of this month before TXT heads overseas. Their North American dates are as follows:

  • Thursday, July 7, 2022.                   Rosemont Theatre, Chicago, IL
  • Saturday, July 9, 2022.                   Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
  • Tuesday, July 12, 2022.                  Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Thursday, July 14, 2022.                Texas Trust CU Theatre, Grand Prairie, Texas
  • Sunday, July 17, 2022.                    Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, Sugar Land, TX
  • Thursday, July 21, 2022.                Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
  • Saturday, July 23, 2022.                 Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, CA
  • Sunday, July 24, 2022.                    Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, CA

TXT also will be performing on Good Morning America on July 11th, 2022.

 

 

 

 

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Stray Kids Triumphantly Return to the US for Their “MANIAC” World Tour

by Emerson Unger
written by Emerson Unger

Credit JYP Entertainment

It was a night that was more than two years in the making. After their explosive concert back in January 2020, at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Stray Kids returned. They came back to the tri-state area to kick off the US leg of their 2nd World Tour “MANIAC” at Newark’s Prudential Center.

As fans and super stans, aka Stray Kids’s STAY, pack the sold-out show on June 28, 2022, they were greeted and treated to a green maniac stage. After a short video celebrating all that JYP Entertainment has become known for, the anticipation ramped up as if the last past two years has been spent waiting for Stray Kids to return.

Finally, the wait was over as the eight-member group of Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N took to the stage to perform their smash hit and earworm Maniac. The electrifying performance not only showed off the guys’ skills but their evolution as artists. Their hardcore choreo opening set from their 2020 concert was replaced by a more mature and artistic aesthetic rendition of “Maniac.” Following the song, the group went into a dance break before belting out their other hit song “Venom” off of their current number one billboard 200 album chart-topping album ODDINARY.  The performance was accompanied by large spider legs coming out of the stage with badass bass vibes filling the arena.

Credit JYP Entertainment

Before stopping to chat with fans, the guys delighted them with their rendition of “Red Light.” Taking a breather, leader of Stray Kids, Bang Chan, waved at fans as he shared his amazement with how many people were in the arena. Having fun, he kidded saying, “It’s been 2 1/2 years! I really missed you guys! I think you missed us more?!” Then the group asked for the lights to come up so they could see their fans that they had waited for. Felix then chimed in, “It’s been 2 1/2 years; happy to be back to show you what we’ve prepared [for you].” Then the boys joked that what they were going to do next was really really hard. Returning to the stage clad and white tops and black pants with gold trim they perform “District 9” with the iconic hard rap line not missing a beat.

After another video break, the boys changed into new outfits for a set that was certainly rocking in which they performed “Hellevator” in red outfits. The boys were also joined on stage by a live band and they performed a heart-thumping chest pumping performance of “Side Effects,” “Back Door,” “Scar,” and “Victory Song.”

Following another video break, the boys split up into their rap lines and vocal lines. The rap line showed off their solo skills picking songs that they love to perform. Felix shared with the audience that he practice his song on the flight over to the US. Then the vocal lines took to the stage with leader bang Chang performing Jason Mraz’s hit song “I’m Yours.” He also confessed it was the song that he used for his audition as a trainee.

Then the guys reunited as one this time clad in blue and silver for their rendition of “Thunderous,” “Domino,” and “God’s Menu.” They finished out the show wearing their signature concert T-shirts while performing “Star Lost” and “Haven.”

The next stop for Stray Kids after one more show at the Prudential Center will be Chicago on July 1st. Then they will cross the nation making stops in Atlanta, Fort Worth, and Los Angeles. They will finish the tour at the Honda Center in Anaheim on July 20th.

For tickets and more information on the tour check out straykids.jype.com

2ND WORLD TOUR DATES: 

Fri Jul 01 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Sun Jul 03 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

Wed Jul 06 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena

Sat Jul 09 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

Sun Jul 10 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

Tue Jul 12 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena

Thu Jul 14 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

Fri Jul 15 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

Tue Jul 19 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center in Anaheim

Wed Jul 20 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center in Anaheim

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MusicThe Latest

P1HARMONY: The Boy Group Everyone Needs to Look Out For

by Serena Khahera
written by Serena Khahera

K-pop is always changing with tens of hundreds of groups debuting every year, causing many to oftentimes get lost in the surge of debuts. Having a group debut that makes a hard-hitting impression that cements their group in the eyes of millions is no easy task, but P1Harmony is one of the groups that did exactly that. The six-member male group consisting of Keeho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul, and Jongseob has already completed two U.S. Showcases, collabed with Pink Sweat$, done countless live performances, sang the Korean national anthem at the LAFC Game at Banc of California Stadium, and most recently completed a sold out “Peace Tour” with over 10 different stops. It’s hard to believe with this impressive portfolio they haven’t even hit their two year mark yet.

