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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
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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?
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Discussions posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:57:29 PM)
what happened to coco lee? she was suppose to be the asian britney spears? I believe Tommy Mottola's group was behind her first album. anybody know what is she doing now?
curious
Thursday, April 11, 2002 at 14:49:33 (PDT)
Name, shnames but Japan has already a wave of eclectic modern musical acts out there: DJ Honda, Pizzicato 5, United Future Organization, Towa Tei (formerly of Dee-Lite), Cibo Matto, Shonen Knife, Fantastic Plastic Machine, Cornelius, and the best for last, DJ Muthafucking Krush.
Also Filipino Americans have been and are still holding down with the turtables in real hip hop: Invisibl Skratch Piklz, the Beat Junkies, the Neptunes.
word
Thursday, April 11, 2002 at 00:07:19 (PDT)
Linkin Park is the best band!
Mr.Son
Wednesday, April 10, 2002 at 17:04:04 (PDT)
Hey Guy! i've recently seen the music video KISS - because i'm a gir; and was curious of the pretty girl in the video. If anyone knows please email me.
curious
Tuesday, April 09, 2002 at 13:52:04 (PDT)
didn't utada hikaru? or hamazaki ayumi team up with foxy brown for a track on the rush hour 2 soundtrack? she is still not well known here, but she has been collaborating with big names. i also think she did something with eve.......
(^_^)
Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 04:59:24 (PST)
Michelle Branch is part indonesian
dude
Monday, March 18, 2002 at 21:41:40 (PST)
You should check out Asian Man Records...not all of the bands on the label are Asian, but the guy who runs it is, and is in a band of his own as well...promotes "peace and unity", good positive stuff. If you like punk and ska it's definitely worth a look.
www.asianmanrecords.com
Half Asian Heather
Monday, March 18, 2002 at 15:09:12 (PST)
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