43: K-Pop Vocals Then vs Now: What Happened?

This episode breaks down how K-pop vocals evolved from the powerhouse, vibrato-heavy sound of the 2nd and 3rd generations into the light, airy, minimalist aesthetic dominating today’s 5th-gen idols. I unpack how global pop trends,from Billie Eilish to NewJeans shaped K-pop’s vocal identity, why talk-singing and whisper tones became the norm, and whether this shift reflects a loss of technique or simply a new standard.