The K-pop world has been painted Blackpink.
Hot on the heels of their debut album, simply titled The Album, the super-star female band has released a Netflix documentary.
Available to stream now, Blackpink: Light Up the Sky covers the journey from the band's formation in 2016 to their explosive performance at 2019's Coachella Festival in the US. As well as the fun and fame that comes with pop-stardom, director Caroline Suh also shows the emotional and physical strain that comes with the territory.
The program is part of a growing body of documentaries tracing the rise and effect of K-pop not only on popular culture, but on the stars themselves.
Here are four more documentaries available to watch on YouTube, lifting the lid on the colourful and passionate world of K-pop. In some case, non-Korean speakers will need to remember to press the closed captions button for English subtitles.
1. 'Burn the Stage' (2017)
Take note: there are two versions of the YouTube documentary about boyband BTS. The first is an eight part series, while the other is a condensed 85-minute documentary. If you are a hard core fan, then the series is your best bet. With each episode running at roughly 30 minutes, it is an in-depth look at how seven piece group grapple with global fandom.
The series shows the way the band balances work and play. Watch as they go from high octane shows in stadiums full of shrieking fans, to joking around with bandmates and barbecues at home.
2. 'The Nine Muses of Star Empire' (2013)
Practice makes perfect. And when it comes to the hyper competitive world of K-pop, there is no substitute for perfection. This is a revealing and sometimes harrowing look at the industry through the eyes of former K-pop super group Nine Muses. Comprised of nine models, actors and singers, we follow their progress as record label Star Empire pushes them to the limits to reach the pop summit.
Mixing observational footage of their rigorous training and recording sessions with interviews with band members and managers, Hark-Joon Lee’s documentary not only shows the efforts needed to become a K-pop star but makes us wonder if it is worth it.
3. 'Superfans, Global K-pop' (2018)
While it maybe catered towards a domestic audience, this solid 70-minute feature by South Korean broadcaster KBS World is a handy explainer on how K-pop reached international popularity.
What makes the program rewarding is how it charts the genre's rise through the eyes of fans. There is some great footage from the eighth K-Pop World Festival, an international gathering of K-pop lovers full of singing and dancing competitions.
4. 'Global Youth, Dreaming of K-pop' (2015)
Another intimate look at the international love for K-pop by KBS World.
The one hour feature follows participants from 14 international teams as they compete in the final rounds of the 2015 K-Pop World Festival, held in the South Korean city of Changwon. From mastering the moves to nailing the signature pouty looks, this is fandom taken to the next level.
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Tales of Yusuf Tadros
Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)
Hoopoe
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Red flags
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- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
