By Danielle Young On Jun. 6, 2020, the story broke that BTS, the world renown K-pop sensation, had donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement. The response from this news was positive, well-received, and celebrated widely throughout Black Twitter and fans of the group, myself included. There was a massive movement within the […]
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By Chermel Porter TWICE is back with your soundtrack for the summer. The release of their latest mini album More & More on Jun. 1 was highly anticipated due to the long gap between its drop and their previous release Feel Special, which came out in Sep. of last year. More & More, and the […]
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By Danielle Young On Jun. 6, 2020, the story broke that BTS, the world renown K-pop sensation, had donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement. The response from this news was positive, well-received, and celebrated widely throughout Black Twitter and fans of the group, myself included. There was a massive movement within the […]
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By Chermel Porter TWICE is back with your soundtrack for the summer. The release of their latest mini album More & More on Jun. 1 was highly anticipated due to the long gap between its drop and their previous release Feel Special, which came out in Sep. of last year. More & More, and the […]
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On Jun. 6, 2020, the story broke that BTS, the world renown K-pop sensation, had donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement. The response from this news was positive, well-received, and celebrated widely throughout Black Twitter and fans of the group, myself included. There was a massive movement within the Black BTS fan community for BTS to be involved, to use their substantial platform to uplift Black voices as they had with other issues.
Their Love Myself campaign with UNICEF was a digestible and, generally, non-controversial stance to take — no one could argue against stopping violence against children and teens. But in a world saturated with white supremacy and anti-blackness, stating that Black Lives Matter is controversial and argued against.
BTS not only stated that Black Lives Matter, but they also backed it with monetary support. They should not be alone in this, but all of K-pop should be mobilizing to support the Black Lives Matter movement, especially the larger companies like YG and JYP Entertainment. However, this should happen not out of obligation — like many large companies in the west have been doing solely performatively to save face and money — but because the backbone of K-pop is Black culture.
On Jun. 18, SM made a statement about Black Lives Matter — a rare time they’ve taken a political stance as a company. Most people would argue that this was a good thing, and it is because it now puts them in a place where they can be held accountable. But we are at the point in this movement where statements are not enough. SM has had a long history of appropriating Black culture and ignoring criticisms by continuing to be repeat offenders, and was recently called out by a Black songwriter who alleged the company hadn’t paid her appropriately for her work, though another songwriter later alleged that from his perspective SM paid “well.” Hopefully SM realizes that Black Lives Matter is more than just police brutality in this single moment and reflects their commitment to this issue in the future.
The magic behind so many of K-pop fan favorites songs are Black people. K-pop exists only because of Black people, and we are owed that much from an industry that continues to appropriate Black culture and ignore the very people who demand that the culture be respected. To say that Black Lives Matter and make donations to the movement is truly the very least that the K-pop industry can do.
So many people’s interest in South Korea and the culture is because of K-pop, and Korean entertainment in general. Fans want to learn Korean, and some may even have a romanticized vision of the country and its people. For Black people and biracial Black people in South Korea, the country is not the land of K-pop and K-dramas. They experience prejudice and distcrimination solely because they are Black. Anti-Blackness thrives in South Korea just as it does in the U.S. and other places in the world. And while it is unfortunate that we rely so heavily on celebrity culture to influence what we believe in, the impact of K-pop idols supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement can have a massive impact, giving those who have already been doing work in South Korea the platform to have their voices amplified. With BTS donating $1 million, it directly caused a spontaneous project for the entire fanbase to mobilize and match the donation under the hashtag #MatchAMillion.
People in South Korea joined in on the global marches for equality for Black lives on Jun. 6 in Seoul. The protests serve as a starting point for South Korea to reexamine the societal issues that are ignored and then left to fester and be normalised. There were about 100 people at the protests and those who had some things to say shed light on the issues in Korean society towards Black people. A Black teacher even had the chance to voice their experience stating, “Racism here is when I find a seat in the subway and people avoid sitting next to me, or when my friends and I are turned away from clubs for no reason, or when jobs only want to hire white candidates.”
This experience mirrors what Sam Okyere, a Ghanian TV personality, said in a viral interview, where he was on a subway and a Korean woman asked, “What a Black bastard like [him] [was] doing in Korea,” telling him to go back to his country. Shim Jihoon, a 34-year-old social worker who organized the Black lives march said that, “People have asked why I organised such a protest in our country, but I know that there are migrant workers, multicultural families, and international students who face discrimination even here at home.“[If attitudes don’t change] what happened to George Floyd might happen here too.”
