Ajumma Rising February 1, 2022: Serpent Day. Candy-Making Day. World Hijab Day. National Baked Alaska Day. International Face and Body Art Day. And a historic day when the Lunar New Year coincided with the first day of Black History Month—and a troupe of ajummas in top-to-toe uniform—perms, visors, puffy vests, patterned pants, and practical shoes—descended […]
Tag: BTS
Posted inMusic
K-pop veteran Tiffany Young strides forward on ‘Run for Your Life’
Ten years ago, “Gee!” by Girls’ Generation became one of the first K-pop singles to break out of South Korea. The success of that track made the group stars in Japan and the U.S. years before Psy went viral with “Gangnam Style”—and even longer before the arrival of the omnipresent BTS. Thanks in part to […]
Posted inMusic
K-pop superstars BTS repay the devotion of their fans
Saturday at Soldier Field, Korean pop powerhouse BTS demonstrated their commitment to making a difference in their audience’s lives.
Posted inMusic
BTS move forward with grace on Map of the Soul: Persona
Seven-member South Korean boy band BTS were already fairly successful when they nonchalantly rapped about having an uncountable amount of trophies in the 2017 Steve Aoki remix of “Mic Drop.” Two years later, that boast feels quaint. Their success is no longer measured in mere award-show wins; they’re shattering records with nearly every move. Their […]
Posted inMusic
BTS became America’s favorite K-pop group this year
On Sunday, May 6, while the world woke up to the peerless video Childish Gambino released for his song “This Is America,” I noticed something briefly trending above it on Twitter: “Singularity,” the minimal R&B song from K-pop juggernauts BTS. Less than two weeks later, the group dropped their third album, Love Yourself: Tear (Big […]
Posted inBest of Chicago
Chicago has its own beachhead in the K-pop invasion
Shopping at K-Pop of Chinatown is as close as you can get to Shinee and BTS without a concert ticket.
Posted inMusic
The Era move footworking into the spotlight
Footwork crews often end up as sideshows to DJs or rappers—but Chicago dancers the Era hope to change that with their first stage production.