Obsessed with Harry Styles? Ever heard of K-pop...?

...or Bangtan Sonyeondan for that matter???

Getty Images / Singles Magazine / Vogue

Before reading any further, I kindly ask that you divert your attention for a second and watch the following reel that while yes, is chaotic and thirsty, will also catch you up in less than one minute on just a fraction of what has been happening in the K-pop world for the past week and how BTS and ARMY feel about it. On Tuesday, June 14, I began writing a different post in an attempt to explain to laypeople why BTS going on a break to focus on solo projects is a big deal and why it is an even bigger deal that I saw absolutely nothing about it from the many media publications I follow on Instagram, with the exception of a single CNN post.

I realized that in writing that initial post, everything else I want to say in the future on this platform would be redundant. Because the reason for their break was not a surprise to a lot of their fans even when confusion set in for the rest of the music industry. Of course ARMY is sad, but when the seven members took the time to record an hour-long video for ARMY to explain the reason behind their decision to ARMY, rather than simply releasing a written statement like the boy bands of the past, we felt so much better. And in the days since then, they graced us with some truly A+ content to close out this chapter before they continue onto the next.

So watch this first, bookmark the FESTA 2022 dinner to watch later if you want, and continue reading if you dare ;)

When I first started writing my “dissertation”, I devoted the largest section to explaining why for the past nine years, BTS has been largely ignored in Western countries and by media gatekeepers, while the same publications and the American music industry as a whole celebrate and award white musicians for doing the same things as them…only they are doing it a little worse and with a lot less fans. Spoiler alert: it’s because of racism and more specifically, Anti-Asian hate.

Once I switched gears and started this newsletter to organize my thoughts a little better, I decided it would be easier for me and more digestible for readers if I were to drop certain bits if and when I feel like writing about something specific. I currently have the Google Doc I made on day one consisting of an extremely rough draft of the dissertation that includes a title page and sections I.-X. open in another tab to reference as I write this post. I am drafting this on my notes app on the plane from JFK > SLC. Honey, when inspiration strikes?! She runs with it! Isn’t that what newsletters are like now anyway? Just dropping in your inbox when the author feels like it? I have a feeling you will agree that these smaller bites are more fun to read than a 20+ page paper in your inbox on a random weekday morning. And if you do agree, consider sending a friend my way who you think would also like to join the party! It is free!

Quick side note: Dani’s last post was essentially what my “ARMY starter pack” was going to be that I promised I would add at the end of my paper. Hers is much more comprehensive than mine could ever be. If you’ve been here since day one, you may have been one of the BTS-curious people who asked me to send over a starter pack of songs/performances/interviews to help you learn more about them. So lucky you! My work here is done! Just kidding. It won’t be done until BTS sweeps the Grammys next year. Wait what who said that?!

Over the past few weeks, my algorithms trained themselves to not show me anything other than BTS-related content first, and for that I am grateful. From the moment I started this newsletter up until now, I simply do not have the capacity to focus on any other news in pop culture, the current state of our dumpster fire union, my favorite podcasts, the dozens of movies and TV shows on my watchlist, or the four books on my nightstand. It is laughable how typically important updates no longer interest me, especially when they relate to celebrities that are…white?? Sorry. I just can’t bring myself to care at the moment. Even the ones I normally LOVE AND STAN! Once upon a time, a sneak peek from Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Barbie would have me going feral, but I took one look at Ryan Gosling’s horrible bleach blonde 'do and laughed out loud. For the record: I am still VERY EXCITED FOR THIS MOVIE. Greta Gerwig made two perfect movies and she is one of my favorite directors/screenwriters of all time. I’m just worried that my white mumblecore queen is trying to be something she’s not by attempting to create a blonde Barbie world that is somewhat #diverse to pander to woke audiences and the movie will suffer because of it. But that is yet ANOTHER conversation for another day when I have the time to devote an entire post all about movies (I am positively dizzy just thinking about what that could entail because I love to scream about my movie opinions)!

On the other hand, when I saw I missed out on the release of Rina Sawayama’s new music video, I immediately watched it to lift my spirits because she just so happens to be…wait for it…a Japanese-British pop girlie that is not popping off like some of these white pop girlies!!! Instead of sitting down to the two newest movies directed by and starring white people now streaming on Hulu that I’ve been eager to watch ever since their Sundance premiere, I contemplated rewatching Fire Island for a third time because it made me so happy.

One white celebrity in particular that I am currently exhausted by is Harry Styles. It feels as though every time this man so much as breathes, the internet loses its mind over him for the next 24-hour news cycle. And frankly, I am bored of him.

WHAT does she have against Harry Styles?!? Let me set the record straight: I think he is good. Very good even, compared to most other white male pop stars. I’ve listened to his music enough to appreciate the songs, but I do not follow his viral moves that closely and never find myself re-listening to any of his work. Everything I know about him I learned against my own free will because nobody can talk about anything else on my feed. I have no interest in attending his concerts even though I’m sure they are a blast. I will probably like the Gucci HA HA HA collection just as much as everyone else. He is hot, charismatic, talented and stylish. All the typical qualities of a beloved celebrity crush. But here’s the kicker: everything you love about him and everything you think makes him original isn’t groundbreaking. K-pop idols have been doing it all for years before he came along. And they’ve been doing it better. And there are dozens of them. And their fans are the most devoted fans in the world.

I recently posed this question to my BTS ARMY group chat: Can you imagine what would happen to the Western world if a new boy band debuted that consisted of SEVEN HARRY STYLES? The world as we know it would be over, the internet would break in half, and nobody else in the American music industry would stand a chance.

