South Korea is quickly becoming the new home of catchy pop music. K-Pop has already taken Asia by storm, and the phenomenon is steadily making its way to the US with acts like Wonder Girls, 2NE1 and BIGBANG working on English language debuts. Given the genre’s growing popularity, we thought it was about time to introduce you to some of K-Pop’s biggest names. On this occasion, we limited ourselves strictly to bands, since not only is the proliferation and success of boy bands and girl groups one of the defining features of the Korean pop scene, these artists also encapsulate everything we love about K-Pop — quirky costumes, mind-boggling choreography and ever-changing line-ups!
idolator
This list isn’t biased, it’s interesting, i get sick of seeing the same artists all the time. this list shows a more diverse view of kpop.
And Twinkle Twinkle WAS a big hit, one of the biggest of the year, bigger than even 2NE1 and BIGBANG
http://www.allkpop.com/2011/07/gaon-chart-unveils-the-best-singles-and-albums-for-first-half-of-2011
See?
The whole “Why” album is full of various kinds of good songs. Although “Why” is great with overall composition and their unique voices, I’d recommend “Maximum” because I love the sound of ancient drum. “Maximum” performances were intensed with dynamic moves and beats.
Their pop ballads like “How can I?” is also very impressive, especially in live performances. This is the first song they sang for their coming back after the 3 members left. TVXQ disappeared for almost 2 years and no one knew what would happen with the 2, so this song is very special for their fans.
They never perform the song “Rumor” but this song is my fave on CD. It’s the light mid-tempo song that explain how upset they are that the girlfriends believe in rumors coming from left and right.
If you like variety, this album is a must. And their upcoming Japanaese album will likely to be full with variety as well because they can sing many genres.
That’s right!
Our sexy Yunho and Changmin are amazing perfomers, and KYHD is one ot the best DBSK album to date, I love every song!
this is about TVXQ .. not JYJ
so please …
Dear author … TQVM for this :)
Mr. Taxi is probably the best SNSD song ever!
Thank-you Ms Bain for your succint and to the point write-up on TVXQ.
Indeed these two young men had worked hard to bring back the name TVXQ onto the charts after an almost 2-year hiatus; a feat to be sure. Their comeback has been greeted with doubts but their talent and hard work cannot be denied. They have proven themselves by their powerful vocals and performances again and again; and they keep improving with every performance. For them action speaks louder than words.
H. Ross Perot quoted “Talk is cheap. Words are plentiful. Deeds are precious.”
Actually what I think is if your main purpose was not create a new group, you wouldn’t have gone to another place to film a DVD about you three! That’s what they’ve done. In January when TVXQ was releasing Break Out! Junsu went to Sidney to film Three Voices. So they knew what would happen! Furthermore, In April, just a week later that Tohoshinki announced a hiatus indefinite to their activities, they three announced their new unit, and obviously that was planned. So if that it’s not a main purpose since the begining, I don’t know what it is!
you from mars? 3 voices was recorded earlier this year as a part of a t.v series about jyj called jyj’s real 24, which got cancelled due to ‘external pressures’ after the filming had finished, so jyj released that as a DVD THIS YEAR! dont spread baseless lies and rumors when your ignorant as a baby!
OMG. 2ne1 i am the best, is literally… THE BEST!
YAYYY!!! BEG made the list. It’s been like 2 yrs since they released their last album but you can’t rush perfection. I know when they do comeback it’s gonna be a massive success. Hard work pays off. BEG FIGHTING!
I am such a fan of 2NE1 and BIG BANG. They have been my favorites for a long time. I love SNSD and Wonder Girls, SHIN-ee, etc. There are so many great K-Pop groups out there and it’s great to see them get recognition and even crossover! I am excited for 2NE1 and BIG BANG. I can only hope that when they come over, there are no major changes because they all have unique personalities and styles. Whether or not coaches and stylists decide to make small alterations for say, the US crowd, they will be appreciated for their talent, because they are truly talented. I am so enamored with K-Pop that I’ve been trying my hand at learning Korean for almost a year now. Even when there is no translation, I still enjoy the music!! LOL. May sound corny, but I appreciate their music and individuality. Best of wishes to ALL K-Pop artists out there! I LUV BIG BANG & 2NE1!!!!!!!!!
2NE1 WILL be in the US!! You are Amazing!!
