[article] J-Pop Is the Quiet Storm in American Culture

[nmskalmn]

Excerpts:

There’s no longer a doubt in anyone’s mind that there is Japanese influence in American pop culture like never before. With the mainstream and commercial success of anime and video gaming, Japanese pop culture is gaining greater acceptance in American society.

But after video gaming, anime and manga, what’s the next wave? Is there a quiet storm brewing? If you ask any otaku — a hardcore anime fan — they would tell you that Japanese pop music, or “J-pop,” is what’s catching on fast.

The newest shift among American teenagers is happening with J-pop idols like Hyde and Glay. At anime conventions, American fans go so far as cosplaying (masquerading) as their favorite J-pop performers. The cultural and language barrier doesn’t stop American fans from connecting with the music of J-pop.

As J-pop performers began seeking worldwide success, they looked to the United States. Artists like Utada Hikaru signed with Def Jam Records. In 2004, she released an album for an English-speaking audience, but the crossover album was not commercially successful. Unfortunately, no J-pop artists have experienced commercial success in the United States.

Up until now, J-pop performers have relied on the anime market to enter the U.S. market, often performing live concerts at anime conventions. However, there is a growing trend to limit and even distance ties to anime.

Read it: J-Pop Is the Quiet Storm in American Culture

The article mentions Ayu and also contains an interview with the pillows.

[Mad_Cactuar]

Wow, awesome. xD But why did they mention Utada's failure (it was an excellent album).. Puffy Amiyumi would also qualify as "successful" JPOP.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by MC Tatsujin

Wow, awesome. xD But why did they mention Utada's failure (it was an excellent album).. Puffy Amiyumi would also qualify as "successful" JPOP.

Because for a major label debut like that it was a failure. And with the exception of a couple of tracks there was nothing really commercially viable on that album for the record company to promote. (And the few tracks that were marketable just weren't THAT great to begin with)

[Mad_Cactuar]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Because for a major label debut like that it was a failure. And with the exception of a couple of tracks there was nothing really commercially viable on that album for the record company to promote. (And the few tracks that were marketable just weren't THAT great to begin with)

See, that's where I disagree. I found the album to be really commercial and marketable. The singles chosen were all great, except that promotion was extremely limited due to Mariah Carey's Emancipation being out around that time. But I don't want to turn this into an Exodus discussion thread...

[ImpactBreaker]

Originally Posted by MC Tatsujin

See, that's where I disagree. I found the album to be really commercial and marketable. The singles chosen were all great, except that promotion was extremely limited due to Mariah Carey's Emancipation being out around that time. But I don't want to turn this into an Exodus discussion thread...

Well, the term "failure" for the Exodus album is a very wel applied term. I think the album is excellent and that to some extent the songs were commercial, but that it was a failure to achieve the goal they probably wanted to, that's quite undeniable imo. Utada is a well succeeded artist in Japan. I guess they kinda expected her to rock the basis on american grounds but it ended up being nothing more than an easy breeze . The album was poorly promoted, Utada was kinda mocked on the radio interviews. I think her hard work on EXODUS ended up being focused on the silly lyrics of EASY BREEZY, in which Utada ended up being ridicularized for such stupid lyrics. It's sad because the album had a lot more to offer. I also don't think Utada's vocals help much into making the album very commercial. In the end the whole strategy for lauching her career on the US failed. Hence why it is considered a failure. The album itself is rich in my opinion, but unfortunately, it wasn't approved by most....at least not in the place the album was made to be sold at.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by ImpactBreaker

I think her hard work on EXODUS ended up being focused on the silly lyrics of EASY BREEZY, in which Utada ended up being ridicularized for such stupid lyrics.

You know its funny, as much as I dislike the Exodus album, I always defend that "Japaneasy" line. It did not deserve all of the flack that it got. The song is about a girl who slept with a guy and then he forgot about her afterwards. Hence, "your easy breezy and I'm Japaneasy" is a play on words, saying that the guy sees her as nothing more than "pretty pony~pretty pony~pretty pony~ AND Easy." I don't know why so many people didn't seem to understand that. It's really not THAT bad of a line when you think of it in that context. But otherwise, yeah I hate that album. lol.

Originally Posted by ImpactBreaker

The album itself is rich in my opinion, but unfortunately, it wasn't approved by most....at least not in the place the album was made to be sold at.

