Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast 17 Carat K-Pop

A massive guide to all things 17 IS RIGHT HERE! Hope breaks down everything worth knowing about the compilation album’s four new songs and music videos: behind-the-scenes facts, Easter eggs, symbol interpretations, lyric breakdowns, parallels to past eras, and even summaries of the mythological stories (among others) that are mentioned in the lyrics!

Subscribe to this newsletter to be the first to read an upcoming essay about 17 IS RIGHT HERE!

https://17caratkpop.substack.com/ 

Read Hope’s past essays about SEVENTEEN’s music here!

https://17caratkpop.substack.com/p/happy-17-is-right-here-release-day 

Help the show return from a hiatus sooner rather than later by…

Becoming a paying podcast subscriber or one-time donor, by clicking “Support this podcast”:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hope-jacobson 

Becoming a paying newsletter subscriber:

https://17caratkpop.weebly.com/support-the-show.html 

Continuing to stream and spread the word about the show and blog!
https://17caratkpop.substack.com/p/a-re-introduction 

From being a “Lost Child” to the “Winning” superstar that she is today, this episode chronologically recaps IU’s career and catalog! This is both a guide to IU for those unfamiliar with her work and a chance for long-time fans to recall key moments from each year since IU’s debut. From releasing music videos that put original spins on classic stories to releasing albums that spoke to an ever-expanding soundscape, she has proven again and again to have what it takes to earn and keep global admiration!

Check out more artist-specific episodes here!

https://17caratkpop.weebly.com/sorted-by-artist.html

Everything to know about NCT DREAM’s DREAM()SCAPE-era videos and images, from the overall plot to the specific nods to EXO’s story!

Check out more NCT theories here!

https://17caratkpop.weebly.com/nct-talk.html

Part one of this episode goes over the twists and turns in the HYBE/SM Entertainment saga since the release of the episode called “HYBEs and Lows." Hope then summarizes what big plans SM Entertainment revealed in their "SM 3.0" video presentations. Part two is a rapid-fire roundup of miscellaneous K-pop news from throughout February!

Same game as last time, different K-pop songs to guess by the English lyrics! Give yourself one half point every time you guess an artist's name or the song title correctly and one full point if you guess both correctly. If you play in a group, the winner is the person with the highest score at the end of the fifty rounds. No artist appears in this game more than once. Good luck!

After finishing up the “Best of January” countdown with numbers 5 - 1, Hope shares over 70 MORE K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop recommendations released within the past few months!

A LOT of massive business decisions were just made by the biggest K-pop companies! Why has there been so much confusion surrounding SM Entertainment’s leadership shake-up? Why did HYBE recently acquire Quality Control and become one of SM Entertainment’s largest shareholders? What do recent trends in the broader music industry, such as artists selling their catalogs, have to do with HYBE’s and SM Entertainment’s mindsets? This episode breaks down the answers to these questions and many more.

A ranking and review of the twenty best releases from December 2022, followed by a separate ranking and review of the twenty best releases from January 2023!

Upon closer look, the album Strawberry offers much more substance and insight than it first appears to; it is another remarkable addition to Epik High's discography. This episode covers seventeen details worth reflecting on and pausing to appreciate about it, from the album cover's meaning to the most poetic lyrics!

While the episode called "The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION Study Guide" breaks down the Easter eggs in TXT's teaser content and sources of literary inspiration for their latest comeback, this episode analyzes the album itself. The most insightful lyrics in each song, the stories told by the album as a whole, hidden symbols in the "Sugar Rush Ride" music video, and much more is covered! 

After recapping the highs and lows of P1Harmony’s Chicago concert, Hope recaps the month in K-pop news: are HyunA and DAWN really back together? What is and is not known about BLACKPINK’s contract statuses? What changes now that Scooter Braun is the sole CEO of HYBE America? Plus: a LOONA court case update, new TV programs to watch, Fashion Week sightings, and even more updates!

The original story about “making a deal with the devil,” the adventures of a boy who could never grow up, and TXT’s music video storyline have MUCH more in common than it sounds! From specific symbols to abstract themes, these three stories share surprisingly similar messages about temptation, maturity, the messy process of finding oneself, struggling to see in shades of gray, and so much more. When all three stories combine, as they do for TXT’s “Name Chapter” era, the narrative power and resonance know no bounds! This deep dive not only clarifies what TXT’s musical world is really all about, but the profound reasons for incorporating folklore about the devil and Peter Pan into it.

