Music and Family

As said in my last post, my parents grew up with Korean folk music and classical music. My mother grew up in a wealthy family so classical music was very much prominent. They were also into 80s Korean pop music. They were more like ballads and cheesy music I think. When they immigrated to America, she started to listen to much American popular music. My grandma on my mom’s side loved Frank Sinatra, Pavarotti, Tony Bennett, and Elvis Presley. My mom loved Celine Dion. I grew up during my elementary school years listening to Celine Dion. We also listened to a lot of Korean Christian music and hymns. There is a group of famous Korean Christian artists called CCM. They are still a big hit in Korea. Much Korean Christian music nowadays come from big Christian bands like the Hillsongs or Chris Tomlin. My mom listened to a lot of Stephen Curtis Chapman when she was in college. My sisters and I still listen to him too.
I started to get into Korean pop music, Japanese pop music, techno, jazz, and indie music. I got my parents into Korean modern pop music too. They did not like me listening to American pop music, even though I did, because it did not have Christian or “good” influence. I do not like being ignorant so I did secretly listen to a lot of American pop music, but kept it from consuming me like many people. I believe that the music we listen to makes us who we are. It’s almost like the people we hang out with can influence and shape who we are. Because my parents believed and knew the power of music, they tried to keep me away from dark things. We believe that all music has some kind of religion influence therefore some kind of spirit is always present. It is for us to discern and allow the right spirits to influence us.

My sisters and I love listening to many different genres of Christian music.
We grew up listening to a lot of hip hop. Here's a video of my friend's music. His name is Sam Ock and he is a composer/artist. His mom grew up with my mom and worked together in church very closely. She was also my voice teacher in Baltimore. My family supports his music. I think my family has become more into contemporary music because of my sisters and I. =D