The Best K-Pop Moments of 2020
Teen Vogue asked 49 journalists to write about the best K-pop moments of 2020. I wrote about how BTS’ No. 1 hit single “Life Goes On” brought the Korean language to the forefront.
Category: Music
BTS’ Global Press Conference for “BE (Deluxe Edition)”
By refusing to allow naysayers to define who they are or who they should be, BTS have remained true to themselves. And with their latest collection of songs, they are encouraging their fans to also just … BE.
Will K-pop’s BTS or Blackpink get Grammy nominations finally? Boys’ single, Dynamite, and girls’ debut album ought to help
The South China Morning Post recently interviewed me to chat about BTS and the upcoming Grammy nominations: “If BTS aren’t nominated this time, it’s not because of their lack of talent,” said Jae-Ha Kim. “All it will mean is that the Grammys are as clueless as they were in 1989, when they handed the trophy for best hard rock/metal performance to Jethro Tull, rather than Metallica.”
A.C.E Talks Exclusively to KOCOWA about K-dramas!
“(Starring in ‘Twenty-Twenty” was) a very precious and unforgettable memory,” said A.C.E’s Chan. “The role of Sohn Bo-hyun was the best fit for me and the personality was the same as myself in real life. I enjoyed every second of the shooting. I am also very happy that I could play this role with great actors, actresses and staff.”
BTS Bring Intimacy and Seven Years of Hits to ‘Bang Bang Con’ Livestream
While the challenges of feeling up close and personal with a group that’s not even in the same city are obvious, one of BTS’ charms is their ability to make fans feel valued and seen.
BTS Gifts Fans With 24 Hours of BANG BANG CON: Five Moments to Look For
Have you ever attended a BTS Muster? You’re in for a treat this weekend with the free, two-day online event, BANG BANG CON.
How to Speak K-pop Like a True Fan
All-kill? Comeback? Fighting? What are these K-Pop stans even talking about? We’re here to help.
BTS Takes Over Late-Night With ‘Tonight Show,’ ‘Carpool Karaoke’ Appearances
BTS has done its share of guest spots that follow the standard routine: perform a song and then sit on the sofa chatting about what American food they like. But ever since their appearance last May on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” some American variety shows have gone out of their way to make things more unique.
BTS’ “Map of the Soul: 7” Album Review
A breezy “Hey-na-na-na” precedes their declaration of nothing being able to “Hold me down/ ‘Cuz you know I’m a fighter” makes it obvious that, like this entire album, “ON” is an exhortation to their fans, but also homage to their own career.
Monsta X: “All About Luv” album review
It’s no coincidence that the release date for Monsta X’s latest project “All About Luv” is on Valentine’s Day — title aside, all of its songs explore elements of relationships. But don’t call it a love album: for as many sweet nothings as the set contains, its most powerful tracks deal with breakups and deceit.
Why Do Critics Love Bong Joon-Ho and Dismiss BTS?
MTV News interviewed me for this piece on how differently “Parasite” director Bong Joon-Ho and BTS are viewed by critics.
Group of the Year: BTS
From the giant stages of a sold-out stadium tour — including two nights at London’s 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium — to the intimacy of a “Saturday Night Live” performance, BTS was everywhere in 2019. Consistently reaching the top of the U.S. charts singing in their native Korean, BTS made pop culture history on their own terms. For all this, the septet has earned the honor of being named Variety’s Group of the Year.
BTS Makes History at the AMAs!
The American Music Awards sweep was a vindication for BTS’ fans, who were shocked the group was shutout at the People’s Choice Awards earlier this month, where the band was nominated for Music Video, Favorite Group and Concert Tour.
BTS Clean Up at American Music Awards
BTS topped the Jonas Brothers, Panic! At the Disco, Pink and Ariana Grande at Sunday’s American Music Awards to win all three of the categories in which they were nominated: Favorite Duo or Group (the first time an Asian group has received the honor), Tour of the Year and Favorite Social Artist (for the second consecutive year).
K-Pop Powerhouse SM Entertainment, Home to NCT 127, SuperM and EXO, Inks With CAA
Just weeks after the Korean boy band SuperM held a showcase in Los Angeles, their management company, SM Entertainment, announced that it has signed with CAA for representation in all areas. Founded in 1995 by Soo-Man Lee — one of Variety’s 2019 International Power Players — SM Entertainment’s roster also includes K-pop luminaries NCT 127 (pictured above), EXO, Girls’ Generation, Super Junior and Red Velvet.
BTS Show Love for Lauv and Their Army of Fans in Video for Reworked ‘Make It Right’
Advocates for promoting the awareness of mental health – especially in young people – BTS obliquely addresses this issue with the music video for their reworked version of “Make It Right.” It includes concert footage along with an animated story line. The animation gives off a strong “Le Petit Prince” vibe. Like the imagery depicted in the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry novel, the video delves into the delicate nature of human behavior.
“BTS: Bring the Soul”: Episode 6
The finale of “Bring the Soul” coincides with the end of the European leg of BTS’ 2018 “Love Yourself” world tour. Each member is given his moment in the spotlight, but this episode was almost a coming-of-age tribute to Jungkook (who had just turned 21 on tour).
BTS Is Now on TikTok
Just days after they ended their brief vacation, BTS is back at it. Early Wednesday morning, the Korean pop group’s management company — Big Hit Entertainment — simply tweeted: “#BTS TikTok Channel Open!” That was all it took for ARMY (BTS’ loyal fans) to follow suit.
“BTS: Bring the Soul”: Episode 5
“Someone said seeing BTS was like seeing a unicorn,” RM says in this fifth episode of “Bring the Soul.” “When you think about it, no matter what’s happening behind the stage, just showing our faces is a remarkable experience for some people.” In other words, the group is well aware that there are fans all over the world who will never get the chance to attend a BTS concert. They know that the ones who did manage to snare a ticket often had to go through a Hunger Games-like ordeal to purchase it. For that reason, the group strives to be perfect, to give each show 110% and to perform through their injuries when possible, even when they’re advised not to.
“BTS: Bring the Soul”: Episodes 3 & 4
There have been countless think pieces on who will be the next BTS or how someone could create the next BTS. This is an irrational concept, because what they essentially are saying is, “How do we conjure up another group that gets this much press and makes this much money?” If money was all BTS was after, they could retire now and be set for life. But what drives them is the relationship they have with each other and their knowledge of the influence they have on others, which can be channeled into a greater good.