So How Can K-Pop Make It In The US?

I've talked a lot about why artists from Korea and Japan don't seem to make it.  I've also discussed what the new Korean wave is doing wrong.  I've made 'what I would of done' comments.  Last weekend some of my friends and I discussed what it takes to make it in the US market.  I believe there are some key factors that would be helpful for K-Pop artists to make it.

The first thing we need to get into our heads as idol fans is this is the American market.  If you make it here, you'll make it anywhere.  Because of that, big acts after conquering their own market set their sights here.  While I do think these artists want to do it, I question whether they or their management are willing to go all in.


It Takes Time to Make a Hit:
There are those songs that hit hard and fast.  Britney Spears, I assume I don't actually remember when she debut, came out with instance success.  You'll also see that with artists that have already made a name for themselves.  But, if you are new on the scene, even if you have a hit-worthy track, might have to sit awhile and wait.

 

If you don't make it right out of the gate doesn't mean you don't have what it takes.  Touring helps create a buzz.  Pumped Up Kicks was on the New Moon Soundtrack, but it didn't become a sensation until 2011. This is a problem for Asian artists because in order to promote themselves they might need to sacrifice guaranteed success back home.  We know from Rain, BoA, Akanishi Jin, Utada, Wonder Girls' first attempt, and plenty other artists that just because you come in with good producers and a record label doesn't mean a thing.  Nicki Minj first couple of singles didn't catch my attention.  I discovered her when Super Bass' music video was trending on YouTube and my friends were sharing it on Facebook.  She has been in the music scene since 2007.

The Asian Thing:
I myself have pondered if this is a problem or not.  It is obvious that Asian Americans aren't as common as Anglo-Saxon, Black, and Hispanic artists.  The Far East Movement has done pretty well with a number one hit and touring with artists like Lady GaGa.  Then I considered one of my favorite artists: M.I.A.

It is not like there is a significant Sri Lankan Tamil population in the United States.  Heck, I bet you there are more people in the states who couldn't point to it on a map.  British artists, white or black, aren't successful here.  I think it is a possible barrier to be Asian or from a foreign country, but it doesn't mean it is impossible.

Covering the Basics:
Good things to have if you want to be a hit: cool concept, good music, and talent.  Adele isn't what is generally considered beautiful but she is a huge star.  Why?  She is an amazing singer and she shows it off.  She also has amazing songs.  Ke$ha isn't the best singer, but she writes her own music and has a clear and attention-grabbing concept.  If you are able to get a hit these are the things you need for people to stick around.  If they find out they don't like any of your other music they're aren't going to wait around for long.

The two things I'm not too worried about is abilities.  2NE1 also has a good concept, but beware of being called Asian Lady GaGas.  The thing is that Americans love to hear talent, so show it off!  Why was Whitney Houston so popular?  She could sing her butt off and even after all the scandals people still wanted her to succeed because she was talented.

The Industry Differences: 
Here is where I see the majority of the problems coming from, and I think I've mentioned them.  Lady GaGa writes her own music.  Ke$ha writes her own music.  Adele writes her own music.  Katy Perry writes her own music.  Superstars in the US market tend to contribute in a major way to their music.  They may not write all of it or come up with the instrumental, but they help.  It helps provide a genuine portrayal of the artist.  [It also means that they are talented which is why people will look past poor vocals.]  I'm not saying they need to play a hand, but the fact that they are just company puppets will be said and hurt their reputation.

Other aspects of the K-Pop Idol Industry which will promote that 'fake' image is the plastic surgery and how thin the girls are.  Both of those things are MAJOR turn offs for myself.  I prefer to see SNSD wearing more clothes to hide how skinny they are because I think it is not sexy and gross.  Rumors go flying around all the time about how one Hollywood star may be anorexic.  Personally, SNSD should gain some weight in order to not be scary thin or else here comes 'they aren't real women' claims.

Ever heard of Jennifer Grey?  She was a film star in the '80s; she was in films like Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Dirty Dancing.  What do you think killed her career?  One nose job.  I don't even like her anymore and I wasn't alive back then (I did love her movies before the nose incident).  There isn't much they can do now about past operations.  The best they can do is try to down play it or if it does come out be honest about what they did do to extinguish false rumors.


I think BoA had what it took to make it but her music was only okay and mostly just dance songs.  She also ran back to Japan when sales weren't that good.  Utada had a better shot talent wise.  I really liked her music video for her debut single, but a couple of the lyrics were suspect.  Utada at least tried harder.  She did see the most success in my opinion.  [I discovered Utada during her American stint.]  Akanishi is releasing the same type of music BoA tried, so he won't go anywhere.  However, like Utada, I feel he is more dedicated than BoA.

