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Why isn't Asian music more popular?
Quick: name your top five favorite Asian bands. Can't do it? How about your top three? One? If you're like most Westerners, you probably aren't too familiar with the popular music from the world's most populous continent. But why not? Is Asian music really that bad?
The prevailing view of Asian music-- at least from the Western perspective-- is, well, yes. Asian music really is that bad. P.J. O'Rourke once described Asia as "the continent that rhythm forgot." He wrote, "At best Asian music is off-brand American pop, like Sonny Bono in a karaoke bar. At worst Asian music sounds as if a truck full of wind chimes collided with a stack of empty oil drums during a birdcall contest."
So that's the stereotype, but don't stereotypes sometimes contain at least a kernel of truth? A lot of Asian music-- to the untrained ear anyway-- does sound like the work of an atonal band of screeching cats.
African music, on the other hand, sounds much more familiar to the Western ear. It uses the many of the same scales and rhythms as Western music, and it has had a much greater influence on Western music, at least partly due to the Slave Trade.
In a recent post at Marginal Revolution, Tyler Cowen offered one explanation as to why Asian music isn't more popular. "Many Asian musics, such as some of the major styles of China and Japan, emphasize timbre. That makes them a) often too subtle, and b) very hard to translate to disc or to radio. African-derived musics are perfect for radio or for the car."
Still, he writes that "it's a shame if you haven't trained your ear by now to like the stuff. It's some of the world's finest music."
So how about some recommendations? Well, there's the fantastic Cambodian band called Dengue Fever, a talented Vietnamese chanteuse named Huong Thanh, and a band from Japan named The Boom, just to name a few. Then there's still all the great music of India and the Middle East. Simply put: if you can't find any good Asian music to listen to, you're not looking.
Got any more recommendations, readers?
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Asia
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ArcAngel Aug 10th 2008 9:01PM
Seriously how can anyone find THIS bad?
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=jHHx8GYWHWw
I mean is it really that different then listening to Karaoke on acid? :)
Mikael Mannberg Aug 10th 2008 9:29PM
Dunno, asian music is usually too shrill and high pitched, it gives me a headache :/ And I think ArcAngel nailed the point about Japanese music...
Think I prefer western musicians who are inspired by asian & middle eastern music such as Thievery Corporation and the Karminsky Experience.
However nothing beats being on a bus/boat in Cambodia when they play the latest karaoke love song and everyone signs along :)
Secret Asian Man Aug 11th 2008 5:55PM
I have rediscovered the awesomeness that is Sinn Sisamouth, the famous Cambodian ballad/pop/rock/everything songwriter and singer.
Jamar Aug 11th 2008 7:06PM
Not even one? Even Ayu?
Sam Aug 12th 2008 7:15PM
Ugh. If people took the attitude they take with music that they took with food, we'd be eating soley hot dogs and mac & cheese nonstop. :(
People get so closed-minded about their music. 12-tone Western music is not inherently more beautiful than the microtonal music of EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD! Seriously, it seems like from Africa to the Middle East to Asia the music is microtonal and millions times more complex, both rhythmically (name me one musician in the US who can play any polyrhythm involving numbers over 4) and harmonically (quarter and three quarter flats and sharps).
I understand if people don't want to blast this on their boom boxes, but don't you dare diminish the artistic value of these beautiful musical traditions when what is passed off as music in the Us now is nothing more than sophomoric, morally bankrupt speaking over stolen beats.
Kathleen Aug 13th 2008 1:17AM
Thanks for including the links to samples of the music you’re talking about. I listened, and they’re all quite nice. However, the Dengue Fever and The Boom samples are purely Western music simply sung in different languages and/or in high-pitched voices. Nearly all of the instruments used are Western. In contrast, Huong Thanh’s sample sounded more “authentic” to me. The reason for their lack of popularity here would be, I imagine, because no one is giving Western audiences an opportunity to hear them. Don’t blame the listener who’s never heard the stuff. Occasionally something does slip in like the Japanese “Sukiyaki” or, The Lemon Tree, by Kyu Sakamoto back in the late Fifties or early Sixties. No one understood a word of it, but it was a big hit here in the States.
