How I Fell For TWICE ... Twice (& K-Pop In General)

Joshua Miller
Jul 13
5 min read

Introduction

The other day while driving home from work I thought about the parts of myself that I've yet to share online, and a song from KPop Demon Hunters came on.

I then realized that I've never shared that I used to be very interested in K-Pop.

So with the recent popularity of KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix and my recent refascination with TWICE, I thought it'd be a good idea to share my history with K-Pop.

I hope you enjoy this post and learn something new!

Outline

My Experience with K-Pop Pre-TWICE

Falling for TWICE

KPop Demon Hunters

Falling for TWICE ... Twice

Conclusion

BTS in colorful outfits pose with microphones, smiling against a plain backdrop. Text on the image reads "DISCOVERING BTS."

My Experience with K-Pop Pre-TWICE

When I was a sophomore in high school I had a small interest in K-Pop because my friend Mackenzie introduced me to BTS and BTS Superstar.

Even back then I thought the fashion, production, and performance style of K-Pop was really cool.

I liked that K-Pop was everything I loved about American Popular Music but even more dramatic.

Sugar with turquoise hair and a red shirt poses in a photo. The shirt has white text. Background is plain white. Image taped on a peach backdrop.

The choreography, music videos, and live performances all suggested a commitment to the art of Popular Music that I often felt was missing from the music I heard on the radio.

I didn't end up staying in the BTS ARMY, but I'm still thankful for my brief introduction to BTS.

A lot of people make fun of them, but I think that's because they don't always get them, so I'm glad to be in the know and understand their appeal.

Falling for TWICE

My senior year of high school my friend Elizabeth introduced me to a song called "FANCY" by TWICE that changed my interest in Popular Music forever.

TWICE has nine members, which is a lot of people to give each their own moment to shine on a less than four-minute song, but "FANCY" shows how TWICE excels at this.

"FANCY" is a song about the sweetness and delicacy of having romantic interest in someone, but I love how TWICE took this song and turned it into an entire world with exciting visuals.

My favorite thing about this song was the choreography.

I like how intricate the blocking is, and I love how TWICE is able to move in kinetic unison but still allow the individual personality and performance style of each member to shine.

The "FANCY" choreography was so exciting to me that pretty much anyone who was friends with me my senior year of high school knew how much I loved it.

I filmed myself doing the dance, I posted myself doing it, and most importantly, I taught other people how to do a version of it.

For the Homecoming Pep Rally my band director tasked me with choreographing a 32-count dance to the song "BAD GUY" for a group of band members to perform while the band played behind us.

My choreography (if you can call it that) was directly inspired by the signature hand motion in the "FANCY" choreography, and to my surprise, people loved it.

I'll never forget how exciting it was performing this dance on the 50-yard line alongside my closest friends at the Homecoming Pep Rally and football game.

At this point, I was drowning in TWICE music and found myself constantly listening, watching, and talking or posting about their music.

TWICE motivated me to believe in becoming the best version of myself through inspiring others.

I eventually ended up falling out of love with K-Pop when I got to college after I finally let myself indulge in and obsess over Lady Gaga, but that's for another day.

Thankfully, years later, because of a movie called KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix, I was reminded of the importance of K-Pop and why I fell for TWICE five years prior.

KPop Demon Hunters

After hearing the song "Golden" in KPop Demon Hunters I instantly remembered how much I loved K-Pop.

"Golden" is a textbook example of what makes K-Pop so special.

In the movie, "Golden" represents an artistic point of no return where the girl group, HUNTR/X, chooses to declare publicly that they are going to live life as their highest and most authentic selves.

Three animated characters dance energetically on stage, wearing glittery outfits with detailed patterns. The vibrant backdrop adds excitement.

Through bold choreography, dramatic visuals, and shimmering outfits the group makes a statement: I am no longer afraid to let myself shine.

As someone who talks about putting yourself out there and overcoming the fear of being seen, this is the exact kind of song that makes K-Pop so special to me.

While there are no members of TWICE on this song, TWICE is featured on the soundtrack of the movie, which is incredible for me.

Hearing their music play through my television made me feel so proud of how far TWICE had come.

So much so that I had no choice but to check up on where they are now, which inevitably led to me falling for TWICE ... twice.

Falling for TWICE ... Twice

As if planned by the K-Pop gods, the day I decided to check in on TWICE for the first time in years they released a new album.

I streamed their new album This Is For while working out and I was immediately impressed.

The album is filled with a developed catalog of dance, house, and melodic music that is uplifting and inspiring.

Their music makes me feel so proud to be a fan of Popular Music.

Another thing I love is that the members of TWICE now have their own social media accounts.

It is fun getting to see them continue to develop as artists with their own aesthetic and point of view.

So if you're looking for an album that will make you feel like you can do anything, then I highly recommend This Is Forby TWICE.

Conclusion

K-Pop is an incredible genre not just for its technical excellence and nuance but because of how it makes people feel.

K-Pop is full of talented and dedicated artists who are committed to using the craft of Popular Music to inspire others to be the best that they can be.

While I know the genre can be daunting to engage with as an outsider, I strongly urge you to consider giving it a try.

As a matter of fact, to help you kick off your K-Pop journey, I'll be linking a Spotify and Apple Music playlist titled INTRO TO TWICE to help you get started.

It is only an hour long, but I think it does a great job of showing you what makes TWICE so special.

Let me know what you think about TWICE, KPop Demon Hunters, and K-Pop below or on any of my other social media platforms.

Thanks for reading!

— JM

INTRO TO TWICE - SPOTIFY

INTRO TO TWICE - APPLE MUSIC

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