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

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by AyuHamasaki01

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

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

[fanmail]

Originally Posted by AyuHamasaki01

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

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

[ayuayu798]

Originally Posted by AyuHamasaki01

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

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

[RubySakura13]

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



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

[Celaphorce]

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...

[JUICYxJEWEL]

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

[jknza2664]

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.

[prussian blue]

^i love you jknza~~

i totally support your quote!!!

[TakaSama]

Originally Posted by jknza2664

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.

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.

[keikeiaznqueen]

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

[happiholic★]

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.

[Nanako]

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.

[Kobayashiwoof]

DOUBLE and AI for sure

and Heartsdales, if they were together

[minna]

Originally Posted by AyuHamasaki01

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

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

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~

[sswx2187]

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)

[Melon Panda]

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.