Asian music VS. Western music (in terms of creativity)

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by emiko

I don't think it's really okay to say something like "sex overload" is disappointing. Gaga is making her music the way she wants, and the rest of us have to take it like it is.

If we still don't like it, there are plenty of other dance/electro/whatever-she-is artists out there to listen to.


None of this really negates the fact that she's extremely popular and that the radio is in love with her...I know it's really annoying...but this is why I <3 my ipod lol

I guess it's just kind of like...another one of those things...the majority of our society likes that music. I wonder what exactly that says about us.

I think it's interesting lol

(sorry for the long post)

Agreed^^

I think that if an artist is selling and being popular... they r doing something right... and when a singer like Britney, that people like to bash saying is untalented, well... she is over here for 10 years... some people may not like her but she IS doing a lot of things right.

It doesn't matter how hyped u r, or how good ur marketing is... people will only buy ur products (albums, concerts, dvds, etc.) if they like it. simple as that. If someone buys u and don't like the result, u just lost a consumer.

So... yeah, I dislike Koda, Britney, Miley, Christina, japanese boybands... but THEY ARE doing their things right, that's why they are selling^^

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by emiko

I don't think it's really okay to say something like "sex overload" is disappointing. Gaga is making her music the way she wants, and the rest of us have to take it like it is.

No, I think you misunderstood me ^^; It's not her music I find disappointing because of the sex overload, I actually got over it. I'm cool with it again LOL. It's her as a person. Like I said, I have a very hard time dissociating person from music (as far as being a fan and being interested in an artists). It's hard for me to say I'm a fan of Gaga if I can't stand her but love her music. So instead I'll say I like some of her songs. It is personally disappointing for me that her personality isn't as interesting as her persona lets on.

I'll be the first to admit I haven't seen/heard/read all of the interviews she's ever given in the history of her career, but the ones I have are a hit or miss for me . I can't deny she's dedicated and passionate about her music but at the same time I find her distasteful and simply has no class (I rather not even call her "lady" gaga, just Gaga). Not every artists in the world has to be a goody goody, censored or politically correct for me to like them. But it's a bit boring to know despite her artiness, passion and catchy music... she's not much different from everyone else in my opinion. Even though she says she wants to bring something new to the table. That to me is disappointing, but maybe I'm seeing her in one light (which is the only light she'll let me see her in damn it xD; ). But yeah, her music is fine, whatever lol.

[noidea]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

Like I said, I have a very hard time dissociating person from music (as far as being a fan and being interested in an artists). It's hard for me to say I'm a fan of Gaga if I can't stand her but love her music. So instead I'll say I like some of her songs. It is personally disappointing for me that her personality isn't as interesting as her persona lets on.

I have the same "problem" I can't say I like an artist if I don't like the person behind the music, people think I'm crazy because of that xD

[chloeM]

i;d say western... but i love japanese~

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by noidea

I have the same "problem" I can't say I like an artist if I don't like the person behind the music, people think I'm crazy because of that xD

We can be crazy together lol.

[Plisskin]

I've been a member of various Asian pop forums since 2002. I've seen threads like these ever since then and it's a shame.

For the record, mainstream Western music isn't all about sex. To say it is such, speaks that many people don't know too much about it other than Britney Spears, Beyonce, and other singers of their ilk.

Pj Harvey, Adele, The Mars Volta, Bjork, Sigur Ros, Massive Attack, Imogen Heap.

If you've never heard of these people give them a listen. Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, even the "sex" concept and dirty lyrics hardly applies to the entire Western music industry.

The musicians I listed are just a small fraction of artists that are mainstream, still active, and have meaningful lyrics and concept albums. Instead, like some people have done in this thread, they get over looked in the category of Western music. Britney Spears is always used as an example of the epitome of all Western music, and it is henceforth downgraded by fans of Asian music. I like Asian pop, particularly Japanese and Korean. But to say Western music has no creativity when the Genre was first started in the West is confounding. The ground work for what the Japanese are currently doing, and continue to do was started by Americans, Canadians, and the Brits. Many musicians in J-pop even sound like their Western counterparts. Their is no difference in their music style other than the language. Their is so much creativity in both industries, and their is also garbage in them. Currently, the U.S. in particular has seen an influx of popular singers and musicians that are mediocre at best. Yet, this doesn't erase musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, The Pixies, Aretha Franklin, The Beetles, Led Zeppelin ... I can go on with talented artist's from the past. It also doesn't erase the many that actually put life and touch others with their clever lyrics like Pj Harvey and Imogen Heap.

