Seventeen, a K-pop boyband with 13 members, is set to make history as the first K-pop act to perform on Glastonbury's main stage. Despite K-pop's global success, the UK has been hesitant to embrace the genre. However, collaborations with Western artists have helped K-pop bands gain popularity in the UK. Seventeen stands out from other K-pop acts as they write and produce their own music and do not rely on collaborations. The band's musical mastermind, Woozi, has co-written and produced the majority of their songs. Seventeen's performance at Glastonbury comes at a time when the festival is diversifying its lineup to reflect evolving listening habits.
Seventeen's journey to success started in the basement of South Korean entertainment company Pledis, where members were selected, coached, and pruned over a grueling apprenticeship. The band's debut was delayed, but during this time, Woozi inspired the other members to take an interest in making their own music. Seventeen finally made their debut in 2015 and have since released a variety of music, ranging from frothy pop to broody EDM. Their latest mini-album, FML, was the biggest-selling record of 2023.
Seventeen's success has not come without challenges. The band has faced injuries from their physically demanding choreography, but they remain dedicated to their craft. Their music reflects their honest and open discussions about their feelings, helping them overcome negativity. The band's recent singles, FML and Super, showcase their growth and internal strength. Seventeen's popularity continues to grow, and they have plans to expand their audience further with a world tour at the end of the year.
Seventeen's performance at Glastonbury is a significant milestone for K-pop in the UK, and the band hopes to reach fans in as many countries as possible. They believe they still have a long way to go and aspire to become even more successful in the future.
Original news source: Seventeen: The K-pop band about to make history at UK festival (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and write a summary of the key points. They should aim to condense the information into a few sentences while still capturing the main ideas.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: In small groups, students will discuss their opinions on K-pop and its global success. They should share their thoughts on why K-pop has gained popularity and whether they think it will continue to grow in the future. Each group will then present their opinions to the class.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: In pairs, students will choose 5-10 vocabulary words from the article and take turns drawing them while their partner tries to guess the word. The words should be related to the topic of K-pop and the band Seventeen.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: In small groups, students will discuss the pros and cons of collaborating with Western artists for K-pop bands. They should consider the benefits and drawbacks of these collaborations, and how they have affected the popularity of K-pop in different countries. Each group will then present their findings to the class.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, students will discuss and make predictions about the future of K-pop and the band Seventeen. They should consider factors such as changing music trends, global events, and the band's own aspirations. Each pair will then share their predictions with the class and explain their reasoning.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Seventeen, a K-pop with 13 members, is set to make history as the K-pop act to perform on Glastonbury's main stage. Despite K-pop's global success, the UK has been hesitant to embrace the genre. However, collaborations with Western artists have helped K-pop gain in the UK. Seventeen stands out from other K-pop acts as they write and produce their own music and do not rely on collaborations. The band's musical mastermind, Woozi, has co-written and produced the majority of their songs. Seventeen's performance at Glastonbury comes at a time when the festival is diversifying its lineup to reflect evolving listening habits. Seventeen's to success started in the basement of South Korean entertainment company , where members were selected, coached, and pruned over a grueling apprenticeship. The band's debut was delayed, but during this time, inspired the other members to take an interest in their own . Seventeen finally made their debut in 2015 and have since released a variety of music, ranging from frothy pop to broody EDM. Their latest mini-album, FML, was the biggest-selling record of 2023. Seventeen's success has not come without challenges. The band has faced from their physically choreography, but they remain dedicated to their craft. Their music reflects their honest and open about their feelings, helping them overcome negativity. The band's recent singles, FML and Super, showcase their and strength. Seventeen's popularity to grow, and they have plans to expand their audience further with a world tour at the end of the year. Seventeen's performance at Glastonbury is a significant milestone for K-pop in the UK, and the band hopes to reach fans in as many as possible. They believe they still have a long way to go and aspire to become even more successful in the future.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is K-pop and why do you think it has gained global success?
2. How would you feel if your favorite music genre was not embraced in your country?
3. Do you like K-pop? Why or why not?
4. Do you think collaborations with Western artists help K-pop bands gain popularity in other countries? Why or why not?
5. What is the significance of Seventeen being the first K-pop act to perform on Glastonbury's main stage?
6. How do you think Seventeen's ability to write and produce their own music sets them apart from other K-pop acts?
7. What challenges do you think K-pop bands face in terms of their physically demanding choreography?
8. How do you think Seventeen's honest and open discussions about their feelings in their music help them overcome negativity?
9. Do you think it is important for musicians to be involved in the writing and production of their own music? Why or why not?
10. How do you think Seventeen's performance at Glastonbury will impact their popularity and success?
11. Have you ever been inspired by someone to pursue a particular interest or passion? If so, how did it affect your journey?
12. How do you think Seventeen's music has evolved since their debut in 2015?
13. Do you think it is necessary for musicians to face challenges in order to grow and succeed in their careers? Why or why not?
14. How do you think a world tour can help Seventeen expand their audience?
15. What do you think it takes for a music act to become successful on a global scale?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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