Part one: a guide to Faust, Mephistopheles, and the variations in the tellings of the “selling one’s soul” story. Part two: a breakdown of the (unexpectedly dark) origin story of Peter Pan’s adventures and an explanation of Neverland’s true symbolism. Part three: an explainer as to how these stories relate to both each other and TXT’s music video universe.

In the first half of this episode, Hope reveals the survey results from the show’s newsletter (17caratkpop.substack.com) about the best in K-pop in 2022! In the second half, she shares 27 predictions about the K-pop industry in 2023 - and throws in some “manifesting into existence,” less-likely predictions too!

While this five-part series is about one extraordinary man who deserves as much name recognition as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, it’s also about the many overlapping contexts that explain his successes, his tragic downward spiral, and his evergreen comments on how to be happy. Tony Hsieh spent his life studying and trying to create and spread happiness, implementing elements of rave culture, the Silicon Valley lifestyle, Howard-Hughes-level renovation ideas, and outside-the-box theories. The results: a shoe company where meetings were more like pep rallies, Tony’s llama obsession was apparent, and decor and toys abounded; a Vegas project set on creating the happiest city on Earth in just five years; a “Happiness Tour” that spread fun and games nationwide; and even more pursuits. However, Tony’s ambitious projects also brought chaos, misery, loneliness, and confusion to many - including, unbeknownst to some, himself.

Each episode in this mini-series covers both Tony Hsieh’s life story and seemingly unrelated stories that took place simultaneously. At the end, the different puzzle pieces will form a clear picture, one that shows what happiness is, was, and could be.

This is part one: Tony Hsieh’s early years, during which he pulled off one clever and amusing marketing gimmick after another and tried everything from selling buttons to running a restaurant; the comeback of a “ghost town;” two bizarre characters’ published ramblings from when they were high on laughing gas; turn-of-the-century, over-the-top bashes that kept outdoing each other; and a new idea for a workplace overhaul.

If you enjoy this episode, check out past episodes of Enthusiasts below! 
https://17caratkpop.weebly.com/enthusiasts.html

Hope breaks down the ten reasons why K-pop girl group NewJeans has become such a massive success already, predicts how they will inspire new K-pop trends, and shares her theories about the meaning of their music videos!

After sharing the highs and lows of NCT 127's Chicago concert, Hope opens up about the unique ways she processes music as an autistic listener, how NCT 127's music affects her on a deeply personal level, and what it felt like to finally see this meaningful discography to her come to life! For even more concert coverage, check out a highlight reel and write-up on 17caratkpop.substack.com and 17caratkpop.weebly.com!

After going over seventeen buzz-worthy aspects of the SM Entertainment New Year's Eve concert, Hope compares and contrasts the show to those of previous years and reads between the lines regarding what message the company sends with this show every year. Looking closely at the pre-show forum's content reveals much more about SM Entertainment's intended brand image than what meets the eye...

After highlighting some things to look forward to in 2023, from tours to TV shows, Hope revisits her 2022 K-pop predictions and makes some guesses about 2023!

Elvis, reality television, conspiracy theories, Elon Musk, famous scams, armchair detectives, American Girl... Enthusiasts (formerly called How to Stan) covered a BROAD variety of topics this year! In addition to summarizing every episode of Enthusiasts that came out in 2022, this episode includes status updates on previously-covered stories and not-yet-told stories related to these episode topics!

A year’s worth of K-pop news, broken down into seventeen categories! From the K-pop stars who rocked Fashion Month to the most buzzed-about legal cases, this episode recaps the best, worst, and overall most memorable moments in K-pop in 2022!

From the cutest to the weirdest, these are the can't-miss K-pop music videos of 2022!

The first part of this episode recaps all the major changes to Twitter since Elon Musk bought it and dives into the now-public text exchanges Musk had with famous friends in the lead-up to the acquisition. The second part looks at the backstories of the Silicon Valley types who have Musk's ear, what they believe, and how their views and goals might be shaping Musk's own. Lastly, this episode explains what "longtermism" is all about, a popular mentality among Musk's acquaintances that explains some of their more peculiar fixations. Understanding Elon's inner circle and filter bubble help answer the question on many people's minds lately: what is Elon thinking?! 

From the cutest to the weirdest, these are the can't-miss K-pop music videos of 2022! Stay tuned for part two!

A guide to the 100 best K-pop/K-rock, J-pop/J-rock, and C-pop/C-rock albums of the year!

