J-Pop Songs You Think Would See Success in the US Market
 

I'm curious as to what everyone here would consider J-pop/rock/urban songs that would have a strong chance at doing well were they released stateside at this point in time with sufficient promotion (and, hypothetically, with a passable english translation and non-Engrish pronunciation of the lyrics). I don't think you necessary have to live in the US to respond to this, as I'm sure most people are well aware of what types of songs fare well in the US currently. It could be Top 40 type stuff or maybe on the Adult Contemporary or R&B charts. Please don't simply suggest your favorite songs or artists - as much as I love old school Ayu, for example, I'm not 100% positive Surreal would go over well lol

That said, here is a small list of ones I think would be successful, bolded are ones I think could be huge hits:

Namie Amuro - Hide & Seek, WANT ME WANT ME (w/ updated production)
Ayaka - Mikazuki
Koda Kumi - FREAKY, Love goes like..., BUT, D.D.D. (sl***y videos essential ;) )
Abingdon Boys School - Innocent Sorrow, ATHENA
HYDE - HELLO
hitomi - Japanese Girl
Mr. Children - Fake
L'arc en Ciel - New World
KAT-TUN - Real Face (with well-known American rapper instead of whoever does it in the song)
ELLEGARDEN - Jitterbug
BoA - QUINCY (with tweaks...)

Some of these might be wishful thinking, maybe some sound outdated? Anxiously awaiting your opinions! :)

I think 'Time Limit' by Utada Hikaru would do reletively well in the US. Also the Namie Amuro songs you have listed. Er...and a LOT of Koda Kumi's songs :P

None would.

People still think "ching chong waka" is Japanese. :|

If promoted properly I'm pretty sure it would do well. In 1963 the song Sukiyaki went to number in in the U.S for 3 weeks. Pretty sure back then the view on Japanese people were worse <_>

Also, in the first post, I wrote "hypothetically, with a passable english translation and non-Engrish pronunciation of the lyrics", so the fact that it is sung in Japanese shouldn't be considered.

I think Namie Amuro's CAN'T SLEEP, CAN'T EAT, I'M SICK and No would do quite well here. :)

ahh how could i forget No??? so clubby! I love that song, though you wouldn't know from looking at its iTunes play count, which is probably zero because I don't listen to the end with the bonus track slapped on the end of it. :(

I think BoA's valenti and stuff english version would sell alright in US XD

For some reason I could imagine a little pain by OLIVIA becoming popular here xD It also helps that she speaks fluent English :P

WoWa by Namie Amuro and One Way by Thelma Aoyama

er maybe Namie Amuro's 60s70s80s ?

Since all the 3 songs sampled famous songs from each era , I'm sure Americans will recongise the tunes of the 3 songs in 60s70s80s & maybe will take notice & listen to them ?

I don't know

yeaa...western ppls who know nothing about the asian culture
think japanese writing is chinese
and chinese is japanese
or indian
and etc
and that lei ho is chinese
wen its the language i hate the most =@
arghh
and then theres like...yeaaa...
nothign against them though
i wouldn't be able to tell the difference between israelic language and them other ones lols
neways...back on topic
jpop songs that would be successful in the US market would be those that have english in it, mainly english...e.g. Hikki xD
hehe

you got it!!

yes yes hitomi's japanese girl, LOVE2000, by myself are very suitable to enter US market!!

koda's and namie's stuff are good too~

I think it's possible for Ken Hirai to break into the US market . He went to New York 5 years ago to perform for MTV UNPLUGGED at the TRL timesquare & I understand he actually met up with record label bosses to discuss on whether to cut out an Eng album but it didn't work out .

I honestly think Ken has the potential to be a bigger star if he ever consider to record an eng album but unfortunately time's not on his own anymore & besides he has to start all over again & be re-introduced as a new artiste to the world .

I guess the 2nd best option's for him to release a cover album full of eng covers songs even though I still wish that he pull out an original Eng album in Japan

^didnt he sang english in ken's bar album??

yes he did & really his Eng dictation's perfect to me

His rendition on those Eng covers that he chose to cover & be included in his Ken's Bar album are really good !

i think namie amuro songs can success in the US market

Well, I don't think Koda Kumi songs will chart well in the US market. But I think that Namie's song will chart well.

I agree with you. It's very annoying that people think that way.

Hmm...

