Being a K-pop fan isn’t
easy. You get to hear various bashes from a lot of different people. You are
presented with a lot of questions. People around you tend to question your
interest. Just like on my case, they can’t help but get curious about
everything I do regarding K-pop. Even my own family would ask me why I like
K-pop and why in the world am I screaming every time my favorite Korean group
is on TV. It’s easy. K-pop had a good influence on me. Well, on my perspective.
I don’t know how many times I have repeated in my various essays but K-pop did
help me in some ways of my life.
We all know that Korean Pop
is making it huge globally. With that, a lot of youths of this present
generation are not only focusing on Korean Pop but rather a lot of them are
getting interested in everything involved in Korea ; from the food, to the
fashion even up to the culture itself. As a K-pop fan myself, I can never deny
that fact. I am one of those youths who go crazy over idol groups. People would
tend to present numerous questions about my interest. The problem is that
people are so subjective. They only believe on what they think. Most of the
time, they would bash K-pop in front of my face; regardless of the fact that I
am a K-pop fan. They would always say that Korean celebrities, most especially
idols, are gay. Is that even justifiable? Call me immature or what but
sometimes, it’s just getting a bit below the belt. I understand that we all
have different interests in music. But we have to learn respect. Not everybody
likes K-pop but we have to consider that K-pop has its own appeals. Korean Pop
doesn’t deserve to bash because it doesn’t harm anybody. Most of the time,
Korean Pop has good effect on its audience. Korean Pop helped a young lady like
me discovered myself. Is that even possible? Yes of course; because it happened
to me. At first, it was just any other addiction but as I grow older with it,
it eventually became an inspiration. Most especially when I encountered this group
named B2ST/BEAST. They are just another idol group in Korea consists of 6
members namely Yoon Doojoon, Jang Hynseung, Yong Junhyung, Yang Yoseob, Lee
Kikwang and Son Dongwoon. I was already a K-pop fan when I first encountered
their group in their debut song “Bad Girl”. At first, I find them funny with
their weird looking white outfits. Some of its members even scared me. But I
would be lying if I say that I didn’t like their song. The track ‘Bad Girl’ was
cute and I admit that. I even watched the music video for numerous times
online. But being a fan of one of the most veteran idol group TVXQ that time, I
didn’t really bother to focus my attention on them. I remembered well how I
compare them with TVXQ before. Until such time, Tong Vfang Xien Qi disbanded in
2009. Their disbandment became a threat to my fan girling life. Being an avid
of them, I was really depressed that time. I won’t deny the fact that I cried
numerous times because of that event. I was thinking that maybe, K-pop wasn’t
really for me. That depression went on for months until one day, when I opened
the television, one headline caught my attention. “Korean boy group BEAST is in
the country to take part on a concert for a cause” – I remembered well the way
they look that time. They were still at the airport when that specific
interview was done. Various networks covered their arrival at the national
airport. I wasn’t really that affected when I heard the news. I was glad
though. But I really didn’t go all giddy over them that time; knowing that I
was still trying to cope up with TVXQ’s disbandment. Their concert here in the
Philippines together with Kim Hyun Joong was aired on TV. It was entitled
‘K-pop Meets P-pop’. As a K-pop fan, missing any Korean concert is not on my
list so I decided to actually watch their concert on TV. I don’t know why but
that time, I suddenly became like a little girl who was smiling as wide as the
clown’s when she gets her favorite doll. I had to admit, they were looking so
good with their grey and black outfits. They look like perfect boyfriends. It
was 10 in the evening that time so there was nothing more I could do but put a
pillow on my mouth so that no one could hear me screaming. They were so
handsome!!! I swear to God, the moment they sang the song ‘Oasis’(I honestly
didn’t know the title that time) with roses on their hands, how I wish I was
there to get one of it. They were serenading the whole audience with their
distinct and perfect vocals. I would die to have one rose coming from them. I
was even stretching out my hand to the television and I kept on saying, “I
wanna have one too!!” “Oppa! Give me one. Please!!” Sounds crazy but I really
did that. The mob was getting crazier and crazier every minute. God! How I envy
those fans that were there. They played the stage well and they really pulled
off a great performance. I was really impressed with the kind of performance
they showed onstage. The way their attitudes and qualities compliments the
whole atmosphere is really something that caught my attention. My impression on
them changed ever since that day.