As for Indian and Middle Eastern music, I like Bollywood music quite a lot, having caught some entertaining music videos on TV. My favorites are “Chaiyya Chaiyya” by Sukhwinder Singh & Sapana Awasthi, and “Chalak Chalak” by Udit Narayan, Shreya Ghoshal, Vinod Rathod. I think you can get them on iTunes which has become a great source for international music. A couple of years back I got hooked on a Brazilian telenovela that featured a lot of Middle Eastern music I developed a liking for. It’s a far cry from the screechy “National Geographic” type music that had previously been my only experience with it, and my iPod is loaded with the Arabic music that I like best. Tony Mouseyak is probably my favorite Arabic singer. You can find his music on soundtrack collections from the novela “O Clone” (in Brazilian) or “El Clon” (in Spanish). Some of my favorites from him are “Ia Leil,” “Ya Helou Ya Zein,” and “Laguetek.” Also from that novela is music by the Arab Ensemble. If you search for anything connected to El Clon and the soundtrack composer/conductor Marcus Viana (on Amazon or iTunes), you’ll find loads of great Middle Eastern and Brazilian music to love. Not to be missed is the Indian based “Path of Love” by Atman. You can probably still download it from his website for free. Parts of it were used as background music in El Clon. You can’t help but feel energized and happy from it. Aside from the Clone connection, one of my favorite Arabic singles is “Youm Wara Yoam” by Samira Said & Cheb Mami. Another is “Meen Habibi Ana” by Nawal Al Zoughbi and Wael Kfouri.
As for traditional Asian music, Chinese operas for example, it is, indeed, far too high-pitched and screechy for Western ears. (Note that they have had no problem falling in love with Western symphonic music which might say something about the universal quality of that fare, not to mention other genres of American music that have been adopted around the world.) However, I did once hear a song on a Chinese popular entertainment show that I wish I could find. Without English sub-titles, however, I was never able to get the title or artist, but it was something about Springtime that was delightful. Wish I could hear it again some time.
Samwise Aug 13th 2008 1:20PM
Utada Hikaru, Miyavi, TM Revolution, L'Arc en Ciel, Ellegarden, Flame, and Dir En Grey.
Christina Aug 13th 2008 6:18PM
I have to say I highly agree with Sam.
I think when it comes to "Asian" music. Many Americans immediately picture the kind of music you hear when you walk into a Chinese fast-food place.
This isn't the case at all. All of Asia is just as advanced in modern music as the rest of the world. And if more people would take the time to listen - they would find cultures of music with genres just as widely defined as our own. Rock, pop, country, hip-hop, techno and traditional.
There is a genre to fit almost anyones taste if they know where to look.
A lot of young underground Americans have taken to Japanese rock music and because of that, it has seen a growing popularity here.
Dir en grey for example sells out most of their venues and has opened for The Deftones and played on the bill for The Family Values Tour.
Jrock Revolution filled the entire Wiltern for two days, presenting a number of rock acts from Japan such as Merry, Miyavi, Kagrra, Alice Nine and others.
Korea, China and Japan all have an endless barrage of the latest pop crazes in their respective countries (and often in each others countries!) Many mass produced and others highly talented.
On another side, the Indies scene is just as rich in places like Japan as it is here - if not more so.
Music, if anything, is more widely spread. I can walk out of a train station on a Friday night in Japan or go to Yoyogi park and find all sorts of people playing on the sidewalks. Most of them quite talented and enjoyable - promoting their singles and handing out fliers.
I highly recommend people to take a more open view to what the rest of the world has to offer. We are all a lot more alike than most people think.
Here are some bands I can highly recommend. In the end it all comes down to personal taste.
SID, they are actually a relatively young band. They played a concert in Chicago in 2004 and since going back to Japan have seen amazing popularity and high places on the Oricon. (The music charts over there.) They are a talented and unique band with a lot of rock and jazz elements to their music. And really great guys! And my favorite band.
Their song 'Ajisai' (Hydrangea) - http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=0FE9_m4ClPk&feature=related
Dir en grey has to be mentioned most highly for their popularity all over the world. Although they are not the first Japanese band to break into American waters with new music - they are certainly the band that has come to closest to appealing to the American people outside of their underground followings. They are a hard rock band and deemed a little bit too "crazy" for some people, if that isn't your thing.
