One of the things that K-pop does best is help develop relationships between the group and fans. It’s common knowledge that you must have a light stick to get the best experience at a K-pop concert. So, it’s no surprise that Hybe is distributing special light sticks on July 27th this year at the Olympics for Team Korea. But have you ever wondered how people started to use lights during music concerts?
Fire!
The ritual of fans using lights to show support for artists is not new to the music industry. In 1969 the United States, an artist called Melanie performed at Woodstock. People had performed a ceremony using candles in the audience. All the lights inspired her to write a song about it. This was the first recorded evidence of lights being used at a concert.
Music fans wanted to relive the feeling of Woodstock and continued to bring candles to concerts to show support for the artists. In 1973 Bic created the lighter, a portable flame. This was so convenient that fans replaced the candle flames at concerts.
The next record of lights being used at concerts was in 1974. Hideki Saijo asked fans in Osaka to shine a light on themselves in the dark concert venue so he could see their face and feel connected. Fans obliged and continued to bring pen flashlights to all of his concerts all the way into the 1990s.
Coldplay Fans
In 2005, Jason Regler went to a Coldplay’s concert. He was extremely moved by the performance of the band’s song called "Fix You". The lyrics “ lights will guide you home” inspired Regler to create a wrist band that flickers to the sound of music using RF or radio frequency transmitters. Coldplay loved the idea so much that they started to use these wristbands called Xylobands in 2012. Other artists like Taylor Swift also uses RF technology with LED lights for her concerts.
Did any of these events have an impact on light sticks used in K-pop concert? Here’s what happened in South Korea!
K-pop Fandom History 101
Once upon a time in K-pop land the fandoms only wore colored clothing to support their favorite artists. During the first generation, the more famous fandoms turned creative by showing support wearing raincoats and waving colored balloons. The fandom for the famous boy band H.O.T. wore white raincoats and carried white balloons while the fandom for famous girl group Sech Skies wore yellow raincoats and yellow balloons. This first generation not only helped to create the basic guidelines of creating a fandom, but they also started fan chants during the instrumentals of the band’s songs.
Father of the "Bong"
In 2006, G-Dragon from Big Bang designed the first light stick and called it the “Bang Bong”. Bong means "stick" in Korean. It was a simple stick with a crown shape and meant for VIP fans. Other groups followed and created their own stick designs. Assigning the band’s colors, design of the bong, and fan chants continued to be a must have for K-pop fandoms to show support for their favorite groups.
Bong Black Out
The bong is a powerful in setting a mood during a K-pop concert. During a concert, all of the lights create an “ocean” of light. When the lights are the band’s color, it is the ultimate tribute to show love to a K-pop band. In turn, no lights or the “black ocean” is the ultimate dislike of the band. The dislike of the band can result from more fans being present at an awards event or fans showing dislike for band members behaviors (professional or even personal!). The bong is truly a symbol of the power of people!
Band Bongs Boom
The design of the bong needs to resonate with the band and the fans. K-pop bands have made designs really fun and unique. The “Carat Bong” allows Seventeen's fandom to put anything in the globe part of the bong allowing the fan to add a unique personal touch. The K-pop girl band Cherry Bullet has the “Lullet”. It is a fun water gun style red bong.
My personal favorite is the “Army Bomb” for BTS. In 2015, it was originally just a light up stick in 2015. Then as quickly as BTS became popular they created another version in 2017 with blue technology that allowed for a synchronized light show for their songs. On July 27th of 2018, a special light stick app was introduced that connects lights sticks that flicker and changes colors to a specific song and in concerts, to a specific venue.
Light Sticks For All Fans Outside of Music
Music fans interacting with artists in the music industry has come a long way from candles in the rain. The K-pop music industry has come a long way from raincoats and balloons. Connecting fans is what K-pop does best and maybe other teams will create light sticks for their countries in future Olympic events. Maybe we’ll see light sticks at other sports events in the future. Perhaps it will be like K-pop band Stray Kids and be everywhere and all around the world?
Would you buy an Olympics light stick for your country’s Olympic team? Comment below to let us know!
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