One of the reasons behind K-pop's meteoric rise is how it's been transferred to and from audiences across the world. Arguably the most convenient and efficient mode of transmission has been YouTube. YouTube covers of K-pop, as you already know, are almost as popular as the original songs themselves. That is, of course, if the covers are executed extremely well and with a charm of its own that makes it memorable.
There's no way to deny it: YouTube has made K-pop a part of the global dialogue. And we've picked out some of our favorite K-pop cover artists for your listening (or viewing) pleasure. Take a listen!
ImpaofSweden
The lady behind the fragile and easy-on-the-ears voice is 21-year-old Josefin from Sweden. Yes, Sweden – talk about K-pop catching ears all over the world… She covers K-pop songs in English, which gives the songs a different vibe. But it's a good different, I promise. She almost makes you forget these songs are K-pop in the first place, which isn't always easy to do, considering how distinct K-pop is in style.
1set
1set is an acoustic R&B duo with voices that honestly just melt. Sweet, cutesy, and overload girly in both their cover style and overall image, these girls have a way of keeping your ears happy. The bloopers they include at the end are fun, too.
Jason Ray
Jason Ray's soulful covers already make him a standout from the slew of YouTube cover artists out there. With his characteristic style and professional videos, this American artist has already established himself as a K-pop cover staple. Though he translates most of the lyrics into English for his covers, he does sing some songs in Korean.
Jayesslee
Janice and Sonia are twins born and raised in Sydney, Australia to Korean parents. They read, write, and speak Korean, so their Korean covers are quite on point, and their Aussie accents make you feel bitter and question why you don't have one. Stepping away from the linguistics, take a listen to their covers and you'll see why they consistently bang out hits in the YouTube sphere. No, seriously, just take a listen.
Daeho
Though he doesn't reveal too much information about himself, Daeho is a Korean-American(?) with mastery over both the Korean and English languages. His Korean is perfect, as is his English, so no matter which cover you decide to listen to, you won't sit there cringing. His voice is soothing and makes you feel warm and fuzzy all over. His voice is on point for those days when you want to wind down after a high-strung day.
Arden Cho
Arden Cho is a Korean-American model, actress, and singer residing in Los Angeles. She has a distinct look and charmingly chic personality, which has already contributed to her sizeable following (also well known for her role as Kira Yukimura on MTV's Teen Wolf). She covers Korean songs from time to time, putting her own spin on things. If anything, her covers are lovely, maybe because her voice is simultaneously sultry and soft.
JD Relic
JD Relic is a producer and songwriter who's worked with names like U-KISS, Baek Ji
Young, B1A4, Tahiti, Supernova, and SPICA. But
he's proved he's more than just a creative powerhouse, as he also uploads many
covers.
Margarita Letitchevski
18-year-old Margarita is a Russian/Israeli singer who makes vocal and dance covers. Take a listen and you'll be surprised by her flawless pronunciation. She says she's in the process of learning Korean, but based on her accent, or lack thereof, it'll only be a matter of time before she starts to confuse even native speakers.
Pumashock
Pumashock remixes K-pop songs in a way that makes you wonder whether they're the same song in the first place. But for this reason, coming back to her videos never gets old. There's something fresh about the way she takes K-pop songs and covers it in a recognizably Pumashock way.
JOAYO
JOAYO's covers are full of smooth voices and talented rapping. They usually do mash-ups of songs that flow surprisingly well together (for instance, the video above). But that isn't to say that their non mash-ups aren't just as good. They're a solid group that, for some reason, compels you to download their music and have it played over and over again on iTunes.
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