However their lyrics are deep and they are all highly talented musicians. Their videos have been played on MTV not only here but also in Europe.
They have been around for 10+ years and have topped the charts many times in their home country.
Dir en grey's - Kodou - http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgq4laQxW6w
There are plenty more bands, more than I can even begin to count in the rock scene. Many seniors in Japan who have been together for years and years. Like L'Arc~en~Ciel, BUCK-TICK, Kiyoharu and others.
If rock isn't your taste, capsule is a great Shibuya-kei Duo with a great techno, retro 60's style sound who might remind you a bit of Daft-Punk with their quicker stuff.
Capsule - Music Controller - http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=vB6p44yXkDM
I also recommend Onitsuka Chihiro and Mika Nakashima who are great female vocalists. Their voice are powerhouses!
There are way too many talents to name. Korea and China and a lot of other Asian countries have their own build of talented musicians. It's all about opening your mind and listening. This is not even a crack in how massive the music scene is in every country.
Each one has something to show!
Kathleen Aug 13th 2008 8:14PM
Aaron, based on the responses above, I think there's a bit of confusion here. The title of your article is, "Why isn't Asian music more popular?" Did you really mean why aren't Asian music artists more popular? There's a big difference between native music genres and the modern Asian artists who are producing Western music in their own languages.
Secret Asian Man Aug 13th 2008 8:54PM
That's an excellent question. I thought the entry was about why traditional Asian music from each country don't spread much. I didn't think it was about Asian artists such as Utada Hikaru, Dir En Grey, etc who are simply applying western music theory in their language.
But others thought that way.
Christina Aug 14th 2008 3:47PM
Actually, if you go back and read the article it clearly states.
'If you're like most Westerners, you probably aren't too familiar with the popular music from the world's most populous continent.'
AKA - The popular music in Asian countries. And overall this article sparks the ability for conversation over music as a whole in Asian countries and why it is not as popular in the west.
I also think calling the music made by artists in Asian countries as 'applying western music theory in their own language' is a bit sad. There are plenty of artists who encorporate traditional sounds of their respective countries. And I don't think just because an artist is not playing a traditional instrument of their country in their music, it is immediately a western rip off.
(Though I do suggest checking out Kagrra, who is a rock band from Japan that uses quite a lot of traditional Japanese sounds and instruments. Most the lyrics are based around Japanese ghost tales.
http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=K1BZ0Jn8sgM)
On the topic of traditional Asian sounds. This is a completely different situation. Asian music that is supposedly just music applied with western theory has had its own trouble breaking into our side of the world. You certainly don't see any of those bands topping the charts here.
Expecting traditional sounds from places like China, Korea and other Asian countries to appeal to western people is like asking why the people of Cambodia aren't clamoring over 40's big band style.
Not to say that people aren't interested. But interests in traditional sounds - especially foreign ones tends to be a bit more based on the individual and their music taste/range/willingness to explore older and more traditional music styles.
Even in my own country, I am a young adult who loves music from the early 1900's. This is something of a rarity and our own history of music barely even appeals to our /own/ country. Let alone trying to break that barrier through other countries.
I feel it probably works both ways. The traditional music of other countries (and a person's home country) is often beautiful and engaging. But it depends if the person is going to be open minded enough to explore it.
I also think its important to remember that the countries of Asia are just as modern as the rest of the world, as they are steeped in tradition. And both sides produce beautiful music.
Kathleen Aug 14th 2008 4:55PM
Quote: I also think its important to remember that the countries of Asia are just as modern as the rest of the world...
Nobody said they weren't. My question and Secret Agent Man's response were quite legitimate and should not have been construed as attacks on Asian "popular" music. Popular could have meant traditional to the author, Aaron, and we were looking for clarification.
Aaron? Why don't you jump in here? Have you had an opportunity to listen to any of your readers' suggestions?
Deaf Ears Aug 14th 2008 7:30PM
Do you seriously think anyone there in the East gives a rat's ass fvck what the West likes or doesn't like? Their music is for their ears. You're just listening in; if you don't like what you hear, as some of you illiterate whities like to utter, get lost! Simple as that. Or are you just loitering around to see what else you can steal from others to call your own, the way your ancestors did with everything else?
