Hi everyone! Welcome back to another blog based on The Vocal Studio’s podcast, Find Your Inner Voice. It encompasses music, singing, vocal coaching, and life around it.

Why 1980s KPOP?

The 80s period was when vocal artists and musicians started releasing their original songs and became widely popular through media. Prior to the 1980s, mainstream music was largely influenced by western music and the songs of that decade.

The 80s was also when the people of Korea entered a dynamic period where they had to face the hardship and struggles of post-war, as well as poverty. As they started to yearn for freedom and democracy, the music industry also flourished.

The style of popular music was diverse during that time. Some genres include trot, folk, rock, ballads as well as a mix of traditional Korean music. Dance-pop style artists also became very popular and they are also considered the progenitors of current ‘girl group’ or ‘boy band’ Kpop artists. 

When you hear the word K-pop, what comes to mind?

If you are familiar with the K-POP music videos and the singers, you instantly think of the catchy phrases, synchronised dance moves and the attractive young artists, am I right?

BTS, BLACK PINK, TXT,  TWICE, GOT7, STRAY KIDS, who else?

If you recognise these names from the 1st generation ‘idol’ groups of the 90s, you are a true 90s KPOP-lover!

Famous Korean bands today

H.O.T, SHINHWA, Sechs Kies, FIn.K.L, S.E.S., and last but not least, the phenomenal Seo-Taiji!

Coach Hanna shares that in her generation, these are some of the famous artists and groups.

Famous Korean bands in the 1980s

Coach Hanna, as a vocal coach has always felt uncomfortable about the way K-POP is perceived. It is often merely seen as a ‘mixture of all genres of music’, ‘completely autotuned voices’, or just ‘pretty doll-looking figures’ dancing and selling that image.

Korean music in the 80s was centred on various life experiences. It was greatly poetic and lyrical as opposed to the sappy romances songs we are used to listening to. Music was a way for teenagers to bond and speak out about social and political issues.

Therefore, it is so much more than what’s seen in K-POP music, today. Hanna respects and is fond of Korean culture as she grew up in Korea. Hence, that is why she decided it would be interesting to share a little more about the diversity of Korean Contemporary songs and music in the 80s! Perhaps in the future, we can cover traditional Korean Music as well!

Check out our next blog to listen to some of the underrated songs of the 1980s, mentioned in the podcast!