The South Korean music business sometimes seems to have Strange. Sure, in marketing and attracting for the global money machine you can also be used in western hemispheres, but the almost uninhibited display of perfection and flawless performance in the direction of a product maturity that is all doubt about any doubt has been causing a certain external for two decades.
K-Pop is the too sweet shower that is swallowed by millions because of its great packaging, its promise of a sparkling community experience. In this country you hardly make a concept of the monetary success within this genre, unless you have young people at home, the mangas, cosplay and bubbletea. The Girlgroup Blackpink, for example, has primarily published singles that are marketed through elaborate videos. The number of calls on YouTube therefore often exceed the streaming numbers at Spotify. That is, let’s say, especially. There are only two albums.
Women in K-Pop: Blackpink
Blackpink is also highly successful internationally. Her fans, called Blinks, are, once attached, loyal. Even at the Coachella Festival, they were already playing and despite the Korean texts, their songs sound children and youth rooms worldwide. Musically, your style is based on role models from America and England, Rap, R’n’B, Hyperpop – it is acted on the current stand, adapted trendy and if necessary, unexpected style hooks are beaten so as not to lose the connection. Highly screwed pop culture, elimination of errors and irritating. Sugarcoated Music. Of course, the band’s singers have to fit in, which is why nothing is left to chance in terms of look. They are beautiful. Flawless. No pimple sprouts, no hairs of drain, no kilo hangs on the ass and hip. And it is smiled. Feels around the clock. Sure, the four can also be sad, but then please without a red nose and swollen eyes. Please only tears as a decorative element. Everyone is slowly approaching thirty, but could also be 15 years younger. A giant team in the background ensures that this works like this, but slowly you also have to take care of new career options, which is why Solopfade has to be followed and recently also to be acted. Master plan, I hear Trapsen.
In the South Korean area, when it comes to bands from this corner, everything is considered. The protagonist: inside should not only be able to sell fashion, cosmetics, sweets and merch of all kinds. The much -tied overall package must be correct in any case. Blackpink, for example, consists of four women, each stand for certain characteristics and looks in order to be able to cover as many different target groups as possible. The best singer and thoughtful (Jisoo), the international (rosé), the most versatile and talented, i.e. the Beyoncé of the group (Lisa) and the happy and resilient (Jennie). The latter should be in a row here.
YG Entertainment: Home of Blackpink. This South Korean entertainment company is responsible for the great successes of many artists: inside this country and is one of the most successful music marketers worldwide. Blackpink, now the only Girlgroup at YG’s only goded girl, has been cast. The company’s own academy also trains, up to 14 months applicants are put through their paces and coached inside until the cream is settled at the top. Risk terminimization. If there are no success, exchanging the game figures. A stick -hard competition that has to be kept long and positively, otherwise you are out. Well, underground and indie go differently, but of course not all of the gold that hopes to shine. Nevertheless: The YG system is susceptible to abuse of power, sexual violence and humiliations of all kinds by its male chief bosses. Various scandals in the past testify to this, which at times made high waves. However, this hardly detached the success of the company. Well, you know that.
And finally: Jennie Kim
So now the first solo album of Blackpink’s second oldest. In the case of Jennie, who has now arrived at the matured age of 29, you try to establish a kind of emancipating narrative at “Odd Atelier”, your own agency, which the group should not damage itself, but could give it a new impulse, even with regard to future marketing strategies, because nothing is forever. Not even a band and certainly not one that relies on eternal harmony between their members to nourish the blink’s wishes for a healing friendship world. It is simply unrealistic that Girlism can also be continued beyond the 30. A new quartet is needed in the near future and something that the old fans then picks up.
Jennie, who has already acted,, by the way, in the unspeakably misogynic series “The Idol”, starts with her music where Blackpink is already: on the threshold for distinguished connection hope to the American market. For this purpose, guest stars for features are bought uninhibited. First singing: “Extral”, where the currently highly valued doechii gives itself. Dua Lipa also occurs, Childish Gambino, Kali Uchis and the dominic fike known from the “Euphoria” series. All of this seems extremely thought -out strategy drives and you could therefore think that the result is uncool and desolate, but that does not come there. In addition, everyone involved has something of it in case of doubt. Jennie speaks several languages fluently, including English, which gives her an accent -free advantage that she knows how to use confidently. And she can do something. Dancing, rapping, singing – everything seems to succeed effortlessly, which of course cannot be right, she comes from a system where blood, sweat and tears are the price for everything. You can’t avoid thinking all of this. You would almost like it that she would have got along without it, but with the “Jacksons” you also knew that whips were swung in the background and still found “ABC” great …
How does Ruby sound?
Admittedly, Catchy already sees. Even interesting. “Like Jennie”, a hybrid of Charli XCX and Missy Elliott, is immediately connected to the funny, scale intro, which is bouncy and juicy. And quite cheeky. It’s fun … Hymnic continues with “Handlebars”, where Dua Lipa contributes to her special voice color. “With the IE” reminds of Snoop-Dogg productions of the early 2000s and the already mentioned “Extral” is reminiscent of one or two pieces of the Beyoncé, which have also been mentioned. “Mantra”, a crystal clear dancerack, will work in Balearic clubs as well as on a car ride in spring with an open hood. Dark irritation moments are installed in “Zen” by distortion, which takes the album a little the smooth iron. “Damn Right” is a classic cuddly r’n’b in the style of Aaliyah and “Seoul City” is an electro-home song that Jennie is downgraded.
The whole thing is chart hiphop pop at the level of the time. And these songs blow across all borders. In the middle of globalism and not out again. Under no circumstances. Because here you want to be and stay. If so, because already. In “Zen” the somewhat worn -out sentence falls: “Money Can’t Buy You You Real Friends”, but even in times like these, even in times of phases, it is important to doubt this certainty. Because what is “real” and how much it is still important to live a life away from deals and money now decide a few to whom you want loneliness and depression on your neck, but which look quite upset and happily. It’s really annoying.
This review appears in the ME 5/2025.