comparing Jpop artists to American pop artists...

[Meroko Yui]

I've noticed that many people here like to compare singers like BoA to people like Britney Spears and the like. I'm tired of people doing this. There is no way that they are on the same level. Britney Spears is a stupid good-for-nothing moron. So what if people have plastic surgery? If they have talent, then who cares? So, please stop comparing Paris Hilton and Britney Spears to Ayumi and BoA. American pop stars can't sing worth a darn. Thank you, and remember, this is only my opinion. Respect mine and I will respect yours.

[Himura_77]

American pop stars can't sing worth a darn.

That's true, except for ones like Carrie Underwood, Chris Dougherty, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Hicks, basically, any of the major people in American Idol :p!

[Kaoru]

Like the japanese ones are any better.

[Meroko Yui]

I can now see how people compare them by reading other posts (plastic surgery, etc.) However, I still think it's unacceptable. I agree with you, himura_77, American Idols can sing, except for Clay Aiken, I don't like him... Everyone please note I am not bashing all American music, just pop...

[Himura_77]

Everyone please note I am not bashing all American music, just pop...

I agree with that. Groups like Hinder, OMG their "Lips of an Angel" live performance I watched online was downright awful! Pop groups like them rely on professional mixers and audio equipment to cover for their mistakes.

I haven't listened to much J-Pop so I can't criticize there :p!

[Iblis]

There are very few popular Jpop singers that can actually sing. Just like American ones. And the level of medocrity is about the same. D:

[YamPuff]

There are very few popular Jpop singers that can actually sing. Just like American ones. And the level of medocrity is about the same. D:
Awww, I was gonna say that. You beat me to it. TT_______TT

I was shocked when I first started listening to J-Pop; my first impression was, gee, this sounds exactly like American pop with gibberish lyrics. The voices are the same, the tunes are the same and the lousy lyrics are the same. There are some good voices and artists and some bad ones.

One thing that annoys me about JPop is the amount of English they put in it (and bad grammar XD). I mean, sometimes you'll find a phrase of another language in an English song, but amost every J-Pop song has a sentance of English in it, and sometimes it just doesn't fit into the song at all.

I like American Pop when it has a good tune and nice lyrics (a rarity, indeed) because I can't stand bad lyrics. I like J-Pop because, not being able to understand the lyrics I can enjoy the song for the musc in itself.

@ Meroko Yui: If you really aren't trying to insult people, don't say thing like 'American pop stars can't sing worth a darn.' Its not only generalising all American pop stars, its insulting to anyone who's a fan or a singer.

[Meroko Yui]

If you really aren't trying to insult people, don't say thing like 'American pop stars can't sing worth a darn.' Its not only generalising all American pop stars, its insulting to anyone who's a fan or a singer.

I'm just pointing out that American pop stars really can't sing well at all. Besides, you insulted me when you said that Jpop singings can't sing well either. I think you're being contradictory to what you just said.

[tomselleck69]

well if it's a thread about comparison...


i agree with Iblis, pop stars the world over are generally not particularly talented singers or songwriters.

[TonightMidnight]

I think this is just another case of "Japan-does-it-better" syndrome. A horrible disease that's sweeping ignorant Americans everywhere or people who just seem to be obsessed with everything Japanese.

You can't simply say: American pop singers can't sing and Japanese pop singers can. (Or vice versa) It's deeper than that and more confusing.

Especially since a lot of J-Pop artists readily admit they've had American influences. Like...you've guessed it- Britney Spears and Madonna. So maybe you should re-think or re-word what you're trying to say Meroko Yui. Because if you're saying American pop artists suck...then you're saying J-Pop artists suck too...because to put it simply: they copy. And that's an obvious fact.

[Aratos]

I think this is just another case of "Japan-does-it-better" syndrome. A horrible disease that's sweeping ignorant Americans everywhere or people who just seem to be obsessed with everything Japanese.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/Aratos/Memes/TAS45SQMLLSLGYTRA7327WVHDHXTLH6Q.jpg

[Jacku]

^ For real?

If someone sucks nationality has nothing to do with it.

[TonightMidnight]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/Aratos/Memes/TAS45SQMLLSLGYTRA7327WVHDHXTLH6Q.jpg


Lol. Where'd you get that from Aratos?

[kairi990]

My two cents:
Ayumi Hamasucky, Slutta (Koda) Kumi, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton are the worst of the worst when it comes to singing, so I don't think it is unfair to compare them to each other....

And BoA is just....BoA....

[TonightMidnight]

I'm mean, I'm not gonna sit here and lie...I like this song...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gu1sFPBvMwM

But it's comparable to any other sad/slow american song. And her voice is "aight."

[Jacku]

Lol. Where'd you get that from Aratos?

I bet it's from God's mouth.
Uh... Yeah.

