J-pop

bits and pieces of nerdom.

All content © NFGworld, unless otherwise noted, except for stuff we stole. Contact the editor-in-chief : baldbutsuave@thissitesdomain, especially if you are an attractive young female willing to do nude photography modelling. All rights reversed. 672

Forum Search Members The Bedroom About

Forum: NFGworld Forums › Music

J-pop

What's hot?

2009-06-10, 18:42 #1

Member since Oct 2007 · 265 posts
Group memberships: Citizens, Members

Show profile ·

Link to this post

Subject: J-pop

Anybody know what's supposed to be exciting or relevant in the world of Japanese popular music these days? I'm trying to broaden my interests beyond whoever is doing the latest anime opening theme song, and I find myself confronted with the same problem that you see in the Western music market: too much product, not enough critical guidance.

(Administrator) 2009-06-26, 13:09 #2

Member since May 2011 · 2173 posts · Location: Brisbane
Group memberships: Administrators, Members

Show profile ·

Link to this post

I asked Zumi about this, and she says it hasn't really changed much in the last five years or so. Ayumi Hamasaki is still the pop queen, and acts from Johnnie & Associates like Smap are still holding strong. Seems pretty boring to me, but ever since Yellow Monkey imploded I haven't paid much attention to the scene.

BLEARGH

2009-06-28, 01:02 #3

Member since Oct 2007 · 265 posts
Group memberships: Citizens, Members

Show profile ·

Link to this post

Thanks for asking on my behalf. Japanese media is even more artificially induced than it is in the United States, and I get the sense that there's no real, cultivated or undiscovered talent that would break through all the careful choreography. I'm looking to inflict something other than anime theme songs on my coworkers at some point.

(Administrator) 2009-06-28, 01:40 #4

Member since May 2011 · 2173 posts · Location: Brisbane
Group memberships: Administrators, Members

Show profile ·

Link to this post

You certainly can get lucky, there are some Japanese bands that are definitely amateur, but not in 'pop' music orbits.

You're right about artificial controls. The aforementioned Yellow Monkey disappeared from the scene after announcing on a music show that they were going to go against their label's wishes and start accepting interview requests and appearances that they were not allowed to do. The show's hosts, knowing full well the consequences of any band going against the label, were shocked. As you might suspect, that very day they stopped showing up anywhere.

BLEARGH