The point of music is just like literature or any other artistic medium; it's not to be pitted against Country versus Country. It's supposed to be a uniter not a divider. I'm just sad that 7 years later threads like these still pop up now and again. For all the open mindedness that people have to branch out and listen to music in a language they don't understand, it's saddening that they tear down another; disregarding many talented musicians, mainstream or not, in the process.

[XFER]

Creativity? Western with no doubt.

I don't know very much about some underground japanese music (if there is any) but all I have heard is pretty much firmly rooted in pop, rock and urban. With few experimental and harder rocking music. I haven't come across many (if any) trip-hop asian artists for example, or freak folk from Asia? those things are not there, and inversally, the styles used in Asian markets, ARE in the western ussed in more or less quantity.

[Yum!Fruit_Salad!]

Originally Posted by emiko

seriously...I don't know about anyone else...but the lolita complex people have in Japan is just not for me. This is a perfect example of how the industries are the damn same lol

that's fine...I mean that's what you like. And I mean, if we're going to talk about like stuff we like, I'll say that I like artists to be artistic and whatever...but I also like artists that are really fun as well, and who also have fun music. This is one of the reasons why I love Koda. Her music isn't groundbreaking, her vocals aren't that great, she's not really an artist per say...but her music makes life more fun lol

I feel the same about Gaga. But that's just my sense of humor

What I had to learn about music and people listening to music is that...every artist contributes somehow to the industry by appealing to a certain group of people, because there are just too many differences...you can't please everyone, and also, you can't let down everyone.

Yea, the thought of an under-aged 15 or whatever year old with not yet fully developed body posing naked, topless, or skimpy is disgusting to me. I'd rather see a legal woman with a body up and shaking because it's more... right lol.

That's one reason why I don't dislike Kumi as much as I used to. Actaully, I sort of like her. She's confident in her body to show off and it's fine with me because she has the body to do so. Dunno about everyone but the thought of Kumi in something skimpy is bette for my brain then knowing photobooks of Morning Musume. girls in binikis are being made and sold. I'm 17 and just hate when like one fifty year old looks at me, gosh I couldn't imagine like 20-50 times that.

Same goes for Britney, I listen to her when I wanna shake my ass. Ayu and few others for something deeper.

Really,the music industry wouldn't be as entertaining or fun or great if either of the extremes and those inbetween were gone. Being that music is an universal thing, if not probably the most, there's something out there even for one person. Kinda astonding that something like music can satisfy every person's needs though if doesn't fulfill everyone the same way.

[Maemi]

Yeah, it's individual after all ^^

[reixminako]

I think it really depends on the artist. There is no one comparable to Ayu or Utada in the West (unless you're comparing their fashion sense, which doesn't have much to do with their music).

Generally, though, Western music is definitely much more creative and interesting. I've never heard of anyone like Pink Floyd coming out of Asia. With a few exceptions, music from Asia seems to be ridiculously naive and badly produced. Even more so than a lot of what's popular in America today (Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, etc).

[noidea]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

We can be crazy together lol.

Soulmate!

[Minttulatte]

I think European music is more creative than American or Japanese. <3 I live in Europe and I've listened to "our" music more. It's very nice and original. I, for myself, like the music from my own country, Finland, but also Brittish music has found its way to my hear (yet I should listen more of it). <3 But I do like japanese music a lot. Most of the artists that I'm listening to are very highly influenced from western music. But I really like that vibe. I also love sexy songs a lot. I even like these songs more than ballads. And I'm pretty much a R&B and hip hop person. :3 I love this kind of music. It's more like me. I've listened to R&B since my childhood so I guess it has some "familiar" feel to me.

