In the US and other countries around the world, June is considered pride month. This refers to a time for the LGBT community to promote and celebrate self-affirmation, equal rights, and increase visibility of their community. It’s directly the opposite of shame, so instead of laying low and living in the dark, pride is all […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/kpop-pride-month.jpg7681024Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelumhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAlexis Hodoyan-Gastelum2015-06-25 17:36:102015-06-25 17:36:1011 K-Pop Songs to Celebrate Pride Month
As a group with relatively little fanfare in the Korean music world, Loen Tree’s male K-pop quintet HISTORY has shown off its talent time and time again. The group’s latest release, the May mini-album “Beyond The History,” showcased their talent once again, and particularly highlighted the skill of the group’s youngest member, Jang Yi Jeong. Jang […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/113660928.jpg7501000Tamar Hermanhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2015-06-24 18:04:302015-06-24 18:04:30Artist Spotlight: HISTORY’s Jang Yi Jeong
In the US and other countries around the world, June is considered pride month. This refers to a time for the LGBT community to promote and celebrate self-affirmation, equal rights, and increase visibility of their community. It’s directly the opposite of shame, so instead of laying low and living in the dark, pride is all […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/kpop-pride-month.jpg7681024Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelumhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAlexis Hodoyan-Gastelum2015-06-25 17:36:102015-06-25 17:36:1011 K-Pop Songs to Celebrate Pride Month
As a group with relatively little fanfare in the Korean music world, Loen Tree’s male K-pop quintet HISTORY has shown off its talent time and time again. The group’s latest release, the May mini-album “Beyond The History,” showcased their talent once again, and particularly highlighted the skill of the group’s youngest member, Jang Yi Jeong. Jang […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/113660928.jpg7501000Tamar Hermanhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2015-06-24 18:04:302015-06-24 18:04:30Artist Spotlight: HISTORY’s Jang Yi Jeong
In the US and other countries around the world, June is considered pride month. This refers to a time for the LGBT community to promote and celebrate self-affirmation, equal rights, and increase visibility of their community. It’s directly the opposite of shame, so instead of laying low and living in the dark, pride is all about celebrating oneself. And even if Korea is not as open with LGBT issues, that doesn’t mean K-pop songs aren’t the perfect jams to celebrate gay pride. So on that note, here are some of our favorite songs to sing and dance to this joyous month.
2NE1 “I Am the Best”
Imagine walking through the red velvet rope at the entrance of the club flicking your hair over your shoulder because you obviously didn’t wait in line or were carded. The dark, smoky corridor into the dance floor is your runway, and you work it to the max to make your grand entrance. What’s the soundtrack to this slow motion moment? 2NE1’s “I Am the Best,” of course! If K-pop held Fierce Awards, this would be the winner. Maybe it’s the empowerment behind the lyrics and the ladies’ performance, or maybe it’s those thumping beats and the repetitive naega jeil jal naga that makes you feel fabulous once the song comes out, but there’s no denying “I Am the Best” is, well, the best song to represent your awesome self.
Brown Eyed Girls “Abracadabra”
Staying on the fierce theme, few songs were embraced by the LGBT community as warmly as “Abracadabra” by Brown Eyed Girls. Like “I Am the Best,” there’s something about the beat, the dance, and of course, the guy cursing out lyrics that make it totally badass. Especially that hip sway dance coined “arrogant dance” which screams “I’m too fabulous for you.”
Kara “Mamamia”
Once in the dance floor, you need all the jams to make you feel fabulous and bust out your best moves. Kara’s “Mamamia” and its respective choreography is the perfect song for such scenario. With its retro disco beats yet vero ‘90s pop, it’s impossible not to make you want to werk.
Jo Kwon “Awesome Girl”
Another upbeat anthem to dance and sing along to is Jo Kwon’s “Awesome Girl.” Even if it wasn’t a single, the track is full of energy and personality and is all kinds of fun.
Let’s be real, T-ara’s “Sugar Free” was made for the club. Any club, for that matter. But it’s when you pair it with the choreography at the chorus that makes it perfect for pride.