BoA - Girl In The Mirror
Koda Kumi - JUICY / Trust you etc.... All the urban R&B songs.
Thelma Aoyama - HIGHER
Namie Amuro - All her Dallas Austin produced songs.
Utada Hikaru - Time Limits

:yes

Koda Kumi - Twinkle ~english version~
(and all the other english versions)

:roflmao

:roflmao

oh god no , she will be a laughing stock if these Eng renditions of songs were to be released in US radios

If the English was cleaned up, it would be a hit. Teenybopper pop is popular, and it sounds like something out of HSM. :tipsy

HAHA good one lol
I think most of Namie's songs would be able to make it into the U.S market though

Ayumi Hamasaki - Alterna, Talking To Myself, Is This Love?, Because of You, About You, Mirror, Fated
BoA - Outgrow ~Ready Butterfly~, Brave, Girls On Top, Sweet Impact, Dakishimeru
Anyband - TPL (Talk, Play, Love)
Epik High - One
Namie Amuro - What A Feeling, Top Secret, Shine More, Violet Sauce (Spicy)
Katou Miliyah - Tough, Ms. Jealousy, Tokyo Star, Kiss, Good Bye My Teenage,
Maki Goto - City Lights, How To Use Loneliness, Some Boys Touch,
Chihiro - Miss You
Aria - Departure
Suite Chic - What's On Your Mind
Yuko Ishida - Missing You
Tohoshinki - Darkness Eyes, Triangle
Koda Kumi - Under, Amai Wana, Candy, Shake It, Anata Ga Shite Kurete, Feel,
Ami Suzuki - Eventful
Kotoko - Re-Sublimity
Hikaru Utada - Moving On Without You, Automatic, Beautiful World, This Is Love, Time Will Tell,
TommyHeavenly6 - 2BFree, Wanna Be Your Idol,
Brilliant Green - Ash Like Snow
Janne Da Arc - Diamond Virgin
Tamaki Nami - Sanctuary
May J. - Do Tha' Do Tha'
Enjel - Pop
JJ Lin - Sha Shou
Mika Nakashima - Glamorous Sky
UverWorld - D-Techno Life
Rain - Any Dream
Leah Dizon - Love Paradox, Are You Feeling For Me?
Yuna Ito - Alone Again
melody. - Real Me, Ready To Go, Finding My Road
Satomi - I Still Like You

:thud

I'm very picky when it comes to listening to Asian pop...

To be honest as much as I would love for jpop to come to the US, I'm afraid it might get too popular where everyone loves it just because they think it's the cool thing to do, if everyone here loved Namie...well th en where would I be?...I'd just be one of the many american Namie Amuro fans...:(

I think pretty much anything from the last few years released by Kuu and Namie. They both, Namie especially, have a lot of Western production musically (Mixers etc and Kuu has a few songs that were formed around compositions sent to multiple labels i.e. Cherry Girl, MORE). Obviously Namies early Eurobeat wouldn't really sell and Kuu's first 3 albums are quite dated but anything since I could see doing well with the right translation and pronunciation.

Utada's last 2 albums could sell if she got some decent remixers and got her tracks in the clubs. The ethereal sound would translate so well to club mixes :love

The reason I think songs like hitomi's Japanese Girl could do well here is not only because it's a good song but it also sells 'Japaneseness' in much the same way Shakira and Ricky Martin sold an easily digestible and mainstream version of latin music in Whenever Wherever and Livin' La Vida Loca respectively.

I think alot of J-pop could do very well in Europe, like Namie's What A Feeling or anything with similar 80's or electronia influence, which I think is more common in J-pop than R&B influence.

^i love you jknza~~

i totally support your quote!!!

Didn't Utada try that with "Easy Breezy?" I think that her attempt to sell "Japaneseness" is one of the reasons why she didn't fair well in the American market. I'd like to see some artists make it on real musical talent, personally - not on the exotic foreign qualities of their music/lyrics.

I also think Namie would do well. Not only because of her songs (WANT ME,WANT ME etc), but also because of her looks. I think the long dark hair thing fits the stereotypes. =P

Hoenstly, none. :|

The instant people know that its a Japanese song, they don't want to hear it. Even if its a beat that they like, a genre they like, the instant they hear that its from Japan, they will become bais.
I think that there are quite a few songs that could make it big, but from past experiences, I can say that most people won't take.
Maybe for screamo songs, where the lyrics can't be understood anyway.

However, I do think that if people looked past the Japanese aspect, Koda Kumi would do the best. Not just the fact that shes a bigger stripper than Britney, but because her songs are really urban, which is very in.

RubySakura13: I love your list! A lot of GREAT artists.