Let's Compare this to the top female artists at the moment:

Notice how all of the major female artists are solo acts.

AKB48 Scandals & SNSD's TV Debut

I didn't first hear about the firing of Hirajima Natsumi (B) and Yonezawa Rumi (K) in my usual fashion through my blogroll.  I was attending a drinking party with my friends who are also studying Japanese and then some our friends from Japan.  One of the Japanese girls pointed to my Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 poster and said that she was graduating, along with Yonezawa.  She added that there was a scandal because someone hacked Yonezawa's private twitter account.  I was surprised of course.  In retrospect, if you consider how popular AKB48 is, it is expected that people will try to dig up dirt. Luckily the popular ones are so busy and overworked I doubt they have the time or the energy.  If not then they are probably doing their best to hide it, like sneaking into boy's apartments through the recycling bins and such.  [That is a reference to Kago Ai.]

It didn't really hit me how upset I was until I watched a subbed episode of Bimyo~.  Nacchan appeared and it hurt so much.  Yonezawa was only on my radar because of the fashion photos she would upload.  I've always thought she was pretty.  I've always thought that AKB48's management does a poor job of promoting the girls through photobooks.  I guess it is because I got into Japanese idols through Morning Musume who, especially for certain members, would release quite a few.  Pretty much every member would release one at some point.  Even now when they aren't as popular they still release DVDs and photobooks.  I was pleased when I saw that she got one.  I'm not too upset by Yonezawa.  I do hope she tries to continue in entertainment or maybe be a charisma model.  My hopes for Nacchan are different.  I would want to see her come back, ignoring the fact that she does not have potential in rising in ranks.  I think she is suited for being an idol.  She looks cheerful, even in the photos that got her in trouble.  I'm only bringing that up because it is evidence to support that she isn't putting up a fake front.  There is also a question of WH7.  She is an founding member, 1st generation, and she had a consistently high ranking in the Undergirls.  She also has a hot bod.  I adore her thighs.  [Not that I stare at their thighs. . . someone brought it up in a forum.]

Warning, the following section I go Kingsley on you guys.

『  I hate whoever did this!  I don't care about them dating, just like how I don't give a fig about Arashi members dating and having tons of sex *nino *cough *cough.  I always looked at is a rule that, wrong or not, was something you had to follow.  I'm not upset with either one.  I kind of interested in hearing about them dating.  What kind of guy do they really like.  I heard the suspected boyfriend of Nacchan goes to Keio University (one of my Japanese friends has a friend who is friends with the guy.)  I officially hate this rule!  It sucks massive, hairy BALLS.  

Screw those stupid wota who are upset about this.  You guys are a bunch of pussies who can't get a girlfriend!  Go back and hide in your rooms with the rest of the leeches.  You are absurd!  Oh your precious idol touched a person of the opposite sex, does that make your penis recoil?  If I caught anyone of you trying to burn merchandise of Nacchan I will steal it from you (because I totally will take it if you don't want it anymore) and start cussing at you in English which you will hate because a lot of Japanese people have a fear of trying to FAIL at speaking in English.  Any sensible human being would get over it!  


I thought this was a cultural thing.  I've read women like Sho (Arashi) because he doesn't have many scandals.  THIS ISN'T.  I asked my Japanese friends and they don't care.  They only think guys would care.  I sometimes day dream about what if I ended up dating an idol, do you see me crying like a spoiled prat who never got disciplined in his life and gets the sh*t kicked out of him for being a prat.  I'm not going to tell you to die because I think no one should go that far, but I hope someone soccer punches your junk.  』


Okay, that felt good.  I don't care that much about Nacchan personally, but I don't think it is fair.  You may of just ruined her career and now she is going to get all this hate for NO GOOD REASON.  The boy bands get off for worse rumors, but not the girls.





SNSD has made the full jump into promoting themselves in the US market.  I'm not sure about starting off with an album, especially since it is in Korean.  Let's also consider the fact that the English lyrics are  lame.  I don't know who is in charge of their management, but I doubt they are American.  Just because you add a rapper doesn't make it any better, plus he isn't performing with you and it is only in the remix.  You are just adding to the things against you.  Did Utada or BoA start off with a song from Asia and switch it up with some crappy lyrics in English.  NO.  They had famous producers helping them too.


