Music & Lyrics: The Woes of Passion

People who have followed their passions will know that it's naive to advise someone to actually follow their passion. Yes, it is as fun and exciti…

SB Decade in Review: A Song a Year, Part 2 (2015-2019)

As we cross over into the 2020s, retrospectives on the past decade of K-pop are abound. Year on year, the shifts in the K-pop scene may not be ap…

SB Decade in Review: A Song a Year, Part 1 (2010-2014)

As we cross over into the 2020s, retrospectives on the past decade of K-pop abound. Year on year, the shifts in the K-pop scene may not be apparen…

The SB Mixtape 9/12/2019, K-pop in Paris

Recently, I visited Paris. It was a magnificent place, but one thing I realized it is so much more than the sidewalk cafes and accordion players that …

For Your Consideration: Are the MTV VMAs Catering to K-pop?

Editor's Note: This article was written before three new fan-voted categories were announced by MTV: Best Group, Best Power Anthem, and Song of Summer…

Music & Lyrics: The Storyteller Min Yoongi

"Savage", "straightforward", and "wise", BTS's Suga tells it like it is. BTS are known for their rich lyrics that tackle a diverse range of topics…

The SB Mixtape 7/18/2019: Report To The Dance Floor

There are songs you can dance to. There are songs you want to dance to. And then there are songs that you have to dance to. The songs that instantly f…

SB Mid-Year Review, 2019: Comebacks Showcasing Artistic Growth

While most of our Mid-Year Review discussions zoom in on a particular aspect -- dances, albums, MVs -- the comebacks category looks at the way the…

Music & Lyrics: Owning Yourself

In a society where it is not uncommon to be constantly judged or scrutinised, it can be difficult for one to follow their own heart or mind. The n…

Managing Military Enlistments in a Changing K-pop Industry

The Hallyu industry has an inherent brake in its system: mandatory military enlistment for all able-bodied men aged 18–35. In 2018, the maximum ag…