HOT HOT HOT!!!!!!!
thank you idolator for the beautiful comments about TVXQ!! they are truly the RISING GODS OF THE EAST!! absolutely fantastic. the amazing thing is they are currently shinning much brighter than they ever did as 5 members.
dont worry about the trolls criticizing ur post on TVXQ. those so-called fans cannot help but live in their delusions about TVXQ which were unfortunately created by none other than JYJ and their families.
JYJ left TVXQ and formed their own group!! even if HoMin were to have left with JYJ, the 5 still wouldnt have been able to sing as TVXQ since TVXQ BELONGS TO ITS CREATOR SM ENTERTAINMENT!!!
lol i knw for a fact that no matter what true facts u throw to those delusional “fans” they will never try to accept TVXQ the way it is, or accept the fact that their precious 3 oppas are the biggest liars and manipulators in this game!!
anyways u are completely right in all ur words!!
i cant wait for the day TVXQ conquers the world as the hottest and most talented band ever :)
omg im sooo excited about the Japanese album!!! from what i heard so far this album will be EPIC!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PzSfjQmV4E T-Pop is the best
I like this stuff because the songs are catchy and the girls are damn cute but why in the world is K-pop going to make mainstream when legit Japanese acts can’t? I’m talking Ayumi, Otsuka, Utada, Yaiko, etc.
Even BoA and Rain haven’t truly made it here and their fan bases are WAAAAAAY bigger
I think some of you are taking youtube views away too seriously. Half of them are for the sex, the other half are people genuinely interested in the music and MOST OF THEM ARE FROM Asia.
My two favorite, SHINee and 4Minute, didn’t make the list. :(
Nice caption. They did have the last laugh didn’t they? Well, I think Yunho is too much of gentleman to laugh at others misery, but probably not Changmin :P Love TVXQ. They endured so much pain and betrayal that they deserve this more than anyone else. The other three members maybe popular enough that their fans deluded themselves into think the guys are angels, but how they can look at themselves in the mirror everyday is a mystery to me. Go TVXQ!!! :)
actually infinite is know for being the synchronized group and LOTS of well known singers compliments them even KBS world chose infinite as their favorite group because of being true to themselves on and off camera. Music industry is not all about “biggest names”.
I’m sure 2NE1 will be BIG! Just like what will.i.am said
this band is the only band in Kpop act that I can consider to be an artist. They make their own music, they have a say on their music direction and style. Unlike those puppets (another kpop bands are pretty much controlled by their label)
1. japan don’t need to. they’re 2nd biggest industry. any other market beside US is just downgrade and i doubt they want to waste money just to test making into the market.
2. kpop basically…get most of it’s stuffs from US music and Europop so that’s why western people pay attention to them since it sound similar to their music
3. over promotion and hype. i doubt Kpop have really is as big as media report other wise every other kpop groups would be in US right now. even SMTOWN lied about their tickets sold out in france because my friend still be able to buy ticket at the gate.
4. they have a strong fanbase…of 14 yrs old or same demo as beiber except way crazier that think kpop is the best and IDOLS are so “talented” and try to promote them constantly like spamming videos so the view would appear in the front page hence attract more attention
1. japan don’t need to. they’re 2nd biggest industry. any other market beside US is just downgrade and i doubt they want to waste money just to test making into the market. ??
I bet you don’t even know what you are talking about. Any market other than Japan and USA is a downgrade? wth does that mean?? u mean japan market is way bigger than Asia and Europe as a whole? pls make some sense.
it’s not about how “big” the group is, but how good their music is, right?
Finally, someone comes along with the right sense! Thank you for having TVXQ in the list. They deserve this recognition more than ever. After all the headache and heartache I experienced defending TVXQ from the haters, reading this made me “have the last laugh” as well. Take that you jealous people….
I know it’s wrong but I’m tickled pink right now imagining the faces of the antis and haters as they read this article. See, you can’t put a good man down. The truth always comes out. TVXQ show by example, they don’t just run their mouths with empty words. This article is an icing to their cake. They worked hard for this comeback and now people all over the world are starting to notice. That is their greatest revenge – they proved to people who doubted them that they can make it on their own. As you coined it… They are having their ” last laugh” indeed.
Wonder Girls are bomb! Tell me, Irony…I love their sound!
Thank you for having TVXQ in the list.
TVXQ come back with the only two members, but they come back with great song hits in this 5th album.
I like the new song “Back to tomorrow” too, it’s japan song.
