Ayumi's New Single (Bold & Delicious) becoming too American?

I don't know what you guys think but i think Ayu got Americanalized!

Um, put blatantly, no. Seriously, no. Ayu has not been "Americanalized", and you fail at creating proper terms to label things. People need to get over this. Seriously, just because she's singing in a different style, that automatically makes her Americanized. Mhm, oh, yeah, I'm quite sure. -.-

[Neo Daydream]

itz very americanized but unfortunately, i don't she'll ever make it over to america... like someone said before, language barrier. and i have noticed that uneducated americans underestimate Asians and other singers from foreign countries... -_-

B&D too Americanized?

For poop sake look at her, she dyes her hair blond. wears brands like juicy. names 99% of her songs with english titles. She's ALWAYS been Americanized!

But thats what I love about my country!

*holds up an american flag* woot!

Originally Posted by Winterkill

Um, put blatantly, no. Seriously, no. Ayu has not been "Americanalized", and you fail at creating proper terms to label things. People need to get over this. Seriously, just because she's singing in a different style, that automatically makes her Americanized. Mhm, oh, yeah, I'm quite sure. -.-

Its funny, cuz you don't have any proof that she isn't either, so don't tell them that they're wrong.

[AyumiFanGuy]

Originally Posted by Chibinina4

Tell me, where exactly is the line between "Japanese" music and "American" music drawn? Does taking an "American" song and slapping a Japanese artist's name on the front suddenly make it Japanese (ex. Hikki's "Simple and Clean"/"Hikari")?

If you want real Japanese music, then J-Pop surely isn't what you're looking for. Try Enka.

I'm not one to deny my faults. So I'll say straight up that I don't know where the line is between Japanese and American music. When refering to Bold & Delicious, the song, I'm mainly talking about the PV. It reminded me of a very bad Jennifer Lopez video. The lyrics come off to me a bit more like "typical" American lyrics, but as far as the music goes, I couldn't tell you whether it sounds American or Japanese. It is just music after all. Though, I will say that the "gagagaga" thing does remind me of American crap, along with her screaming at the end of the song. Something about that just seems so...American pop-ish.

As for BoA, Namie, Koda, etc... I listen to a very select few of most other artists' music and I'd be lucky if I could name 10 Japanese singers/bands that I actually listen to. (Never been introduced to anyone and I'm too lazy to persue them myself.)

[DA1SUK1DAY01691]

This Western-Eastern thing is like fad, it goes and comes... and right now, we're in the "western" period. But I don't think this music is really "American-ized" or "Western-ized", it's just a more choir-themed R and B style. It's only different to us because of the combination, and who are we to suddenly associate choirs and R&B to America or the West?

[lotusoka]

My friend, qrmebrat on here, and I were listening to the single the other day in his car and I mentioned the oricon charts since we both kinda hate the song. He wasn't surprised, he said he thinks its because the song sounds "western-ish."

[minkAYuko]

it's the way both songs were written and the reptetive music.... i mean like the seam chords or something is what makes both songs sound like from this part of the world for an example of what i'm saying listen to lindsay lohan mmmh..rumors... and gwen stefani rich girl listen only the music.

Antoher example of the power of both songs is... make some1 u know that hates ayu or hates j-pop to listen to bold and delicious and is most likely they will like it, cause it dosen't sounds like jpop.

a friend of mine hates jpop and ayu but digs this song.

she's just trying some new music... but i really wish she dosen't sticks to it!

[Piccolo]

Music is music, you either like it or you don't. I really dislike people who just go "I hate such and such" without even trying it out. Not all rock is the same, not all pop is the same, not all western and eastern music is the same. Can someone please explain what they feel "americanized" is without some negative connotation? When people go "that's american" I find that way too general of a statement. If you guys haven't noticed, A LOT of stuff is covered here in the states, so you could argue everything is american.

[ohsixthirty]

eh, as already said...ayu was americanized long before B&D.

[jasjasss]

Originally Posted by AyumiFanGuy

Well, for me at least, what's wrong with it is that if I wanted to listen to American-style music, I'd listen to American music and never listen to Japanese music again.

