How Ayumi can save Western Music

[~X2RADialbomber~]

Plus, so many people I know have the stereotype in their head of all Japanese singers sounding squeaky and annoying... So many people ask me, "Why the hell do you listen to Japanese Music?!" or they think it's so awfully weird.

But it would be nice to see some Ayumi in peoples nicknames on MSN. I don't like seeing 10 year olds on my MSN having nicknames with "Futuresex" or words that bring women down as shuts.

[nanami606]

"Ayumi Hamasaki. American music needs you. Come on over, baby."

Sweet, but...

I don't want it to happen. Too much stress for Ayu.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by nmskalmn

I'm not sure the author of the article really understands American tastes. Based on what my co-workers like to listen to on the job, Ayu's music would never be accepted.

I think a lot of singers wouldn't be accepted in America. It's just too different :<

-pokes at Ayu, Mika Nakashima, Ai Otsuka-

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by nmskalmn

I'm not sure the author of the article really understands American tastes. Based on what my co-workers like to listen to on the job, Ayu's music would never be accepted.

I think that's part of his point though - that so many people have bad taste in music right now but mainly because they don't realize that there may be something better out there.

[truehappiness]

I don't think it's people's tastes really.. it's just.. a lot of people just listen to what's 'in'.. right?

Sexyback, Milkshake, a bunch of Black Eye Peas songs.. so much radio airplay.. x.x

[~X2RADialbomber~]

I don't think anyone would accept Sakuranbo. My friend listened to it and she said "WOW O___O That was weird! Now lets never speak of that again!"

[truehappiness]

I think Ai Otsuka is the kind of music that people really think of when they think "Japanese music."

Referring to Ponpon and like SMILY that is.

[*Petit*]

Basically we might see the same thing that happened to cartoons (when profitability increases and it becomes a mainstream fashion) , the american record companies picks up certain aspects of the style and makes their own version, like PowerPuff girls, samurai jack etc etc etc.

[Tasked]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this article.. IF Ayu's music would be well-promoted in america I think it might really be able to do all this

[truehappiness]

I think with Japanese animation it took quite a while. From the 80s until now.. but the boom didn't happen until like 2001.

Since they've been releasing some Japanese music here since then, I think that there IS an audience, but it's not that large of an audience.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I don't think it's people's tastes really.. it's just.. a lot of people just listen to what's 'in'.. right?

Sexyback, Milkshake, a bunch of Black Eye Peas songs.. so much radio airplay.. x.x

That's true. But because it's "in" doesn't make it good music or even what the people want to hear. The record companies dictate what becomes popular by paying stations to play the songs non-stop, thus making them the "in" song. These songs are never "in" based on their merit as actual songs but "in" because the record company decided that is the song they are going to get behind the most. It's a sucky state of affairs all around.

[truehappiness]

I hope America NEVER tries to imitate Morning Musume. :<

-I <3 them-

[explodingbird]

Am I the only one who thinks "good music" is completely subjective? What may be trash to one may not be to another. While you might not think someone knows good music, they may think otherwise (even if it baffles you).

Granted, I'd personally prefer effort, honest-to-god hard work, to be put into more music nowadays here as it seems to be so half-assed.


....That being said.... I still wouldn't mind the influences of Japanese pop music seeping into our music. Even when genres are being shared between the countries, I tend to prefer how it goes in Japan - like I'd take Namie's Queen of Hip-Pop over most R&B/hip-hop/pop hybrids released in the U.S. (although it may be partly because I can ignore her lyrics for the album... which, based on translations I've come across, kind of suck)

Then again America has pretty much screwed up when it comes to incorporating Eastern influence into western animation so far (the Powerpuff Girls. Honestly...), but maybe I'm biased. Maybe they'll improve with time.

I dunno.

This article, my previous response, and everyone else's responses make me confused and blah blah I need to get back to sleep.

