[article] Korean pop star Rain

[nmskalmn]

Saw a little item about Rain in TimeAsia:

Fall Preview: Music

A Korean Force of Nature
BY DONALD MACINTYRE
Monday, Sep. 12, 2005

In just three years, Korean pop star Rain has built a huge domestic following of (mostly) female fans with a string of chart-topping singles, and now he's ready to branch out overseas. Rain picked up MTV Asia prizes this year, played his first solo concert in Japan in July and has lined up sold-out gigs in Hong Kong and Tokyo. But the engine of Korean pop-culture dominance in Asia is the soap opera, which is why Rain is forecast for TV this fall. The decidedly boyish singer will play a macho K-1 fighter who falls for his brother's lover in a series tentatively titled A Love to Kill. Though the show is set to air first in Korea this October, the astounding popularity of Korean TV dramas around the region means that the pop star could soon become a familiar face throughout Asia.

But why stop there? Rain's managers believe he could be the first Korean star to break into the U.S. market. Park Jin Young, the pop impresario who discovered and trained Rain, is a talented dancer and songwriter who has worked with U.S. artists like Mase and Will Smith. Since setting up camp in Los Angeles last year, Park has been shopping his protégé around to U.S. production companies. Rain almost managed to score a track on rapper Lil' Kim's latest album—but the plan fell apart after Kim was convicted of perjury and had to start serving a jail term, according to Jimmy Jeong, an executive at Rain's management company. Just a minor setback, says Jeong: "We're targeting the global market. Rain's too big for Asia."

http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazi...103646,00.html

[Mad_Cactuar]

seriously, (no offense to rain fans) I think if he ever ventured out of Asia, he's gonna land right on his face and get back here.. If Hikki's electro-techno-pop cant seem to do well, and Coco Lee's ballads flop, I doubt Rain will even sell a hundred out of Asia.. Just look at him. His music is R&B-ish, charts are dominated with rock.. And face it, his style is never going to make Western women swoon, he's sappy..

[AyuRlz]

wow... rain seems to be getting bigger in popularity~

[AyuGAME]

i don't know but i don't like him
i think he was an average artist
many people say that he was handsome
but i don't think so...
i think he just have a good body
thats all

[Hugo_Perry]

Originally Posted by Mad_Cactuar

seriously, (no offense to rain fans) I think if he ever ventured out of Asia, he's gonna land right on his face and get back here.. If Hikki's electro-techno-pop cant seem to do well, and Coco Lee's ballads flop, I doubt Rain will even sell a hundred out of Asia.. Just look at him. His music is R&B-ish, charts are dominated with rock.. And face it, his style is never going to make Western women swoon, he's sappy..

Ahhh... Wotchu said is really true! I mean nut even Ayumi would wanna take the risk to go outta Japan. I guess that's why she's always on top! She's smart!

[Brittany]

I don't.. think he has potential to .. be an artist out of .. Asia.. -_-;

[gaara_is_hot18]

I love Rain and all (big fan XD) but I think he should just stay as a celebrity in Asia...who knows what us North Americans will do to him. It would be kinda weird for Rain to be in North American television...

[AyuRlz]

he can by all meanas give it a try out of asia to absord more experience.. you never know, jay chou is all so famous in japan now because he stepped out of taiwan.

[imagina12y]

i think rain has potential because he's a really good DANCERRRR...i mean there are a lot of guy artists that are not very attractive, but their dancing (and body) makes up for it but yeah i don't know about the singing ><

[s.k.y]

Originally Posted by AyuGAME

i don't know but i don't like him
i think he was an average artist
many people say that he was handsome
but i don't think so...
i think he just have a good body
thats all

hahha, i soo agree. he's sooo not handsome

[Camille]

That's a tough issue...

As a Asian star Rain does very well. Even if he's not that handsome and talented, he really had the guts to enter Asian music industry and even TV, and we have to admit, that til now he's doing a great job.

But USA, and all the western showbiz doesn't accept Asian stars... They prefer to stick to what they have. They tolerate some Asian actors because they fight very well and Kung-fu/Karate/acion type movies are selling very well. And there was Bruce Lee who made the entrance and prepared west for Asian actors. But in music? There haven't been (or maybe I don't know about it) any Asian musician/performer who succed in the west. That's why none of the Asian singers can do well in the west. So I would suggest that Asian artists stay in Asia, unless they are 190% sure they'll be a hit... It will be better for them and us.

[kanariyaXX]

he is worst than boy bands

[Qt Mashi]

following of (mostly) female fans with a string of chart-topping singles

*sigh*....no im not one of them....but some of my friends