N.O.M “A Guys”
If you don’t know who N.O.M are or why you’ve never heard of them is probably because their concept is banned from TV in Korea. I mean, click on this video. Their whole concept is gender bending while being fabulous. They are truly unique Korea, let alone Asia. “A Guys” was surely made with the gay club in mind.
Orange Caramel “Bangkok City”
Thailand’s kathoey or ladyboys are famous around the world, and even more so for considering them a third gender of their own. And despite Orange Caramel not using any drag queens in their music video for “Bangkok City,” it’s safe to say that’s what they were going for with their whole concept and sound wise.
Girls’ Generation “Love & Girls”
One group that did use drag queens though was Girls’ Generation for their “Love & Girls” music video. What’s fascinating about this is that for a song about girls and friendship, the director was inclusive of other types of “girls,” which is very progressive for K-pop.
Lee Hyori “Miss Korea”
And while we’re on the subject of queens, what better than a song by the queen about queens? Lee Hyori’s “Miss Korea” might not be a dance track, but it’s a self empowering anthem nonetheless.
Let’s be real. Jo Kwon’s whole solo album was fabulous and awesome and just perfect. However, revisiting the drag topic, the singer performed “Animal” in heels not even girl idols would wear and dropped sass all over the stage. There’s no one as fierce or fiercer than Jo Kwon, and for that, he takes the crown for baddest bxtch.
Amber “Beautiful”
But pride anthems are not all about being fierce and self empowering, they’re also about loving and accepting your “Beautiful” self just the way you are. That’s why this Amber song off of her solo album hits you right in the feels. It perfectly depicts her journey into being ok with herself and embracing her uniqueness.
Do you have other K-pop songs you would include in your pride playlist? Share your picks 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.
As a group with relatively little fanfare in the Korean music world, Loen Tree’s male K-pop quintet HISTORY has shown off its talent time and time again. The group’s latest release, the May mini-album “Beyond The History,” showcased their talent once again, and particularly highlighted the skill of the group’s youngest member, Jang Yi Jeong.
Jang gained fame prior to joining HISTORY as a contestant on “Birth Of A Great Star 2”. Although he didn’t win the competition, Jang’s powerful vocals and likeable personality led to him gaining a spot in HISTORY. In the group, Jang was not only the youngest member, but also the center vocalist of a group filled with talent.
After HISTORY’s debut, Jang’s highest profile solo work was being featured on IU’s “Friday.” The soft ballad about going on a date was extremely popular in South Korea, but it’s Jang’s latest work that is the most exciting.
The latest album gave Jang another chance to shine; he wrote the group’s title track, “Just Might Die” and released his own solo song, “1CENTURY.” While many K-pop idols nowadays are known for their compositional skills, it’s rare that a rookie group would go with a title song written by a member unless they had absolute confidence in the song. Jang spoke about the responsibility that went along with it in an interview with Loen’s 1theK YouTube channel, where he admitted that he felt the pressure from the members to make a good song. The result was “Just Might Die.”
Not only did Jang have a role in every aspect of “Just Might Die,” including directing the recording, he also was involved in the songs “Ghost” and “1Century” on the same album.
If “Just Might Die” wasn’t enough of a surprise to turn our attention to HISTORY’s youngest member, Jang’s solo rap “1Century” did that.
Yes, a rap song. Just like “Just Might Die,” Jang also wrote “1Century.” HISTORY has other members who rap, but Jang Yi Jeong’s debut as a rapper is one of the best rap songs we’ve heard from a Korean idol that wasn’t originally an underground rapper. The emotion is there, the different rap styles; it’s all there. Jang isn’t as talented as people who make their careers as rappers, such as San-E or Mad Clown, but there’s no doubt that there is basic, raw skill there.
Matching his singing skills with his composing talent and newly revealed aptitude for rap shows how well rounded Jang Yi Jeong is not as a general K-pop but as a musician in general. It is honestly confounding when thinking about how one of the most promising talents in the Korean music world is going unrecognized.
What do you think about Jang Yi Jeong? Share your thoughts 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.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/113660928.jpg7501000Tamar Hermanhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2015-06-24 18:04:302015-06-24 18:04:30Artist Spotlight: HISTORY’s Jang Yi Jeong
