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Ko-Am singer turns down US producer. Says, "I am Korean
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flakfizer



Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 9:56 pm    Post subject: Ko-Am singer turns down US producer. Says, "I am Korean Reply with quote

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/04/28/2012042800219.html
OK, my title might be a bit over the top, but I found this interesting:
Quote:
She says an American music producer approached her about a record deal, but she turned down the offer. "My parents and grandparents, who went to the U.S. from Korea, always told me that I am Korean and made me speak Korean at home," Ailee said. "I am Korean, so I naturally wanted to go to Korea to sing� I'm big fan of K-pop so I formed a band with other Korean-Americans and we performed here and there."

It's ironic that there are so many Korean singers here who want very badly to break into the American market, and here's a Korean-American girl who turned down an American music producer because she's 'Korean' and wants to break into the Korean market.
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The Sultan of Seoul



Joined: 17 Apr 2012
Location: right... behind.. YOU

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 10:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A sad, schizoid, confused race... battered, often betrayed from within and from without, a national ego pathalogically torn between the view of itself proffered by it's myths and messages from up top and the actual reality...

Korean people find it so hard to just 'be' because they are constantly trying so hard to 'be a Korean...' rather than just themselves....

Not a bash, just what I see.

And I feel for them... I truly do.

Wash me clean with a rain of soju greater than the flood... for I need rest.
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fermentation



Joined: 22 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 10:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't get people like her and her family. If they're so proud of being Korean, why did they leave their country and become Americans? What's stopping them from returning to Korea where it's all sunshine and rainbows?
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Teelo



Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Wellington, NZ

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Guess she hates money?
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seoulsucker



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I actually know this gal, have spent some time with her and have seen her perform. She does have the vocal chops, stage presence, and personality to make it. She was born in the States, and is trying to reconnect with her heritage through music. I don't see anything wrong with that.
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seoulsucker



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff

PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also, considering the mad influx of Kor/Ams in the Korean entertainment industry (nearly all of the major boy/girl bands have at least one member who was born or has spent considerable time overseas) her odds of making it here are probably much, much greater than they are back in the US.
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flakfizer



Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.

PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

seoulsucker wrote:
Also, considering the mad influx of Kor/Ams in the Korean entertainment industry (nearly all of the major boy/girl bands have at least one member who was born or has spent considerable time overseas) her odds of making it here are probably much, much greater than they are back in the US.

Well, if she keeps turning down American music producers' offers, then yeah, she probably doesn't stand much of a chance of making it in the States.
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Dodge7



Joined: 21 Oct 2011

PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know 100% she couldn't make it in the States, so before she could even fail she turned down the offer--1: to protect her inflated ego, and 2: to make herself appear more pro-Korean to sell records in Korea.
She couldn't even come CLOSE to making it on the World Stage so she settled for this place.
Laughable.
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transmogrifier



Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Location: Seoul, South Korea

PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't get the criticism. So what? Good for her, having the opportunity to choose her path in life. Not everyone gets that chance.

Some westerners decry Koreans for being too nationalistic (and certain Koreans are, of course), but is that really any better than being totally aghast that someone would choose to live and work in Korea? Same sort of narrow, blinkered mindset, different POV, that's all.
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transmogrifier



Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Location: Seoul, South Korea

PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dodge7 wrote:
I know 100% she couldn't make it in the States, so before she could even fail she turned down the offer--1: to protect her inflated ego, and 2: to make herself appear more pro-Korean to sell records in Korea.
She couldn't even come CLOSE to making it on the World Stage so she settled for this place.
Laughable.


Case in point.
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flakfizer



Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.

PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

transmogrifier wrote:
I don't get the criticism. So what? Good for her, having the opportunity to choose her path in life. Not everyone gets that chance.

Some westerners decry Koreans for being too nationalistic (and certain Koreans are, of course), but is that really any better than being totally aghast that someone would choose to live and work in Korea? Same sort of narrow, blinkered mindset, different POV, that's all.

Not sure if it's criticism. I just found it ironic, as I mentioned in the OP. Lots of singers here (like SNSD and WG) want to make inroads into the American market. Others, like BoA and KARA have done well in Japan. It's not that those countries are better, but they are bigger markets. She had an opportunity to sign with an American music producer and turned it down saying, "I'm Korean. I was always told I'm Korean." So what? What if Park Ji-Sung turned down the chance to play for ManU because, "I'm Korean. I will play in Korea." Sure, he had every right to do just that, but I think he would have missed out on a huge opportunity. Is Park Ji-Sung less of a Korean for signing with an English club? Isn't he worshiped here all the more because he's made it at an international level? I don't see what this girl had to lose by signing on with an American music producer. Seems like a missed opportunity to me. But of course you're right. She's free to do what she wants.
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fosterman



Joined: 16 Nov 2011

PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

and when she gets washed up here, she will try to return to the states and break into something. and I hope some journalist brings up her comments,

her family and her sound like a bunch of users!
if you are "Koreans" then leave USA and go back to Korea then! jeeeez
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jvalmer



Joined: 06 Jun 2003

PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What's with all the hate toward her? What do you expect her to say to a Korean reporter? That she so badly wants to make it big in America, but she has settled for Korea? Come on guys, you've got to be more diplomatic than that...

Anyways, unlike most Korean-born Koreans, she knows it's virtually impossible for a solo Asian singer to succeed in America. Have there been any? She was smart turning it down. She probably has more than enough money now, and probably will make much more if she stays put. No need to start a likely unsuccessful venture.
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The Cosmic Hum



Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space

PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Teelo wrote:
Guess she hates money?


This is her Korean hit "Heaven"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9ro1KjkJMg

This is Jessie J - "Price Tag" - 'It's not about the money' Wink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMxX-QOV9tI

Maybe it's just me...something vaguely similar about the two of them.


Last edited by The Cosmic Hum on Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:25 am; edited 2 times in total
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The Sultan of Seoul



Joined: 17 Apr 2012
Location: right... behind.. YOU

PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, why haven't there been any successful Asian singers in the US or UK..?

All I can remember is Jimmy Iwa from the Pumpkins and a band called Cornershop that were a one hit wonder.
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