[Delirium-Zer0]

Alot of different artists could fit into that description, definitely.... one of the reasons I went with Tori Amos is just cuz she's SO the polar opposite of Ayu in so many ways.... something like "Gwen Stefani" or "Alanis Morissette" or "Madonna" or "Lady Gaga" wouldn't have been nearly as shocking or surprising for people to read at the end, since they're all much more pop-radio friendly.

But yeah, people doing the "so and so" comparison thing really bothers me. It's a fun game to play with your friends, but really, there's no way to do that to someone who's new to jpop. If someone into jpop told me "Ayu is the britney spears of japan," that would have been an instant turn-off because I don't asssociate her with great music, great shows, etc.... personally, I associate her with complete and total dysfunction. She's a crazy person to me, not a successful entertainer. So you really have to be careful making comparisons like that, because you don't know the exact thoughts of whoever you're talking to regarding that comparison.

Likewise, some people might be offended by a Tori Amos comparison. They might think "Tori's insane and her lyrics are confusing and no one cares about her at all! She sells like five copies of each album!" or something.

You also have to think about what your friend is looking for in a j-artist - are they looking for a certain style of music, a certain type of voice, a certain prominent instrument, a certain style of concerts & videos? Or are they looking for someone who's as popular as their favorite western artists, someone who's made a cultural impact, someone who works a certain way?

It's not like Japan says "let's make a japanese version of so-and-so" for every artist they sign; if they did, these comparisons would be easier. But these artists ARE their own people, they're all gonna do things differently.

During the shoot for the B'z "It's Showtime" PV, one of the extras was saying "I heard this band is kinda like the Japanese Bon Jovi" and I just felt like smacking something. x_X!!