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Korean pop music concert draws thousands of Japanese fans

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Not really into current Idol/girl bands whatever country they may be from.

Give me Dreams come True, etc as well as Abba, Heart, Kim Carne's, Kim Wilde, Pat Benatar, Laura Branagan, Bonnie. Tyler,Kate Bush, Samantha Fox, etc to name just a few. Great ladies and Singers.

Doubt that the AKB ones will ever rival them

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don't care for pop musik anywhere, but I am an old (well, middle-aged) fart.

But, [gulp] as much as it pains me to say, K Pop's popularity in Japan is a [double gulp] good thing. Along with all the other Korean media, it provides a much, sorely, desperately needed counter-weight to the growing insularity and right-wing stupidity in Japan.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Actually Perfume has enjoyed success outside of Japan! Multiple USA concert dates and most recently a SXSW performance

1 ( +2 / -1 )

K-Pop is awful, like pop music everywhere.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

News wa? People go to watch pop bands is news now?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Basically this was one of the main reasons for going overseas. Many Koreans were pirating music, i.e., they were thieves, and the Korean music industry had to go overseas to recoup their investment in their artists and productions. They had to go overseas since Koreans couldn't be disciplined enough to honestly purchase music lawfully and legitimately, and hoped by going abroad they could build a fanbase of more honest fans. I recall some K-Pop groups doing some commercial reminding Koreans it's illegal to download. I guess that didn't work.

Take your idiotic racism BS elsewhere. For your information, Japanese fans heavily pirate music as well. Thats why the dying j-pop industry has to resort to lame gimmicks like handshakes and hugs for hardcore fans to buy multiple CDs.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

I love K-Pop : the Asian kids trying to act ghetto, the girls who look like the all went to the same plastic surgeon, the slutty dance moves, the elaborate music etc.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

“I think they really care about us. I can feel it,” 30-year-old Supernova fan Koyori Watanabe said of the K-pop stars.

Substitute "us" with "our money" and you're on to something, Koyori and other wishful but deluded fans.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Wc626 wrote "Ha! Over 3,000 attendees? Like I said, a High School dance"

i'm not sure what your point of reference is...i live in northeast ohio and the total enrollment of four nearby suburan schools are 1,350, 1,749 1,631 and 1.663 respectivly

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Korean music industry wisely realized a few years ago that trying to enforce copyright was a lost cause. No one wanted to spend 10-20 USD on a physical CD when they could just download it for free. People will pirate songs and upload videos on youtube regardless of how stringent the law is. They decided to go with the tide and personally upload songs on youtube, offer digital downloads and hold concerts and promotions overseas. Due to the availability of media, K-pop was able to expand very quickly across asia and the world.

Basically this was one of the main reasons for going overseas. Many Koreans were pirating music, i.e., they were thieves, and the Korean music industry had to go overseas to recoup their investment in their artists and productions. They had to go overseas since Koreans couldn't be disciplined enough to honestly purchase music lawfully and legitimately, and hoped by going abroad they could build a fanbase of more honest fans. I recall some K-Pop groups doing some commercial reminding Koreans it's illegal to download. I guess that didn't work.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Fortunately or not is a matter of opinion, of course.

Sure, fortunately or not is a matter of personal taste, but K-pop not being mainstream outside Asia is a fact (except for Psy, but he is only one artist, also Jay Chou has been rather popular in the West, but this doesn't make all Taiwan music mainstream in Europe and in America, both important music markets). I'd like to say that Justin Biebier (or whatever his name is) and the One Directions are not mainstream as well, but in this case it would be a lie, only what I'd like, not the real facts. So, since I dislike K-pop, I say "fortunately". The fact that Bieber, Gaga (who has good voice, but I dislike her songs and "character"), One Directions are that popular, is already painful enough to me. About the 80s, it's always matter of personal taste, of course. It's weird, since I was a teenager during the 90s and only a child during the 80s, but I always preferred the 80s music over the 90s music.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Was just listening to Doolittle the other day for the first time in a while.

Great album, Smith. One of the very best.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Ha! Over 3,000 attendees? Like I said, a High School dance-

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Alex80: "It's not what you call mainstream, I guess. And I repeat: fortunately!"