Lucky enough, their
documentary was shown in MTV Asia and I didn’t hesitate to watch it. The
documentary showed their journey before becoming idol stars. The whole
documentary was epic. They were really funny kids. They were having on their
own ways and I too can’t help but laugh every time they would crack a joke on
one of their members. The documentary also showed the hardships on their
journey. Like any other idol group, their journey wasn’t easy. They were even
named as ‘The Recycled Group’ because all of them had their frustrations as
they get to achieve their dreams of becoming singers/performers. Being called a
recycled group hurt them a lot, most especially that they all know that they
were giving everything they could just to present a wonderful performance. The
criticisms continued up to the moment they released ‘Bad Girl’ and their first
mini album ‘B2ST is the BEST’.
Being a witness to their
journey and of course, being a witness to their hardships is really touching.
The way they stood up despite everything made me a fan of them. I saw how
strong they were. Or better yet, I saw how they stayed strong despite the never
ending criticisms. With that, they weren’t just idols for me. They’re human. I
was truly inspired on how they endure everything just to make their dreams come
true. They were fighters. A lot of doors closed as they were starting their
journey. A lot of people were bringing them down. And as a fan, I saw how worse
those challenges are; challenges that were enough to make anyone give up and
cry. I may not really know or understand how they felt during those times but I
was pretty sure that it was really hard for them. It might have been really
hard to get over everything. Another plus factor for me would be their
determination. Instead of giving up, they made their selves better and they
were determined to create their own mark in the industry. And they didn’t fail.
They released their second mini album ‘Shock of the New Era’ with the title
track ‘Shock’. They really did left a mark with their very own genre called
‘rocktronic’ – a combination of rock and electronic sounds. The sweet guys-next-door
turned into steaming dangerous rockers. The whole image transformation is seen
on the whole theme of the album. From a bright gentleman mood to a dark sexy
one; it wasn’t just a transition. It was a transformation. Their promotions
gained a lot of attention. Their mini album swept off various charts; both
Asian and non-Asian ones. From being the recycled group, B2ST’s image
eventually into the group that made guyliner (guy eyeliner) looks sexy. I would
agree to that.
The group had been active in
variety and reality shows. One of my favorites would be B2ST IDOL MAID. This
was a reality show wherein the group will employ a celebrity maid and of
course, as a maid, they will do everything that their employers want them to
do; regardless of the fact that they are known celebrities. Idol Maid was a
really funny reality show. Most especially that the well-known comedian, Shin
Bongsun was hired as their maid. Every episode was filled with laughter and
jokes. It was also a great opportunity to have an exclusive view of the boys’
dormitory. The maids’ competition adds up to the funny theme of the show. I can’t
help but laugh every time the boys would pick their choice. What makes me
appreciate the show more was the genuineness that B2ST showed. The reality did
not fail to show the boys’ witty attitudes and hidden schemes. Their
naughtiness was something you could look forward to. It was a good way to show
the funny side of B2ST; their other side that fans like me seldom see.
I am a B2UTY and I will
never deny that. It just never fails to make me laugh every time I would
reminisce the way I laughed at them before, those times that I underestimate
and ignore them. But those times are over. I am already a B2UTY and I am now
one of the persons who will stand by their side no matter what. Why am I saying
this? ; Because these boys had become my guide on discovering myself. As I said
awhile ago, K-pop helped me on discovering myself and B2ST was the instrument. I
was a fan and as a fan, I was growing with them. Because of them, I realized
that I am now capable of only one thing. Being their fan made me realize that I
can be anything I want to be. But above all, they made me a better person. Like
them, I’ve encountered hardships on my own. And like them, I learned to stand
by my own two feet. They made me realize that no one can ever bring me down by
their words/actions but rather, it is ME who is in full control of I will allow
myself get affected by those stuff or stand up and prove to them that I am way
better than them.