Debuting on October 28th, 2020, P1Harmony dropped their mini-album with the title track “Siren”. This hypnotic dance hip-hop song was enough to count me interested and invested in all of the exceptionally talented and hilarious members. This title track was just a teaser to their growth and future.  The haunting music video with tons of symbolism of being under surveillance, combined with the hypnotic synth imitating a siren, shows us this is an announcement that the new heroes have arrived to fight this world filled with disharmony and make it a better place.

Even before their debut, P1Harmony was already breaking records by starring in their own movie to establish their unique identity and lay out the P1Harmony World for the fans. This allowed them to maintain a conspicuous image adding on to the mystery of what makes this group so special. On top of having a flawless discography, that members participate in creating, Korean-Canadian leader Keeho has also recently spoke out about why it is so important for his group to stay up to date on current events and always be mindful of the fine line between appreciation and culture appropriation, which is oftentimes a huge problem in K-pop.

Let’s introduce the members of P1Harmony. 

First we have Keeho, leader and vocalist. Born on September 27th, 2001, Keeho describes himself as a ‘patient, kind and funny person. A positive person too.’ The fans of P1Harmony, also known as P1ece, all adore his amazing sense of humor along with angelic vocals. Keeho is incredibly smart and truly loves what he does. His special talent has to be his memory, with his ability to remember fans and recount the exact interactions they’ve had in the past. As the resilient and reliable leader, Keeho is definitely a name to remember.

After Keeho, we have vocalist Theo. He was born  July 1st, 2001. Theo, who is happiest when he is singing, was a former SM trainee before finally switching to FNC Entertainment and debuting in P1Harmony. Theo says his dream on stage is to be a person who can give chills while performing to a large audience, and after seeing how talented he is with his insanely soulful voice, I can personally confirm he does just that.

Next we have the Ace, Jiung. Jiung was born October 7th, 2001. Oftentimes in K-pop the title “Ace” will be awarded to the idol who is very good at one position and above average at another one or two. Jiung excels at everything he does whether that be singing, rapping, or dancing. No wonder he’s good at everything he does considering at a young age, with the help of a tutor, he taught himself how to speak English. Jiung’s love for performing came from a performance he did with some friends during a school trip. While he was on the stage hearing everyone cheer, he realized this was something he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

Following Jiung, born August 31st, 2003 we have rapper and dancer Intak. Intak is one of the members that works on a lot of P1Harmony’s songs with his skill in writing lyrics. His unique personality is that he has a great spirit and loves challenges. Intak is lively, loving, and affectionate, and his dream is to be a cool and respected musician. With his unique flow, and amazing dance moves it’s no wonder this charismatic member is the visual of the group.

After Intak follows Soul. Born in Japan on February 1st, 2005, Soul is the freestyle god of P1Harmony when it comes to dance. Although quiet and mysterious, fellow member Jongseob says, “He’s usually quiet but when he starts talking, he talks a lot”.  Soul is known for his 4D personality which is unique and very out of the box. During an interview Jiung and Keeho said that if they were in survival games, like Hunger Games or Squid Games, they think Soul would be the winner.

Last, but most certainly not least, we have Jongseob the insanely talented and stylish rapper, dancer, and maknae. Jongseob is the youngest of the group born November 19th, 2005. Although young, he has the most experience out of all of the members starting his career as a joint winner of Kpop Star 6. After being picked by YG Entertainment as a trainee, he was chosen to be a contestant of Treasure Box, but was eliminated in episode 9. This lead him to move to FNC Entertainment before debuting in P1Harmony. Jongseob says he wants to be remembered as someone who gives strength through music during difficult times.