I am not rooting for them to fail.  I don't think AKB48 stands a chance either.  SNSD has a better shot considering how strong their English is.  They perform well too.  How do US artists try to make it.  They release an original single.  Ke$ha released her music video for Tick Tock for free on iTunes for a week.  If they put their first single for free on iTunes that could produce some buzz.  They also need to work on their image.  I still think they look a bit like Korean barbies.  You'll be hearing that most of them are too skinny.  It kind of freaks me out.  They should consider popular girl groups, and failed ones, that originated in the states.  My first memories of the Pussycat Dolls was their music video.  I knew Danity Kane from a reality TV show where they went through a similar process.  I preferred, and      supported, Danity Kane more because I liked the members and knew who they were as people.  How do you get rid of a plastic image is to let fans in.  Release a music video, do more interviews, put behind the scenes stuff online.

I do think Sasshi looks cute in this outfit.

Now, quite a few AKB members are getting solo singles.  I was happily surprised when I heard multiple labels were requesting for a solo from Sashihara Rino (A).  I don't think she has the strongest vocals, but from what I've seen from her I don't think she is half bad.  I thought her rendition of Dear J had a lot of personality to it.  I was quite disappointed when I saw clips of her performing the single.  I bet, since she is a wota, that she is enjoying it.  I don't believe it is right for her character.  She has this goofy, humble, girl-next-door thing going for her.  It is too Mayuyu for her image.  I would of rather had seen her do something playful to go with her fail character.

Mina's K-Pop Hottie Picks (Girls Edition)

Since I'm still a noob when it comes to K-Pop I've yet to find a variety show to watch with English subtitles so that I can get to know the personalities of the various idols.  Therefore, what I'm going to do is  pick out who I find the most attractive of each group.  I will also provide a runner-up.  I'll remind you guys, like my wifey/BFF post this is based on my personal preferences.  I'm not saying any one member is definitely better than the rest because beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  I thought I would do something fun in between my serious posts, plus I don't have too much time to spare today.  I'm not including explanations because this is based on looks.

Girls Generation (SNSD) - Sunny
Runner Up: Taeyeon

KARA - Jung Nicole
Runner Up: Han Seung Yeon

F(x) - Sulli
Runner Up: Amber

4Minute - Jihyun
Runner Up: Jiyoon

Chocolat - Melanie
Runner Up: Juliane

2NE1 - Minzy
Runner Up: CL

Wonder Girls - Sohee
Runner Up: Yubin

T-ara - Jiyeon
Runner Up: Boram

Brown Eyed Girls - Narsha
Runner Up: Gain

Miss A - Suzy
Runner Up: Min

Nine Muses - Hyemi
Runner Up: Kyungri

SunnyHill - Seung Ah
Runner Up: Ju Bi

Differences Between Female Japanese and Korean Idols

I'm doing a little disclaimer right off the bat because this went from one of my normal opinion pieces as a continuation of a topic related to my previous post to something bigger than I expected.  Therefore I decided I'm going to try to make this as manageable as possible for you guys.  I know when there is a lot of text thrown at me I tend to skim or get the gist of it.  I took a lot of time writing this, so I hope people do read it all and enjoy it.  [Let me know in the comments your thoughts on it, including if you would like to see more of these.]  WARNING: the headers for each section aren't concrete so you if you want to skip parts you might want to skim at least the section before.   

~Introduction~

While I was looking for numbers and articles to determine if Kara did in fact surpass SNSD in Japan I was surprised by a couple of articles I found.  Now these weren't from K-Pop focused blogs mind you which made their arguments harder to ignore.  [I'm throwing in pictures to jazz things up and stimulate comparison.]

Before I continue further I would like to clarify that I do not think J-Pop or K-Pop is better.  (Hey, I've been listening to Lovey Dovey basically on repeat for weeks now.)  It was only in the last couple of years that I got into K-Pop, while I started my fascination with J-Pop in middle school.  This blog may look like it is only about J-Pop, but I think my loyal readers have noticed the shift.  Plus, I'm just too lazy to work on a new banner especially since I haven't downloaded photoshop onto my new computer.  (I should start thinking on who to feature because before it was just about both Hello Project and AKB48 now I like Korean and Japanese boy bands and female units.)

~'Biased' Articles Comparing K-Pop and J-Pop Critiques~  

While reading these articles I was frustrated with their narrow view of K-Pop and J-Pop.  Since I just read through them both and am sufficiently pissed off at what was said I'll do this point by point to keep things organized and easy to follow.  Don't fret, quotes will be provides as well as links to the originals.  I don't disagree with all that was stated, and I will get into the flaws of J-Pop.  The majority of the flaws stem from the idol sect of the Japanese industry, which is where I believe there writers were looking at for comparison.  [I will not even read the comment section for this post, but I noticed there is a handful.] 

