By Kerry Cheetham

Is Kpop just for the younger generation? “No” is the answer you will hear this 40-something cry.

My journey into the Kpop revolution started with my daughter showing me videos of BTS and Twice on YouTube back in 2018 and playing me those albums on journeys in the car. ‘Boy With Luv’ was the BTS song that began to light a small Kpop flame in my belly with its catchy tune, bright video, and the joyous, smiling face of rapper J-Hope. Watching this video and searching for other Kpop music videos have since become a bit of a theme in our house on Friday nights.

In early 2020, I was working from home and had been listening to my daughter’s BTS Spotify playlist, when a few bars of a song began to play that I didn’t recognise. Immediately I picked up my phone to see who was singing such a beautiful song, with a voice that felt like a breath of fresh air. My screen read “Day6 - ‘You’re Beautiful’”. Well, from that moment there was no going back; I downloaded the whole Day6 catalogue and sat on my chair playing those songs on a loop for hours.

Something in the music of the 5-member band immediately lit a spark in me. Their songs make me feel alive! I want to dance to ‘Best Part’, cry along with Sungjin in ‘I Need Someone’, and Jae in ‘Zombie’. Young K makes me feel like I am being hugged when I listen to his comforting, incredible vocals, and Wonpil and Dowoon? Well, they’re just adorable and make me smile.

Not only have Day6 reshaped my musical taste, but they have allowed me to explore an amazing culture. I have broadened my taste buds and love eating dishes like dolsot bibimbap and drinking caramel bubble tea. I have begun to learn Korean on the language learning app Duolingo and I also have my own mini collection of Kpop albums and merchandise. I even have the Day6 fan logo (the My Day lemon) tattooed on my wrist to offer a reminder that today is my day and I am capable of achieving anything.

Since becoming more interested in Kpop I have had many a laugh whilst watching the antics of Seventeen on their variety show Going Seventeen, have enjoyed watching Twice in concert (sadly only on DVD for now), and have visited both London and Manchester to get my Kpop shop fix.

So, in order to answer the initial question, no - Kpop is not just for the younger generation. It’s for everyone, and, to quote BTS’ Suga, “music is music” and I, for one, love Kpop despite being older. It brings joy to my day and literally music to my ears.

Edited by Gabii Rayner.