Lynee Hart
Mr. Cox
ENG 104
11/20/2011
JPOP
J-pop, or Japanese music, is “… refer to all Japanese popular songs”, including techno (wikipedia.org). Japanese techno or J-pop has been described as upbeat and energetic by some and has it roots mixed in with many other genes that will be further discussed. The other genes as well as the culture and time period also play a major role on J-pops unique sound. This unique sound is further created by the different artist, their instruments of choice and the themes or imagery the artists use. J-pop would not have even existed though if it were not for the areas and cultures that influenced it,
Japanese Pop had its beginnings in the”… 1970s in Japan [s]everal Japanese musicians began experimenting with electronic music, including electronic rock” (wikipedia.org). At first this change to Japanese music was mostly underground, but thanks to artist like Isao Tomita and Eikichi Yazawa this new style became more mainstream. Isao Tomita has been noted as being the pioneer for the style and has influenced many artists. As more and more of artist who became influenced by the pioneers of J-pop the more popular it became, but this popularity would have never occurred if not for the first types of the techno gene.
J-pop, or Shibuya-Kei as it called “… originated in the Shibuya district of Tokyo [and] is best described as a mix between jazz, pop, and electro-pop” (wikipedia.org). Shibuya-Kei`s jazz and pop influences came from the 90`s other euro-beat, trance and techno dance genes. The 90`s euro-beat, trance and techno came from the classics such as funk, soul, blues and jazz (Iskur’s Guide to Electronic). The Shibuya district is full of night clubs and social places where the up beat music fits right in, the “…early 1990`s the hit charts [in] Shibuya …” were those based off of J-pop(Cultural Studies and Cultural Industries, 255).Another way Japanese pop has found a way into many different cultures hearts is through its films, and television shows.
From children to adults many of them place video games or watch Japanese cartoons, referred to as Anime, and in many of them there is J-pop. When these games and T.V. programs came to America, and many other countries, so to did the music and the interest for them. Some of the most popular games such as “Street Fighter, Tekken and Final Fantasy” are just a few of the games that have J-pop in them(Jpop!, 5). Many people, my self included, first heard a J-pop song through one of these mediums. Thus, this introduction increased the awareness of the genre and many artists in Japan use this style today.
Japanese pop artist of today, such as Gackt or Hikaru Utada, are very famous in many cultures. Both artist use electronics to alter their voices or have upbeat music. The guitar and many digital devices such as synthesizers and auto tuners are used. Sometimes artist simply use technology just to speed up or slow down their voice, they even may do this to the music itself. These changes add much to the meaning and the themes of the songs themselves.
Like in all pop music from any culture, J-pop can be about anything and everything. The songs can still have an upbeat tempo but be very serous. Gackt, the artist mentioned early has a few songs like this as well as very happy and sad ones. Again they span all over the spectrums of emotions and themes. This being said, the sad songs, in the eyes of the Japanese, may not be sad at all. If a song is about a persons death and it still has a somewhat up beat feel that is because the Japanese do not view death as a negative thing but as just a another stage in life. Another part of the culture that may or may not influence the songs is how they view personal relationships. A sad love song is common in Japan, as it is in many cultures, but the song isn’t only about the negative feeling but how they overcome them. Gackt`s song is a great example of this. In one of his sad love songs he sings about a lost love and how he will become stronger from it singing, “One day, I will prove to you. That I can over come you” saying how he will get over it and they can be friends again (Gackt). Songs like these and many others show many details about the culture and the people. This music has influenced many people including myself.
My first encounter with J-pop was during an Anime show, the opening had a song that was upbeat and catchy. Though this was my first encounter I did not start loving it until I heard a song by Gackt. Gackt is more pop rock, while still being upbeat, and it appealed more to my genre of music that I was used to. It was the mix of the up beat nature with the rock that made me enjoy it. Hikaru Utada is another favorite artist of mine; she has made many songs to my favorite games. There are not many artists I like yet but I always keep looking for new artist. I find her voice both beautiful and soothing. I often listen to it to boost my mood. This is what also got my sister into the genre and we both listen to it now. Another reason I was drawn to Japanese pop was the language itself, Japanese has always been beautiful to me. I instantly looked up the translated lyrics and found it the structure of the songs more story-telling in a way. This also was very interesting to me. Ever since then I have been listening to J-pop.
In conclusion Japanese pop is an up-beat gene that was born from techno, jazz and other classics and its culture. This shows through the artists lyrics and how they alter their voices and music. It once was an underground genre and is now an up and coming music in all countries. The music continues to influence other artist and listeners alike and is deep in different forms of media such as games and T.V. shows. J-pop is here to stay and as the future of technological music advances so will Japanese pop music.
Examples of J-Pop
Isao Tomita
Hikaru Utada
Gackt
Links
J-Pop Artists:
Isao Tomita- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isao_Tomita
Gackt-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gackt
Hikaru Utada-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikaru_Utada#Musical_style
Resources Links:
J-Pop-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-pop#1990s:_Coining_of_the_term_.22J-pop.22
Ishkur`s Guide-http://techno.org/electronic-music-guide/
Shibuya-Kei(J-pop)-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya-kei
Cultural Studies and Culutral Industries-http://books.google.com/books?id=z-ZsUQoKoDUC&pg=PA225&dq=shibuya-+kei&hl=en&ei=x3vJTui8CMrDgAeGo71r&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=shibuya-%20kei&f=false
Works Cited
Berry, Chris, Nicola Liscutin, and Jonathan D. Mackintosh. Cultural Studies and Cultural Industries in Northeast Asia: What a Difference a Region Makes. Aberdeen, Hong Kong: Hong Kong UP, 2009. Print.
Craig, Timothy J. Japan Pop!: inside the World of Japanese Popular Culture. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000. Print.
“Hikaru Utada.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikaru_Utada>.
“Ishkur’s Guide to Electronic Music | New Home on Techno.org.” Digitally Imported – Addictive Electronic Music. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://techno.org/electronic-music-guide/>.
“J-pop.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-pop>.
“Shibuya-kei.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya-kei>.
The timeline of a Wannabe Mangaka 