Anti-Hallyu Wave Protests

The Atlantic on September 13th, 2011 posted How Korean Pop Conquered Japan.  The writer started to set the stage by discussing the protests that were spurred by the firing of Sousuke Takaoka, a famous actor and hottie.  [He is the blonde yankee from the Crows Zero films.]  Fuji TV has come under fire for airing a lot of content from Korea.  I asked my Japanese friends from Tokyo who are studying abroad at my university about K-Pop in Japan.  Neither are really interested in K-Pop but say a lot of women like it.  They brought up Fuji TV on their own in this conversation saying that it seemed like it was pushing Korean culture.  They also thought that the President might be part Korean, or something along those lines.  When I heard about these protests I thought it was a bit of an over-reaction.  I didn't really pay attention to the action which initiated the conflict.  All I was aware of was that some actor tweeted about Fuji TV and protests followed.  Now that I know who the actor is I'm a bit more supportive because he has been in a lot of films that I've enjoyed and I'm apparently an extremely shallow person.  I've also started to reconsider the backlash because when I compare people's dislike of Fox News or MSNBC for being biased but hide under the claim of being news networks.  I don't think foreign media or influences should be barred from Japan, but why is it only one network?  Plus, if people are claiming similar things that are said about Fox News maybe there is a valid argument.  I need to watch Fuji TV on a regular basis to give a final verdict, but I'm now more on the fence.  Another way of thinking about it is the Occupy Movement.  I believe a majority of people, not just in the United States, agree with the main point about money in government and wall street.  It is just we see more radical point of views or actions at the protests because how many people can take the time out of their day to protest.  I know I'm super busy.  When there were the huge recall protests in Madison I could only go to one or two on the weekend during the entire debacle.

I'm just skipping over the whole issue whether Japan rejects foreign influences or not.  I might pick it up at another time, but I want to stay a bit more on topic.  I'm also not going to discuss whether Japan is stuck and bland when it comes to Pop music.  I'm just doing a comparison of mainstream, female, pop artists from Japan and Korea. 

Sex Appeal in both Genres

"Beyond straight-up sex appeal, K-Pop groups look and act like real adults, whereas J-Pop outfits often emphasize adolescent cuteness."

WTF!  Are we talking about the idol genre or POP genre!  And even then have you followed K-Pop?  One of the examples is what happen to T-ara when entering the Japanese market.

"K-Pop unit T-ara's 2009 video for the song "Bo Peep Bo Peep" centered around a member of the girl group going to a club and hooking up with a guy in the bathroom, an elevator, and his apartment. The Japanese clip, in advance of T-ara's official Japanese debut later this month, finds the members wearing cat ears and playing un-erotically with one another: the sexuality of the original replaced with Hello-Kitty-approved cuteness."

If I ignore all other J-Pop artists and look only at Japanese idols, and even then cut out groups like SCANDAL, Fairies, Happiness, Perfume, SDN48, and other idol groups then yes we can make a general rule that Japanese pop is more cutesy and youth-orientated than Korean Pop.  BUT, we would also have to look over the fact that the T-ara was doing the cat girl thing in Korea and it was not introduced in Japan as it suggests.  We would also look over the fact that AKB48's PV which also had cat girl scenes was also sexual.  I've heard both T-ara and AKB48's videos being criticized by foreigners like myself for being too sexual.  Even if we did ignore T-ara's PV versus MV issue, they were promoted pretty much the same.  Their live performances are pretty much identical.  The key differences are that they wear cat ears more frequently in Japan and the clothing tends to be more demure.  However, why is having hyper-sexual presentation a good thing?  Japan does it too.  I bashed SDN48 for it.  It is one of the turn offs to Koda Kumi I have.  I'm saying it is not uncommon for girl groups to be cutesy in Korea, nor is it for them to be sexy in Japan.  It is just more common to see idol groups sporting school uniforms and focusing more on romance than sex.  However the subject of sex is not taboo when in relation to youth and uniforms.  The picture is the cover of a single released in 1985 by an idol group.  [Here is a hint: the song was likely written by someone who had to write the lyrics to about 200 songs this last year.]  The song talks about a girl with a bad reputation but is actually a virgin.  She wants to have sex, but she is fighting off her boyfriend or potential sex partner saying she doesn't want to do it at the moment.  I didn't read all the lyrics so it is either she wants to wait for a good moment to do it or she doesn't like the location.  The whole song is about sex.  (AKB48's Virgin Love is similar but focuses more on reputation and seeing virginity in a certain light.  AKB48 also released a single about wanting to experience sex and be an adult but their uniform symbolizing society gets in the way.)

