Artifact Post #1
For my first artifact post I chose to select the 2023 hit, “I AM” by IVE. The song achieved remarkable success in South Korea and climbed the Circle Digital Chart for six weeks, showcasing its widespread appeal and popularity. Its empowering message and its status as a contemporary cultural artifact in the ever-evolving K-pop scene made it a relevant piece for this post. Listening to “I AM” gave me a positive and uplifting feeling. The song radiates self-confidence and encourages listeners (and my guess would be predominantly female listeners) to embrace their individuality and identity. Its themes of empowerment and being unapologetically yourself are universally relatable, but they also reflect an important cultural shift within modern Korean pop music—celebrating independence and self-expression. One of the most striking elements of “I AM” is the seamless blend of Korean and English in its lyrics. This mix makes the song more accessible to a global audience, which is a hallmark of K-pop’s success in recent years. It’s fascinating how the song balances local cultural nuances with global appeal, showcasing Korea’s ability to connect with international fans without losing its unique essence. The song’s tone and pitch reminded me of other Korean music I’ve heard, reinforcing some stylistic consistencies in Korean pop. The high-energy delivery, layered vocals, and melodic structure are distinctly K-pop, yet “I AM” still manages to stand out through its bold, empowering narrative. This reflects Korea’s musical trend of producing high-quality, catchy, and emotionally resonant tracks that cater to both domestic and international audiences. Being very new to the Korean language, I found it challenging to pick up specific phrases or words from the lyrics due to the song’s fast pace (and because I know nothing about the alphabet). However, it was still a valuable experience. Listening to “I AM” helped me get a better feel for Korean music’s rhythm, intonation, and lyrical flow. It also gave me a glimpse into the current trends within Korean pop culture and what’s resonating with listeners today. Ultimately, “I AM” by IVE is more than just a song; it’s a cultural statement.
For my first artifact post I chose to select the 2023 hit, “I AM” by IVE. The song achieved remarkable success in South Korea and climbed the Circle Digital Chart for six weeks, showcasing its widespread appeal and popularity. Its empowering message and its status as a contemporary cultural artifact in the ever-evolving K-pop scene made it a relevant piece for this post. Listening to “I AM” gave me a positive and uplifting feeling. The song radiates self-confidence and encourages listeners (and my guess would be predominantly female listeners) to embrace their individuality and identity. Its themes of empowerment and being unapologetically yourself are universally relatable, but they also reflect an important cultural shift within modern Korean pop music—celebrating independence and self-expression. One of the most striking elements of “I AM” is the seamless blend of Korean and English in its lyrics. This mix makes the song more accessible to a global audience, which is a hallmark of K-pop’s success in recent years. It’s fascinating how the song balances local cultural nuances with global appeal, showcasing Korea’s ability to connect with international fans without losing its unique essence. The song’s tone and pitch reminded me of other Korean music I’ve heard, reinforcing some stylistic consistencies in Korean pop. The high-energy delivery, layered vocals, and melodic structure are distinctly K-pop, yet “I AM” still manages to stand out through its bold, empowering narrative. This reflects Korea’s musical trend of producing high-quality, catchy, and emotionally resonant tracks that cater to both domestic and international audiences. Being very new to the Korean language, I found it challenging to pick up specific phrases or words from the lyrics due to the song’s fast pace (and because I know nothing about the alphabet). However, it was still a valuable experience. Listening to “I AM” helped me get a better feel for Korean music’s rhythm, intonation, and lyrical flow. It also gave me a glimpse into the current trends within Korean pop culture and what’s resonating with listeners today. Ultimately, “I AM” by IVE is more than just a song; it’s a cultural statement.
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