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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, 05:57:27 PM)
I've been listening to Japanese (and other countries) rock/pop music for several years, and I wish Asian rock bands would "break into the scene" in the US. Why don't they? I don't know what the radio stations play on the coasts, since I live in the Midwest, but there is no exposure of Asian musicians up here, at least I've never heard any myself. I let my friends listen to my cds, and they are usually impressed. I think Americans don't want to listen to music if it's not in English, yet other countries have been fans of American and Brit groups forever. What's up with that? It's time to reverse that trend, if you ask me. I can't understand Japanese, but I don't care, I like the music anyway, even though some of it is "fluffy," as someone stated. Sometimes, fluff is better in another language. :) By the way, I saw Puffy Amiyumi in concert last night, and I had a blast! I brought my 15 year old son, and he loved it, too. And I'm taking him to Cornelius next month, too.
(And I'm STILL cryin' over P5.)
j-music diggin' WF
Wednesday, July 17, 2002 at 10:53:45 (PDT)
Why do you guys want there to be a Chow Yun Fat or an Ichiro in music? Don't get it.
Vince
Wednesday, July 17, 2002 at 04:11:40 (PDT)
Anyone know of names of good Asian hip hop. I have seen some really good artists on tv but i can't read the characters to go buy the music. If anyone knows, hit me up!
Tea
teazemetea@yahoo.com
Tuesday, July 16, 2002 at 16:19:35 (PDT)
man jin your the s*** now and emenim watch out. yall should freestyle together. man i aint asian or nothin you kno i aint on your balls but yall asian rappers is comingup well jin is. i aint black im samoan if thats what your thinkin. you comin up jin. stay up playa.
Dan Diggah
and
Labor
krazee samoan
krazeesamoan@hotmail.com
Sunday, July 14, 2002 at 15:43:53 (PDT)
The U.S has been ready for a AA wether it is a solo act or a group. However many of the labels out their have turned there backs on AA because the money is not there. If only they would give AA a chance to prove themselves. I believe real soon we will start to see a lot more AA in the music scence even if it is behind the scences.
Ivyy
Tuesday, July 09, 2002 at 23:35:32 (PDT)
to bitch susan a.k.a. moodangbulae or moodybooty, you be hating. screw you, 'cause azn peepz and singers got it all. you don't know nothing 'cause you ain't azn! you just jealous 'cuz azn girls are beautiful and gorgeous and have all the moves to dance and fight, unlike yourself. sarah michelle gellar wouold get her ass kicked by zhang ziyi, not being a pain in the neck, but that is the truth. to TSJ or whatever your initials are, you ain't seen nothing yet. just 'cause we azn gals don't be showing ourselves like the white gals and aren't easy to get, doesn't mean you gotta hate! the greatest sigers in this world ain't white anyways!! britney and them would be using their bodies to sell for money and they ain't got no talent! oh and i did mean to burst your bubble, buddy! shoo now!
bRiNgItOn!!
Wednesday, July 03, 2002 at 13:29:21 (PDT)
does anyone know the name os the girl in "because i'm a girl?" and where on the internet to find her?
i heard her name was goo hye ju, buti tried looking everywhere and nothing worked!!!! e-mail me if you know, okay!!!thanks!
naieya
bgsb2000rulez@yahoo.com
Saturday, June 29, 2002 at 12:52:24 (PDT)
"Japanese Rock bands like Glay, L'Arc en Ciel, Luna Sea and Hide produce much better music than Linkin Park."
Please. Glay, L'Arc, and Luna Sea are not rock, just fluffy pop. Hide is unfortunately dead. If you want to hear real Japanese hard rock listen to Loudness, the High-Lows, Anthem, Concerto Moon, or some old X-Japan.
"Think Steve Vai and Joe Satriani are guitar gods, well think again! Both of them said they were no match for Tak Matsumoto, who is regarded as Asia's most impressive rock guitarist."
Be serious. I'm sure they were just trying to humor the interviewer. Matsumoto plays in B'z, and half the time the keyboards are so prominent you don't even notice the guitar. If you want a Japanese guitar hero try Loudness's Akira Takasaki.
Still, Utada Hikary probably represents a much better opportunity for cracking the US market than any Asian rock bands.
Desslar
Tuesday, June 25, 2002 at 08:41:55 (PDT)
Check out this new artist: www.mp3.com/moulann
DJPete
Tuesday, June 25, 2002 at 07:39:30 (PDT)
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