Why Is K-Pop So Popular In Malaysia?

Face it; I know more about popsicles than I do about K-pop. For instance, did you know that popsicles are actually just iced-water? Betcha didn’t know that, you’re welcome.


Well to be fair, there are only two things that I know about when it comes to this whole K-pop culture thing. First, it’s that video where a group of almost-flawless doll-like Korean girls pretending to be mannequins and come to life in the most sudden manner and start wailing “GEE GEE GEE GEE GEE BABY BABY GEE GEE GEE”. It’s almost like that fantasy I had when I followed my mum to the clothing’s boutique as a little boy. Just that in my fantasy, the girls weren’t a product of plastic surgeries.

The next thing that I really know – which presumably anyone who has a radio, television, internet connection or a messenger owl would know too – is the Gangnam Style. Come on, it’s like the biggest thing the white people are doing right now. Trust me, whatever the white people do; you know that shit is phenomenal.

Yup, the above pretty much sums up my entire library of K-pop knowledge. Should you attempt to engage in a lively conversational exchange with me on this subject matter, you’ll be gravely disappointed as I could only revolve between the tale of girls who lead secret lives as mannequins and imaginary horseback-riding.


If we’re being painfully (not a sensation I hope to physically receive from any K-pop enthusiasts upon reading this article) honest here, I really don’t understand why K-pop is so popular over here.

For many of us that do not speak or comprehend the Korean language, there is no way we can appreciate the songs and its lyrics. Though the doctrine of translation may somehow aid us in understanding what the fudge is a particular Korean song about, it wouldn’t be a 100% kind of understanding. I’m pretty sure that there are possibilities of misapprehension arising as a consequence of translation.

The song may be written, in its native language, about an emotional encounter with a special someone through the metaphor of, I don’t know, a bowl of kimchi? And if we were to rely on its translated version without any prior knowledge as to how their literary construction works, we’ll probably misconstrue it as a story of some random sad stalker who has a fetish for girls that smells like kimchi.

Yeah okay, maybe that didn’t make any sense there but I’m bad at making illustrations so there’s that.

But my point here is that, we don’t know how the Korean culture really works, since we’re not born and bred there as one. Even though you may’ve learnt a hell lot of crap about them and maybe profess to have some certificates to show how much of a Korean junkie you are, it will never be the same knowledge as one who was raised there. What we think it is may not exactly be what it actually is. Unless it’s Gangnam Style, then it’s irrevocably and undoubtedly about riding an imaginary horse and shouting at a random girl’s butt (YES IT IS I DON’T CARE WHAT THE KOREAN WEBSITE SAYS). Sorry, I had to keep it relevant.

Call me old-fashioned, but I think for songs to be truly enjoyed is when we know what it is singing about. Granted, the beats to it may be catchy, the rhythm may be smooth and the voice may be beautiful. But unless you’re a very learned person in the field of music, I don’t think you’ll actually fully appreciate a song when you can’t even make heads or tails as to what is coming out from the singer’s throat. If you insist that you are one who can “still love a singer even though you know nuts about the language he is singing in”, do drop me your number, I’m planning to release a couple of songs in Swahili about donkey penises and dried testicles. Pretty sure you’ll fall in love with me soon.


So that’s the part of the whole K-pop frenzy that really puzzles me. Then there’s the other part where K-pop artistes have this perfect gorgeous looks that makes you feel like wearing a mask when you go out because all your confidence have been destroyed after seeing how perfect they are. This is the only sound reasoning I can formulate as to why K-pop is so popular in Malaysia. The good looks and hot bods.

But then again, this whole ‘good looks’ argument couldn’t be a really concrete one since they’re like so many other beautiful races out there, like the Japanese or Taiwanese or Arabians or Latinas and OH MY GOODNESS YES LATINAS ARE LIKE THE MOST PERFECT LOOKING BUNCH OF PEOPLE ON EARTH I CAN’T EVEN DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED I NEED SOME AIR RIGHT NOW BREATHE IN BREATHE OUT.


 
There. I’m just rambling really and I meant no malice whatsoever to any K-pop lovers out there. I respect your preferences; it’s just that I don’t understand why. In the meantime, I’ll just go google some pictures of smoking-hot Latinas and then maybe start working on my Swahili song.

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