Define a pure Japanese Sound ..
A pure Japanese sound for me will be like Enka style ..

[Indie]

I don't think she's becoming too american just because NY is her "current theme", sometimes artists like to try out new stuff and that is just what she did with B&D/Pride.

[marty518]

I guess you could call "Bold & Delicious" American style... but I don't really see the connection. I like the song and bought the single, but this song would crash and burn and be laughed at and never heard of again if it were seriously released in America, I think!
I think she'd have to build up a really popular reputation in America first in order to be able to pull off a song like B&D. I know some American artists release some ridiculous sounding songs, but it's because they have so many dedicated fans that will buy whatever they release.

I love B&D though!

I agree that Ayumi has always been interested in western culture, particularly that of America. Even though she comes to the US on business-related purposes, she definitely enjoys it for her own pleasure as well (she has cited favorite stores in different US cities and has mentioned that most of her jeans are imported from western countries)

Originally Posted by ayumihamasakisan005

and who are we to suddenly associate choirs and R&B to America or the West?

To clarify, the genre of R&B is a distinctly American sound, stemming from music created by African-Americans in this country. Though other countries have an interest in it and have helped in spreading the love for R&B (and infusing their own music with R&B), it would be more than fair to associate R&B with America and/or the West.

[fantaisie.sign]

Originally Posted by jasjasss

Define a pure Japanese Sound ..
A pure Japanese sound for me will be like Enka style ..

I said that too. People keep repeating everything I say, lol.

Its funny, cuz you don't have any proof that she isn't either, so don't tell them that they're wrong.

She hasn't been Americanized. You don't have any proof she HAS been Americanized, quite frankly because she hasn't. Artists always want to try a few things, just because she actually shows some similarities to American people, it doesn't mean she's been Americanized.

By the way, all I was saying is that "Americanized" isn't really the right term.

[Kikaru]

Define "americanize". Technically, ALL Jpop & Jrock are "westernized" because Pop and Rock are not traditional Japanese. Western Music include everything from Mozart (he's European) to Frank Sinatra to 50 cent to Hilary Duff.

I'm sorry, I'm just really tired of the "all American Music style are evil and Japanese music is teh best". Remember, without American Music or Western Music, we would not have Jpop OR Jrock.

[AyumiFanGuy]

Originally Posted by Kikaru

Define "americanize". Technically, ALL Jpop & Jrock are "westernized" because Pop and Rock are not traditional Japanese. Western Music include everything from Mozart (he's European) to Frank Sinatra to 50 cent to Hilary Duff.

I'm sorry, I'm just really tired of the "all American Music style are evil and Japanese music is teh best". Remember, without American Music or Western Music, we would not have Jpop OR Jrock.

I was thinking about that when I was in the shower earlier. Good point.

I'll step over here (->) and shove my foot farther down my throat...

[JimmyKoria]

If you think about it Heaven/Will is a the yinyang of B&D? Will was almost old Japanese style, and didnt Masa say that some of the words were older Japanese words that arent used so much today? B&D has an R&B feel but didnt Real Me also have an R&B feel? I don't know, it's good to mix the songs up some.

I still feel like PRIDE is too similiar to Heaven and Will...the lyrics are good, but it feels like it's lacking something. Does PRIDE feel more western to anyone?

[I wasn't sure if it was PRIDE or Pride or pride, ha ha ha so sorry if I messed that up]

[JimmyKoria]

Listening to the intrumental I noticed Pride had a church-ish feeling like B&D...they kind of work together, they balance each other.

[Belinda]

I don't think it matters, but it's been awhile since I REALLY liked a single so much. I think this is her best single imo since... gosh I don't really know. I think her voice also sounds the BEST ever here. I really have went to loving ayu so much, to just liking her (but still admiring her), to hearing this single and loving her again. This single is so good, even if it's.. americanized? I love this new ayu sound. I was getting so sick of that certain .... ayu... sound.. not that some of it wasn't good... just tiring la... This is good for a change, and then her next change will hopefully be great also.