Foreign Idols: Why they usually don't work

OKAY.

This is an issue that has been on my mind for some time, and I feel like I should talk about it before I continue with my regular idol blogging.

So if you don't already know, there is a large community of teenage girls on YouTube who upload covers of Jpop and Kpop songs and dances.  I happen to be one of those people.  It's fun!  It's a cool little hobby and you can meet people with similar interests!  That's how I first met Chiima of Okay Musume Time!  Making covers of songs on YouTube isn't the problem here.  Many popular singers now have been "discovered" through their YouTube channels (Justin Bieber being a good example).

The problem arises when these young (mostly Caucasian) girls believe that because they upload covers of Jpop/Kpop songs on YouTube, that they can go and be idols in Japan or Korea.  "If Beckii Cruel can do it, so can I!"  If these girls want to be singers, dancers, entertainers, whatever, that's fine.  It's good to have a big dream, and to go for it with full force!  But when a dream you have is so immersed in a foreign country and culture...it can get a little tricky.

Here are the main reasons why I think it doesn't work:

1)  Relatability
So let's say one of these girls does get a record deal with an office in Japan or Korea.  Wahoo!  But do you speak the language?  Do you know the common courtesies of the country?  Manners?  Do's and Don'ts of social situations?  There are a lot of new things to learn in this situation, and it can be overwhelming (not to mention costly) for both the company and the idol to learn everything.  Without knowing all of these things mentioned above, these girls can't relate to their audience.  While, yes, there are international fans of Jpop and Kpop, the main consumers of the material are Japanese and Korean people.  Idols stand as role models for young people in these countries, and if these young people look at their TV screen and see some foreign girl standing there, they won't have the same connection as they would if it were a Japanese or Korean idol.

As a counter point to my own argument, some people may say that "Hey, music is a universal language.  It doesn't matter what language a song is in for people to enjoy it."  And I agree with that whole heartedly.  If I didn't, I wouldn't have this blog.  But there is a difference between different languages and different ethnicity. For example, artists like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have held concerts in Japan and Korea, and have been on variety shows there.  The concerts are always packed and the fans sing along in English even though they may not always know what they are singing.  But Gaga and Perry made it in the music industry of their home country first.  They are sharing their music to a global audience, and aren't trying to force themselves into the Japanese idol culture which they don't understand.

Bringing back the whole Beckii Cruel thing, I think this point was a HUGE reason of why it didn't work out for her.  She wasn't fluent in the language when she went to Japan, she didn't know all of the customs, and it was painfully obvious that she had no clue what she was doing.  She was cute, and people liked to look at her, but that can only last someone for so long in the entertainment industry.  Her 15 seconds of "fame" in Japan have come and gone, and last time I checked, no one in Japan gives a damn about her anymore.

She recently announced that she would be recording another Japanese single independently, and as some of you may know, she co-founded Oishii Project.  One of the main goals of Oishii Project is for their girls to make it in Japan.  But if you look at their YouTube videos, Facebook Page, and Tumblr Blog, most of their comments and fans are other girls who want to be in Oishii Project, or want to be idols in Japan themselves. Their main market is these teenage girls, not their target audience of Japanese people.

2)  The importance of Asian musicians in the global music scene
You may disagree with me on this point, but I think one of the great things about Jpop and (more so) Kpop's global reach is that it debunks stereotypes about Asian people.  In many Western countries, Asian people are seen as awkward, submissive, unattractive, among other things.  Asian music artists are kicking those stereotypes in the face and are showing the world that yes, Asian people can be sexy, can be talented, and have a whole lot to offer to the entertainment industry.  In Western countries (and the United States in particular), it's very difficult for Asian people to make it big in the music industry because of the aforementioned stereotypes.  There are plenty of Jpop and Kpop stars that are mixed race, or Asian-American (Canadian, European, etc.) that have gone to Japan or Korea because they couldn't make it in their home country (for example:  Kevin and Eli from U-Kiss, Tiffany and Jessica from SNSD, Amber and Krystal from f(x), etc).  Because of the Jpop and Kpop industries, they have the chance to follow their dreams and show off their own talents.

As a foreigner of no Asian ethnic background, if you were to go and take a spot in an office in Japan or Korea, you'd be taking away a spot for a talented Asian person who would have a difficult time making it elsewhere.  (And for the record, I'm not saying it's impossible for Asian people to make it in the Western music industry, hey, look at Far East Movement, but I'm saying that it's much less likely and it would take a hell of a lot more work).


I'm not trying to discourage those who have dreams of performing.  Being a singer is one of my dreams too, and I am also a fan of Jpop and Kpop.  But I do think it's best for Caucasian people to find success in their own country before going overseas.  And there are definitely pros to doing this!

1)  You speak the language.  No language courses required!
2)  You know the proper manners and customs
3)  Your audience can relate to you!

And plus, if you don't like the music your country is producing, YOU CAN CHANGE IT.  I'm not saying it will be easy, but the entertainment industry is a constantly evolving thing, and you can be a part of that evolution.  You can take inspiration from your favorite Jpop and Kpop artists, and make music about things you care about, and people of a similar mindset will catch on.  And if you want to perform overseas, talk to your agent/record company/producer to see where you can go!  Travel and learn.  You don't need a Japanese/Korean management company to perform there.  You and your company just have to talk to the right people.

If you think YouTube covers are a fun thing to do, please keep doing them!  I plan on it!  It's a great hobby! Go perform at anime conventions like I do with my company, people there will have a great time!  But if you really want to make music, write it in your own language, and have it speak from your own personal experience.

Trust me, you will find it so much more creatively fulfilling then trying to act cute in a language you don't understand.
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WHEW!  I was really worried about writing that, but I decided to take the plunge!  Let me know what your thoughts are on this issue, I'd love to hear them!

Also, just letting you know, once I have more original music to show y'all, I'll be posting it here as well as your regularly scheduled idol-fangirling.

I'm back after my month long hiatus, so please expect some cool stuff coming this Summer!