English in Japanese Songs

[Ayutada]

Hey kids! Man, I havent been here in a while. Anyway I kinda need everyones help. Im on study abroad in Japan right now and I hafta write a paper about why the Japanese have found it so fun to use English in songs and song titles. I@ve asked alot of people over here but I thought it would be better to get a more international feel. So everyone why do YOU think English is so popular over here right now!?

Anything is good.

OOO and yesterday I saw Ayu live in Osaka. freakin best day of my life. I sat right next to the stage, amazing. I cried twice haha

[sexysaucestar]

Whoa, you're here in Japan too? Awesome, me too (as you an see from my profile/signature )

I think Japanese use English in their songs because it's "cool" IMO.

[Hazuki]

It gives feeling to the song? o_o

Maybe they DO think english is "cool"

[chibi_sunny]

Yeah, I thought they just wanted to sound modern and western.
But I prefer they didn't do it (unless it's comprehendable).

[Megshere]

I don't know why, I always thought because they think its better to use English for certain words than the japanese for it. I also noticed that people who can speak english use it more. Like Crystal Kay uses a bit more than some people and so does Utada. I am probably wrong about it, but its what I've noticed.

[ExodusUK]

I think for coolness! ^_^ Kinda like how some people use spanish & french etc in English. Like J'adore or "that's french for..." etc.

[orenji_jaro]

because so JPOP music will get broaden..not just to be known in JAPAN well to also to another coutnry.. and ENGLISH is an international language right? ^^ so they use english..why would they use french.? or slavonic? or filipino? or korean? or chinese? haha! XD kekeke.... me stupid...

so using their track titles or album titles in english boost up their sales its also a marketing strategy so foreigners can buytheir album and be known in other countries ^^

[Ayutada]

hahaha alright, thanks guys for your input!! I`ll be sure to include ittt

[spookshow]

I agree with orenji -- if they use english words here and there it might make their music appeal more to those who don't know a word of japanese (e.g. me ) Thus, non-japanese-speaking fans have a very random idea of what the song is about, and we are able to speak about the song/spread the word (rather than trying to pronounce a song name in a language they may not know a word of or be able to read)

hope that makes sense...

[*Petit*]

I don't think it's to appeal to western countries, considering how many artists from Japan that are aviable on the western market. I don't know where I read this (perhaps wikipedia? ) that words originating from english make up a bigger per centage of the daily language of japan. Supposedly especially true for teens and pop-culture, news papers and the like being more conservative using less english (or engrish) phrases. I guess the use of english is considered cool and modern.

[thinkingoutloud89]

English is an worldlanguage and words like "cool" or somethin are already daily speech everywhere^^ Germans also use English in their songs....and other countrys do it to....so why not^^

[ohsixthirty]

hey, i remember you! especially for your avatar!

but yeah, i agree with what others have said, i think its used for the "cool" factor. and also i think that it places emphasis on certain words if they're sung in english, it makes them stand out more. its the same concept as japanese people wearing shirts with english phrases on them...even though the english may not make perfect sense, aesthetically its pleasing.

[walking proud]

I think it's because some phrases can't be expressed in Japanese, or at least they wouldn't have the same feeling if they were.

[Aisha_Angel]

maybe because it's catchy to the listening ear. When I listen to J-pop I try to hear words that I recognize so when I hear english parts I try to use it as my own personal guide 2 what the song is about. Maybe they use english for foreign ears...