A ranking and review of the best new releases from K-pop, J-pop, and T-pop artists!

For more information about these picks:

Episode about TAEYONG’s TAP:

https://anchor.fm/hope-jacobson/episodes/TY-for-TY-Tracks-e2gdndo

Episode about LE SSERAFIM’s EASY:

https://anchor.fm/hope-jacobson/episodes/LE-SSERAFIMs-New-Era-e2g3nrg 

P1Harmony album review:

https://17caratkpop.substack.com/p/p1harmony-keep-killin-it  

Information about some February projects’ pre-release singles:
https://17caratkpop.substack.com/p/the-best-new-music-january-2024 

Over 150 of the best songs of 2022, revealed in the form of a guessing game!

In today's roundup of music news: what led up to the Taylor Swift ticket fiasco, the strange circumstances that allowed Ticketmaster to become such a superior force in the concert industry in the first place, a study about dancing rats, agencies changing their tune on TikTok, and more. 

A ranking and review of the twenty best new K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop releases!

After going over what happened before and after the decision to remove Chuu from LOONA, Hope shares the latest on a variety of other stories: Hook Entertainment's alleged wage theft, two recent disbandments, an incredible piece of Lisa fan art, the girl group trying out a "silent mosh pit" concept, and more.

After a recap of all the biggest SEVENTEEN moments of 2022, Hope shares her theories about the hidden details in the "DREAM" music video (starting around the 7:28 mark), plus the ways the video perfectly concludes the "Be the Sun" era!

The first half of this episode: a quick and improved guide to Dreamcatcher’s music video world, with an emphasis on how the “MAISON” and “VISION” eras are related! The second half: a roundup of K-pop news coverage that includes awards shows’ controversies, exciting TV show premieres, and more!

The first part of this episode dissects the lyrics to Taeyong’s new SoundCloud track, “FINE,” and the hidden details in SEULGI’s “28 Reasons” video! The second half is a big K-pop news roundup that covers OMEGA X’s mistreatment, key takeaways from HYBE’s latest community briefing, and more.

Part two of an in-depth recap of TXT’s Webtoon, The Star Seekers! This episode focuses on the parallels between TXT’s and Star One’s stories and the plot from chapters 18-30!

Part one of an in-depth recap of TXT’s Webtoon, The Star Seekers! This episode covers the story’s characters, plots, settings, symbols, themes, nods to TXT’s music videos, and most notable quotes from chapters 1-17!

A ranking and review of the twenty best releases from last month!

The ultimate guide to TAEYONG’s TAP Era: the best lyrics, the thematic parallels to the SHALALA Era, theories about the “TAP” music video, the hidden meanings in the teaser images and videos, and so much more! 

For more thoughts on TAEYONG’s music:

https://17caratkpop.substack.com/p/taeyongs-purposeful-playfulness  

For more discography analyses:
https://17caratkpop.weebly.com/sorted-by-artist.html

This episode covers both specific artists and specific works of art RM of BTS (aka Kim Namjoon) has praised on social media and/or in interviews. From sculptures to paintings to video installations, RM has recommended a vast array of art, and each piece has a fascinating creator and unique story behind it!

A conversation with Rick Emerson about Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries. His book covers the life of Beatrice Sparks and the roles her books, particularly Go Ask Alice and Jay's Journal, played in furthering the “Satanic Panic.”

After describing some standout moments from ENHYPEN’s recent Chicago concert, Hope walks through how ENHYPEN’s music video storyline parallels the story they brought to life on stage! The setlist order allowed for the core themes in ENHYPEN’s world-building to come into focus to a new and exciting extent!

What happened at KAMP, BTS’s enlistment news, some sudden tour cancellations, Jessi’s frustrating time in Europe, a unique trademark battle, and more coverage of and commentary on the latest K-pop headlines! Also, in a new “Shoutout of the Week” segment, Hope breaks down the meaning of JUN’s “LIMBO” and its music video!