Music in the West went from Beethoven and Mozart and Chopin to rock-n-roll, to disco, now to ... rap. Rap! Music?!?
Those of you clamoring so much for African drums evidently never heard nor witness a single drum beat from Korea, Japan, all played by a hall full of women. And now China.
stephanie lewis Aug 17th 2008 11:36AM
Dear Deaf Ears,
This is the typical egocentric thought pattern of Western European culture.It is not only the "illiterate" caucasians who think that anything that is different is inferior, it is the so called educated caucasians who think the same way also. Asian music is not "too high pitched and screechy" it is beautiful and haunting.The atonal quality is something we may not be familiar with here in America but that difference is what makes Asian music so rich and wonderful.
Secret Asian Man Aug 15th 2008 1:38AM
Please don't think that I am belittling Asian artists as Western copy-cats. What I am trying to say, as Kathleen seems to wonder as well, is which style of music are we talking about?
I understand that Asian music is varied from modern to traditional. Which was why I want to clarify which style, if not all style of Asian music is the article discussing. The modern music in Asia such as C/J/K-pop and rock and such are heavily influenced by the pop and rock originating in the West. Even the Cambodin artist Sinn Sisamouth I mentioned earlier based his works on western genres. You, Christina, has mentioned examples of J-Rock growing in popularity outside of Asia and I know a few pop stars gaining some recognition. I do not doubt this phenomena and am happy about it.
But the more traditional styles, with its different instruments and composition is what I thought the articles initially talked about. Why weren't they popular even in their own country? You don't hear them playing on the radio. They are only heard in festivals and traditional performances. They were never developed and evolved much like Jazz and Rock and Roll that had their roots in earlier forms of music. They never got to grow in influence beyond their original purposes, which was just for rituals and shows.
I think many of these traditional Asian music were never developed to be beyond a story-telling aid or to serve as ambience. It never became the focus. It wasn't as expressive. There are very few traditional Asian love songs or songs expressing certain messages. So I guess it never became personal.
Maybe that's why it never appealed to the masses, even to its own people. It's not because the language was different or composition was strange. It just didn't appeal to the masses on a personal level. It was too ambient, to impersonal.
I don't mind traditional Cambodian Court Ballet music. But you'll never catch me dancing to it. Same thing with Western Classical music. I listen to them from time to time, but not often. But it will never top my playlist because it's not interactive enough. I can't dance to it or sing along with it. It's not personal.
You know what? I think traditional Asian music is on the same boat as western classical, opera, and other performance music. These types aren't exactly mainstream. They can only be enjoyed passively. Hence there appeal is limited.
That's my answer to "Why isn't (traditional) Asian music more popular?"
Christina Aug 15th 2008 11:01PM
You make a good point. I am sorry in return if it came across as attacking either you or Kathleen.
As I also quite love traditional music sounds!
I just felt it was important to express the amazing amount of talent and varied music styles that come from Asia in a modern way. Connecting them with the rest of the world as being forward, musically.
And to answer the original post that, shockingly, there are quite a few people who have immersed themselves in Asian music.
I do think it would be great for a little elaboration on what type of music genre the original article is about. Whether modern, traditional or all music from Asia.
I do agree thats its interesting that traditional music forms do not tend to take hold of a society the same way that more modern, rock and roll and pop does.
Though I suppose with the change of times, our modern music may one day be considered "older".
I also love early music from my own country, as well as western classical, Italian opera and others.
I agree with the subject that in a way - these types of music aren't as engaging as music you can move and relate too.
However I also think sometimes this music can be /so/ involving that it is hard to listen all of the time.
I can become so engrossed in a classical violin piece, Cecilia Bartoli, or other beautiful pieces that it seems emotionally overwhelming at times.
And sometimes you just want to have fun! I also find it is a matter of taste and cultural exposure. How willing a person is going to be to immerse themselves in something other than the everyday. And if they are willing to experience a bit of history.
Either way I think its an interesting and engaging subject. It would be nice if one day, traditional and modern sounds can become more widespread between countries and cultures! :)
Kathleen Aug 15th 2008 9:02AM
Secret Asian Man has some good points: that traditional styles of music "are only heard in festivals and traditional performances. They were never developed and evolved much like Jazz and Rock and Roll that had their roots in earlier forms of music." I believe this is true of the traditional music for just about every country on the planet today. I love Polish polka music, and some traditional Irish tunes, but I couldn't listen to them all day as I do Rock 'n' Roll. Further, they are usually played only at festivals or family gatherings where a specific ethnic heritage is shared. That may not be the case in Poland or Ireland ('though Rock is prevalent there), but it is certainly the case here in the States.
