Beyond Hallyu Podcast Beyond Hallyu

What is it that makes a hit K-pop song?

It's a question many have posed but no one has ever come up with a satisfactory answer.

In order to find out the answer we went straight to the source: the composers. We spoke to Erik Lewander (f(x) - Rum Pum Pum Pum, Girls' Generation - I Got A Boy) and Caesar and Loui (Super Junior-M - Swing, VIXX - Hyde) who are all from Swedish publishing company The Kennel. We also had the chance to talk to Anna, Nermin and Ronny from Dsign Music (Girls' Generation - Genie, Jonghyun - Crazy) as well as the fantastic Will Simms (Girls' Generation - I Got A Boy, EXO - Wolf).

We also caught up with Jakob Dorof, a Seoul based music journalist who writes about K-pop for a living. He's interviewed a number of idols including SHINee and 4Minute and also has a very in-depth blog which tackles the history of K-pop song-by-song called K-Pendium.

Did we manage to answer to this question? You'll have to listen and find out.

The two songs featured in this episode are Between Night N Music and Are You Ready? by B.I.G. If you like them, check out their official Twitter and you can also buy their music on iTunes.

More details here: http://beyondhallyu.com/podcasts/bh-podcast-4-what-makes-a-k-pop-hit/

Find the full info on this episode here: http://beyondhallyu.com/podcasts/bh-podcast-3-kim-hyun-joong-unpretty-rapstar-cl-and-keepin-it-real/

This episode we make it our predictions for 2015 including CL's upcoming US debut, Big Bang's long-long-long-overdue comeback, contract renewals and the rise and rise of China.

We also discuss Sasha's plans to pimp Lizzie out (not really... we hope), the ongoing travesty that is Taeyang's hair, YG and SM's discrimination against certain members of Big Bang and SHINee and will.i.am's generous 'borrowing' of this Bollywood classic by A.R. Rahman.

Music comes from From The Airport.

Read more here: http://beyondhallyu.com/podcasts/bh-podcast-2/