Introducing K-Pop to your friends
This is a tough subject to tackle but I feel like it is necessary on this page. Being a K-pop fan and having friends who aren't, I know how hard this is. The experiences I've had have been less than satisfactory in most cases. Particularly with my own best friend, who for anonymity's sake we'll call Jenny.
Not too long ago I tried introducing Jenny to K-pop. I showed her SNSD, 2NE1, and many other of the big name groups. I kept trying no matter how disinterested she seemed. She then decided to show me some French music she had really gotten into. My attitude was, well, let's say I wasn't impressed at all and I showed it very well. She didn't seem too upset though. We just moved on to something else. But when I think of how I acted now I realize maybe if I had been more open to her musical suggestions she might have been more open to mine. Incase you didn't get that The point of that story was when showing your friends K-pop give them some room, some time and if they show you something they really like (possibly just as much as you like K-pop) give it a chance. And not just a "oh that's nice" chance. Voice some sort of positive opinion on the music and possibly ask if you can see more. Just think of how happy you'd be if they did the same. Now I know a lot of you have been, I'll say, not so happy as your friends and friends of friends and even strangers have been saying "OH MY GOSH! HAVE YOU HEARD GANGNAM STYLE! OH OH OH OPPA GANGNAM STYLE!. hehehe" And while i can understand how this may turn you off to showing them other K-pop. What I have been saying for months now and will continue saying is Gangnam style maybe a phase for some, but for others it is a stepping stone. We need to use this to our advantage. For short, Don't hate, appreciate. As soon as Gangnam style got as big as it did I rejoiced. We finally have something that has made it big enough in the U.S. to be recognized. It may not be 2NE1, Big Bang or SNSD like most of us were hoping for. But it's still something Korean. And it's still K-pop. It's a gift, not a curse. Take it as is or leave it. |
Let's not forget; The K-pop fandoms, all together, we are a family. We should love each other and welcome all others in. We are here to support and fangirl/fanboy over our Idols. Unless you are a Sasaeng fan, in which case you are here to stalk them. But the rest of us are here to support our Idols in any way we can. Voting, buying merch and albums, and just listening to the music and watching the MVs. So in getting our friends into K-pop we are earning our Idols more fans which means more support. Don't take it so hard though if your best friend doesn't show the same interest you do. Sure, you may not have earned TVXQ or Big Bang a new fan. But it's not your fault or theirs. And it doesn't mean you love them any less.
Even a small success is a success. Now, my boyfriend who I will call Mickey. Mickey is very much into techno, industrial and rock and such. I was having a really hard time figuring what to show him when it came to K-pop. I don't really listen to any K-Rock and I also really wanted to show him something that I would listen to more often, something I already liked. One day out of the blue I decided to show him B.A.P's Warrior MV. He actually liked it. A lot. I was very surprised and very happy. Now I don't expect him to like everything by B.A.P now. But I will continue to show him B.A.P MV's in the future since that is one group I know he has some interest in. That whole ordeal with Mickey just proved to me that perserverance can pay off. It really is worth it to keep trying when it comes to something you are really passionate about. Some things are worth the first 50-100 failed attempts to get things right the 51st or 101st time. So, my fellow K-pop fans I will leave you with this. Don't give up. "Never give up Because it’s you, it’s you Believe in yourself Never give up" Bang Yong Guk and Zelo - Never Give Up |