[Aratos]

Lol. Where'd you get that from Aratos?

well if you must know, I got it from the same place I get most of my gifs: a top secret archive of everything psoted on /b/.

[TonightMidnight]

Notice that J-Pop songs are usually longer than American songs?

The average J-Pop song is over 4 minutes, while the average American song is about 3:30 or less. It may be because they're different languages, but there seems to be more contact in J-Pop songs. Either that or they repeat the chorus more.

That's why I can only fit about 16 J-Pop songs on a CD and 20 plus American songs on a CD.

Just a little observation I made today. :D

[Ichigosmiles]

There are very few popular Jpop singers that can actually sing. Just like American ones. And the level of medocrity is about the same. D:

Ichigosmiles agrees. It's really quite depressing...

[YamPuff]

I'm just pointing out that American pop stars really can't sing well at all. Besides, you insulted me when you said that Jpop singings can't sing well either. I think you're being contradictory to what you just said.
I never said anything of the sort. I said J-Pop and American pop artists sound pretty much the same. Some are good, some are bad. Some I like, some I don't.

And like GlitterGal said, J-Pop is a copy. Didn't pop originate in America?


On a side note, ever notice that JPop lyrics often make absoluetly no sense whatsoever? Maybe something gets lost in the translation, but I find myself reading them some and going WTF?

[Aratos]

Notice that J-Pop songs are usually longer than American songs?

The average J-Pop song is over 4 minutes, while the average American song is about 3:30 or less. It may be because they're different languages, but there seems to be more contact in J-Pop songs. Either that or they repeat the chorus more.

That's why I can only fit about 16 J-Pop songs on a CD and 20 plus American songs on a CD.

Just a little observation I made today. :D

Bit like most rock songs are 4-5 minutes average. Seems shortness is a 60s thing that the pop scene ahsn't dropped.

Now if you want snnoyingly long songs, look at Iron Maiden's latest album. Seems 8 minutes is the shortest...

[feder]

I don't think it's always fair to pit j-pop and American pop against each other since they come from different countries with different customs and cultures.
For instance, in American music you almost never hear any other language sung/spoken but English; but in Japanese j-pop it's quite different. English is spattered all through out some songs.
I don't think it's a bad thing, per se, it's just different. That is normal in Japan, even if it 's not in the states, so berating Engrish it because Americans don't use it is kind of unfair to Japan.

Personally, I prefer J-pop more than American music (remember that J-pop isn't always stuff like Puffy and Kumi, it's also stuff like Kinya Kotani and Maaya Sakamoto), especially American music nowadays. Most of the j-pop stuff I listen to is so much more upbeat and uplifting than American music (just listen to Home Made Kazoku and you'll know what I mean).

But I do know there are some bands that really aren't that good, and I won't be a shipper and say that all j-pop is better than American music.

But really, when it comes down to it, it's all a matter of preference. Some people prefer j-pop and some American music. You can't really say one is better than the other when there are so many preferences and also there is plenty of music that we haven't heard from Japan and haven't heard from the US. There are so many that it's not really fair to judge based on the groups we've heard.

[Iblis]

Why does Puffy even exist? They are really really bad. I was watching this Heyx3 special on the past ten years or whatever, and even in 1995 they were bad. WHY DO THEY STILL EXIST???

[roxas87]

On a side note, ever notice that JPop lyrics often make absoluetly no sense whatsoever? Maybe something gets lost in the translation, but I find myself reading them some and going WTF?

i wonder about that too.

[Meroko Yui]

Thank you for your opinions. Many people brought up good points, enough so that I can rethink my stance.

[TonightMidnight]

I never said anything of the sort. I said J-Pop and American pop artists sound pretty much the same. Some are good, some are bad. Some I like, some I don't.

And like GlitterGal said, J-Pop is a copy. Didn't pop originate in America?


On a side note, ever notice that JPop lyrics often make absoluetly no sense whatsoever? Maybe something gets lost in the translation, but I find myself reading them some and going WTF?

I think something gets lost in translation. I'm sure we would understand the lyrics if we spoke Japanese. Like Hikaru Utada said, "Things that would sound very deep in English...just sound plain silly in Japanese and vice versa."

It seems like most English rock songs are always 3 minutes or less...

[kairi990]

I never said anything of the sort. I said J-Pop and American pop artists sound pretty much the same. Some are good, some are bad. Some I like, some I don't.

And like GlitterGal said, J-Pop is a copy. Didn't pop originate in America?


On a side note, ever notice that JPop lyrics often make absoluetly no sense whatsoever? Maybe something gets lost in the translation, but I find myself reading them some and going WTF?

Sometimes people forget that Pop = Popular Music. Pop did not orginate in the US, Pop has always existed within various countries/cultures.

[sleepyhead]

Well i personally think that jpop artist's have to work harder then american artists cuz many have to learn english to make it big in North America and being able to sing in fleuntly in english. But alot of american artist's do work hard.