Sexuality Myth Examples

"Cool and Sexy" / "Innocent and Happy" Myth Examples:






Being Adult vs. Youthful

Let's consider the fact that they spend a lot of time in their school uniforms so it is a symbol of their youth.  I don't think it is absurd to include a major symbol when on the subject.  Just how I would not consider it odd for Americans to have a song which is set or includes school in some manner.  I would think it odd if it wasn't used at all.  K-Pop groups, like T-ara, have worn school uniforms.  Western pop have also included it. . . Britney Spears *cough *cough.

Does Perfume not seem 'real adult' enough for you?  We should also take into perspective what is the age of the members.  Now, SDN48 is planning on doing a single in school uniforms.  I would consider that a valid example because the members are adults.  However, idol groups whom the majority of their members are still in high school or below I consider have a legitimate reason for wearing uniforms.

"The most popular Japanese act of the moment, AKB48, is a collection of 48 singers usually wearing high-school uniforms while behaving like 15-year-old girls."

They are portraying their age.  It is the same thing as 16-year-old Britney Spears wearing a uniform and dancing around a school building singing about young love.  The main controversy was that she showed off her midriff.  There are members of AKB48 who have graduated from high school, so that is where the clarification of 'majority' comes from.  One way they've gotten around it is that Shinoda Mariko, who is in her 20s, portrays a teacher.  The problem with AKB48 is that part of their main concept is that their uniforms are based on school uniforms.  If it makes you feel better they do have a graduation age, but then I've criticized that because it means the girls have a shelf-life.  The reason AKB48 has the school uniforms is because they are suppose to reflect a classroom.  The majority of members are 15 and older, but a lot of them joined at a younger age.  For example, Manami Oku (who has graduated to focus on her studies) joined when she was 10.  Are you suggesting that you would like members under the age of 18, as young as 10, to act, dress, dance, and sing like an adult?  I think a lot of people would feel uncomfortable with watching Manami Oku trying to hook up with guys at a club.  A more relevant example is Matsui Jurina of SKE48 who is 14.  The best way to handle a group with a variety of ages is to round down instead of up so no one accuses you of child pornography.  [I used AKB48 as my main Japanese example because they are the most often picked as a comparison in these types of argument.]

K-Pop also has groups that span a range of ages, like Chocolat.  Chocolat has two members who are 14 then members who are 18, 20, and 22.  They have yet to do a music video like Hyuna or Koda Kumi because they have 14-year olds.  You will also notice them dressing their age, and even the older members dressed a bit younger.  I've read comments from people who think they dance to provocatively considering there are members who are so young.  Personally I get the point because you don't want to sexualize children or force girls who want to become pop-stars feel like they have to be that way to make it.  The other side of me says if those girls are okay with it, so am I.  I danced, and so did my friends, quite provocatively as early as 6th grade (which is middle school).  My main point is that the differences between female pop artists in Japan and Korea aren't really true.  It is kind of like a gut-reaction myth.  On Kids React one of them said SNSD was demure!  When I wasn't into K-Pop I did think that they were just more sexy than J-Pop IDOLS.  I don't think it is anyway true for the J-Pop genre as a whole.

Second Article Critique 
The Diplomat's article, K-Pop versus J-Pop (Nakagawa, 2011), had some similar statements, which I disagreed with.  It is mainly an interview.  Most of the points I made above overlap with my issues with the following opinion.  [I did not read the linked article in the quote.]

"There’s been a big jump in the popularity . . . in Japan over the past year—a trend that’s being attributed to ‘cooler,’ more talented (thanks to a more vigorous training regiment) and more individualistic Korean female pop groups, especially compared to their Japanese counterparts."

I suggest you read it yourself because I could hardly sit through the whole thing.  The points that I can get through, summed up, is that K-Pop groups show real women, J-Pop groups are fake, old-fashioned, and sexist.  K-Pop groups are independent and feisty.  He does say towards the end that the girls themselves are similar because both are controlled by management, that I will get to later.  I do agree that when it comes to solo artists there hasn't been anyone new that challenges that level that is Hamasaki Ayumi, but I don't think K-Pop can fill that void either.  Hamasaki Ayumi wrote and has a major hand in her music.  Again, I'm not going to go any further on the subject about music style on a broad scale in J-Pop.  

~Manufacturing Differences~  

Hamasaki Ayumi started out as a rapper.

