Comments on: BoA leads the foray for Asian music into North America under SM Entertainment USA

By: Jeremy Lim

Jeremy Lim — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:21:53 +0000

@kP: It’s funny. I haven’t found a single girl who thinks Bi is good looking; it’s always about his abs, haha. Coco was supposed to have been pretty successful, but nothing compared to our domestic product. I think you might be onto something too with starting out in the Americas. From my experience (and there isn’t too much), US material is considered ‘cool’ the East. Sadly, it doesn’t really work the other way around!

@hideko: Never knew that was coinciding at the same time. Very cool.

By: Hideko

Hideko — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 12:36:02 +0000

Well, the video concept has BoA going to an Audition, wowing the judges (Which is why the guys glasses shatter X_x) and SM Entertainment released this during the time of the opening of the USA Auditions. So I’d say it’s promoting that.

By: kP

kP — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:57:56 +0000

Gosh, I remember when Utada and Coco tried to make it in the U.S. with VERY little success. Utada made a good attempt and I’m pretty sure that a lot of people knew her because of her game singles for Final Fantasy, but when it came to her album, there was just nothing outstanding. Some were catchy, but it didn’t have an appeal to them for those in the U.S. It was really sad to see that. At least she’s still making it big in Japan.

I believe it was last year, when Se7en and Bi (Rain) came over and tried to make it, and again, had very little success even though Se7en recorded a single with Amerie (which wasn’t used because another artist also sang the part). Bi was featured in a few films, but no great reviews came out of it. Probably a few more women fans who’re fascinated by his boyish charms and rock hard abs. Now they’re both trying to make a comeback in Korea.

On to BoA. I liked her Asian songs. I think she sang in both Korean and Japanese, and I liked most of them. This is…eh…sounds like she’s trying to play into the Janet Jackson, fast-beat club music scene. It’s not bad, but not great. I’m not particularly excited about it. The lyrics could have been better. The whole “I’ll eat you up” part and “I’ll take you to my room”…like, couldn’t they not try so hard? I guess they’re saying that we’re going to be taken by her? Meh. But the video is hot. I think Asians are crazy dancers. Oh yeah! But…then again, the song doesn’t match the video so I’m confused…I would have pictured her all over a guy, but dancing nonstop and ending in a college auditorium…yeah, don’t know where they were going with that. Glasses breaking, windows shattered, and a chandelier catching on fire? Huh?

I have this belief that if you can make it overseas, you shouldn’t try so hard to make in America simply because not many artists are successful in accomplishing it. Especially those of a different language. You’d think, “Oh yeah, they’re known as the Japanese Madonna, so they have to be good,” right? Wrong. It’s definitely not the case. My suggestion for an Asian invasion of the music industry in the Americas is to start here FIRST and then go overseas. Less expectation that way too because if you make it here first, there’s no doubt that you’ll have a problem elsewhere. You have so much endorsement and it’s hard not to know your name if you’re a star in Hollywood’s music scene.

Wha…I’m done.

By: Korea’s Foray Continues with J Lim under JYP Entertainment - Jeremy Lim | Vancouver Marketing, Music, and Photography

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:06:17 +0000

[...] No, that’s no typo; I’ve got to compete with a Korean R&B singer. Worse for me is that J Lim (Lim Jeong Hee) will be making her imminent debut North American shores under JYP Entertainment, just like BoA’s entry under SM Entertainment USA. [...]