Japanese Bands in America? [Discussion]

[Menstrual Cramps]

Okay, let's be frank about this-- I want this to be a discussion which means a two word post or a line sentence isn't really contributing. I want some real opinions here, no flaming and understanding of both sides.

What do you really think of this?
Personally? Me? -- I hate it. Why? Because I can't stand bands like L'arc getting hounded by FMA fans because of their opening theme or PLC getting the "OMG KAWAIII SO SUGOI!11!" treatment. "That's not very nice" you say, but when I have known about the band for over 4-5 years longer than that show on CN and have Japanese released CD's, I have a right to be an elitist. I can't stand wannabe japanese people because it's really disgusting. Miyavi blew off the US twice, and it's because of security reasons. Not to mention "Freedom" was a song making fun of America, not about real freedom. Same with PLC cutting a concert short because some moron tried to pull Yura off the stage I believe? Either way, America is not prepared for them. Let's be honest, the only reason people got hooked onto JRock and JPop was because they watched some Anime that had some song in it and found out about the band by illegally downloading the song since obviously it wasn't released here in the states. Some of you might have looked up the lyrics [Good for you!] or you just sing along not knowing what it means but one way or another you have it in your posession now. Point? People basically want it because it's Japanese. Not because of the music. [I said MOST not all] Hypocritical? Yes, other countries do it with Western Music but that's beside the point. You shouldn't want the music because you think the guy is hot, or it's "KAWAII SUGOI OMG HAPPY HAPPY" Japanese stuff-- you should want it because it's what makes you, ..you and you can say more than "Oh yeah Aya is so hot!111! and i luv dem!' and sound a little more intelligent with a conversation on the vocals, instruments and PV-representation. Most music is not VK. [VK is a style of fashion more than a type of Music, DeG is a good example of past VK] Most music is not JRock. Most is classified as JPop to be honest.

So until America can get their ducks in a row and know what really makes a band -- a band, I don't think Japanese bands should be in the US.

[Shipuh]

mmm, i partly feel for you. it gets me so mad when YELLOWGeneartion (the first jpop band i was into about 3 or 4 years ago) ONLY STARTED getting recognition here after FMA.

same goes with Skoop on Somebody until they sang for BLEACH.

in my opinion it kinda works two ways, one way it makes it easier on yourself to find stuff about the artist, but then the disadvantages though are exactly what you said. fans of the "anime song" and dont really consider the artist/musical work they had done

thats why ive been listening to very very obscurer japanese music lately. its so i can find a connection without having so many fans getting in the way.

ill still listening to popular stuff, but its kinda what stopped my T.M.Revolution craze.

saw him about 4 years ago and fell in love. then all of a sudden he gets too popular recently and i just cant bring myself to listen to him anymore...im even considering selling the photobook i spent $40 on and the deck of cards from the Seventh Heaven photoshoot now.

thats also why i deffinately have been listening to much more korean things lately and i find the korean cutlure so much more pleasing because its not filled with *excuse me* anime "otaku" (yes, that was used in the negative way like the word should be correctly used.)

i actually got turned off of anime for a very long time as well for this same reason. only until fullmetal alchemist came back out (which was after i found out all my favorite songs at that time were openings and endings) did i start to give anime a chance.

still think its over-rated, but i dont look negatively on it anymore, just awlful picky about what i watch now.

so much good foreign stuff out there that isnt even japanese!! (or even southeast asian)

hope there arent too many harsh opposers to this thread, i tried to take it on from a polite perspective. dont mean to offend anyone. ^^;;

[Menstrual Cramps]

Oh, Korean Bands are the best.
Of course, no lie most of the guys are nice to look at, but vocally a Korean person could probably beat a Japanese person into the ground. My friend's boyfriend is Korean so he let's us in on a lot of good bands. Some really awesome techno artist too.

Trust me, I still have a Gackt attachment, and I shell out way too much for CDs and other assorted items that are real for him. u__u
I'm glad my Shonen Knife poster, an obscure but broke up band now was only 10 bucks and then I got it siiiigned when I was younger. Ho-mans, talk about luck.

Unknown > Known
D'espairs Ray concert is a good example of this, so is the eX-GIRL one as well. Like 20 bucks for a ticket each.

