WIll Girls' Generation (SNSD) Impact US as Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift?

Justin Bieber is called today as one of the most prominent cultural icon in USA; he is one of the most popular idol stars in the states. He is talented in music even at his young age, which once made Justin Timberlake wanting to sign with him – although it didn’t happen. Scooter Braun, former marketing executive of So So Def, found Justin on YouTube by accident, and signed him after a long search of his whereabouts.

Justin’s album My World 2.0 hit stores on March 2010 and he debuted as no. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200. That made 16-year old Justin Bieber the youngest solo male to hit no.1 since Stevie Wonder in 1963. Justin is from SNS generation, his concerts are always filled with his fans because he tweets about his concert to his fans each time. Justin and his fan share their lives: more than 41 million on Facebook and 18 million on Twitter are now following him.

Great achievement of K-pop has taken a similar path. With the support of the fans of the SNS generation, more than millions of people are now following K-pop stars. K-pop sensation led by idol groups such as Girls’ Generation through YouTube, the same place where Justin Bieber was discovered. Impressive news about how Girls’ Generation concert attracted 20,000 at just 2 months after their debut in Japan in 2010 demonstrates the strength of YouTube. SM Entertainment led the future fans of Girls’ Generation to find the group on YouTube with songs even before their debut; they called this the ‘Beatles Project.’ Now this became the great foundation of their sensation in Europe and South America, even Wall Street Journal praised their marketing.

Another similarity can be found between these two icons as actors. Justin took the role on TV, ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’ in 2010 and 2011. His film ‘Never Say Never’ topped the box office in 2011. Some members of Girls’ Generation are very active in TV drama, too. Jessica recently was on the drama ‘Wild Romance’, Yuri’s drama ‘Fashion King’ is opening in March. Yoon Ah is already greeting her 4th piece ‘Love Rain’ this year after ‘9 End 2 Outs’ in 2007, ‘You are My Destiny’ in 2008 and ‘Cinderella’ in 2009.

Both are appealing to their fans on stage and TV. However, K-pop idols that are represented by Girl’s Generation have different stories of their praised talent in diversity of their skill. In the period of 2-6 years of training, they learn music, dance, acting, and foreign language to become a well-made global star; this became the foundation of K-pop waves. One group in Japan expressed their view towards Girls’ Generation as being high above the cloud.

Taylor Swift is another cultural icon in US who can be compared with Girls’ Generation in terms of awards. With 162 nominations and 102 awards won for her music, including sales. It was amazing for her to win the Grammy Awards at the age of 20. She is now in the center of the trend in US music and entertainment, picked as 69th most influential celebrities by Forbes, and the woman of the year by Billboard.

With 145 nomination and 84 awards won, Girls’ Generation also became the center of K-pop music and its sensation. DongAh Ilbo mentioned that Girls’ Generation is following the steps of Seo Taiji who is viewed as the cultural revolution icon in that era in South Korea. In his article on Financial Times, Tyler Aquila, the editor of Monocle picked Girls’ Generation as one out of 10 representing product to export.

It seems that many from South Korea are now watching them since many celebrities is mentioning them in their speech and interviews. As the making impossible possibility they have shown according to previous article, the public is now taking up a higher expectation to have hope through their success in US. With Wonder Girls who took the role of pioneering US market and recently picked as most anticipated group in US by kpopstarz.com, and 2NE1 who won MTV Iggy's Best New Band, Girls’ Generation’s activities in US this year are now on the hot list to watch.

Justin Bieber’s YouTube Popular Video back in 2008 uploaded by kidrauhl

Girls’ Generation Most Viewed Music Video