Thailand’s answer to K-pop: boy band Bus promotes cosmetics and flawless, off-white skin

T-pop has become increasingly similar in style to the internationally popular Korean K-pop. T-pop is now also sung in English.

It may come as a surprise to many that Thailand, which in Finland is mainly seen as a beach destination, makes attractive and stylish pop music. Thai pop, or T-pop, has made great strides forward, especially in the last decade.

Bands like Pixxie, 4even and Proxie are inspired by South Korean K-pop: addictive production and surprisingly jangly melodies are combined with visually stunning music videos and millinet-precise dance choreography.

At the heart of it all are the picture-perfect pop stars, styled according to the latest trends – and who also create trends.

For volume, this is no longer a small or marginal phenomenon: the most popular T-pop music videos have tens of millions of views, and, for example There are a whopping 134 million views.

For many people living in Finland, T-pop is also an important part of everyday life.

T-pop lyrics, on the other hand, mostly revolve around the ancient and universal theme.

– Usually it is a love story. Someone cheat on someone else or falls in love with one another. Love stories sell.

Munmanang says that T-pop rarely deals with Thai culture, hot talks of the day or politics. It is difficult to make music on political topics and does not sell it.

The boy band Bus is now everywhere

Sarayut Munmang’s T-Pop favorites currently include Bus, a boy band established last year, with as many as twelve members.

Bus’s starting points have been very professional and commercial since the beginning: the band’s membership has been selected from talent search competitions, and since then, young men have begun to refine pop stars. All members were born in the 21st century, some have done modeling and apparently also require more than 170 centimeters.

Like K-Pop boy bands, the band members have begun marketing cosmetics for men: the goals have included especially white and flawless skin.

The band has collaborated with a 4u2 cosmetics brand, a Thai manufacturer of vegan products. In advertising pictures, the band promotes lipstick and lip gloss. The slogan reads, \”Because of you, I radiate.\”

The so -called Bundles, on the other hand, have included cosmetics boxes that show the signatures of the band members and include a special ticket to Bus concert.

\”In Thailand, their faces are currently visible everywhere: in metro stations, shops and cosmetics,\” says Sarayut Munmanang.

According to Munmang, the marketing of cosmetics for men is part of a broader Thai phenomenon.

– In the past, there was no such trend. However, we are now living in 2025 and people are more responsible for their own health. It is important to look good both internally and externally, and this is an essential part of smooth skin. Phenomena created by T-pop have an impact, especially on young people.

T-pop trends also include green or blue eyes purchased with colored contact lenses. Some artists have gone even further and cut their eyelids into European style with plastic surgery.

T-pop artists create their own styles

Although there is a wealth of potential and knowledge in the T-pop, so far it has remained mainly a Thai and Southeast Asian phenomenon that runs in the footsteps of K-Pop.

The internationalization of K-pop was facilitated by an exact marketing strategy, where the South Korean state submerged huge amounts of money. Thailand, on the other hand, has sought to advertise its food culture globally.

Recently, there has been a change. For example, the * Boys Love Girls * song, one of the most successful T-pop bands a month ago, has been released completely in English. In May, the band will perform in California at the Head in the Clouds Festival, which focuses on Asian artists.

\”So far, T-pop marketing is mainly aimed at home and not abroad because of Thai language: it is not understood outside Thailand,\” says Sarayut Munmanang.

According to Munmanang, it is essential to note that T-pop artists create their own styles.

-I wouldn’t say that t-pop artists imitated K-pop artists. It is similar to the same type, as K-pop has entered the market first.

Lisa is also involved in the third season of the praised * The White Lotus * series.

So far, the *Rockstar *video has attracted a whopping 264 million viewers on YouTube.

T-pop songs still have a distance.