And Lady GaGa... Well, I haven't listened to her songs so much but I do like the singles that I've heard. She has good songs and I don't really care about her sexual appeal. To me music is MUCH more important than the way the artists look like. Same goes for European and Japanese artists (Koda Kumi who I LOVE so much). I don't even take those overly sexual lyrics seriously. Most of the time I just lol at those but I still listen to those. It doesn't matter from where those songs are from. I just say "lolled" and keep listening to it. I've gotten over this over sexualized images/thingies/whatever it is appeal.

But sure, I still think that western music is nowadays a lot more creative than japanese (I don't listen to korean or chinese music, I'm not very interested so I won't be talking about Asian music as a whole) but I think that Hikki and Kuu can still be a lot more creative than Ayu to me nowadays but these are just examples. I should listen to a more underground music of Japan as well. Maybe I will change my mind.

And now I forgot what else I wanted to say. Well, I'll post again when I come up with something. But I gotta say that I LOVE this topic. <3

[ayumixfan]

Originally Posted by XFER1

Creativity? Western with no doubt.

I don't know very much about some underground japanese music (if there is any) but all I have heard is pretty much firmly rooted in pop, rock and urban. With few experimental and harder rocking music. I haven't come across many (if any) trip-hop asian artists for example, or freak folk from Asia? those things are not there, and inversally, the styles used in Asian markets, ARE in the western ussed in more or less quantity.

This is what i said XD ~! of course if we look at underground and stuff like that every country is going to be equally creative, but if we just focus on the mainstream this is how I felt too.

I just think it is weird how everyone can be so against the sex appeal. I mean it is just a look. Shouldn't the music be more important? Anyways I think it is better for a woman to be able to do what she wants... Personally if they want to use the image to sell they should be allowed to do it without discrimination... I mean lots of male singers ***** off their bodies to the public and get away with it. A tonne of asian singers just try to follow the cute look and try to sell. I think a sex appealed singer who makes music I can apperciate is worth a lot more than a cute singer who makes distasteful music to me... ( agrees with powwo pretty much. I personally believe european is the most creative)

I think lady gaga is an amazing person personally. She makes really good music and she knows how to grab the media's attention. Even if she dies out, I'm pretty sure we're all going to remember her for that image haha. She might've not brought a new image to the table, but she definitely took the sex-appeal to a new level LOL. she's pretty damn smart to me too. I think for sales in term of music, attention is the most important. As long as you have good music, people will buy it even if your image is bad. I think this is how madonna startd her career too. Very smart IMO : )!

[asmAyumi1992]

Asian Music (Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Malaysian, Thailand... But I never like Chinese songs)

[GRACE]

There comes a time when you realize that the mainstream, no matter what country you're in, sounds exactly the same. All American mainstream songs sound like every other mainstream American song, and all Japanese mainstream songs sound like every other Japanese mainstream song. When one reaches that point, you learn that creativity is limited to a select plethora of artists who control their careers versus the artists who's careers are controlled by their labels. You have your Britneys in America, your Hello!Project and Johnny's in Japan, where every single one of them sounds the same and they make basically the same kind of music with little to no originality. And then you have your creative people. They can be broken into two categories, massively successful or massively unsuccessful. You have your Ayumis and Madonnas on top because they were able to keep their music in line with the mainstream, but also include their own flare and spice to it, and then you have your indie artists who go completely out of left field, and usually aren't noticed because their music isn't considered "safe" and not played because the supposed lack of an audience.

Both Western and Eastern music industries have their fair share of people who are incredibly creative and massively talented, it's illogical to say that one is more creative then the other.

[koumori]

EXAMPLE:

Of a number one in Asia this year: RULE/Sparkle by Ayumi Hamasaki

Of a number one in Europe: Bonkers by Dizzee Rascal

Look both songs up.

Case closed.

