Psy The Herpes of Music acording to Billy Joe

[DIYer]

Pop music is pop music. It's all puerile crap, but catchy puerile crap. I wonder if they thought much the same stuff about Michael Jackson and Madonna.

But, I think the important issue was raised by Haywood.

Let's stay focused on the real crux of things, gentlemen.

Pop music (& culture) is not my cup-o-tea so it may sound harsh to some of you but it's not intentional. Having said that, when playing those videos without looking, I couldn't tell the difference compared to L. Gaga, Madonna, Spears ...etc. :roll:

The chicks in Girl's Generation are insanely hot.

As for the looks, here's a trick, play the video with audio muted.

 

[Flint]

When I travel to China or Korea I spend hours watching their MTV channels because I can enjoy them without understanding the language, and they actually play music.

I have to say, the j-pop, k-pop and budding c-pop are all a billion times better than the American equivalent. They really Think it through, show some real art, and push the envelope of true creativity balanced with popular fun.

 

[Haywood]

Lisa and I got hooked on all things Asian when we lived in China and Korea in the 90's. She watches a ton of Asian television on streaming services like Drama Fever and listens to a lot of Asian pop music. My oldest daughter does too and also consumes a ton of anime and manga. We've got pretty large Asian Cinema and Anime collections in our library and our home is decorated with a lot of Asian art (mostly Chinese and Korean).

 

[Deleted member 133]

When I travel to China or Korea I spend hours watching their MTV channels because I can enjoy them without understanding the language, and they actually play music.

I have to say, the j-pop, k-pop and budding c-pop are all a billion times better than the American equivalent. They really Think it through, show some real art, and push the envelope of true creativity balanced with popular fun.

Well said Flint! (Although I wouldn't go as hard on American pop.)

As I worked my way through this thread (a huge thanks to Haywood for his contributions) I was somewhat taken aback by the negative references to "pop" music / culture etc. Yesterday's pop can become today's classic.

And as I was thinking this I played the Paparazzi video and was amazed at the number of references to now-classic pop tunes / movies. What a well-crafted homage! I can't believe that this was anything but brilliantly and purposely creative.

So what started out as yet another "I hate this shyt" thread turned into a real positive eye opener - at least for me.

Jeff

 

[Deleted member 133]

There are a lot of K-Pop acts that are considerably better. CN Blue, Shinee and Girls' Generation all come to mind.

As I've just discovered for myself, Brown Eyed Girls deserve mention as well. Their Sixth Sense music video is pretty impressive.

 

[DIYer]

I can't believe that this was anything but brilliantly and purposely creative.

When it comes to creativity in pop music (& many other things), America is the leading figure. Without it, there wouldn't have been j-pop or k-pop.

 

[DIYer]

Here's video that kind of conveys what I said above.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhxhkVadK_k[/youtube]

 

[Flint]

All I see is bunch of pop videos mashed together. There are not alignments or clear copies. That is a terrible example of comparing Asian pop acts to American pop acts.

The energy and mood of J-Pop and K-Pop are nothing like American pop. Americans want anger, redemption, retribution, and other forms of conflict in their art right now. I think that is a real shame. Asian pop is generally more uplifting with great humor, self-awareness, and sometimes hilarious self-deprecation. They are not the same thing. Of course, any time there are thousands of new pop songs and videos being produced every month in different countries you'll see some copied and borrowed images or musical styles, but that doesn't make anyone more or less the "leader" in anything. In fact, it was American pop artists who openly admitted to learning from the J-Pop acts during the late 1990s to develop their new styles. We all learn. It is arrogant to say any one country leads another in terms of music. That's like saying the Beatles were a cheap copy of American rock and roll, because, after all, that was what they originally tried to copy when they were in Hamburg and on their first few albums.

 

[DIYer]

All I see is bunch of pop videos mashed together. There are not alignments or clear copies. That is a terrible example of comparing Asian pop acts to American pop acts.

That's why I said it "kind of" conveys what I said. The thing to look at (in that video) is the timeline of the songs.

Americans want anger, redemption, retribution, and other forms of conflict in their art right now. I think that is a real shame. Asian pop is generally more uplifting with great humor, self-awareness, and sometimes hilarious self-deprecation.

I think that has something to do with the difference in the freedom of speech/expression that exists in US vs Japan and Korea.

it was American pop artists who openly admitted to learning from the J-Pop acts during the late 1990s to develop their new styles.

But what was 90's j-pop based on? 80's US-pop. It's been common for many decades that US creates something and Japanese copy it, and then perhaps enhance it.

I've been involved in design work and it applies to just about all design (creative/artistic) work, be it literature, music, visual art ...etc, that it's easier to use what's already been done and add to it or enhance it. Originality is very hard to achieve and they don't come around often. When "business" is the motive, it makes sense to get the most out of the least amount of means so they take the easier route.

 

[Flint]

Everyone in art is standing on the shoulders of the giants that came before them.

My point is that I don't think it is fair to just dismiss the J-Pop and K=pop genius because it resembles American pop.

 

[DIYer]

Everyone in art is standing on the shoulders of the giants that came before them.

Right. No art is 100% original, except maybe for the first art done by human. Even then, it was probably inspired by something that existed already.

My point is that I don't think it is fair to just dismiss the J-Pop and K=pop genius because it resembles American pop.

Ok, I admit that I dismissed it but not totally. I was just not impressed for couple reasons, one, I'm not into pop music, two, it felt boring to me because it's the same type.

BTW, Japanese copying American ideas was notorious occurrence.