I'm a bigger noob when it comes to K-Pop than J-Pop.  I feel like the issue of manufacturing has more to do with the differences between the two.  If you didn't know, Korean idol groups train for years before debuting.  The formation of the group is the same.  Agencies, producers, or record labels audition new talent and form them into a group.  Japanese idols do not spend years training as a group, not that there isn't any.  Both have management watching what they say and do.  BOTH in some way present an ideal for women.  Neither tend to play a major role in writing the music.  Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.  I did hear something about U-Kiss member writing a line for a song, but that is a boy band.  One difference in training is that many idol groups start off as indie artists until they are popular enough to go major.  As far as I know Korean units don't have to go through that process.  My Japanese friends said the major reason why people like the K-Pop groups in Japan is because they are more professional.  [Not that they were more cool or real.] 

The issue of individuality is tricky and is sensitive.  I do think AKB48 is more individualistic and a better role model for women.  This is due to the lack of polish and wide range in members.  We see more members with different heights and weights.  I also think because there are so many they do get a little more freedom when it comes to presentation.  For example, Takahashi Minami doesn't wear bikinis.  She likes to keep things covered.  I'm not saying there isn't variety in members in K-Pop.  From what I've seen there is more consistency when it comes to weight and higher standards for looks.  For example, my Japanese friends don't think Sashihara Rino is super pretty.  Another example is when watching AKB48 the first thing I noticed was a mesh of looks but when I watched SNSD (Sunny is a hottie) I thought they were all thin and had long legs.

I do like the fact that K-Pop is more professional.  I personally wish they spent more time sending Japanese idols to training lessons in singing and dancing.  There are Japanese idols who are already good enough like Tokyo Girls Style and some Hello Project groups, other times there is a range in terms of members.  I think K-Pop groups have a range as well.  However, I'm not saying that their way is necessarily better.  Western music tends not to work like that.  It reflects the indie to major process that Japan has.  I think it helps consumers trust the artists more because you can follow them from the very beginning plus there is less opportunity for the management to 'tamper.'  

K-Pop and J-Pop on the International Stage

For the holidays I got an iTunes gift card.  I don't listen to American music much anymore so I had no idea what I wanted to buy (except for Florence + The Machine).  There was of plenty of options for K-Pop, but my usual go to artists were missing, completely.  I've purchased tons of music from Hamasaki Ayumi the past couple of years, but everything was gone.  The J-Pop available was scarce with few artists that I was interested like Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, SCANDAL, and Brand-New Idol Society (BiS).  AKB48 only has one of their albums and has not continued adding releases.  The one group who does a decent job is Hello Project.  Manufactured music from Korea, however, is doing quite well.  Popular releases from units like 2NE1, Super Junior, and Kara have songs selling for $1.29.

Now hold your horses K-Pop fans who preach about how awesome it is and how it is taking over the world.  Sit your butt down.  Japanese artists don't expand to the Korean market (like how K-pop artists go to Japan) because they have the second largest music industry in the world.  They are not going to go to a smaller market, therefore the only place they are going to go for is the United States.  And we've all seen how well that goes over, for K-Pop artists too.  Artists like Koda Kumi are comfortable with being successful at home.  Korean culture will be a sub-culture in the United States, just like how J-Pop is.  There will be some attempt to cash in on the boom.  I don't want to be a wet blanket.  I would just like to remind fans who are excited for the Wonder Girls TV show what happened to Puffy's program: it got pulled off the air eventually.  Another major factor is that they are manufactured.  The United States' and the UK's consumers tend to have a negative perception of artists that don't have power in the creative process.  Even girl groups like Danity Kane wrote some of their own music.

I expect all of you to react to the reaction with an open mind.  Many K-Pop fans had that same reaction when they first saw it.  My perception of K-Pop wasn't too favorable either.  They are children!  They are asked to react to a little glimpse of the whole picture.  It is suppose to be off-the-cuff and a bit outrageous because that is entertaining.  Notice the majority of them are interested in listening to more of the genre.  This video is to illustrate the major issues K-Pop faces when expanding to the United States.    

What I'm curious about is the promotion of K-Pop groups in Japan.  A fair amount of songs by Korean groups are Japanese versions and not originals.  Those releases match their Korean image.  [The following statement has nothing to do with the male groups.]  However, to reach significant success they may dispose of their typical persona for a Japanese one.  This is evident if we compare Kara to SNSD.  I never realized how 'competitive' they are with each other until I did a Google search about their comparative activities in Japan.  The results were mixed.  Some sites claimed SNSD was beating Kara and are relevant in Japan.  Other data suggested the Kara had a stronger foothold.  Then there were others that suggested that the results didn't match up to the hype.  One thing is clear is that the strategy between the two is different.  SNSD basically re-released songs that were successful.  Kara, in my opinion, actually went all out.  Their musical style, with the exception of a couple singles, turned to a more care-free, innocent spirit that is common in Japanese idol music.  Kara is the reason why I resent people who said as part of the hype of the Hallyu wave that K-Pop was more popular with women because they presented a less doll-like persona.  First of all, those people were clearly not familiar with female Japanese artists (Namie Amuro, Ayumi Hamasaki, Kumi Koda, SCANDAL, members of AKB).  Second, there were female K-Pop artists went all doll-like, cutesy, AEGYO as soon as they hit Japanese shores.  Others followed through not too long after debut.  These girl groups were doing it in Korea too!  Personally I found that Kara was more present in the industry than SNSD, not by a ton but I felt like there was a difference.

