Another Billboard victory for South Korean boy group ATEEZ with their newly-released album.
Could their global success signal a new K-pop trend?
Our Lee Eun-hee has the story.
“Oh my, it clings to my body, achoo. As the fever rises, sweat droplets gather at the comma. One plus one, and an Ice chain forms on top.”
K-pop boy group ATEEZ’s new album is taking over the global charts.
Despite the songs featuring more Korean lyrics than English, language was no barrier for their global fans.
The group’s latest album, “GOLDEN HOUR: Part. 2,” released on November 15th, topped the Billboard 200 chart for the second time, earning over 180-thousand equivalent album units in the U.S. during the week ending November 21st.
Since BTS first reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2018, a total of 8 K-pop groups, including ATEEZ, have achieved this feat. ATEEZ is the only group not from one of the “Big 4” agencies-HYBE, SM, JYP, or YG-but from KQ Entertainment.
“ATEEZ connects with fans through music and storytelling that transcends language. Their Korean lyrics, paired with powerful messages and high-quality music, have earned global recognition, reflecting K-pop’s strong presence in the international market. The group’s emphasis on detail and storytelling in their performances, music videos, and albums creates an immersive experience that has driven their worldwide success.”
Today, people primarily discover music, especially K-pop, through videos.
How does this lead fans to connect deeply with the music and overcome language barriers?
Music critic Kim Hern-sik explains.
The way we consume music has evolved significantly. ATEEZ, for instance, captures attention with their powerful performances. Once engaged, listeners can explore the song’s meaning. Even if the song is in Korean, fans become devoted so they can fully relate to the music, allowing Korean songs to gain widespread popularity.
ATEEZ’s new album also made a strong impact on European charts.
On November 22nd, the UK’s Official Charts announced that the album landed at No. 4 on the Official Albums Chart, becoming the first-ever K-pop group to secure four consecutive Top 10 albums in the UK.
The album also ranked in the top ten of the album charts of the French Music Association SNEP and the German Official Chart.
A study from last year revealed that K-pop songs charting in the top 400 of Circle Chart, a Korean album sales tracker, in the first half of the year had more English lyrics compared to five years ago.
This shift was primarily aimed at reaching a wider audience and establishing broader international appeal, as the key to popular music lies in connecting with listeners.
Today, music fans are embracing Korean songs like never before, proving that language is no longer a barrier to connection.
Music has shifted from being created to connect with fans, to fans creating their own bond with the music.
Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.
source : https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=278504