[PeNCILz]

I don't exactly watch anime all that much. Mostly because both versions (subbed and dubbed) have voices that can throw your head into a swirling pain-o-migrain. My whole Japanese fandom is based on the manga (basically the art style and the stories minus the scary anime voices.) and the legends and the myths and stuff like that.

When I bought some of my CDs they came with a piece of paper that had all the lyrics in romaji and so I typed them up and translated them with some website that was only 60% accurate then sort of added my own artistic instinct to try and at least get what it meant. Awkwardly enough these CDs were Gackt. (Yes I think the man is hott to but nothing to drool over...) The reason I bought these was because I was interested in what it would sound like. What melodical diferences would exist and other stuff like that. I was quite pleased with it actually and lost interest in western music altogether.

But I have to admit that some of my favorite artists were discovered through anime (Bonnie Pink from Gantz and T.M. Revolution from Gundam SEED) but I don't just listen to the music from those anime I also grab some CDs from ebay or someplace like that and listen to that music as well. (Bonnie Pink CDs came with translated lyrics! Saved me the truble of going to a translation site! although it was hard to read the hand writing...)

[Menstrual Cramps]

Originally Posted by PeNCILz

I don't exactly watch anime all that much. Mostly because both versions (subbed and dubbed) have voices that can throw your head into a swirling pain-o-migrain. My whole Japanese fandom is based on the manga (basically the art style and the stories minus the scary anime voices.) and the legends and the myths and stuff like that.

When I bought some of my CDs they came with a piece of paper that had all the lyrics in romaji and so I typed them up and translated them with some website that was only 60% accurate then sort of added my own artistic instinct to try and at least get what it meant. Awkwardly enough these CDs were Gackt. (Yes I think the man is hott to but nothing to drool over...) The reason I bought these was because I was interested in what it would sound like. What melodical diferences would exist and other stuff like that. I was quite pleased with it actually and lost interest in western music altogether.

But I have to admit that some of my favorite artists were discovered through anime (Bonnie Pink from Gantz and T.M. Revolution from Gundam SEED) but I don't just listen to the music from those anime I also grab some CDs from ebay or someplace like that and listen to that music as well. (Bonnie Pink CDs came with translated lyrics! Saved me the truble of going to a translation site! although it was hard to read the hand writing...)

You make me happy inside. <3
Did you know a lot of current Shonen are based off of JRock/JPop artists? Like Wallflower, the author is crazy over SADS, a rather popular band over there and in turn the characters look similar to them. [Especially Kiyoharu-- apparently most of them are based off of him]
I like Manga more when it has tie-ins like that though.

[PeNCILz]

Im not exactly that large on the manga scene either. LOL So I wouldn't know things like that. I do like manga with tie ins though. Can't think of any except XxXholic where Yuko talks of other manga she (and obviously CLAMP) likes. And other tv shows and stuff.

[ParaKiss]

I wouldn't know about this. No one ever comes to AUS... My friend is trying to get Jay Chou to come over... I want Tommy February6 to come... no chance T.T"

I can see how you dislike the bands coming over though.

[Shipuh]

Originally Posted by ParaKiss

I wouldn't know about this. No one ever comes to AUS... My friend is trying to get Jay Chou to come over... I want Tommy February6 to come... no chance T.T"

I can see how you dislike the bands coming over though.

yeah, i really have been crossing my fingers for Tommy february6 to debut in america. Tofu Records has had their eye on her and a few other artists for quite some time now. (Sowelu, Crystal Kay, and UVERworld) and this includes Tommy!

i doubt shed come around for a concert or tour though, as i hear shes not too fond of flying...but ya never know...maybe if we got a big enough fanbase in the west.

im sorry that you live in australia, i feel a bit more privleged that i live in america, because japanese artists come over all the time (and i usually never know too)

places like britian and germany though are so much more in-tune with japanese pop culture. america just has this lofty additude that the world is only about us and us alone. :\

its unfortunate, but true.

good luck with your fight!! i can relate since ive been attempting to aquire a Mitsuhiro Oikawa fanbase here in america so that hed make his way over sometime.