[*Petit*]

I agree, it IS about taste. What I miss though is the ability to combine genres, the chameleon switching between genres without people screaming that the artist is "bought off" or "left her oul" etc. I also think mixing genres from the past (like crooner music) with mor up to date beat no one in the west has managed as well as the japanese. The mix of el guitars and synth and acoustics also bring something special to the songs. And not to forget the ever awesome gutiar solos. So I think japanese music has kept a lot of the best from each era in western (and eastern) music, things that just wen't "out of fashion" here.

[ohsixthirty]

nice article, where is it from?

i think this guy is blinded by his new love for ayumi. i love her too and all and i enjoyed the article, but i think he's living in a fantasy world. ayumi would never be successful in the U.S. if she was as amazing as he thinks then all my friends would have long ago become fans of her music, but none of them have. ayumi is great, but she's no greater than a lot of other bands out there. her PV's are nice as well, but they're not as cutting edge as he seems to think. i dunno, i appreciate what he's saying, but i just think he's being a bit irrational.

[Mad_Cactuar]

Originally Posted by nmskalmn

I'm not sure the author of the article really understands American tastes. Based on what my co-workers like to listen to on the job, Ayu's music would never be accepted.

Somehow that seems so true. Ayu can never be a Cassie or PCD. Cassie is for now though. Soulless, robotic and dead but very catchy and addictive.

Ayu's music is quite special, it's a fusion of a whole lot of genres yet it isn't experimental. I wonder what is she classified under. I don't think any artistes like her has ever existed in the west. Maybe Gwen Stefani...

Mika would never make it big in Billboard that's for sure eventhough she's amazing and she deserves every bit of attention she get.

[explodingbird]

Originally Posted by MC Tatsujin

Somehow that seems so true. Ayu can never be a Cassie or PCD. Cassie is for now though. Soulless, robotic and dead but very catchy and addictive.

Ayu's music is quite special, it's a fusion of a whole lot of genres yet it isn't experimental. I wonder what is she classified under. I don't think any artistes like her has ever existed in the west. Maybe Gwen Stefani...

Mika would never make it big in Billboard that's for sure eventhough she's amazing and she deserves every bit of attention she get.

I think the only one for now who may have a small chance?

Namie. If CAN'T EAT, CAN'T SLEEP, I'M SICK were done in English, I think it'd be a surefire hit. Her hip-pop (not hip-hop, thank god) style seems closest to what we hear over on American radio (aside from... emo) - I think Koda would be next, her or BoA (although not BoA's post-OUTGROW singles).


Mika is great from what little I've hear. She deserves success so much - but America would shun her so fast.

Ai, as much as I've grown to really like her, wouldn't have a prayer. Her voice would piss people off.

Ayu? I just classify her styles as mixtures. Dance, pop, trance, rock, retro - to say the least. She does have ehr own mixture of sounds. So do other J-poppers. I think that's why the music sounds sop special to us - we can't easily label it.

[Mad_Cactuar]

Oh yeah, Namie. Her music is so Western, I forgot. Yes, Mika would be largely ignored. Or if she did find her audiences, she'd end up as another Bjork/Tori/PJ.

LOL, Ai. I can hardly imagine.

Angela Aki would have a chance if she follows the Sarah Mclachlan route with the ballads and adult radio invasion. Her power ballads are so listenable and western enough for Americans. Yuna Ito also has big potential.

Utada's chance was wasted. It was devastating to watch her album not climb charts and take over the world by storm. I will always hate Def Jam for it. Amazing but very underpromoted album.

[explodingbird]

And are we agreed that Shimatani is a lost cause? No one really even cares about her anymore in Japan. I think she'd crash and burn in America, sadly.

I wonder how Crystal Kay would do? I haven't heard much of her music. Mainly Make You Mine, but it was the English version (which could've been a big American hit if done right).

You know what? I'll just say it.

zomg top 3 American crossover J-Pop artists Miz Olivia Lufkin Ai Otsuka ^_________^ kekekekekeke

[Mad_Cactuar]

Oh Miz, but I thought she was German. Don't know what the fuss was about, she seemed pretty average. Olivia really can do it with her experimental rock thingy. She can beat the crap out of rock artistes with her music.

Doesn't Puffy AmiYumi count?