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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)
Bored At Work
That's a great question. I hope the Asian artists can contribute a "unique and distinct cultural identity" or at least an interesting variation - how I dont know.
x
Thursday, May 09, 2002 at 13:48:33 (PDT)
oh yeah, i think the US is ready for azn entertainers...like someone said before, look at Jin...the azn freestyler who won 7 weeks in a row on BET's freestyle friday...the kid signed with ruff ryders...now, one of the things that helped him win the freestyle battle was his slanted eyes...when you have someone who can freestyle as good or better as most common american rappers, yet is not white or black, it has such a greater appeal. why do u think eminem sells so many records? because he's a white guy who arguably can flow better than anyone else out right now...
Funk Seoul Azn
Monday, April 22, 2002 at 20:06:23 (PDT)
What about Jin? A chinese-american respected freestyle battle veteran was featured recently on BET's 106 & Park for 7 straight weeks and was included in their hall of fame. He is now signed with Rough Riders. He was also recently on HOT 97
http://www.holla-front.com/
http://www.jinthamc.net
Gsxz
Sunday, April 14, 2002 at 21:54:30 (PDT)
curious,
The girl from KISS's music video "Because I'm a Girl" is Goo Hye Ju. I think that's her name--it's something like that.
Re: Curious
Sunday, April 14, 2002 at 20:43:49 (PDT)
If anyone remembers that show "Making the Band" there was an Asian named Bryan Chan guy who didn't quite make the band (later to be known as O-Town).
He later former his own band with one of the contestants who didn't make it and one of the contestants who did make it. This band is called LMNT.
Their website is www.lmntmusic.com.
They have a decent following and are about to release their first album.
Just a heads up. :)
Me
Friday, April 12, 2002 at 16:19:53 (PDT)
One question to ask is, does "Asian American" music have a unique and distinct cultural identity. Rap, Hip hop, and latin pop all have that. Rap & Hip hop have unique roots in urban American. Latin Pop has the various South American Music style influence.
But are there Asian American artists out there who are bring something different to the table? The way rap, hip hop, and latin pop opened new genre's of American Pop music? Without that type of distinction, what's the difference b/w KAI and BoyzIIMen? or Coco and Britney?; beside the color of their skin? If their going to make the same music, who's going to get the contract? The one that fits the record companies formula from past success.
The music has to have new appeal, otherwise we as Asian Americans just don't have as much buying power to propell the producers to invest in artists just for our 4% of the population.
It's just going to take time, and a tremedous talent who can bring something new to the pop scene to make that leap in the the upper echelon of Pop Music.
Bored At Work
bertfood@hotmail.com
Friday, April 12, 2002 at 15:55:19 (PDT)
Two Asian Pop Stars:
Kristen Sa and Coco Lee.
Asian
Friday, April 12, 2002 at 15:46:33 (PDT)
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