Fortunately or not is a matter of opinion, of course. Personally I dislike K-pop nearly as much as I dislike J-pop, with there being the odd exception to both that I can tolerate. The eighties is considered by many to be a horrible decade for music, and of course by many others to be classic, and retro bars made a mint off it in the late '90s and early 2000. Maybe they still do. I think it was 'light rock' that made the '80s so horrible, and yet so characteristic.

Tamarama: Definitely with you on The Pixies, Sonic Youth, Pavement, etc. Was just listening to Doolittle the other day for the first time in a while.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The Chinese TV show 'If You are the One' has made me a fan of 10 seconds of Girl's Generation's 'Gee', I'm a little ashamed to admit. My regular playlists usually include the likes of: The Pixies, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Pavement et al....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The big difference between K-POP and J-POP. One country WANTS to be seen and heard. The other doesn't. Don't know why the Japanese are so hesitant in sending their artists and music abroad.

The Korean music industry wisely realized a few years ago that trying to enforce copyright was a lost cause. No one wanted to spend 10-20 USD on a physical CD when they could just download it for free. People will pirate songs and upload videos on youtube regardless of how stringent the law is. They decided to go with the tide and personally upload songs on youtube, offer digital downloads and hold concerts and promotions overseas. Due to the availability of media, K-pop was able to expand very quickly across asia and the world.

The Japanese music industry on the other hand is stuck in the 90s and still relies on physical CD sales for revenue. This has resulted in very strict and well enforced copyright laws and even prison terms for file sharers. Despite this, physical CD sales continue to decline. Japans music market declined an insane -16.7% in 2013. Nowadays, Japanese musicians(especially the idols) rely on cheap gimmicks like handshakes and hugs in order for fans to buy multiple copies of their CDs. AKB48 group(Japans top selling "artist") is particularly infamous for doing this, with some fans buying hundreds of physical CDs.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

The big difference between K-POP and J-POP. One country WANTS to be seen and heard. The other doesn't. Don't know why the Japanese are so hesitant in sending their artists and music abroad.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Perfume concerts (anywhere outside Japan) are about as big as a US High School dance."

not quite...the london, la and nyc venues they played last fall have capacities of over 3000

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Yeah! Exactly. Thanks DaDude-

Staples Center, The Forum, Coachella, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Nokia, Honda Center, AT&T Stadium, etc. . . big venues is what Its all about. Perfume concerts (anywhere outside Japan) are about as big as a US High School dance.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Perfume always has sold out shows when they play in the us, as well as kyari pamyu pamyu. Baby Metal had sold out shows in England. Sounds like to me Jpop is always in demand and does well when they play outside of Japan. Akb does well in Jakarta and other asian venues they play in. I do not understand where the ignorance comes from.

True, sold out shows in venues of a couple thousand in 2 or 3 cities. Let's see if they can do a cross country tour.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Glad to see that young Japanese ignore all the nationalist posturing of Abe and his groupies.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

kuribo1:

Perfume always has sold out shows when they play in the us, as well as kyari pamyu pamyu.

I'm glad you used the word 'play', and not 'sing'.

Even I can lip-synch.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Perfume always has sold out shows when they play in the us, as well as kyari pamyu pamyu. Baby Metal had sold out shows in England. Sounds like to me Jpop is always in demand and does well when they play outside of Japan. Akb does well in Jakarta and other asian venues they play in. I do not understand where the ignorance comes from.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

You certainly don't have to be a fan of K-pop (or J-pop) to appreciate this sliver of upbeat news about Japan-South Korea relations. This is in very short supply these days.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I think every generation can date when music went down the pan in their eyes.

Most generations seem to think so. But I still like a lot of the new music that comes out myself. None of this k-pop or j-pop though.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Good for them. I prefer Japanese Music.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

@Alex80 hear! hear!

...What? I don't know if you are making fun of me or what...I expressed only my personal taste in music. ;) One of my favorite artists is Italian. This is one of my favorite songs ever. So full of feelings. Amedeo Minghi, singer/songwriter/composer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNf-yjkE4w0

This song was from the 90s, not the 80s. Oh, well, it's always beautiful, because he is a great artist. I care about the melody, not about the dancing, the visual, looks, etc. Some people here care about the dancing a lot. I think dancing has nothing to do with singing.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I think every generation can date when music went down the pan in their eyes. My parents tell me that nothing has come near The Beatles, Stones, Who, Kinks, Velvet Underground, Dylan and Beach Boys. For them, the likes of Queen, REM ( I like REM ) and U2 are derivative and pale imitations to their ears ( I can see where they are coming from to a point ). I can remember bubblegum pop in the 80s which sounded pretty much like the J-pop and K-pop you hear now. It's always been around. Teenagers listening to this now will also date when music went down the pan.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It's funny how J-POP groups like akb, perfume, nishino kana, arashi etc. don't do too well outside of Japan.