P1Harmony is a force to be reckoned with a timeless discography, hilarious members, and amazing stage presence. If you want to check out more content from P1Harmony, The Knockturnal’s got you covered with a list of all their socials.

P1Harmony Official Sites:
Twitter: @P1H_official
Instagram: @p1h_official
Facebook: @P1Harmony
YouTube: P1Harmony
V-LIVE: P1Harmony
TikTok: @p1harmony
Weibo: P1Harmony
Weverse: P1Harmony

Let us know what you think and don’t forget to check out our TikTok @theknockturnal.com and follow us on Instagram @theknockturnal for clips and interviews of your favorite celebrities and exclusive events.

 

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Lollapalooza 2022 Will Be Historic: Thank You BTS’ J-Hope

by Emerson Unger
written by Emerson Unger

J-Hope of BTS is set to make history at this year’s Lollapalooza. When he takes the stage at Lollapalooza, he’ll do it as the first South Korean artist to headline the main stage at a major U.S. festival. He is set to headline on Sunday, July 31. 
 
Add to the great news,  J-Hope will not be the only Korean performing at  Lollapalooza. He’ll be joined by his fellow label mates and aka “the little brother of BTS,” TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT). This will be TXT’s United States festival debut and their first return to the U.S. post-pandemic. TXT will play Lollapalooza on Saturday, July 30th.
 
J-Hope was tapped after the previous headliner Doja Cat backed out of Lollapalooza. She announced in May that she could not perform due to a medical issue with her tonsils. She needed surgery and to miss touring with The Weeknd this summer as well as taking the stage at Lollapalooza.

Lollapalooza takes place from July 28 to July 31 in Chicago’s Grant Park. 

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Was Coachella 2022 a Low-Key K-pop Concert?

by Emerson Unger
written by Emerson Unger

With so much Asian excellence on display at Coachella this year, one might wonder, “Was Coachella 2022 a Low-Key K-pop Concert? #seriously?

Now, Coachella and K-pop have been friends for years, but things changed back in 2019 when BLACKPINK became the first all-female K-pop idol group to perform on the festival’s 20th anniversary. This set off a wave of high expectations for the following year when one of the biggest K-pop groups (BIGBANG) would reunite on the Coachella stage. However, due to the pandemic, BIGBANG’s Coachella performance was postponed and eventually canceled.
With the pandemic winding down, Coachella is back. These past two weekends of April 15 to 17 and 22 to 24 have been epic when it comes to K-pop in the Colorado Desert in California. Here are some of the historic highlights. Thank you 88rising.
1. 2NE1

The queen, CL, was invited to perform at this year’s Coachella by 88rising, an American multinational music company that promotes Asian artists. However, CL could not pass up the opportunity to reunite with her fellow girls on stage. So, in a surprise performance and after almost 6 years apart the iconic girl group 2NE1 performed at Coachella.

2. Epik High
Just like 2NE1, Epik High knows a thing or two about hip hop.  After making history back in 2016 as the first Koreans to perform at Coachella, six years later, they returned.

3. GOT7’s Jackson Wang
Again, thanks to 88rising, GOT7’s Jackson Wang took to the Coachella stage. We performed his new single, “Blow,” and he did it shirtless.

4. Aespa

Aespa is still a very young group, but these girls slayed on the Coachella stage. Fans were delighted to hear after the first weekend of Coachella that the girls would be making their debut for the festival’s second weekend.

5. BLACKPINK’s Jennie and Kevin Woo
OK, they didn’t perform at Coachella, but they definitely came to have some fun. Former U-KISS member and lead actor in Broadway’s K-pop The Musical, Kevin Woo shared his attendance and enjoyment on social media. Likewise, BLACKPINK’s Jennie could be seen dancing all weekend.
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https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAWh5DHP9LCZ0zaeopfd7qixnfIHBqRZ

MusicThe Latest

The New Generation of K-pop is Here: Here’s What You Need to Know

by Serena Khahera
written by Serena Khahera

K-pop has begun to sweep the world as the “Hallyu wave” or “Korean wave” (the idea that South Korean pop culture has grown in prominence to become a major driver of global pop culture) has finally cemented its place in the west. After almost two decades of k-pop, the world has finally started to pay attention to the astounding accomplishments being made by k-pop idols and groups. Everyone is aware of who BTS are, but not many people know how astounding their accomplishments really are. In their recent years as a group, BTS has broken world records, been nominated for a Grammy, gotten Teen Choice, MTV, VMAs, Daesangs, Bonsangs, iHeart Radio Music Awards, American Music Awards and much much more. With BTS being the number one k-pop artists in the world, having just become the first asian act to win Artist of the Year at the AMA’s, it is finally time for people to begin to recognize these global powerhouses and pay attention to how incredible these groups really are.

