Ayu's section of this was unnecessarily snarky. Way to dedicate the smallest paragraphs to the biggest artist.
And for an article titled "Why Japanese Pop Matters", the author could have mentioned artists other than solo females. I know she tried to be diverse within that group, but there are other bands that could have been represented.

LOL. cosmetic surgery?

Lady Gaga, Halle Berry, Mariah Carey => they all did cosmetic/plastic surgery too! :roflmao

yeah how could she 100% sure that Ayu had plastic surgery bfore?
no one ever knows bout that yet~

yay!! that`s true.
Anyway this article showed lights and shadows, it`s not that disappointing.

That's what I think all the time, too.
So Americans and Europeans that are in the Gaga mood have to love Ayumi and Kumi I think.

But the article is not that great overall....

lol this is so bad. I've read worse articles but this one is just really bad.

The artists chosen are just weird. Nana Kitade had some good songs, but she's pretty much underground and unknown. Having her on the same page as Ayumi Hamasaki is kind of an insult.

i think the opinion in this article is a little bit different from that in asia.
some famous singers are not mentioned in this articale

"...she's often used cosmetic surgery..." --> Everytime I read things like this about Ayu, it really, really (!!) pisses me off! :grumpy

Cosmetic surgery = ayu... That's so boring!
And yeay for Tomoko!!!! <3

I had to wiki her... look through her list of release until I saw the word 'first ending for the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist' then go to youtube to find 'Kesenai Tsumi' then I realise I knew that song:thud

Overall I can just say that the write sure gave her fair shot of positive and negative opinions... It really makes me wonder if these 'female stars of the orient's hippest country deserve to be seen and heard in the west' and if ' Japanese pop matters'?:rolleyes:rolleyes

Nana Kitade isn't very obscure in the west at all thanks to her loligoth fashion and anime themes... as far as the "gothic" rocker chick stereotype, something often thought of when westerners think of Japan, she was the obvious choice to represent that group.

It seemed like the author managed to insult each of the artists in some way. But the article is poorly written, at any rate. :\

I love the Gaga comment, but I really don't like the first sentence... :(
& some of it seems... sarcastic?

i didn't know ladies night is about domestic violence!

^It isn't xD

one person's opinion and lack of knowledge. Meh.

shame this was printed if you ask me.

Well, I appreciate the fact that the title encourages people to look into J-Pop, but the article itself is written poorly. You don't need to place the artists on a pedestal, but you can't really sell a point if you keep criticizing the subject, you know? If I knew nothing about Japanese pop and read this, I wouldn't be convinced.

Thanks for sharing though!

:( I found it okay, but some of it was uncalled for... I mean, there's been controversy over the cosmetic surgery, and then they said it like it was a fact...:no

And her ballads are "occasionally touching?!" Are you a fan or not? :laugh

To me, it just seemed random :(