[aqua_crystal]

Originally Posted by GRACE

There comes a time when you realize that the mainstream, no matter what country you're in, sounds exactly the same. All American mainstream songs sound like every other mainstream American song, and all Japanese mainstream songs sound like every other Japanese mainstream song. When one reaches that point, you learn that creativity is limited to a select plethora of artists who control their careers versus the artists who's careers are controlled by their labels. You have your Britneys in America, your Hello!Project and Johnny's in Japan, where every single one of them sounds the same and they make basically the same kind of music with little to no originality. And then you have your creative people. They can be broken into two categories, massively successful or massively unsuccessful. You have your Ayumis and Madonnas on top because they were able to keep their music in line with the mainstream, but also include their own flare and spice to it, and then you have your indie artists who go completely out of left field, and usually aren't noticed because their music isn't considered "safe" and not played because the supposed lack of an audience.

Both Western and Eastern music industries have their fair share of people who are incredibly creative and massively talented, it's illogical to say that one is more creative then the other.

I do agree with this but I think the poll is asking you to choose which mainstream sound you prefer over the other. Although, I do agree that “all American mainstream songs sound like every other mainstream American song, and all Japanese mainstream songs sound like every other Japanese mainstream song”, which mainstream sound do you prefer to hear, the Western one or the Asian? And, this may be only MY interpretation of the poll question, but I don’t think its asking you to choose which one is more creative, but which one’s creative style appeals to you the most, as a whole.

To tell you the truth, I only started listening to Asian music because I was bored of the very similar-sounding Western music that kept coming out. It was then when I was err... ‘convinced’ that Western music had really lost its touch. But, you know what? I was wrong. Western music HASN'T exactly lost its touch, I think I just needed a larger variety of artists/styles to listen to, which is why when I started listening to Asian music I thought it was much better at the time.

For the past couple of years I've been hooked to Asian music but I know a time will come when I'll be sick of that too. Of course there are a few Western singers/bands who, I believe, are very unique and creative Coldplay, Radiohead, Madonna just to name some. And I don’t think even the greatest of Asian artists could match up to them. Just like I believe that there are many Asian singers/ bands that are way better than many of the other Western artists that are quite popular today. So, I really don't know how to judge these two.... especially in terms of creativity since both are really creative in their own ways.

[Bad Wolf]

Originally Posted by Corybobory

This question is like asking 'who do you think is more creative- Westerners or Asians?' (which esentially it is, wince Westerners generally make western music and Asians make Asian music....)

Which is why I think this question is kind of ridiculous. Creativity has to do with the individual, and once you analyze it in a group of that size it's incomparable.

Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiis.

Though two of my favorite all time artists are Asian (namely Japanese) I still can't badmouth the entire Western music industry just for a lot of bad apples. I mean, take a look at Sufjan Stevens or St. Vincent, Murder by Death, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Placebo, The Dresden Dolls, Regina Spektor, Rammstein, OOMPH!, Blue Foundation, Portishead, Radiohead... they're all fantastic western acts whose Asian duplicates (or near cousins) I've yet to see. Of course I'm not saying there aren't Asian artists who dapple in the genres the bands above fall into, but I just haven't found them yet!

I still really strongly agree with Cory's point, though. This question is very vague because when you ask a question like this you have to take so many things into account: is the artist motivated by their own creative disposition to create music or are they a manufactured act who gets their songs and lyrics handed to them (effectively making them a mouthpiece for the songs and albums they churn out)? I'd say in terms of mainstream acts, Asian artists win hands down, but Asian artists also have innovators in their genre. Just look at Dir en grey. They started out as a visual kei act and broke away from it by their third album--hell even on their second album they were experimenting with their sound. Today they sound totally unrecognizable from any other Japanese metal/rock band that's on the scene, and you can't really find their western equivalent, either.

Also, the west brought us the geniuses known as Frank Zappa and Mike Patton. Gotta give some love for that, those men were/are phenomenal.

[Seiko Yua]

lyrically, i believe asian music takes the torch. but instrumentally, western music reigns supreme.

and since ayu is really the only asian singer i listen to now, i would say western music remains as the most creative to me.

[Namie♡TOP SECRET]

Asian, without a doubt
In UK, all the hit songs are all about sex and violence.
I think Koda, Namie, Ayumi, Ai & Ami should go into US market. They would be a breath of fresh air