|
|
|
|
|
GOLDSEA |
ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
IS THE U.S. READY FOR ASIAN AMERICAN POP STARS?
ime was when we saw literary fame or Hollywood stardom as the final frontier for Asian acceptance in the U.S. More recently the frontier shifted to pro sports and national politics.
A year into the 21st Century we see Asian lights going on in the literary world, Hollywood and pro sports. We even see Asian Americans in two cabinet posts. But one arena remains starkly devoid of Asian stars -- the pop music scene.
James Iha, Smashing Pumpkins guitarist/backup vocals & solo recording artist
|
Classical stars like Yo-Yo Ma, Seiji Ozawa and Vanessa Mae are old news. We've noted Japanese imports like Shonen Knife, Keiko Matsui and Pizzicato Five. We've marveled at the unlikely hit "Sukiyaki". Many of us have spotted James Iha in Smashing Pumpkins and Jeff Lin in Harvey Danger, or maybe even heard of Asian American bands like Seam and Versus.
But where is pop music's Chow Yun-Fat, Ichiro, Chang-rae Lee, Norman Mineta?
One indication of our lack of presence in pop music is the fact that Ming-Na and husband Eric Zee have even financed a record label (Innovazian) in hopes of promoting an Asian American pop/R&B boy group -- a sort of private Head Start program for pop music. Few of us even know its name (At Last). Its first CD sold all of 3,000 copies.
Those of a paranoid or cynical bent will postulate conspiracies among racist, short-sighted heads of major record labels. The sociologically inclined will see pop music as the inner sanctum of American culture and Asians as the perpetual outsiders.
But for purposes of this page, put on your music critic/historian hat and prognosticate the most likely path by which an Asian star will ascend to the American pop firmament. Will it be a Canto-Pop, J-Pop or K-Pop star storming the U.S. via the import route? Will it be a surprise chart-topper by an AA artist (say James Iha with another, more successful solo album)? Or will there be a frontal assault by a wave of AA groups/artists currently playing the club and auditorium circuits?
This interactive article is closed to new input.
Discussions posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
CONTACT US
|
ADVERTISING INFO
© 1996-2013 Asian Media Group Inc
No part of the contents of this site may be reproduced without prior written permission.
|
|
|
|
WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:57:31 PM)
One of the hottest bands out right now, Linkin Park has two Asian looking guys...believe at least hapa with a last name like Shinoda.
Tman
Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 08:44:43 (PST)
Park ji yoon , korean popstar.
SO i heard something about a duet with willa ford?That's good, cause park ji yoon is hotter, whiter(from my chinese traditional view on women,it is better *dont ask about it*I'm FOB*In china girl supposed to be white, men tanned, you un?), and also taller!
She also can dance.
Is there a way that they can discover chinese,korean,japanese pop instead of us singing in their language?I think that would be better, cause those cocky bastards in Entertainment Tonight would be saying American influence has gone all the way to asia,and firing subliminal messages saying "we(caucasians) are the best" if we sang in their language.
shosho
Tuesday, January 29, 2002 at 17:39:49 (PST)
guppieluv,
that's a good idea.He's tall, like ALL chinese people!lol i obcess over that.
But yah he would be a good person if was to sing english...but i dont want him to....How bout get wongfaye 5'8 gigi leung 5'10 , kelly 5'8 to go sing too?Also victor chen 6'3. *hmm singing is not about height!*
If he did, it would seem to american and have no taiwan feel you lo?
We will also need tall chinese(hongkong and taiwan also) to sing cause they deformed kung fu men have made a bad image toward us.
Most of the actors and singers who dont know kungfu are tall though, like mr.Chow yun fat(he no lo kung fu).
goodidea
Tuesday, January 29, 2002 at 17:26:23 (PST)
Lee Hom Wang
If somebody else is gonna try and do a take on the asian american/american pop scene in the near future, it might be lee hom wang. he's abc, speaks perfect english, writes and plays his own music (he even has a bachelor's and master's in music, hello!), is majorly good looking, and has the backing of sony music (the same record company as coco lee). as long as he can hone a distinctly asian AND american sound, he might have a fair chance at really being the crossover wonder that we've been waiting for.
guppieluv
Tuesday, January 29, 2002 at 00:32:25 (PST)
Chinese Girl:
Are you talking about this video:
mms://211.39.33.123/gmb/free/kiss300k.asf ?
You can download it for free from the above link to check it out. I love this video.
AM
Tuesday, January 15, 2002 at 14:02:15 (PST)
Can Asians dance well enough NOT to get laughed at?
Well, I went to the Apollo this past summer and there was a part where audiance members were brought up on stage to form a Soul Train line.
Included were some Japanese tourist and well...
The older matronly lady who couldn't keep the beat to save her life, got the highest applause because she was laughing and having a good time and knew she couldn't dance, but participated anyway.
Now, the trendy younger one with the frizzed afro-puffs and tight pants got up there did her thing and though she could dance better than the older lady, she got considerably less applause and even some boos because, well, I guess she thought she was actually doing something up there.
I couldn't hate on her because she was up there doing her thang and that's more than I would have the guts to do, especially at the Apollo.
I just hope that if an Asian artist CANNOT dance, that the producers don't front them like they can. They should realize an artist limitations and work with what's there.
Susan aka Moodangbulae
moodangbulae@yahoo.com
Monday, January 14, 2002 at 12:14:48 (PST)
NEWEST COMMENTS |
EARLIER COMMENTS
|