South Korean activists are hoping that the younger generation will take on the torch that the previous one fumbled. As a Black fan of BTS and a general enjoyer of the K-pop genre, I’m not sure what the future of the movement will look like in South Korea, or really in the world for that matter. It was surreal to see the fans of BTS raise an additional $1 million to match BTS’s for Black Lives Matter. The praise for the feat was bountiful, but I saw what happened before there was a decision to match the donation: fans who were posting on Weverse about Black Lives Matter, a platform where artists and fans can talk directly, were blocked from trending. Of course, there were supporters, but the sheer amount of dissenters was deeply discouraging and hurtful.
This is unsurprising and not unique to fans of BTS. Across K-pop, idols have done things like blackface, appropriated Black hairstyles, or have used racial slurs or imagery deeply rooted in racism. When Black fans of these groups voice their opinions on why this is harmful and not okay, they are met with the same pushback and excuses out the wazoo. More often than not, racism against Black people is viewed as an American problem and not something that can permeate through the lives of those who are not white and in America. It is everyone’s responsibility to dismantle the anti-Blackness within their society because anti-Blackness is global. With the latest mobilization of activism, it is important that South Korea and the K-pop industry really take a look at how they view Blackness and Black people, not only within the U.S., but also within their own country.
The intersection between K-pop and Black Twitter could be part of this turning point. Fans of K-pop have a lot of influence, and the relationship between fans and artists can be one that is symbiotic. Information on how to mobilize and educate people on racism, white supremacy, and non-Black people of color’s responsibility in dismantling anti-Blackness can be disseminated, just like projects to match BTS for their $1 million donation. Like everything in this moment for the movement, it is about what we do after the dust has settled and the hard work begins.
What are your thoughts on K-pop companies and stars’ place in speaking out against Anti-Blackness? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
KultScene is a writer-driven website dedicated to creating a platform where diverse voices’ takes on K-pop can be heard. If you like this post and would like to see more by helping support KultScene’s writers fund, please email us for more details.
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TWICE is back with your soundtrack for the summer. The release of their latest mini album More & More on Jun. 1 was highly anticipated due to the long gap between its drop and their previous release Feel Special, which came out in Sep. of last year. More & More, and the lead single by the same name, continues to show an upgraded image of TWICE, with them leaving behind the bubblegum style of their early days but still staying true to their recognizable upbeat sound, making it the group’s most well-rounded album to date.
Earlier this year, TWICE’s label JYP Entertainment announced a partnership with the popular American record label Republic Records for TWICE, and More & More is their first piece of work since then. This album has already given us the fruits of the deal, with a handful of popular Western producers and songwriters such as Julia Michaels, Zara Larsson, MNEK, Justin Tranter, and Gabe Lopez featured on the tracklist.
With More & More being the group’s first Western-aimed album, TWICE did not shy away from diversifying the vibe of their music throughout each song, dabbling in things like tropical pop and new jack swing, the latter of which we had yet to see from TWICE but was a highly welcome sound, and further evidence of their transition into more mature musical styles
As expected, the album kicks off with the title track “More & More.” The JYP-penned single is a tropical-dance infused song with an addictive build up to the chorus. The repetitive pre-chorus “more, more, more and more” will get stuck in your head for sure. Overall, the song expresses the desire for “More & More” of the feelings one has when a relationship reaches its peak of excitement and sweetness.
The music video for “More & More” can be linked to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. In the beginning of the video, the group is shown in a pure state but are later tempted to eat the forbidden fruit. Once they do, we are taken on a journey into a trippy paradise where they express the image of a free aura. The freeness expressed in the music video connects back to the lyrics with the relationship reaching its height, one can feel like they have nothing to hold back.
More & More’s second track “Oxygen” is a nice transition from the energy that the previous song gives off. This tune compares the person that you want to be in a relationship with to oxygen. Rather than needing air, the members express a need to be with this person because they are the one who keeps them breathing. The verses and pre-choruses follow a standard pop style, but the chorus infuses elements of EDM and dance. This ups their musical style whereas usually most of the choruses in their songs tend to be heavily lyric filled, so this is refreshing.