And like all in the 5th album. Do you like “confession” by Changmin-(Paradise ranch ost.)?
When did G-Dragon become lead singer? He known more for his rapping than his singing in the group. Tae Yang is the lead singer :P.
Didn’t expect them to be on the list :). I like Sunny Hill, they can do cute and catchy with their song “Thump Thump” and they can be unique and fresh.
you are a complete ass for writing what you wrote about TVXQ!
“U-Know and Max stayed together and ultimately had the last laugh.”
that was just rude and uncalled for!
this is about HoMin so appreciate them, why humiliate JYJ in the process?
and JYJ are doing fine themselves! hit dramas/musicals/albums/composing music/directing/successful world tours, and that too without the backing of a monstrously huge entertainment company like SM!
i am a hardcore cassie and i love all 5 of my boys! i don’t like seeing such insulting comments about JYJ and i would be equally pissed if any one wrote something like this about HoMin!
All of those who are bashing JYJ in the comment section are the real haters!
must you be so cynical regarding a group that thousands of people feel passionately about?
if you are a real cassie and if you support only HoMin or only JYJ right now then you weren’t a true cassie to begin with…true cassies always keep the faith!
besides the JYJ cheap shot i agree with everything you wrote! HoMin had a huge task keeping TVXQ’s name alive and they did a mighty good job! i love their brand of music..way better then other SM artists!
infinite might be a rookie group compare to suju or 2pm,but they definitely making their own color to the korea music scene.with flawless debut add by the solid songs for the past year, they is far more ahead than any other biggest name.popularity is important but the impact made by the group itself is more important.they sing well and dancing extremely well..watch btd and the scorpion dance,,i wonder if the sunbae singer can do it..infinite is not depending on the biggest name or company that they belong with but they more relying and depending on their talent and passion toward music..and thats enough to give credit to them to make them deserve to be on the list..
yunho and changmin would be ashamed if they read all the bull**** being said here! both parties wished luck to each other and went their separate ways, both are doing well in all the activities they take part in! let me see, as of last i remember xiah junsu of jyj was in the top 10 of the very first billboard kpop chart released this week!
seriously its not a prerequisite of being a homin fan to be a jyj hater, stop spewing hateful and false accusations jyj’s way! homin are awesome enough on their own to not need to down jyj in order to get recognized!
and people on this forum are so ignorant and ill-informed that its beyond laughable!
Trashing the members is highly inappropriate. Respect all members regardless of whatever path they chose because they are all talented. Also, it’s clearly apparent that the author doesn’t really know what she’s talking about.
preach!
so proud of yunho and changmin…Because of Tohoshinki duo(TVXQ) powerful stage at
A-Nation they received the honor to performing last ,closing the the show 27th and the 28th…
After chaos ,we stuck it out through the hard times ,We’re still standing here We are DONG BANG SHIN KI.
TVXQ FIGHTING
Um…
I don’t know if you know that there’re 2 seasons of 3 voices.
The season you said is 2nd but the one “LU” mentioned is 1st
that was filmed in the beginning of 2010 :)
Just wanted to tell and sorry for my bad Eng.
My last post was for tvxq5forever. ^^
I so happy that you included TVXQ aka HoMin on this list. These boys have been working their butts off and showing people that the TVXQ brand is still a force to be reckoned. And what I love most is that they are doing it with their own style. PS, inappropriate jab at JYJ is inappropriate. If you don’t want to cause a fanwar and don’t know the full details, keep it about HoMin because it makes you come off as asinine, kay?
who is the narrator? she sounds like a robot.
2ne1 electro-house
dance remixes
http://soundcloud.com/danielmerlot/daniel-merlot-presents-2ne1
Be Mine is awesome!
And yep, i think it’s not about how long/big the band, I think it’s more about how they can make many people stunned with their music.
No way Daesung is the lead singer…but your right when did Jiyong oppa become lead singer!?? lol he is the rapper along with Tabi
Ok yeah infinite is a rookie group but their better than 2pm. 2pm is so unoriginal. I’m sick of them.
BIGBANG is the KPop king!!! Not only r they popular in Korean and Asia, but also internationally!!! They really deserved that Best Worldwide Act award at the 2011 MTV EMAs!!! They even beat out BRITNEY SPEARS!!!! WOW!!! They’re such a young talent!!!
Wonder Girls probably honestly have the best chance. Want to know why? Because they ALL speak English. That’s really important. :/
snsd seohyun my idol