By: Lewis Dodley
Asian American pop stars are on the rise. Groups like Far East Movement have placed on the Billboard 100 and it seems they’re only becoming more popular. NY1’s Lewis Dodley filed the following report.
In 1963, Kyu Sakamoto’s enchanting voice and boyish charm made “Sukiyaki” America’s number one song. It would stay at the top for 14 weeks, but it wasn’t until 47 years later that another Asian topped the charts.
Far East Movement’s “Like a G6” soared to the number one spot on the Billboard 100 late last year. Out of Los Angeles, its members are of Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Filipino descent, but they say it’s not about race.
“We grew up in a scene where there was Latino rappers, African-American rappers, Caucasian, and we all grew up as kind of a community, so when we saw them rise, it wasn’t like, ‘oh they broke because they’re a certain race,’ or ‘we broke because we’re a certain race,’ we all just meshed together,” says Kev Nish of Far East Movement. “Whoever breaks, it’s, ‘oh you’re reppin your neighborhood, you’re reppin the street, you’re reppin the scene.’”
New York’s answer to the L.A. band is Aziatix. Nicky Lee, former NYU student Eddie Shin and Queens rapper Flowsik hope their new single “Go” will propel them to the top.
“Good music breaks all barriers, it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what your background is, and at the end of the day we just wanna do good music,” says Nickey Lee of Aziatix. “That transcends all.”
Two years ago, J.Y. Park, the producer of the Korean group Wonder Girls, seemed to anticipate what was to come.
“I think it could be a movement,” said Park. “I don’t think we’re competing against each other, we’re only helping each other.”
Now, groups from Korea are on the rise. Park’s Wonder Girls made the BIllboard Top 100 with the song “Nobody,” will.i.am. is working with girl group 2NE1 and Kanye West recorded with up and coming artist JYJ.
And last year, Far East Movement went platinum with their music, proving that Asian artists’ dreams can come true.
When asked about the difference between that group [JYJ] and Aziatix, however, Lee only laughs and says, “They’re more handsome than we are.”
WATCH THE VIDEOS HERE
i love Aziatic..their song are great..and i think flowsik also friends with jyj..if they can collaborate together it will be awesome
ops typo..Aziatix..looks like i mix it with xiahtic;p
There are alot of groups today that are more hansome than jyj but I think jyj has many devoted fans becasue many fans like their relationship with one another, with their fans, and the fact that they sing with such emotion which makes them the most attractive artists in our eyes..
Agree with this except for the more handsome than JYJ part. ^^
Yeah,
yup
*nods nods* Agree with your disagree @Bluefyre!
Honestly I have seen a lot of K-pop boy bands debut these past few years but none of them are really…eh “good looking” they are cute but nothing I haven’t seen before. I think JYJ is one of the few groups out there were all the members are really handsome and yes it may be cause we love them but others who don’t know JYJ do consider them extremely good looking (my family &friends) so yea just wanted to say that ^_^.
Can I ask you then to name those you think are better looking than the 3, esp JJ? I really wanna check them out.
“There are alot of groups today that are more hansome than jyj”
Nah!I dont think so!JYJ were the best looking group/guys I ever encountered in my life!they’re overflowing with sexiness that makes a lot of girls go gaga over them.
the advantage of JYJ
they already have fans in the West
proof is that their concerts in usa
have gone very well
aziatix reminds me so much of xiahtic hehe
I love Eddie’s voice tho, he looks kind cute too ^^
if you look at the website source and see the video of their interview @1:10 how did the reporter refer to JYJ as? “micky, hero, and sun?” Can’t hear really well to tell ^^;;
http://www.ny1.com/content/139932/asian-american-pop-stars-rise-to-success
mickey, hero and xiah is what i think he said
yup!micky,hero & xiah….
He said micky, hero and xiah, but he said xiah like sha
O___0 That’s cool !!!!
Oh lol I’m gonna get punted but I’m gonna tell it like it is – I pretty much disliked all three of their solo songs. In Yoochun’s case, I thought Flowsik saved Yoochun’s solo song. So yea, I do believe Flowsik has great potential to make it in an American mainstream sort of sense. I’m not sure about their group though…I’ll have to give Aziatic a listen first…
@fleur
I don’t think people here will mind you expressing your opinions. It’s different strokes for different folks–nowhere is that more true than with music.
