Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Troll_Bait]

What do you think it might be like teaching about BoA to your students?

BoA Makes It Into Textbooks

In recognition of BoA��s stellar success across Asia, the K-pop star is now making her first appearance in an English-language textbook. The ��Totally True�� series for middle and high schools published by Oxford University Press lays out the story behind the singer��s success.
She appears in a unit titled ��Making an International Star�� that recounts how she was spotted when she accompanied her older brother to an audition, and recalls how she honed her skills with English, Japanese and Choreography classes before eventually being named Asia's Most Influential Artist by MTV.

The textbook targets English-language learners across the globe.

Meanwhile, under the subtitle ��Becoming a World-Famous Violinist,�� the unit also pays tribute to Korean-American violinist Sarah Chang, who started to play the violin at the age of three and made a name for herself in the music world at a tender age.

The success stories of K-pop singer BoA and violinist Sarah Chang are featured in the English language learning series ��Totally True�� published by Oxford University Press.

On a related note, here's a story about Korean musicians' efforts to make it big in the West (and it includes comments about the New York Times' critical review of Rain's concert).

Making it in the big time: K-pop wants U.S. air play

And here's a story about how Korea has apparently failed to capitalise on the success of the "Korean Wave."

Nation fails to ride ��Korean wave'

Which Korean entertainers do you think have the best chance of succeeding in the West?

Personally, I think BoA is head-and-shoulders above everyone else. She's so much better than her material and needs better songwriters.

She doesn't sing as well as Mariah Carey, but she dances better. She doesn't dance as well as Britney Spears, but she sings (a lot!) better. She's a total package, and just needs a fair chance on a level playing field.

My opinion anyway.

[endo]

I can't see an Asian male pop star making it big al la Timberlake or other crap like that.

You could argue that it's a racist point of view, but I don't see white American teenage girls going crazy over a male Asian singer.



An Asian women on the other hand might work. But she could also have the same disadvantages as her male Asian counterparts.



Think about it: Do you really see any big Asian stars in television or on the big screen?

[Col.Brandon]

What about Lucy Liu? Jackie Chan? But in general I would agree with you; those two are the only biggish Asian stars.

[peemil]

Lucy Lui is pure evil and Jackie Chan is an absolute legend.

[SarcasmKills]

I don't see any problem with it at all.

[Col.Brandon]

[doggyji]

Coco Lee


Utada Hikaru

Why Japanese singers fail to crack US market

This guy mainly focuses on the language proficiency issue. As far as I know, in the past few years there were two notable Asian singers trying to enter into the billboard chart. Coco Lee from Taiwan who speaks English flawlessly and Utada Hikaru, a Japanese New Yorker who is IMO, an excellent singer songwriter and has sold more than 15 million albums in Japan. I think they simply failed to show any significant hint of success, didn't they? I don't really see lots of Americans going crazy over any Asian singer in the near future. I think if they want to leave their marks in the US market anyhow, they will have to try something totally unprecedented. I'm curious to see what Rain(��) will get to show us in the US.

[Hater Depot]

Did Rain sing in English in NYC?

[Troll_Bait]

[stumptown]

What exactly is "hip hop English"? Ebonics?

[Troll_Bait]

[peemil]

The face and the eyes are enough to send shivers down your spine.

Every time I see her, I imagine her strutting toward me with a whip and dressed in leather.

[new horizons]

Part of the problem is that the Asian community in America is just not that big. Even in these modern times in the dominant minorities, Latinos and blacks, most music stars make names for themselves within their home demographic first. These artists top the R&B or Latin pop charts within the States for months or years before crossing over and being ��discovered�� by the mainstream. It is also a barrier that radio has become so commercialized, homogenized, incorporated, and just plain sucky. It��s harder than ever for artists from the outside to get into the inside. Pretty much the only way for artists to build up a following in America is to tour, build up a fan base, and force the powers that be to notice you.

[Troll_Bait]

doggyji

I've lived in Korea for a long time, so I'm not too familiar with popular culture back home anymore.
Having said that, it seems to me that Coco Lee achieved moderate success in the West, in that as at least some people know her name.
By the way, that picture of her is so unflattering. She looks really pale and her hairstyle ... It makes me think of those "maiden ghosts" that Korean people believe in. I know she looks better than that.

[doggyji]