1. K-Pop

2. Do Now: Take 15-20 minutes to read the provided article and answer the questions attached.

3. Talent Inventory
List and number, in order from most important to least important, the qualities needed to be a successful pop star:
Able to use colors and costumes well in performances.
Being able to tell a story through music.
Being extravagant, fabulous, and unique.
Able to dress well and be on the cutting edge of fashion.
Be able to make and perform catchy songs.
Able to dance well
Able to have their music, groups, acts, etc. be unique in some way.
Take a long amount of time to be trained and become a star
Be able to act as well as sing and dance
Be able to speak more than one language

4. It’s all About the Hallyu
Hallyu means “flow of Korea” and refers to Korean pop culture.
It can refer to:
K-Pop
TV Dramas
Traditional Korean culture (food, clothes, etc.).
Films
Anything else you can think of
The most influential and fast-growing part of hallyu is K-Pop

5. How Did Hallyu Happen?
Hallyu occurred in the mid-1990s after China and South Korea started playing nice together.
Because of this, Hallyu gained a lot of popularity in Chinese-speaking communities
K-Pop took off after the radio program Seoul Music Room aired in China and became an instant hit.

6. What makes Up K-Pop?
K-Pop is a mix of dance-pop, pop ballads, techno, rock, hip-hop, R&B and many other genres.
Most popular in East and Southeast Asia.
However, it is growing in popularity in Latin America, India, North Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
Gangnam Style by Psy is the best representation of K-Pop on a global level.
K-Pop “idols”:
Are highly talented singers, dancers, and actors.
Elaborately dressed and has awesome stage presence.
Near-perfect dance performances
Have trained for many, many years to get to this point.

7. How to Become a K-Pop Idol
You have to audition with a company and be hired.
After being hired, you must take singing, dancing, acting, and language classes along with your regular school classes, homework included. Their day could easily start at 5 AM and end at 1 AM. You must also practice dancing and singing.
The company will track your weight daily – you must either lose or maintain your current weight and always watch what you’re eating.
This type of training can last months or years before a trainee “debuts”. If you choose to give up you’ll have to pay bak the company all the money for training, lessons, etc.
5. Be prepared to not see your family or friends. Several K-pop stars have been hospitalized for exhaustion as well. 6. The company owns your social life as well. Many idols must lead squeaky-clean lives and are often forbidden to date and are fired if they are dating.

8. What You Can Expect To Hear And See
Aside from being a blend of many genres, K-Pop is also sung in many other languages.
Music videos are as elaborate and detailed as movies.
The dancing is near-flawless.
The main focus is on the melody, with secondary focus on rhythm and the beat.
American celebrities ripping off K-Pop :P

9. K-Pop Superstars Girl’s Generation Super Junior EXO SHINee 2NE1
BIGBANG