Profile Of A K-Pop Fan: 18-Year-Old K-Pop Universe Facebook Page Creator Leonardo Oliveira Of Portugal On GOT7, Taeyang's Album 'Rise'
NAME: Leonardo Oliveira
AGE: 18
HOME: Fiães, Portugal
CURRENTLY: a senior in high school
INTRO TO K-POP: “I listened to J-pop and Visual Kei since 2009," Oliveira said. "In 2012, I found out about K-pop with the group NU'EST, after hearing the song 'Face.' I liked the message of the song. It was completely different from what I was used to, since I only listened to rock and metal. Since then, I'm addicted to K-pop.”
FAN CREDENTIALS: "I have never been to a K-pop concert, but I have a Facebook fan page," Oliviera said. "K-Pop Universe is a Facebook page [I created] dedicated to K-pop." The site currently has over 1,800 likes.
THE DIFFERENCE: “The lyrics and the sound of some songs are different,” said the Portuguese teen. “Western pop groups like One Direction lack a pop rock feel. They make straight pop music. In K-pop, they have crazy electronic instrumentals and that's good. Not all artists sound like that. Many [K-pop artists] have chill songs with simple instrumentals, but their voices are so good.”
CULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS: "[People don't] understand the language and that makes them hate K-pop because they don't understand," Oliviera said. "And it's stupid because I don't understand the language but the songs are really good and catchy. And music is for everybody. You don't need to understand the language to like it."
FAVORITE GROUP: GOT7
FAVORITE GOT7 SONG: "A"
THE FUTURE OF K-POP: “I read a lot of comments saying 'I want old K-pop back,'” Leonardo said. “For me, K-pop is getting better and better.”
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