KPOPPED

Topping off a summer that has seen and heard K-pop ascending new global heights thanks to the runaway hit film KPop Demon Hunters (whose soundtrack as of this writing has seven songs in the top 30 on Billboard”s Hot 100!), Apple TV is about to launch a K-pop song battle tv series titled KPOPPED.

The official trailer for KPOPPED opens with the sound of a roaring crowd. At 0:02, accompanied by four loud accents from drums and synthesizers, the names of the pop star executive producers Lionel Richie and Megan Thee Stallion light up the black screen in neon pink capital letters (subtle reference to BLACKPINK, anyone…?).

At 0:06 there are four more loud accents; this time each is synched to a visual cut to a different live performance shot from the series, culminating in an explosive visual from K-pop legend PSY’s 2013 hit music video “Gangnam Style”. PSY is the host of KPOPPED, an excellent choice.

A hip hop drum groove comes in at 0:12, and the visual cuts are fast here, bringing the relentless energy K-pop is known for. From 0:18-0:34 we see 28 different shots, and the cuts are all synched to the beat of the music. After that exhilarating ride, at 0:33 we cut to musical silence. This leaves space for us to fully appreciate the arrival at 0:35 of the intro riff from Megan Thee Stallion”s 2020 hit song “Savage“. Collaborating with Megan in the series is K-pop group Billie, who at 0:41 are shown performing their new arrangement of “Savage”.

At 0:48, accompanying behind the scenes footage of more cross-cultural collabs, we hear the original drum groove and chords from “Savage.” There’s a cut to musical silence at 1:02 as we hear Colombian singer J Balvin confess to his collaborators, K-pop boy band ATEEZ, “I’m not a good dancer, bro…”, which is intended to humanize and personalize the show, like the backstage footage.

At 1:05 we kick back into the chorus of “Savage”, accompanying a sequence revealing all the K-pop/Western artist team combinations, with a new team’s images appearing on-screen synched to the beat of the music every two counts.

Afterwards it’s back to musical silence at 1:18, and it feels like we’re about to go into a dance break. We hear some fun banter between the tv show’s judges and the performers, and at 1:26 there’s a clip that I believe represents the members of ITZY dancing in traditional Korean clothing. All the while the lyrics, “What’s happenin’? What’s up?” from “Savage” continue on a loop. By 1:30 we’ve reached the climax of the trailer and now the drum machine is going full speed over a final montage of performance footage and bonding moments between the collaborating artists, followed by the series title card.

This is a brilliant tv show concept; the musical influence between K-pop and Western pop music has been undeniable for decades, and it’s exciting to see pop stars from different cultures and different generations learn from each other.

Almost the entirety of the trailer leans heavily on the groove and chorus of Megan Thee Stallion’s hit “Savage” as its soundtrack. It’s effective, however it feels like a missed opportunity to showcase the sounds and voices of K-pop artists. Either way, the series is bound to showcase powerful performances, and no doubt some intercultural learning as well.

KPOPPED premieres August 29th on Apple TV.

— Jack Hui Litster