Music is supposedly a universal language. However, what if the music was created and performed by a different culture? Is it subjugated to different standards? Does the message still get across?
These are the types of questions that the all-Korean girl group, Wonder Girls, need to constantly be aware of. Based on these issues, this blog post examines the impression the Wonder Girls has on America, as portrayed by the media.
This impression will be examined largely through this article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2009385102_wondergirls26.html (which describes the Wonder Girls debut in America). The five-girl group began in 2007, and initially gained enormous popularity in Korea, then all of Asia. Last year, in 2009, they began their nationwide debut by touring with the Jonas Brothers, as their opening act.
The most interesting part of the Wonder Girl’s success is that they were a world-wide phenomenon even before they stepped a foot internationally due to their catchy songs. Think Korean Soulja Boy Tell’em’s, Crank That, and you’ll begin to understand the dance craze that is, Nobody- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUia-f-BG1s
As the article describes it: Before this tour, the Wonder Girls already made an online impression in the States. Entertainment tabloid blogger Perez Hilton featured the girls' video on his blog, and plenty of American fans have uploaded to YouTube their imitations of the girls dancing. The Wonder Girls' simple choreography from their hit "Tell Me" was widely imitated online and spread across the world — the so-called " 'Tell Me' virus."
The writer of the article seems willing to give a fair chance to the Korean idols. This may merely be because she is a Chinese-American woman and so she relates to the cross-cultural performers. Or maybe not, because it seems that the rest of America is willing to give the Wonder Girls a shot, at least Jordin Sparks does: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX8vMEOwGPA
One interesting point of the article is when it quotes Yenny (one of the singers) as saying: "Asians like more cute and pretty girls. They're more like conservative. Americans like more sexy and funky, like Lady GaGa." Will this personal and cultural view of Americans change how the girls will perform in the future (perhaps of a Janet Jackson-esque style)? We’ll see.
As for now, it seems that the whole world, including America and the writer of the article, find the Wonder Girls interesting, seeing as their song, Nobody, became the first song by a Korean group to enter the Billboard top 100. Is this because the songs are entirely in English? Doubtful, seeing as many of the girls’ songs were worldwide phenomenon before the translated version. It is because of the sheer novelty of a non-white group singing songs with English words and titles? It is hard to tell, but I’m sure that the Wonder Girls appreciate the chance and appreciation.
Sadly I've never heard of the Wonder Girls. But that's not because I'm not interested but because I am pop culture hermit.
ReplyDeleteAs for your question about music and culture, I believe that music is a cultural phenomenon. I cannot imagine Mozart dancing to the best of African beats. Nor can I imagine Toby Keith rocking out to Shostakovich. But it gets complicated as the world becomes more integrated and cultures become more integrated on how one performs a certain type of genre. In this case, pop music was originally Western genre. But as it gets embraced by other cultures, it changes to accommodate that culture.
What is surprising in this case is not really how different Wonder Girl music is from that of American pop, but how similar. For me, it is a bit disturbing. I was expecting a different kind of pop, however, was surprise to find that Wonder Girls, except for the way they dress, is no different from, say, a Britney Spears. Hopefully, they are an anomaly. I would hate to see a world where musical diversity is no longer extant.
Yeah, Wonder Girls are popular in Asia. Although I have never heard any Wonder Girls song which is sung by the original singers but I did hear many times from people living around me. Honestly, I don't quite understand why they are popular. It seems funny when some Chinese girls tried to imitate Wonder Girls' dance moves but never got it.
ReplyDeleteBack to your blog, I think it's true that music styles differ from culture to culture. But the difference only stays on the stylish level. Beyond that, I think appreciation for music has a universal standard, which can't be fined quantitatively but somehow the world has reached a consensus.
I vividly remember my first encounter with Korean boy-band a few years ago. DBSK was a phenomenon. My younger sister adopted them as her personal friends and never stop catching up with their news every single day. When Korean stars become big, the fan-base they gain is what supports their income an continuous popularity. Asian fans are quite fanatic and once they fell for the star, they will love them no matter what.
ReplyDeleteIs it about music then? I don't know. I heard of wonder girls and enjoy dancing to their music, but I will never recognize their face if I see them separately. Guess coming from Asia, I am pretty numb with Korean pop artists. They will continue to produce bands with pretty face/voice as long as the fans continue to support them.
I like the Wonder Girls. I have some of their stuff in my itunes. Like C to the J though, I could never recognize them individually. I like the music, but that's where my interest in them ends. Lady Gaga though is a different story.
ReplyDeleteJohnny, what would you think if they were to have a Janet-Jackson-esque style in the future? The girls never said they were conservative. They said Asian audiences are more conservative, and so the way the y present themselves sells well. If the truly intend on making a mark in America why wouldn't they adapt their presentation to the local culture? Would it mean they were selling out? Losing their morals? I guess you could say that- but from what I hear in their music, they're not exactly trying to be ambassadors for Korean culture. I like the original version for nobody, but they didn't seem too hesitant to translate to English when they realized their fan base was growing in the west. Groups like their are created primarily to make money, not to share art and culture. That's my humble opinion.