[Veroniku]

As sad as this sounds, I've never been to a real j-rock concert. ;_; I have been to Yoko Ishida's concert at AX though, and really it did seem like her only popular song was that one from the opening of... Aoi something, haha, can't remember (read the first manga and didn't like it...). Anyway I thought she was so cute! (I even got to talk to her at her panel! <3) so I bought her album and got it signed. ^..^ It's very light j-pop and I liked it a lot. I love when conventions can make you discover new artists like that!

So, really, I don't mind if people are like "Oh she's so good 'cause she sang that one opening song!", because it's a great way to give unknown artists a chance. Who cares if most people stop there? Just means it wasn't their style of music. If you think that's hypocrite... *shrugs* It's possible that you get attached to an opening song after a long anime marathon! (I didn't like the Lost Universe opening all that much at first, but after getting into the series, I couldn't help singing along excitedly!).

Really, what can you expect from american fans? Not everyone is into japanese music as much as us. The only fix they get are from anime openings and endings. If you think that's mean to the artists... *shrugs* Fans aren't supposed to know about their other songs unless they were signed by Tofu Records anyway, MP3s are illegal! XD; Really, it's a reality the bands must face here, period. Anyway, I wouldn't think they're here often enough for it to bother them. Heh.

And all those defensive comments on "seasonnal japanese music fans" is coming from a girl who listens only to japanese music for years now. XD; Just saying you are entitled to your opinion, but really, just don't let it bother you. I have discovered UVERworld and HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR thanks to Bleach, is it that bad a thing?

[Shipuh]

Originally Posted by Veroniku

As sad as this sounds, I've never been to a real j-rock concert. ;_; I have been to Yoko Ishida's concert at AX though, and really it did seem like her only popular song was that one from the opening of... Aoi something, haha, can't remember (read the first manga and didn't like it...). Anyway I thought she was so cute! (I even got to talk to her at her panel! <3) so I bought her album and got it signed. ^..^ It's very light j-pop and I liked it a lot. I love when conventions can make you discover new artists like that!

no, thats not sad, as long as you a fan of the music, thats good enough. i just went to my first japanese concert one week ago.

Originally Posted by Veroniku

So, really, I don't mind if people are like "Oh she's so good 'cause she sang that one opening song!", because it's a great way to give unknown artists a chance. Who cares if most people stop there? Just means it wasn't their style of music. If you think that's hypocrite... *shrugs* It's possible that you get attached to an opening song after a long anime marathon! (I didn't like the Lost Universe opening all that much at first, but after getting into the series, I couldn't help singing along excitedly!).

nicely put, but i partially agree. i dont see it more of the artist work, perse, but take for example, someone liked a really synthy-pop opening song, but just didnt branch out to listen to more stuff within the synth drama, (i mean, if thats what they liked)

im a fan to alot of music, but i cant like every single song by my favorite artists.

Originally Posted by Veroniku

Really, what can you expect from american fans? Not everyone is into japanese music as much as us. The only fix they get are from anime openings and endings. If you think that's mean to the artists... *shrugs* Fans aren't supposed to know about their other songs unless they were signed by Tofu Records anyway, MP3s are illegal! XD; Really, it's a reality the bands must face here, period. Anyway, I wouldn't think they're here often enough for it to bother them. Heh.

there are completely legal methods other than american distribution.

for example, anime OSTs is one, importation, asian grocery stores or through online methods like yesasia, CDJapan, and even ebay.

why is it that bands like Polysics and HALCALI, Tetsu and Tomo get featured on BBC in Scotland, while we poor americans have no clue whats going on, its simplly because no one is really tuned into the rest of the world.

Originally Posted by Veroniku

And all those defensive comments on "seasonnal japanese music fans" is coming from a girl who listens only to japanese music for years now. XD; Just saying you are entitled to your opinion, but really, just don't let it bother you. I have discovered UVERworld and HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR thanks to Bleach, is it that bad a thing?

never said it was a bad thing, im happy when an artist recieves fans through a particular method, its just when a person listens only to that song and couldn't consider their other work, or similiar work/genre, is just sort of an ignorant additude.

same with people who only listen to japanese music. foreign music of all kinds, new and old, folk and rock, classical and contemporary, shouldnt be judged by language barriers or genre, but how well it was musically written, and of course, your own personal opinion is priority.

dont forget the lyricless instrumental scores out there too. ^^;;

but i enjoyed reading your perspective. you make some nice points.