Next up is “Firework,” a track that captivates you with its Spanish-style guitar intro. The song is essentially about the intense excitement that fills one up to the degree that they feel like they will explode like a firework. A notable highlight of this song is Jihyo’s high note during the bridge, with the vocalist showing off her impressive tone as the song builds in momentum.
“Make Me Go,” which was co-written by Nayeon, is a bass-led track that shows off the mature side of the group. With two other tracks, “24/7” from Twicetagram and “Rainbow” from Feel Special under her belt, Nayeon’s lyrical style has taken a refined approach this time, opting for a seductive route. The chorus is self-explanatory with, “Love me, love me now/ love me, love me good/ don’t need nobody else when it feels this good (make me go),” followed by the suggestive “ooh ooh.” In comparison, “24/7” and “Rainbow” are very much motivational, you-can-do-it themed songs following hyper-pop production styles, whereas on “Make Me Go” we get a glimpse inside the mind of darker, adult love and desires. The members themselves have stated that this track was originally supposed to be on the Feel Special album but it did not make the cut. Fittingly, this song feels like the older sibling of “Love Foolish” from the previous album.
The following track is “Shadow,” and right away this song feels familiar. It’s almost like you just can’t put your finger on it but it’s immediately accessible, making it an easy listen for even the most casual TWICE or K-pop fan as it will make you want to get up and dance with its pop-EDM instrumentation. This song tells the story of hiding your real self during the day, but at night you dance alone with the side of yourself that has been hidden from everyone else. Throughout “Shadow,” the group tends to switch out of the K-pop standard vocal delivery which is usually marked by a high pitch range, opting to sing this track across a lower range, which comes across as more mature and suitable for an American audience.
Next up is “Don’t Call Me Again,” the ultimate post-breakup anthem. This track puts an ex-lover to shame, reminding them not to call again because their heart has gone cold for them. The marching band style of the song emphasizes the lyrical intent, as well as feeling like a grownup version of earlier songs “WooHoo” and “Touchdown.” However, we can see a clear example of growth, with both of these songs expressing feelings of teenage love and naivety of that era, whereas “Don’t Call Me Again” is very fully fledged lyrical-wise, expressing the more mature idea of having a cold heart after a relationship has gone wrong.
Last but not least, album closer “Sweet Summer Day” was written by Jeongyeon, with raps written by Chaeyoung, and this new-jack swing style song will take you back to the ‘90s. Filled with 808 drums and a synth bass, this groovy song feels like a true sweet summer day made musical. It’s apparent through the track that Jeongyeon’s lyrical composition has grown from some of her previous releases. This is her fourth credited song, following the likes of “Love Line” from Twicetagram and “Lalala” from Yes or Yes. Each of those tunes tended to focus heavily on teen love delivered in a bubblegum pop style, whereas on “Sweet Summer Day” you can see her composition skills grow with the lyrics this time focusing on self improvement of letting your worries be burned away by the summer heat into the night. A highlight of this track is Nayeon’s rap, due to the ongoing inside joke of the fandom referring to her as MC Rail (rap alias).
Overall Thoughts
More & More is a very cohesive album. Comparing this mini to previous TWICE releases, you would find it hard to believe that it was made by the same group. TWICE concluded their cute era with Yes or Yes and began to transition out of it with a new image that is more age appropriate to the members, that has helped broaden its appeal to audiences, and More & More is the latest offering to explore this shift.
As discussed, this change was very apparent not just in their concepts, but with the production and lyrical content as well. With this release, TWICE was able to completely transition into this so-called mature image without it coming off too strong. “Fancy” and “Feel Special” kind of prepared us last year for this new upgraded image, leaving behind their “school-girl” image that they had been running with throughout a majority of their career.
As the group expressed in their Seize The Light YouTube docu-series, their TWICELIGHTS tour from last year was meant to express a new image and the versatility in styles that they can pull off. More & More is a continuation of that intent, and hopefully we will continue to see more & more of this new direction from them!
TWICE's 'More & More'
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What are your thoughts on TWICE’s More & More album? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
KultScene is a writer-driven website dedicated to creating a platform where diverse voices’ takes on K-pop can be heard. If you like this post and would like to see more by helping support KultScene’s writers fund, please email us for more details.
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Raphael Rashid
JYP Entertainment
Raphael Rashid
JYP Entertainment
