Make Believe Mailer Vol. 11: R.I.P KARA, SMAP (?)
Last week, Korean pop outfit KARA disbanded. This was pretty big news (not the most interesting K-pop news though!), even when adjusted for K-pop fans hyperbolic reactions to everything, seeing as KARA were one of the biggest acts responsible for turning K-pop into the industry it is today. And they didn't achieve bigger international success than they did in Japan, where they kickstarted the country's hallyu boom.
Plenty of Korean pop stars had successfully crossed over to the Japanese market before 2010, highlighted by TVXQ and BoA who longed cleaned up sales wise (also, K-drama Winter Sonata planted the seeds of all this really early in the new millennium). But the way they approached the market was a lot different than how KARA...and eventually other outfits...would do it in 2010. Older acts played more by Japanese industry rules, and went to greater lengths to blend into the sounds around them. When the great hallyu boom of 2010 started and the Japanese charts started getting crowded with Korean acts, a popular online sentiment was the new wave of pop acts making inroads in Japan were doing it the wrong way, compared to the artists before them.
But they did commercials for convenience stores, that's the Japanese way!
I've written about seeing the K-pop boom start in Japan before, but focused on Girls' Generation. Thing is, KARA really lead the charge in the summer of 2010, when their first Japanese single "Mr" became a constant on morning shows, nightly news shows, any program where Japanese TV personalities can talk about trends (90 percent of all television here) and oh yeah music shows.
I remember really seeing the K-pop craze kick off in August, because my English teaching job at the time was on a month-long vacation, leaving me lots of time to just watch Japanese TV, which was all about KARA and Girls' Generation. And I remember going back to work in September, and how every student suddenly knew all about both groups too, and how KARA's signature "butt dance" and outfits from the "Mr" video became pop-culture references (not sure how many school talent show dance performances of "Mr" I saw over the next two years). Whereas older groups sort of just slid into the J-pop scene, this generation of Korean artists were creating the things everyone talked about. It helped that the domestic "idol boom" was less interested in reaching everyone in favor of milking loyal fanbases for all they were worth.
No context for linking to KARA riding the Jaws ride.
KARA's Japanese peak -- and, really all of K-pop in Japan's peak -- came in 2011. Their spring single "Jet Coaster Lover" went to one on Oricon, and subsequent releases reached the second spot. And they remained a constant on TV, including in a segment I've watched maybe 500 times by now. Eventually, K-pop's visibility in mainstream Japanese culture receded -- long story short, nationalism -- but every song KARA released as a single in the following years debuted in Oricon's top ten -- their summer single from last year, at a point where KARA were nowhere on TV, landed at number two.
KARA helped a lot in turning K-pop into the industry juggernaut/trend-piece fallback, but their ultimate legacy should be that they were the group that broke into Japan (Girls' Generation did come in with them, but they didn't go supernova until "Mr. Taxi" the following Spring). Pretty good run, I'd say.
News And Views
Far and away the biggest breakup news of the week, though, was from a Japanese group. Long-running boy band/bistro chefs SMAP appears on the verge of disbanding, thanks primarily to Westeros-style power plays within Johnny & Associates featuring the group's manager. It's huge news! I will probably write something longer about this next week, partially because I want to see what happens next.
Geez, 2016 has been pretty incredible for entertainment blockbuster news thus far. Remember Becky and the Gesu No Kiwami Otome guy? Well, dude is really sorry, he bowed TWICE on national TV. The "views" part of this -- while Becky's career has been torpedoed for, at least, the near future, it has become clear this whole affair (heh) has only helped Gesu. The band -- and their music -- has been plastered all over TV now, and has exposed them to a whole bunch of people who would never seek out new music (lolz olds). Not sure how this will impact sales -- new album seems to be doing OK so far! -- but hey aspiring bands, here's a good route to attention.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu opened her new "XR" ride at Universal Studio's Japan in Osaka. Related, please buy me a Shinkansen ticket to Osaka.
The Japan Times had a very lovely tribute to David Bowie, check it out.
It's up to debate just how useful the South By Southwest Music Festival is for artists as a way to get attention, seeing as the biggest thing I've heard so far this year is "do you think Biebs will show up???" But the Austin event remains a good chance for Japanese artists to play a show, and this year the week-long happening will feature folks like Qrion, De De Mouse and KOHH among others.
Japanese Music Highlights From The Past Week
If you like '80s-inspired sounds, two outfits from Japan had you covered!
I'll always be a sucker for a driving indie-pop song, which Osaka's Whisper Voice Riot provided with "Stargaze."
Also really enjoyed producer Yamoto Irahi's Little Pink Cells.
This week in songs I forgot to write about: Kindan No Tasuketsu shared a woozy new one, while Tofubeats got acidic.
I've somehow gotten out to more live shows this January than...probably ever January ever. Thanks El Nino! Anyway, best artist I saw this week was Group2, an indie-pop outfit who add a level of unpredictable aggression to their live set.
Oricon Trail For The Week Of Jan. 4 - Jan. 10
Every week, I'll share the top-charting single from the Oricon Charts, a deeply flawed ranking system that favors groups who get fans to buy multiple copies of the same song, offering a warped view of what anyone actually listens to. I'll also try not to vomit on my keyboard in the process.
#1 BOYS AND MEN "BOYMEN Ninja" (102,196 Copies Sold)
All you really need to know about this song is the line "We are BOYMEN" is delivered without a hint of irony.
Cool Japan is a roaring success if you change the goal lines from "let's spread Japanese culture abroad" to "hey Japanese people, Japanese culture!" "BOYMEN Ninja" (ugghhhhhhhh) is a golden example of this, as it is a song about...ninjas, who are presumably boymen, loaded up with references to throwing stars and ninja culture, while also singing "MADE IN JAPAN" oh my god what is this hell. The video has the BOYMEN running around kicking ninjas. I feel the concept was "let's show the world how cool Japan is!" but in the end -- as evidenced by an Oricon number one -- the only people who care are already Japanese.
You should purge your computer of that song, but please do visit their "international" web page, wherein the go-to description of the group is they are "the ultra-hot group of ultra-hot guys, born and bred in Nagoya!" This is echoed in the description of the travel show they host.
You literally can't make any of this up
Look At Me!
Talked to Jayda B for The Japan Times! Check out DENTradio, which introduces Japanese electronic music and includes interviews with the artists behind it.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you want to reply to something about this newsletter/get in touch with me at my email address patrickstmichel@gmail.com. The replies only come to TinyLetter and I don't get other notifications, and I only log in here once a week. Sorry for messages I missed as a result of this!!!
Written by Patrick St. Michel (patrickstmichel@gmail.com)
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