I just like music that touches my emotions or makes me dance. My iTunes library and my iPod are loaded with something of everything from symphonic to 1940s Swing to Rock, electronica to a little rap and a little Country, from American to International that includes African a cappella, Mexican mariachi, Japanese taiko drums, Hawaiian traditional, Middle Eastern traditional and pop, Indian and others. I even have a little bit of Italian opera that I don't normally care for at all but, if a song is good, it's good. If a singer (or instrumentation) is magnificent, he/it is magnificent. I don't care where it came from, nor whether it's old or new.
Deaf Ears, your remarks are entirely out of line and off-topic. "illiterate whities"?
You also said, "[You]...never heard nor witness a single drum beat from Korea, Japan, all played by a hall full of women."
You have no way of knowing who on this thread is White or any other color. You also have no way of knowing our various musical experiences as total strangers to each other. The rest of us are politely sharing our experiences and exploring ideas. If you can read the posts clearly, you'll realize that we are quite literate, indeed. You, on the other hand, have jumped to erroneous conclusions from zero data, and shown yourself to have some serious personal issues. I would suggest you run, don't walk, to the nearest anger management counselor. You might also consider a course in critical thinking so you can learn to accurately interpret what people write, and figure out how to keep yourself on topic.
stephanie lewis Aug 17th 2008 12:27PM
Dear Kathleen,
Perhaps you should go back and read the comments made about Asian music in the article Why isn't Asian music more popular.In my opinion, some of the comments are racist and demeaning. It is difficult to hear the truth and unpleasant as well as not "politically correct" which is what some of the bloggers responding to the original blog are striving to be. Yes, some people are angry and tired of hearing and dealing with the sad realities and consequences engendered by the Western European train of thought. The original blog is nothing but a testament to the continuing ignorance and bigotry of what is the foundation of this so called "enlightened" culture.
Not everybody is going to bite their tongue when responding and they should not have to.
All music is beautiful all of us are beautiful because of our differences and diversity.
Secret Asian Man Aug 16th 2008 2:45AM
Thank you, Aaron. Thank you so much. I finally checked out your recommendation to Dengue Fever and... You have no idea how much this discovery has effected me.
I can't describe it but I get chills listening to them. Even though I've never been to Cambodia, my home country nor was I alive during the '60s, these guys somehow made me feel like I'm with my mom and dad in their 20s living the life during the good times of Cambodia before the war.
My parents were actually in a small band with other fellow Khmers in the US during the 80s. All they'd play were those 60s Khmer rock. Khmer music essentially halted after the war, so all everyone played were 20 years old songs.
I grew up in the 80s listening to these musics because of my parents. I never was really into it but it was engrained into my psyche. So many family events and memories occured with these music playing. Every Khmer parties, weddings, and events had these songs.
Then it all stopped. The bands broke up. I moved. I never heard these sounds again. Eventually, I lost any identification with Khmer culture. Other than Angkor Wat and "The Killing Fields" what can I associate with as a Khmer? I even forgot how to speak Khmer.
Lately, I've been rediscovering my heritage, my pride in my culture. I've developed an appreciation for thongs I used to considered "FOB" or un-American/modern. I love old Khmer rock music and even traditional music.
But Dengue Fever melds the past and present to something awesome. I remember all my childhood memories of hearing these psychedelic rock. And I now have something modern to identify with. Khmer culture has slowly thawed from the frigid glacier imposed by the civil war and Pol Pot regime. It's slowly growing and developing again.
And I am stoked. I hope Dengue Fever is one of the few Khmer artists and some white dudes leading the renaissance.
And thanks to Christina and Kathleen for the awesome discussion and recommendation as well. You guys rock for opening my mind further.
Kathleen Aug 17th 2008 8:01PM
Secret Asian Man--
I got such a kick out of your description of the fun you're having with your new music. It's so exciting, isn't it? :)))
Keep on dancing...