K-Pop Boot Camp, 1

 
 
 
 

Vocabulary

band	sensation	onslaught
idol (2)	poise (2)	splash (2)
goofy	wannabe	platinum (2)
lucky	showbiz	boot camp (2)
trot	sign (3)	indication
garner	chart (2)	top of the charts
kind of	discover	leading edge
sleek	wave (2)	infectious (2)
hit (2)	sting (2)	chart-topping
deal	lucrative	endorsement
brand	shot (2)	build/built/built (2)
viral (2)	flock (2)	packaged (2)
savvy	edge (2)	invasion (2)
trainee	signature	long-term
pitch	move (2)	master (2)
allow	turns out	crash-course
crash	cast (2)	studio (2)
off to	karaoke	factory (2)
forte	contract	challenging
native	handful	generation
debut	roll out	discipline
export	stardom	blockbuster

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

From colorful girl bands to goofy video stars in this summer’s viral onslaught of Gangnam Style is any indication, Korean Pop is poised to make a huge splash in America.

For every platinum super group, there are millions of wannabe stars. And at one showbiz boot camp, a lucky few get their shot at K-Pop greatness.

 

Korean viral sensation, PSY, has trotted to the top of American charts. His Gangnam Style video garnered more than four-hundred (400) million hits.

But PSY is just the leading edge of a South Korean Pop invasion . . . a wave of super groups with infectious looks, and sleek moves.

The hottest group, a nine-member girl group called Girls’ Generation, complete with chart-topping hits and multiple languages, lucrative endorsement deals and millions of hits on YouTube.

But like generations of American super bands, these groups are not so much born as built.

Starting at a kind of boot-camp, run by Korea’s largest record company, SM Entertainment, every week, hundreds of wannabe stars flock to global casting calls to sing and dance for a chance at K-Pop stardom.

Those lucky enough to be discovered sign long-term contracts and spend years in a trainee program, learning discipline, perfecting every pitch, mastering every move.

This is the first time cameras have been allowed in the hit factory for a crash-course in idol training.

They test my K-Pop potential. First stop: the recording studio.

It turns out it’s not as easy as karaoke.

Next it’s off to Hip Hop with these savvy teens.

But it’s clear: Hip Hop is not my forte.

The most challenging class: a lesson in Korean.

Chicago native, John Soh, shows me how it’s done.

John Soh: “It kind of stings a little bit.”

For the lucky handful of successful trainees, they are cast in one of SM’s signature super groups. The debuts roll out like Hollywood blockbusters. With sales now topping three billion dollars a year, this perfectly packaged K-Pop poised to become South Korea’s biggest export.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

 

Questions

1. Korean Pop is popular only in Korea. No one outside Korea is interested in K-Pop. True or false?

2. Who are some famous singers and performers?

3. Only a few people from South Korea want to become superstars. Is this right or wrong?

4. Do wannabe or potential singers only have to be beautiful, or do they have to train and practice a lot? Where do they train?

5. The K-Pop boot camp always invites news reporters (journalists) and cameras. Is this correct or incorrect?

6. What do the participants learn, study and practice?

7. Is K-Pop music and videos are a big industry?

 

A. Pop Music and music videos are very, very popular. Yes or no? Do you and your friends love Pop music and music videos?

B. Who becomes Pop Stars? What kind of people become Pop Stars?

C. Pop singers are all very rich. What do you think?

D. Many people want to be Pop Stars. Yes or no?

E. What will happen in the future?