First Gen

(Seo Taiji and The Boys left to right: Yang Hyun-suk, Seo Taiji, and Lee Juno)

K-pop can be broken down into “generations”. Each generations designates a certain time period a group has debuted and attempts to define the genre and culture as k-pop evolves over time. The first generation took place from the 1990s to the early 2000s with notable acts like Seo Taiji and the Boys, H.O.T., and Sechs Kies. This first generation designated the official start of k-pop and acted as a stepping stool for many other groups to follow. Not long after came one of the most globally influential generations, the second generation of k-pop.

Second Gen

(Girl’s Generation left to right: Yoona, Sooyoung, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Taeyeon, Sunny and Seohyun)

The second generation took place from 2003 to approximately 2010. In this generation we saw groups like SHINee, Big Bang, Girl’s Generation, 2NE1, Super Junior, and so many other talented groups make their mark and help the spread of the ‘Hallyu wave”` with world tours and the introduction of “fanservice”, these idols began to drop the mysterious untouchable celebrity act and introduced the friendly approachable idol image.

Third Gen

(Seventeen left to right: Wonwoo, Jun, S. Coups, Seungkwan, Dino, Joshua, Hoshi, Jeonghan, Woozi, Vernon, DK, The 8, Mingyu)

Groups that began the generational transition shift in the early 2012’s became known as the third generation. Some groups from this notable era are Twice, Seventeen, BTS, Red Velvet, EXO, BLACKPINK, and NCT and tons more. Third generation had a very heavy emphasis on a global audience. Before the third generation many international fans had to rely on other fans to add subtitles to clips of their favorite groups, but the third generation introduced more content for the international fan through social media platforms, like Twitter and Instagram, along with streaming platforms, like YouTube. K-pop also began to expand and add more of a story telling element through the introduction of “universes” or the group’s “concepts”. The end of the third generation is a bit less conclusive, but many agree it ended sometime in 2018.

Fourth Gen

(Stray Kids left to right: I.N., Changbin, Lee Know, Felix, HAN, BangChan, Hyunjin, Seungmin)

Any group who made their debut in 2018 or 2019 was considered to be a part of the current fourth generation.  The fourth generation shows k-pop at an unprecedented scale that we have never seen before. Groups are debuting and immediately gaining millions of views on music videos and going on showcase tours around the world. Groups like TXT,  Aespa, Stray Kids, ITZY, Enhypen, ATEEZ, LOONA, P1Harmony, STAYC are among many other powerhouse groups debuting almost weekly. This new generation are showcasing their individual talents through k-pop to the world while showing there are no barriers and their possibilities of success are endless.

With the influx of new groups and the lack of “boy bands” and “girl groups” in the west since notable acts like One Direction and Fifth Harmony, k-pop has been able to take over and found a new sense of popularity throughout the global pandemic. Something that differentiates k-pop from the typical “teenage pop group” is the amount of time and production that goes into it. Some idol groups like Stray Kids and Seventeen are also labelled as self producing because they take part in writing, producing, mixing, choreographing, and doing many other things. These all rounder groups are insuring that they cement a place for themselves globally and need to be recognized for their hard work and legitimate artistry instead of just a “teenage craze”.

Needless to say there are many more layers to the K-pop universe and learning about what differentiates it or makes it appealing is only the beginning. Until then, here’s some of our favorites that you should definitely add to your playlists. 

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ITZY Premiere Showcase In Brooklyn Was Lit

by Emerson Unger
written by Emerson Unger

It’s been less than a year since ITZY made their official debut in February of 2019, but this K-pop girl group is making waves in the US. Their latest offering for their American fans comes in the form of their premiere showcase tour ‘ITZY? ITZY!.’ This tour saw the girls, Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna perform for their fans in Los Angeles, Houston, D.C., and NYC. 

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