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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?
This interactive article is closed to new input.
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, 05:57:26 PM)
Lol do you honestly think americans will accept Asian popstars? I really dont. I lived in Japan half my life then I came to America in the 80's. I spend alot of my summer vacations in Japan and I must tell you, asian pop culture is no comparison to American pop culture. American influence in pop in asian is pretty evident. Everyone knows the names Madonna, and Michael Jackson, but Asian pop singers are virtually non existant to Americans. You ask any non asian american to name three asian singers, and 97 out of 100 will not know not a single one.
regina
Wednesday, July 31, 2002 at 16:22:29 (PDT)
I'm not even ready for pop, regardless of what race the stars are. Down with cheese! :-)
MJK
Monday, July 29, 2002 at 19:10:07 (PDT)
Hey,YellowDragon21,
I live in Chitown also...can you tell me what radio stations play asiapop?? I just cant find any...email me below or post
GreenHorn
greenhorntrucker@yahoo.com
Sunday, July 28, 2002 at 15:29:42 (PDT)
Perhaps the only explanation why Asian Americans lack representation in the US music industry is because we are still outnumbered by the other ethnicities, such as Blacks or Hispanics or Whites. Black Americans can relate to the famous Black artists because they are being represented, and as well as their culture. On the other hand, we as Asian Americans still have to work on unity and then we can fully support those Asian American artists that deserve recognition (for instance, Kai, Azn Dreamers, Devotion, One Voice). Most Asians in the US are members of the first-generation, but I do see a trend of fast growth of second-generation that will most likely push our chances to be represented. I guess what I'm trying to say is that before other Americans can actually admire an Asian American artist, he or she requires our support.
arbel
ticklemeromeo@yahoo.com
Friday, July 26, 2002 at 14:35:23 (PDT)
yea, ive heard of regine velasquez and a couple of her songs. Powerful voice.She could really hit the high notes. She's more like Celine Dion, good at ballads.
I've even seen her performed a duet with Mandy Moore at the 2002 Asian Music Awards and of course, she sings better than Mandy.
And I love listening to Jackie Cheung, he's got such a voice filled with passion.
A-Mei is kinda mediocre, but flamboyant.
And have you heard of Mindy Quah???another female singer from taiwan who is not so famous but has a beautiful voice for ballads.
Jin
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 20:56:10 (PDT)
Say yes to Korean Pop!
WOW you seen the sexy girls doing the sexy floor dancing and the R&B music with the tall korean ladies and the ass shaking + the excellent choreographed dancing!! hehe probably didnt make sense what I just said but...
Koreans have such great music videos that are way better and way more expensive then american ones... with good special effects, nice cameras, and the dancing of Michu (lee jung Hyun) and sung in shik (park ji yoon) are so nice and sexy that its wonderful!!! Now the males are also very good... yep... kill woman with their looks (and talent) hehehe say Yes to Korean pop! woo! love it! so nice.
helloadashf
Sunday, July 21, 2002 at 12:51:02 (PDT)
Still, Utada Hikary probably represents a much better opportunity for cracking the US market than any Asian rock bands.
* Utada Hikaru doesnt have the right stuff to crack the US market, my friend. She hasnt got that "diva" look and charisma,she sounds "simple" and she is "usual" and "ordinary".There are many real divas with soul and the right voice,you just have to look further,away from East Asia. Look at the Phlippines (Regine Velasquez) and Indonesia (Anggun) and etc.These are whom I call real Asian divas.
Me19
Saturday, July 20, 2002 at 18:06:21 (PDT)
If given a chance, Regine Velasquez sure can make it to the International scene. Her voice has been admired by many International singers.
kc
Saturday, July 20, 2002 at 01:14:05 (PDT)
good jpns hiphop/soul:
king ghidora
zeebra
dragon ash
sugar soul
m-flo
misia
God of Asia
Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 15:50:22 (PDT)
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