Go Ask Alice told the harrowing story of a teenage girl’s spiral into drug addiction. Jay’s Journal told the story of a young boy’s fixation on satanic rituals and dark magic. VOICES told four stories about teenagers experiencing their own identity and mental health crises. What fierce critics and passionate fans of these books alike did not know: they were all fiction. The “real diaries” and case files of which these books consisted were all from the mind of one woman: Beatrice Sparks, a fame-hungry author who used genuine concerns to perpetuate conspiracy theories about dark influences on teens. This series of episodes covers the impact of Sparks’ books and other media on the American psyche. Sparks’ books triggered a ripple effect of paranoia in parents, but so did many other pieces of pop culture without even trying, from Dungeons & Dragons to rock music. The story of the “Satanic Panic” is one of how both innocent creators got swept up in conspiratorial allegations and how bad actors used this moment of mass hysteria to exploit parental concerns and confusion about “kids these days.” The “Satanic Panic” speaks volumes about how certain people can get away with bald-faced lies and conspiratorial beliefs for so long, how the power of suggestion can lead parents to genuinely believe satanic forces are to blame for teens’ crises, and how just a few books can redefine popular opinion.

This is part two: how so many innocent people were deemed “satanists” and had their lives turned upside-down because of it, how Beatrice Sparks’ books were able to keep their credibility despite her growing brazenness about lying in them, and how the “Satanic Panic” still impacts society today.

Go Ask Alice told the harrowing story of a teenage girl’s spiral into drug addiction. Jay’s Journal told the story of a young boy’s fixation on satanic rituals and dark magic. VOICES told four stories about teenagers experiencing their own identity and mental health crises. What fierce critics and passionate fans of these books alike did not know: they were all fiction. The “real diaries” and case files of which these books consisted were all from the mind of one woman: Beatrice Sparks, a fame-hungry author who used genuine concerns to perpetuate conspiracy theories about dark influences on teens. This series of episodes covers the impact of Sparks’ books and other media on the American psyche. Sparks’ books triggered a ripple effect of paranoia in parents, but so did many other pieces of pop culture without even trying, from Dungeons & Dragons to rock music. The story of the “Satanic Panic” is one of how both innocent creators got swept up in conspiratorial allegations and how bad actors used this moment of mass hysteria to exploit parental concerns and confusion about “kids these days.” The “Satanic Panic” speaks volumes about how certain people can get away with bald-faced lies and conspiratorial beliefs for so long, how the power of suggestion can lead parents to genuinely believe satanic forces are to blame for teens’ crises, and how just a few books can redefine popular opinion.

This is part one: Sparks’ upbringing, the true elements of Go Ask Alice and Jay’s Journal, and the early days of censorship campaigns. 

A track-by-track review of MAXIDENT, a list of seventeen hidden details in the album's track videos, and a new, big-picture theory about how the latest additions to the Stray Kids Music Video Universe keep a past storyline going!

A conversation with Professor Louie Dean Valencia, who created and is set to teach a course on Harry Styles next semester at Texas State University! He explains what to expect from the course, different lenses through which to view Harry Styles' discography, the ways Harry's music relates to today's society and vice versa, and more!

BLACKPINK’s VIP packages, the Crypto Arena’s recent announcement, K-pop stars’ Fashion Week takeover, a British company’s complaint against South Korean streaming services, and much more K-pop-related news.

Hope uses the movie Black Swan as a starting point for understanding the messages in LE SSERAFIM’s new mini-album, EASY; assesses the ways the group’s new songs build on the foundation of their older ones; describes how the poem “Good Bones” is uniquely incorporated into the group’s story; and overall shows why LE SSERAFIM’s discography remains as praiseworthy, resonant, and thoughtful as ever!

Episodes with related themes to check out next:

“LE SSERAFIM 101”

https://anchor.fm/hope-jacobson/episodes/LE-SSERAFIM-101-e25p3qh

“BTStudy Guide #3: Black Swan”

https://anchor.fm/hope-jacobson/episodes/BTStudy-Guide-3-Black-Swan-et7r28/a-a48vq74 

“ORANGE BLOOD Album Guide”

https://anchor.fm/hope-jacobson/episodes/ORANGE-BLOOD-Album-Guide-e2c03om

Related reading:

“The Best New Music: May 2023”

https://17caratkpop.substack.com/p/the-best-new-music-may-2023?sd=pf 

“DARK BLOOD and ENHYPEN’s Humbling Journey”
https://17caratkpop.substack.com/p/dark-blood-and-enhypens-humbling?sd=pf

A track-by-track breakdown of NCT 127’s 2 Baddies, followed by an explanation of the parallels between their new and past eras (especially “The Story of Favorite”)!

Allison Horrocks, a trained historian and co-host of the American Girls podcast, joins Hope to break down the ways perspectives on the American Girl books change with age, how the American Girl historical characters effectively get people interested in history, how much the American Girl brand really has or has not changed since Mattel’s acquisition, the importance of learning history, and much more!