J-Pop

Read more about the article Music Spotlight: Cross Gene’s “La-Di Da-Di”

Music Spotlight: Cross Gene’s “La-Di Da-Di”

The next song in Music Spotlight is from Cross Gene, where how I found out about them is interesting through word of mouth. Not many people will understand it, but this is something that makes sense within my circle of friends. Even if it doesn’t make sense, it’s definitely a very catchy song to listen to on regular rotation.

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Continue ReadingMusic Spotlight: Cross Gene’s “La-Di Da-Di”
Read more about the article K-Pop Rules The World: How South Korea Overtook Japan in Digital Music Choices

K-Pop Rules The World: How South Korea Overtook Japan in Digital Music Choices

If you are into J-Pop, including K-Pop, then you may be wondering why you don’t see enough content outside of Japan of your favorite artists without having to go to great lengths to obtain the latest release. It might be due to a generational issue of complicated, and possibly financial, reasons. I was originally going to just Tweet about this, but this needs more than 280 characters. So I am going to just write about this in a form of a blog post. It’s about the reasons why K-Pop is as global as it is, with even a handful of male J-Pop bands embracing the style of K-Pop. And it all falls back to an interest in music from another country that is right across from South Korea.

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Continue ReadingK-Pop Rules The World: How South Korea Overtook Japan in Digital Music Choices
Read more about the article Music Spotlight: Male J-Pop Groups (As Heard By a K-Pop Fan)

Music Spotlight: Male J-Pop Groups (As Heard By a K-Pop Fan)

I came across a video the other day that was created by YouTube user “just a black guy who likes j-pop” featuring the latest of what Japan has to offer when it comes to Male J-Pop Groups. As someone who has been exposed to K-Pop for more than 15 years, this is familiar territory.

Watching the video, I couldn’t help but notice the familiar soundscape of each group presented in the video. What I heard in the video sounds–and looks–like a modern K-Pop group. Only if I pay attention to what I hear, it’s what modern J-Pop sounds like in the sound of many groups on the way of becoming global superstars, such as BTS, or even NCT 127.

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Continue ReadingMusic Spotlight: Male J-Pop Groups (As Heard By a K-Pop Fan)