I really think it could have been a success if she had just taken her previously released hits and made them completely in English. Most of them are at least half in English to begin with. Simple and Clean is actually one of my favorite songs of hers. I think she should have played it safe like that first and then she could have released Exodus as her second album.

[AyuGAME]

haha..i hope their barrier about different culture will be broken as soon as possible..its the time for try something new

[marty518]

Obviously the language barrier is a huge problem for some people. I don't care at all! I can listen to music in any language, and if I like the melody, that's all I need. If I don't understand the words, I can look them up online since most popular music from around the world is translated online.

I just don't understand how people can limit their horizons so much.. there is so much good music out there in different languages!

Originally Posted by marty518

Obviously the language barrier is a huge problem for some people. I don't care at all! I can listen to music in any language, and if I like the melody, that's all I need. If I don't understand the words, I can look them up online since most popular music from around the world is translated online.

I just don't understand how people can limit their horizons so much.. there is so much good music out there in different languages!

Amen. I get so frustrated when I'm driving my friends around, playing some foreign music, and as cool as the song may be, all they'll say is: "Ew, what the hell are they saying?" And change the music.

Hence, the "my car, my music" law.

[Kikaru]

Originally Posted by evolusean

Amen. I get so frustrated when I'm driving my friends around, playing some foreign music, and as cool as the song may be, all they'll say is: "Ew, what the hell are they saying?" And change the music.

Hence, the "my car, my music" law.

I would say amen but I still don't know how to drive yet...

But very true. For me, it's my house, my music. Or I listen to foreign songs, deal with it.

[Dustie]

Originally Posted by evolusean

Amen. I get so frustrated when I'm driving my friends around, playing some foreign music, and as cool as the song may be, all they'll say is: "Ew, what the hell are they saying?" And change the music.

Hence, the "my car, my music" law.

That kinda fascinates me, how people born in English-speaking countries are used to understand what's being sung in the songs they hear on tv / radio.
In Europe (although I can't be sure about UK), the language bareer almost doesn't exist, becouse you hear songs in all languages. People here are used to hear songs the completly don't understand, more than that, many singles became hits in the area, just thank to catchy melody, despite nobody has much of idea what the song was actually about (like Las Ketchup's "Asereje").

Ironically enough, Europe is one place that Asian performers don't seem to be keen on venturing to. IMO, it's Europe where Asian music could make it big, elsewhere than it's home.

[DRKDivine]

Originally Posted by marty518

Obviously the language barrier is a huge problem for some people. I don't care at all! I can listen to music in any language, and if I like the melody, that's all I need. If I don't understand the words, I can look them up online since most popular music from around the world is translated online.

I just don't understand how people can limit their horizons so much.. there is so much good music out there in different languages!

I totally agree with you. 100%

[micster]

Verrry nice

Heres a silly thing for me to say but japanese music is become popular with more and more people, today for instance i managed to borrow the cd [POLYSICS OR DIE!!!!] by Polysics a j-rock band in my library

[JesA]

cool...but i wish the article counted towards my area...people here wont even accept african-american artists. the language barrier is the main problem in a lot of places..and my friends that come over sometimes even say that they dont wanna listen to something that they cant understand. hopefully it will change here with the rest of the US...

[Calico]

^Amen!

You know it's bad when people threaten others that *you* will be in charge of the music somewhere if something does go their way. Uh...heh.

I think J-pop has a LONG way to go, though. But thankfully, it's taking people over one brain at a time. :whistles

[JesA]

^ yea i agree. im not really looking foward to J-pop becoming wildly popular anytime soon...

[Xianghua]

Thank you for the article, it was very interesting.

lol, I love how you guys are like, "suck it up i'll listen to whatever I want" I wish I could be more like that.

anyway, I'm glad jpop is taking it's time. I kinda don't want it to come to the US all that fast yet. I kinda like my (can't think of the word; unique?) taste in music.

[Nevada]

^ That's kinda being stingy O___O`

[Xianghua]

^ how so? All i'm saying is that I'm happy I have different musical taste than the majority of people.Diversity is what makes people interesting! ^^! I'm not saying I'm against others listening to it. Maybe I made it sound that way.

[cybermoomba]

Its going to take a really LONG time for it to catch on in the US

As marty said, the language barrier is a huge problem for most people