I am not surprised that I got into collecting. I saw my dad amass comic books throughout my life, and my younger sister followed suit. My collecting went through different eras: books, Pokémon cards, and Beanie Babies. However, what dragged me through the rabbit hole of collecting was K-Pop (Korean pop music). 

My sister was obsessed with K-Pop and had tried to get me interested in it for a while, introducing me to artists like 2NE1, Big Bang, and Boa. I was usually not interested. However, in 2015, things shifted. My sister and I were waiting in a drive-thru line, and she showed me the music video of Dope by BTS. I was mesmerized. Don’t get me wrong. I have fallen for boy/girl groups before, like Spice Girls, N’Sync, Boyz II Men, and Backstreet Boys. However, K-Pop groups took it to another level. There were bright colors, excellent vocals, singing in multiple languages, and the dancing was beyond anything I’ve ever seen. 

I started absorbing everything by BTS. I not only bought the albums, but I also watched a lot of their video content (live performances, dance practices, V Live, reality show appearances, and Bangtan Bombs, and collected a lot of their merch, especially from their BT21 line (the stuffed characters were super adorable). However, when they went on break between albums, I needed more. I started following other groups like Twice, Red Velvet, and my favorite group of all time, Got 7. I would buy their albums and follow their performances and reality show content on YouTube. 

When I looked back at all the money I spent for several years, especially for BTS content, let’s just say shock wouldn’t be able to cover it. I understood why people tend to support one, possibly two groups. It is a very expensive hobby with just one group. However, I don’t regret it. I was exposed to wonderful music, and I would never trade that for anything in the world. If you want to follow down the rabbit hole of K-Pop as I did, the following are some songs to pull you in and get started: 

Got 7: You Calling My Name

A very dark and moody video. It fits with the song, which is about regrets after a breakup. I also love the r&b vibe they have throughout the entire song.

BTS: Idol

The MV is bright and colorful and mixes traditional Korean elements with Western styles. I also like that the music was a mixture of Korean folk sounds, EDM, and South African house sounds that make you want to get up and dance. The overall message of the song is very empowering. It encourages people to be themselves despite public criticism. 

Twice: The Feels

The song is bright, peppy, and colorful. It blends well with the song’s themes of how you feel falling in love for the very first time. It reminds me of how you have crushes in school. When you are first attracted to someone, it feels like you have butterflies inside waiting to burst out. It makes the song so relatable because a lot of people have felt like this at one time. 

Day6: I Need Somebody

The song talks about social isolation and trying to connect with others. I related to this a lot because I lived a hermit lifestyle for over a decade. It didn’t dawn on me until I was in the hospital that I had no friends who visited because I hadn’t hung around people in so long. It made me realize how much I wanted to seek human connection, and not be isolated anymore.

Heize: Jenga

I like the r&b/jazz vibes that the song has going. The song reminds me of the games various people played on me and my emotions and how badly I just wanted to get off the ride and escape.

Purple Kiss: Pretty Psycho

In an age where it is about following societal trends, I like that the song talks about embracing your eccentric side and being true to yourself. I know that people may find me eccentric because of my taste in books, music, and anime, but it doesn’t matter. I like what I like, and it is all that counts. 

Taemin: Criminal 

When people say that it is simple to end a toxic relationship, I always cringe. I like how the song explores knowing that a toxic relationship is wrong, but finding it a hard task to leave. I was in a toxic friendship for a while. Every time I talked about how bad the friendship had become, the person made me feel guilty, and I would drop the subject. It wasn’t until they threatened one of my core beliefs that I had the courage to end the friendship for good. It wasn’t easy, but mental health definitely improved after that. 

EXO: Touch It

The 90s is my favorite era of music, and I love that the song reflects that perfectly. It has a playful and sexy vibe to it, which makes sense since the song is about the romantic attraction between two people. 

BlackPink: Playing with Fire

It has a similar theme to Criminal by Taemin in that it talks about falling in love with someone that you know is bad for you. There is something about the bad boy/girl that is very enticing, and you want to throw caution out the window even though it will result in pain and heartbreak. 

Red Velvet: Sunny Side Up

I like the slow mixture of reggae and pop feel the song has going for it. It mixes well since it is about taking a romantic relationship slow and relishing the beginning stages of a relationship.

EXO-CBX: Ka-Ching!

The music video reminds me of a bright-colored version of Beetlejuice with the clothes and the face paint that the backup dancers have. Overall, I like how playful the beat is and how the song encourages you to treat yourself. I find that every once in a while, it is good to splurge on the good things in life. It is not only fun, but it helps to improve your mood as well. 

Mamamoo: Dingga

It is a playful and feel-good song encouraging you to go out and party with friends instead of staying home alone. It reminds me of when I was in grade school, when I was always doing some sport or club activity. It was more fun back then to hang out with people instead of being at home alone all the time. 

Baekhyun: Young

I love the electronic pop beats throughout the song. I also love that the song encourages you to be your own person and not care about what society thinks of you. It reminds me that you are only young once and to do things while you can before it is too late. 

EXID: I Love You

I love that the song is catchy and playful, especially with the bright colors in the music video. The song is also significant because it shows the return of the group’s leader, Solji, after she had been on hiatus for health reasons for two years. 

Le Sserafim: Impurities

I like the song because it reminds me to embrace my flaws and past struggles. They help me grow as a person and illustrate my resilience in the face of adversity. I also liked the mellow r&b vibe it has going. 

Epik High and Lee Hi: Here Comes The Regrets

I like how Epik High’s rap mixed so well with Lee Hi’s soulful voice. I felt like it captured the raw anger and confusion one feels after a bad breakup. 

This was just a short sample of songs that I have listened to. I hope you enjoyed the selected songs I chose. If you want to listen to the songs in a playlist format, I created one on Spotify. Do you guys listen to K-Pop? If so, which artists do you listen to, and do you collect any of their merch?