And you should check out the Aziatix EP because it’s great. Now whether they have a realistic shot at a lasting career–that’s anybody’s guess. It’s rare, so rare for a group to build a huge fanbase as JYJ has done. There are great artists out there who will never be heard from again because for one reason or another they just never connected with a large audience who was determined to stick with them.
This is merely one of the great gifts that JYJ possesses…. they connect with people in such a way that thousands of new fans seem to be popping up all the time like mushrooms after a rain. And long time fans only grow to love them more. It’s truly amazing. They are amazing.
“When asked about the difference between that group [JYJ] and Aziatix, however, Lee only laughs and says, “They’re more handsome than we are.”
lolol Oh, Nicky, Nicky… (and don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Nicky Lee, his solo stuff and the great new Aziatix EP) but….. yes…. **sigh**… They ARE more handsome than you are.
🙂
I ‘ve never interested in Korea music until Y2008 I saw Jaejoong in Mirotic MV. Oh I falled in love with him in a second by his charm, face ,body, voice,dance. It’s look like I saw his ora. After that I started to be TVXQ fan, watched their old clips, listened their old songs. From these I can see the charm of Jaejoong,Yoochun & Junsu. So now I am only JYJ fan, not tvxq2. And I ‘ve never seen other singers that have ora as JYJ.
@Lilibaiyu
I’m happy you mentioned Aziatix new EP is great, I think more people should at least listen to it. What can I say, no other male artists are as good lookings as JYJ. Not to mention, they have talent too.
@Ro1499
“no other male artists are as good lookings as JYJ. Not to mention, they have talent too.”
lolol Man, that’s the truth. As Mr ‘T’ used to say, “I PITY the fools…”
JYJ is an unstoppable phenom because they’ve got it all–they are the full package. Deep in my dark little heart I do wish they would devote themselves to learning English the way they did Japanese, but that’s just me–that’s my bias. I want them HERE, in the U.S. as often as possible. lol But if I were any other pop group, I would dread having to go up against JYJ.
@Lilibaiyu
I agree with you about learning the English. If they recorded Their Rooms in English and the new songs, there would be no stopping them from conquering the USA.
@Lilibaiyu
@Ro1499
I agree with you both. Jaejoong and Junsu MUST learn english, not only to conquer the U.S. but also to conquer Europe and then the whole world.
Besides they (JYJ) are more handsome, they are also talented!I’ve seen so many Kpop artists, but I think JYJ has everything!well-manered, charming, breathtaking voice!what else idol need?JYJ has all of it..
I love the way a reporter calls WGs and 2NE1 as Korean group/ girl group while he calls JYJ as artist. 😀
I think everyone here said it best. JYJ is the complete package. I originally heard of Flowsik from “The Beginning” album and loved his flow~ Nice article tho! =-)
I agree with this article. Asian singers are growing, traveling and conquering new stages successfully. And the best example for us is our dear JYJ. I’ve been learning and liking asian artists for five years at least, and I consider them of the best quality and with outstanding talents as musicians, singers, composers and performers. At stage, most of them are perfectionists. Last year I heard an spanish journalist who were stating that “asian musics and singers are of the lowest quality”. My immediate thoughts were: “This woman has no idea about what she’s taliking. She knows nothing about asian musicians and singers. She’s an absolut ignorant”.
For those of you who dont live in NYC this is a 24 hour news channel and it is played in many public places such as restaurants, stores, so i was so surprised to see JYJ Ayy Girl MV clip playing on TV when i was shopping yesterday!
WOW! that is great! ^__^
@lora
Thanks for the info. I’m hapy to know JYJ was on tv in NY. Good exposure for them, the more people that see the them, the more curiosity there will be on who they are. I I think the JYJ wil be getting more PR now that their concerts are a success.
i forgot to mention that it is like CNN so it rebroadcasts segments every few hours so it doesnt appear just once
Like all of you, I want JYJ to succeed in the US. Not because I’m Asian like them – I can’t even differentiate the Japanese language from Korean when I first heard their songs. I dont even understand what they are singing now. But it doesnt matter. Their voices move me.