When you think about God’s timetable…you really have to laugh! Remember when I got real with y'all by sharing that this all started in mid-May when I finally grew tired of my friends ignoring me anytime I brought up BTS in the conversation? In the middle of AANHPI month no less?? Well, that same weekend was the release of Harry’s House. My feeds were inundated with Harry this and Harry that and every white girl I follow posted about him non-stop. My first draft of the aforementioned dissertation had a surprisingly long section devoted to Harry because he was clearly having a moment and nothing else in the popular culture seemed to matter quite as much to my followers. I am not hating on Harry or judging you if you hardcore stan him. I CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU’RE COMING FROM. I am nothing if not a fangirl at heart. Always have been, always will be. Teenage girls are that they might have joy and that joy is fangirling. To say that I relate to Mei in Turning Red is an understatement. Mei is ME I am HER if she has zero fans I am DEAD. At 13 years old, my 4*Town was the Jonas Brothers. And OH don’t you worry, I could probably devote an entire post to those three Jersey boys in the future because there is simply too much to include here. Listen, we all have different tastes in men and that is AWESOME. We are all entitled to publicly thirst over celebrities because there is not much else to do that is as fun or funny on our socials. But when it feels like the internet is collectively thirsting over one specific HWHITE, male musician and ignoring the BLUEPRINT??? The NON-WHITE BLUEPRINT??? I don’t think so honey!

IMPORTANT SIDEBAR: In actuality, K-pop is only part of the blueprint. Harry ALSO has the Black, queer communities of today and of the past to thank for his current success. K-pop ALSO benefits from Black culture and cultural appropriation, something that Dani so wisely touched on in a previous post. This newsletter’s primary focus will be on BTS and other AANHPI creators since I am a member of ARMY and the AANHPI community. Neither me nor Dani are members of the queer and Black communities.

BTS and countless other idols (Hwasa of Mamamoo, TXT , Stray Kids, Ateez, Red Velvet, SHINee, NCT127…etc. etc. etc.) all love Harry and his music. Most notably, they repeatedly reference his songs “Falling” and “Watermelon Sugar”. In general, Harry Styles is beloved in the K-pop idol community. How many times have we heard Harry and his music mentioned in idol interviews? How many times have we heard “Harry Styles” as the answer to “Who would you most love to collab with?” How many times have we heard his music in the background of idol lives or seen his songs show up on idol Instagram stories?

Well, guess what Harry stans? Harry reciprocates that love. He name-drops BTS and attends K-pop concerts. I would even be so generous as to consider him ARMY. So if you’re a Harry girl, oh excuse me…a STYLER (sorry, I’m cringing into by body as we speak), why don’t you give BTS a chance?

On my mission to educate the girlies on why they should at the very least pay attention to K-pop, here are some songs, performances, and moments (mostly curated by Dani, a former directioner) that will make American, and European pop fans alike swoon. After watching these videos you will be asking yourself WHAT is the real reason I stan Harry Styles so hard but I don’t stan any K-pop idols? And what am I going to do about it moving forward?

Let’s get into it.

If you love Harry for his synth-pop meets rock-swoon-worthy beats, you will love THESE beats:

• Make it Right by BTS

• LMLY by Jackson Wang

If you love the overall Fine Line and Harry’s House aesthetic, you will love THESE aesthetics:

• Spring Day by BTS

• Nanana by GOT7

If you love it when Harry shows affection for other men because MASCULINITY IS A PRISON, you will love THESE men:

• VMIN during “Mikrokosmos” performance at MAMA 2019 by BTS

• j-hope’s closing remarks at PTD On Stage Las Vegas Day 4*

• RM’s closing remarks at PTD On Stage Las Vegas Day 4*

  *We were at this show and witnessed this with our own eyes…humble brag…!!!*

If you love Harry’s gender-bending/androgynous fashion moments, you will love THESE fashion moments:

• Jimin in Black Swan (and honestly??? Jimin ALWAYS. If you did your homework you watched his performance of “Filter” and you know exactly what I mean)

• Life Goes On performance at MAMA 2020 by BTS

• Fear by Seventeen

  Important sidebar: I bookmarked this W Magazine article the other day because I thought to myself: FINALLY! And then I read it and at no point does it reference BTS or K-pop so…never mind.

My favorite K-pop visual components like the makeup, choreography, concepts, and overall performances transcend gender and ooze softness and androgyny which is all I could ever want, and deep down it is what you girls love about Harry Styles. The seven members of Bangtan Sonyeondan are the real champions of the female gaze and nobody talks about it.

Ultimately, you will like what you want and be as unapologetic about it as you want. But don’t write off BTS and K-pop because you are not fluent in Korean or you think the members are “too pretty.” The world needs more pretty and soft boys that are not white. WE NEED AN AMERICAN GIRL DOLL THAT IS AN ANDROGYNOUS K-POP IDOL.

My only request is that after taking the time to read this or watch any of the videos Dani and I wrote or curated for you, let me know if we helped to expand your taste. And please share which member/performance/’fit/song/moment is your favorite?!? I am truly dying to know. When you see Harry Styles painting his nails, wearing a sparkly jumpsuit paired with heeled Gucci boots, or singing “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” at Coachella, remember that BTS and countless other non-white creators have been doing it all for years. Harry does have K-pop to thank for some of his success. If you can love him, what’s stopping you from loving seven people (+ many more) who do everything Harry does all at once?