SNSD in Korea

SNSD in Japan

KARA in Korea

KARA in Japan

Was there a Hallyu wave this year?  Yes, and I don't think it is necessarily over.  However, Korean groups in Japan were not the top dog in any way.  AKB48 owned this year, they were head to head with Arashi in 2010.  The other big hitter in the music industry of Japan was the song Maru Maru Mori Mori.  They entered a market where idol groups are doing quite well.  We could chalk up a portion of their success to an idol boom.  JE debuted two new idol groups that made the top spot, and Hey!Say!Jump had a really good year.  There were idol groups that made the top spot which I never expected to do so, like Passpo.  The industries aren't that much different style-wise.  There are some general differences, but I feel like people play them up to be much bigger than they truly are.

Three-Way Tie for BAMF of the Week!

Tomochin, *Sunny, and Shiorin

I would of just done Nakamata Shiori (Shiorin), but the main reason is kind of old news and the other two were only based on appearances so I'm doing all three.

SYKE! 

It seems Sunny's new hair-do which 'is' amazing was only a wig.  That is a disappointment.  She is pretty enough to rock short hair, plus it is not like SNSD have a lot of members with short hair (none actually).

Tomochin got added because her performance on Hey!Hey!Hey! was flawless like usual, but more so for how natural it appeared for her to be with a white tiger.  She was the first one to approach it and hold it with ease.  She was super excited when they brought it out.  Tomochin is a BAMF because she looks like someone who has a white tiger for a pet.

Finally the real BAMF is Shiorin.  She is a member of Team 4 and besides being a stand-out from their first stage she is best known for her intelligence.  Waseda and Keio switch back and forth between the best University in Japan, in other words, Ivy League.  She was accepted into Waseda's Economics Department which is serious business.  For her to undertake higher education of that level and an idol career means a lot to me.  Any idol who does that gets major kinds of bonus points in my book, but Shiorin is above expectations.

SNSD (Girls Generation)'s The Boys MV Review

Initial Reaction:
I did not like it at all, when it came to the song.  I first watched it in Korea without subtitles.  I didn't find it catchy and I do not appreciate artists who say how great they (as a group) are in the lyrics; so i was turned off early on.  I did like the music video itself.  It was nice to see them be confident and therefore sexy, not aegyo.  However, I felt like the intro built up the rest of the video to be something completely different.  First of all, the whole setting at the start was odd (a giant crystal in a cold wasteland) then she sees something within a jem. . . okkkaaaaay.  Then we get Super Junior bass with all the girls in formal dresses in a super dramatic scene.  I was expected a power hitting song and video like BEG's Sixth Sense which had a dramatic intro, but nope.  Girls Gen blue balled me, anticlimactic isn't something you want to describe your video.  What happened to that dove?

The Costume and Set Designs:
There were three different dance shot sets and two close up sets.  The close up shots were gorgeous.  The background for the dance shots were standard quality, some kind of cool set but nothing too colorful.  The costume designers had some work to do.  Each girl and dance shot had a different outfit, but both the close ups had the same dress.  Unlike K-Pop boy bands (with the exception of Super Junior), all of their clothing choices were beautiful.

Now when it came to a particular issue, that I touched on earlier, I was unsure where to address it.  Like the instrumental intro compared to the rest of the song, one of the close-up shots didn't fit.  The black back-drop with the rose petals is absolutely lovely and I would love to see this used again, but where did it come from.  Yeah and while we are at it, what about the dove?  How does this have anything related to the crystals used everywhere else, and nothing seem to match the lyrics.  I mean they have a floating crystal, but that is just lazy.  My theory is they are dancing inside the crystal cave and then they dance in front of it and the rose room is just. . . there I guess.