About the whole "Japaneseness" thing some of you guys were talking about. I don't think that would work for Japanese artists like it did Latinos. This is because there are SO many latinos in America right now so the market for latin music is growing in America. The record companies saw that they could make money with latin artists because of the influx of Latino people in America. They were just lucky that it grew on the rest of the country. If there were 30 million Japanese people in America I'm sure they'd be trying to promote Japanese artists over here too.

However, I think as long as the music and promotion is good a Japanese/Asian artist could make it in America. Right now urban music and some rock/alternative music is big in America. I don't think artists/groups like Morning Musume, early Maki Goto, Aya Matsuura, or anyone out of Hello Project would be taken seriously in America. Any cutesy, happy-go-lucky stuff is out of the question like Ai Otsuka. Cute is not as popular in America as it is in Japan. People here would think it was weird. I don't even think EXILE would do well because a lot of their music is either ballads or cheesy pop songs. They'd have to release more of their hip-hop/R&B music. Maybe they would have made it in the 90's alongside boy bands like N'sync and Backstreet but not nowadays.

Ayumi Hamasaki could do well in America with a crash course in english. She has some good songs that could get her some recognition on the pop/rock charts. For example, Hanabi ~episode II~, About you, No way to say, Greatful days, Ourselves, Inspire, Step you, fated, and Together When... would all be popular on American radio. Also, Namie Amuro has a lot of songs that are hugely American influnced. I could see her whole PLAY album being released in America as is. Most of her music starting from Genuis 2000 is marketable in America. Lastly, Kumi Koda could make a crossover but she has to clean up her style. I mean I love the fact that you can't put her into one genre but in America we love to do that. She's definitely needs to drop her cutesy songs like With your smile, Koi no tsubomi, and Birthday Eve as well as some of those lackluster ballads. DOUBLE is one of the few artist in Japan that is pretty much already for an American debut. Stylewise and lookwise she fits America's standards and her english is already good. However, I think what's keeping her from crossing over is her shy personality. I think her older music would be quite popular in America even though it is quite dated. Another artist that I think fits into the same category as DOUBLE is AI. She's definitely got the talent to make a crossover.

But enough of my rantings, here's my list:

Ayumi Hamasaki: Hanabi ~episode II~, About you, No way to say, Greatful days, Ourselves, Inspire, Step you, fated, and Together when...
Namie Amuro: Whole PLAY album, WoWa, GIRL TALK, Alarm, No pt 1 and pt 2, Indy Lady, Put 'em up, So Crazy, and Shine more
Kumi Koda: BUT, Himitsu, Amai wana, Under, Get up and move!!, JUICY, Cherry Girl, feel, Love goes like..., Selfish, Chase, Star, Rock your body, Get out the way, BOY FRIEND?, and one
DOUBLE: ROCK THE PARTY, Call Me, Summertime, Black Diamond, Reflex, Run away love, Wonderful, destiny, Souljah, Okaeri, Had to, Who's that girl, Strange things, Driving all night, Angel, U, Handle it, Untouchable, FLOOR, and Home
AI: I'll remember you, Brand new day, Get Up, feel for you, feel so good, The Answer, MUSIC, I wanna know, We gonna, No Way, Ooh, Beautiful, Mirai, Sunshine, Story, If, 365, Another Day, Sha La La, California, Summer Breeze/Summer time, E.O., After the Rain, 100%, Mugen, Say yes Say no, Alive, Angel, Dreaming of you, Thank U, Playboy, 2 Face, My Friend, and Last Words

That's all for now.

DOUBLE and AI for sure

and Heartsdales, if they were together

:laugh

she should maybe take english classes before......:innocent

I don't think it would happen
I agree with some of you when they say that people think chinese is japanese
people just don't know the difference
I mean you see a bus, ok imagine it's written in korean on it
people will think it's probably japanese....XD
they don't see the difference..anyway XD

if it was to happen maybe kuu because of her urban songs
but like I said I think I doubt it will happen~

UH tried it already and 'failed'.. however I'm pretty sure she is working on another english album with Island Def Jam...


If anyone is going to make it I think it will be her. If she can pull it off that will offer more opportunity for artists to try and replicate her success.. and if that can happen.. well we may just see what happened to Latin music in the late nineties happen to J-whatever.


Namie could also do quite well I think. What they need to do is not try releasing their own work.. but use industry channels to collaborate with other artists such as Ne-Yo etc.. (as UH is doing)

Well, as long as Americans don't find out the ethnicity of the artist, I think a good deal of artists in Japan can have a few hits.