Yet, BABYMETAL has penetrated the metal scene in both the US and Europe. And now will most likely remain a staple at major rock festivals worldwide.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@Alex80 "And some other North European artists".

I think I understand you very well. I discovered hits of a-ha for myself when I was listening Superrock KYOI radio, broadcasted from Saipan island on asian region. Current those K-pop and J-pop bands are really like typical products of smartphone factory. Nothing original....

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Alex80 hear! hear!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I'm not saying my taste is superior, I'm just saying that, sadly, the kind of music that I loved isn't basically produced anymore. And if someone thinks all these clone boybands - no matter if they are British, Korean or whatever - are good artists, it's not my business. To me it's like a factory of smarthphone...they are all the same, indeed I can't even tell apart one group from the other. Make up and plastic surgery doesn't help.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

K-pop is a much slicker product than J-pop. Obviously produced for a global market by technical staff and performers who keep an eye on cutting-edge sound and video production.

J-pop is for a domestic market. Rigidly formulaic with performers who cannot be seen to be better looking or more talented than the buying public.

It's no wonder a lot of kids here like K-pop because they can aspire to be something other than a schoolchild.

It's garbage. Sorry, but I like mainly music from the 80s

There was some great music then but also a hell of a lot of rubbish. It's exactly the same now.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Wow, I never expected a my taste>your taste discussion on Japantoday. Things have changed here.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

@Jimizo: I don't know about you, but I loved Queen, REM, Gun's and roses, Scorpions, U2, etc. I've known these groups during the 80s because I was born in 1980, even though they could be older. So when I say "the 80s", I'm speaking also about older stuff...I liked also a lot of Italian music (I'm Italian), but now it sucks. During the 90s the decline started (at that time I was a teenager, but I didn't like boybands like Take That and Backstreet Boys) and, since the 2000, I think in general music started to be terrible. Even though I was a teenager now, I wouldn't like Korean and Japanese boybands or One Directions, exactly like I disliked That That and Backstreet Boys when I was actually a teenager during the 90s. De gustibus!

P.S. I'm female but not all the women/girls are in love with boybands. Not my kind of thing at all! I like genuine talent, and deep, emotional melodies. I don't care about looks and dancing. I love also ABBA very much! And some other North European artists. And I remember with affection some good old J-pop and J-rock, not the AKB48 style idol groups, that are garbage.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

K-POP female artists are WAY better dancers, singers and are WAY hotter than the talentless teeny J-POP groups.

Heh, you think there's a difference. How quaint.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

There are those who think the 80s was a terrible decade for music. The decade when musicianship went down the pan for many to be replaced by synthesizer beats and tinny drum machines. The kind of plastic music the snobs love to hate like J-pop and K-pop is very 1980s.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

@yamashi: good taste. ;)

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Alex80 "It's garbage. Sorry, but I like mainly music from the 80s"

Agreed.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Hope Las Vegas Show Promoters invite J or K Pop. We never have chance to watch them here.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Alex80: A good number of K-pop bands enjoy success in the US and elsewhere, my friend.

It's not what you call mainstream, I guess. And I repeat: fortunately! It's garbage. Like most of modern music (also western). Sorry, but I like mainly music from the 80s. :)

4 ( +8 / -4 )

PSY's Gangnum Style, blasted the US night club scene back then. Something a J-POP group could never boast.

K-POP female artists are WAY better dancers, singers and are WAY hotter than the talentless teeny J-POP groups.

-4 ( +11 / -15 )

And some people will be incredibly bitter about the stars' success in this nation.

Alex80: A good number of K-pop bands enjoy success in the US and elsewhere, my friend.

-8 ( +8 / -16 )

Only in Japan and in the rest of Asia, fortunately. XP

1 ( +8 / -7 )

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