Cinematography (Angles and Lighting) and Choreography:
Again the cinematography is pretty standard; no cool camera techniques like Super Junior's A-Cha.  They do some variety, so it isn't too dull like Hello Project's dance shots.  They do play around with the lightning, again nothing spectacular (for example BEG's Abracadabra).  Everything looks great, but I wasn't in love when I saw it.  I expect that from Girls Gen.  They do the standard that most female units do but better (close up and dance shots in a studio).  The choreography didn't grab me, they tend to do a good job.  There wasn't any dance formations or moves that stood out.  I did like something here or there, but nothing dance wise worth mentioning.

The Lyrics, Vocals, and Instrumental:
I don't love the instrumental or the vocals.  The lyrics were alright.  I like variety, I like different, so Girls Gen is kind of boring because there are like 50 other girl groups in Korea doing the same thing, maybe with a smaller budget.  I do not approve of the English version at all.  Kudos for trying it, but the lyrics are not as good as the original Korean and it is lame.  The rhyming and meaning is generic.  I don't believe it is worth it.  Oh, and couldn't understand what they were saying at times.  I much prefer the hilariously bad uses of English in foreign songs to generically poor English version.  At least AKB's had the same meaning, but didn't sound as natural.

[I originally posted the English version of their song, 

but apparently they don't have it available in AMERICA!  WTF!] 

Overall Opinion:

The video was kind of a less impressive female version of Super Junior.  I like that played around with the chorus by doing a rap-like thing, but the lyrics were not up to snuff.  They did a good job, but not something I would want to show people.

MR. TAXI - 少女時代 (SNSD)

[Tae]TOKYO , SEOUL , LONDON , NEW YORK
[Tae]kimama ni sekai wo Drive tonight
[Jes]kakuchi de hirou suru NEW STYLE
[Jes]mita koto nai mono dake mise tageru

[Tif]hora. kocchi wo mite sukoshi keikai seyo!
[Seo]ano hidari handoru yori nan bai mo
[Sun]I'm so fast

Mr. Taxi, Taxi, Taxi soutou
ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI
[Yoo]oitsuke nai SUPIIDO de Oops !
[Yu] ne? tsuite ko reru no?
Mr. Taxi, Taxi, Taxi soutou
ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI
[Soo]hikari kagayaku [Seo]kedo fure rarenai no
[Tif]masani Supersonic n' hypertonic
[Hyo]ubatte hoshii no [Sun]U take me ima sugu
Mr. Taxi, Taxi, Taxi soutou
ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI
[Jes]kedo kantan ni [Tae]wa ika nai no yo

[Tif]machi no hi ga marude Shooting Star
[Tif]tsugi no mokuteki chi made Non-Stop
[Seo]ENJIN ON dake nokoshite dashiboja
[Seo]ushirode de Say good - bye

[Sun]]hora. yosomi shinai de bouken seyo!
[Tae]ano migi handoru yori mo tashika yo
[Jes]I'm so sure

Mr. Taxi, Taxi, Taxi soutou
ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI
[Yoo]oitsuke nai SUPIIDO de Oops !
[Yu]ne? tsuite ko reru no?
Mr. Taxi, Taxi, Taxi soutou
ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI
[Soo]hikari kagayaku [Seo]kedo fure rarenai no
[Tif]masani Supersonic n' hypertonic
[Hyo]ubatte hoshii no [Sun]U take me ima sugu
Mr. Taxi, Taxi, Taxi soutou
ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI
[Jes]kedo kantan ni [Tae]wa ika nai no yo

[Soo](One two three here we go)

[Yu]doko he de mo jiyuujizai yo
[Sun]sou uchuu no hate de sae mo
[Soo]negai doori na no yo doushite fuan na no?
[Jes]And I don't know why, and I don't know why
[Tif]tsuite kite yo ne I don't wanna say good-bye ([Tae]good-bye),
[Tif]good-bye, good-bye ([Tae]don't wanna say good-bye)

Mr. Taxi, Taxi, Taxi soutou
ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI
[Yoo]oitsuke nai SUPIIDO de Oops !
[Yu]ne? tsuite ko reru no?
Mr. Taxi, Taxi, Taxi soutou
ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI
[Soo]hikari kagayaku [Seo]kedo fure rarenai no
[Tif]masani Supersonic n' hypertonic
[Hyo]ubatte hoshii no [Sun]U take me ima sugu
Mr. Taxi, Taxi, Taxi soutou
ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI.ZUKSHI
[Jes]kedo kantan ni [Tae]wa ika nai no yo


NOTE : "ZUKSHI" (in katakana) was the japanese pronouncement for korean word "JEUKSHI"


Group : 少女時代 (SNSD)
Lyric Source : http://www.littleoslo.com/lyj/home/2011/03/%E5%B0%91%E5%A5%B3%E6%99%82%E4%BB%A3-mr-taxi/
Please comment if there's some wrong words. Thank you :)