What is K-pop? Why am I listening so much of it?

K-pop is an abbreviation of Korean pop,  a musical genre originated in South Korea which is distinguished by including a variety of audiovisual elements combining choreography, unique style and music with super up tempo beats.

It won much popularity in Asia in the 90s, but from the 21st century, this genre went from a simple beat to become a whole subculture among teenagers and young adults.

Nowadays k-pop is expanding incredibly and it has being increasingly created creating fan clubs, competitions, events and festivals. And not only in our country, in all of Europe, Latin America and the United States has become extremely popular.

Unfortunately because of the political problems that are currently in force in Asia, everything is done in Korea is not as well received in Taiwan and Japan since society wants to consume only what has been created in their own country. That's why the industry is giving priority to expand the k-pop's 'boom'  internationally.

Furthermore, not only the music has become so popular, the singers have been called, by his fans as 'idols' because not only engaged in singing and dancing but also act in the well-known 'dramas'. They are very attractive, athletic, and are incredibly easy dance.

They have also implemented a new fashion counting on radical and awesome costumes combining styles 'rock', 'pop' and alternative. Oriental fashion together with the most extravagant western fashion.

The most popular groups today are 'Big Bang' and 'Super Junior' because they are those that bring more fans. But these are not the only ones, there are many groups of this genre, from the oldest to the most modern have been responsible for creating not only music, but also fashion style and a completely different culture.

¿and J-pop?

The j-pop is an abbreviation of Japanese pop and has become extremely popular not because of the genre itself but the publicity has been given in anime, well known as Japanese cartoons which use songs to open and close each program ('openings' and 'endings').

For a long time, anime and manga got so much popularity that several countries became interested in Japanese culture more generally, so much so that the language began having more priority and was created another subculture that everyone know as 'otakus'.

This Japanese word means fan, and believe it or not, is used to give names to those whose personal tastes focus on Japanese culture, especially 'anime'.

Today this type of fans are well known by the society but not accepted by his eccentricities.

Among the most popular artists of this genre is the famous 'Utada Hikaru' considered as quite a celebrity and 'Kat tun' with 'Arashi' who has been currently rated as one of the biggest idols in Japan.

¿J-pop or K-pop?

None is better than the other. Both are excellent musical genres with a completely different background. The war between these two styles is among the fans as many j-poperas have strayed from the way to find a better place in  k-pop.

So, which do you choose? I recommend you to give them both a chance because they are completely different and awesome cultures.