[article] Knife Is Beautiful

[nmskalmn]

Read it: Knife Is Beautiful

Most of the article is about Shonen Knife, but they also discuss other Asian pop singers who tried to break into the US market.

Excerpt:

Some, like Hong Kong's CoCo Lee, have tried to reshape their image to fit the American pop mold. Others, like Japan's Utada Hikaru, have tried to carve out a niche in the market by sticking to the flavor of bubblegum they know best. Despite looks, talent, serious corporate backing and, in some cases, impeccably fluent English, all of them have been forced to retreat to their home market in frustration.

"Three decades have gone by since Pink Lady, and people still look at Asian pop music as foreign, as goofy, because it's such a tough stigma to break," says Bresler. "Will we see an Asian rock or pop performer break through to mainstream success within our lifetime? I think so. At least one. But not many more than one. And unfortunately, it will probably be some gimmicky pop group."

Naoko Yamano disagrees. "I don't know," she says. "Some major Japanese pop artists have tried to sell their records in America, and they have failed. I think the reason is that their music just imitates Western-style music. It lacks individuality. I think only really creative bands could have a chance to be popular in the U.S., and I don't know any such bands who've tried so far."

I really disagree with this comment: "It lacks individuality."

[Mirai Noah]

Interesting... I had never heard of the Pink Lady effect!

But, J-Pop does not lack individuality.

[JesA]

how can they say it lacks individuality? Utada's music is actually worth listening...instead of the garbled profanity of american singers. at least Asian music lyrics have a meaning.....Utada's music IS creative. 50 Cent, Hilary Duff etc. hardly have any. its the same old stuff every time.

[PrismaticTears]

Originally Posted by Sayonara_Ne

how can they say it lacks individuality? Utada's music is actually worth listening...instead of the garbled profanity of american singers. at least Asian music lyrics have a meaning.....Utada's music IS creative. 50 Cent, Hilary Duff etc. hardly have any. its the same old stuff every time.

Exodus blew my mind since she didn't do the "Utada Hikaru sound" that we know, she tried something new and more "American" it was really crappy in my opinion. The only two tracks on that album I could stand listening to the entire way through was Exodus '04 and Devil Inside.

I've actually met some people who do -not- listen to foreign music by any chance but they went to some of the Polysics and Pillows performances here in the US and they loved them. Just neither got very much press outside of those who already listen to J-Pop quite a bit.

I'm also reminded why I never listen to the radio anymore when I see, "#1 Selling Album!" plastered across some hack rap group/solo act or people who can't wait for "Britney's comeback." Most people don't want something different, they want the same old shtick.

[elepop]

I don't really agree with this article.

I wonder if HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR will have success over there since their 1st Japanese album "GOOVER" is being release soon in the US. But seriously, I don't care much. Successful or not, I'm still gonna love them!

Originally Posted by asongforXX

I don't really agree with this article.

I wonder if HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR will have success over there since their 1st Japanese album "GOOVER" is being release soon in the US. But seriously, I don't care much. Successful or not, I'm still gonna love them!

Soon? It's been out for a while now.

Artists on tofu Records never make it big in the US. Its too much of an underground thing.

HYDE's new album is being released in July in the US

[sexysaucestar]

The problem with CoCo Lee and Utada trying to cross over to the US was that they sexified their image too much...or at least they made their lyrics too demeaning. I think they would have had more succeess if they had stuck to their normal styles.

The sad fact about most Americans is...they just want the same old thing, the "Made in America" music. You see a lot of people in other parts of the world who give American music/other countries' music a try and they love it! Like, for instance, most of the Japanese I've met so far actually LOVE American pop and whatnot...it really surprises me. On the contrary, walk up to any random American in the US and ask them what music THEY like...you will most likely hear them say "I like [American] pop/rock/etc."

I know there are a lot of us here who actually do live in the US and love J-pop and such...but once you think about how many people are actually in the US, we're actually a minority. Despite the US claiming to be a "melting pot," a lot of Americans are kind of closeminded when it comes to trying new music/foods/etc.

[monsoonbaby]

^ Agree 100%!!! That's why both Coco and Hikki's "American dream" is a failure... Hikki should really just stick with her original style, that people would like her more.

"Some major Japanese pop artists have tried to sell their records in America, and they have failed. I think the reason is that their music just imitates Western-style music. It lacks individuality. I think only really creative bands could have a chance to be popular in the U.S., and I don't know any such bands who've tried so far."

Disagree 100%!!! Lack of individuality!? No way! I admit that I really do think some Japanese artists/groups copied Western style and some really overdid the Western-ish, but there are a lot more who has their own unique style. Especially the "I don't know any such bands who've tried so far" comment is total crap. I am sure the one who said this only heard a little corner of the big Japanese music realm. And talking about uniqueness, try find someone who sings enka in America!! (maybe this is too far-fetched...ignore it~)