I have heard various K pop groups sing and no group, just no group can measure up to JYJ’s talents, looks, charisma and sweet and humble personalities.
Most successful groups let success get into their heads. But not these 3 hardworking boys who are constantly re-inventing themselves with composing, acting, directing . YuChun’s hectic schedule last few days from flying back to Korea , to attend the Baeksang awards ceremony and then flying back immediately for the LA conert is a classic example of fan service..
They are always mindful that they want to give back to socierty and to the fans for the love showered on them all over the world. How can we ever stop loving them??
@hottie
“Like all of you, I want JYJ to succeed in the US. Not because I’m Asian like them – I can’t even differentiate the Japanese language from Korean when I first heard their songs. I dont even understand what they are singing now. But it doesnt matter. Their voices move me.”
I so agree with you–100%. I can’t speak Korean either, but if hasn’t stopped me one bit from loving their music and loving them. You just can’t help it, I guess. The more you know about them, the more you listen, the more you see what they are like as people… well, you just LOVE them.
@lora
That’s the best news yet. CNN has millions of viewers and hopefully CNN asia will do a show on them on Talk Asia. I emailed them months ago and asked them to feature JYJ.
GOSH…good idea…let’s just make it like the others projects here “ellen show” “japanese sign petition”…
but why do they use Ayy Girl Mv…/still have love hate feeling with that MV
@9mmleftshinki, dear, they had to use it because it’s “The Beginning’s” main song and it features Kanye West. Bussiness is bussiness; maketing is marketing.
@Shuheilove
Isn’t that the only video they made? I like the video, as it shows their singing and dancing talent. I guess it’s a little strange for you because your not use to seeing them that way. As I was not a fan of TVXQ, I had nothing to compare it with. For me that was a plus. Not knowing TVXQ I don’t compare JYJ to Homin or their videos. I fell in love with JYJ simply because of them. These new guys that I have never seen or heard before captured my heart. And they will capture thousands more. I want them to do a video for Empty, I bet it will be a killer. As they are finding their way, they will find their new style of music and videos. Also, they have to be able to appeal to everyone, not just the Koreans and Japanese.
I happen to think MVs are a personal taste. I like the video. As Ro1499 says, it showcases their dancing. Since I also like the song, I don’t have a problem with it. It was said it is in 3-D, so visually it may not look like what people think it should look like.
I like attempts to go out of the norm. I don’t want what they do to match what everyone else is doing. So, it didn’t please everyone, it pleased some of us.
Once the album breaks for distribution, there will be more action.
@ro1499
I want them to do a video of “Be My Girl!!”
That is a fun song! And it has a positive message.
@Ro1499, sis, it seems to be a little misunderstanding. I never said I dislike “Ayyy Girl” song nor video. In fact, I like the song and the video very much. I was only clarifying why they have to use it to promote JYJ in North America.
Gee, ‘Sukiyaki’, talk about a blast from the past. I remember that song so well. It indeed did capture everyone’s attention. The next Asian style music that captured my attention was the jazz fusion Japanese group Hiroshima, out of LA. I still buy their music. They are timeless.
@Butterfliesarefree
I didn’t know the video was made for 3D. Is it possible to view it that way?? That would be awsome in the beginning when each one comes to the screen. I can’t believe I didn’t catch on to that. Oh wow, what a loss not being able to see it in 3D.
@Butterfliesarefree
Love Hiroshima. Have you heard Mr Children? They are fantastic. Sort of the U2 of Japan.
@Shuheilove
I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. I was suppose to direct the comment to
9mmleftshinki as she said she had a love/hate with the video. It was late last night when I posted, and her comment was above yours. Thats how I made the mistake on who to comment back on. Again, sorry.
@Lilibaiyu
I agree with doing a video of “Be my Girl”. “Be the One” would be good too. Heck why not do a video of Mission in English??
kute boy kute boy ;))