J-Pop Invasion

This week we sees two of biggest diva in Japan pop music, BoA and Utada releasing their long awaited International English Language albums in U.S. Can this be the first shots of Asian Artist of breaking into the U.S. mainstream pop music?

Lets run through a few facts about over our diva, Bo-A, which she actually already a big star in her native country, Korea, before breaking into Japan. Her multi-lingual skills had earned her to be the most influential Asian artist in the past 3 years. By year 2008, she already belted up 8 korean language albums, 6 Japanese albums[by which 8 of it are no 1 albums],and over 35 singles released in both countries. And now, with the breaking in of her management/record company breaking into USA market, evetually BoA become the priority. Gathered the top professional from across the pop music in U.S., its a determined to make her a success. BoA English self-titled debut will be directing to a very mainstream music, compare to the likes of Britney, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna.... I sure understand probably its because her album are produced by the big names who are behind these divas like Bloodshy & Avant, Brian Kennedy and Sean Garrett. It's electrify, dancey, pop album, the lack of ballads might be the downside of the whole album, which old fan base would be missing it a lot.

After the failure of debut single, EAT YOU UP, in U.S., the follow-up single, I DID IT FOR LOVE ft Sean Garrett can promise a better receptions there. Another promotional singles had been sent out to push up the publicity is LOOK WHO'S TALKING, a leftover from Britney's Circus album and co-written by her. No wonder it sounded so much like Britney.

In another hand, our favourite UTADA, having another attempt to break the mainstream with THIS IS THE ONE, a more RnB vibes, more pop, and a slower approach then BoA's. Also with the help from the super-producers from L.A. Reid, Stargate, and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart. In her interviews, she reveals that the approach on her previous English album, EXUDOS, was a product of a US eyes of an Japanese girl stuff. Therefore, this time she wants to be more toward mainstream with stuffs that are more personal to herself.


The lead single, COME BACK TO ME, a ballad which I felt its more closer and goes back to her roots, FIRST LOVE(1999) which made her a superstar in the whole Asia. With tracks like COME BACK TO ME and APPLE AND CINAMMON, shows off her soft vocal that can make a big emotionals impact. This album definitely contains most of her greatest strength in her past recording career. I would feel like listening a best of- compilations of her Japanese recording with all slow tempos.


Can these girls create a new wave in the international market? I hope to. This could be the another foreign invasion since J.Lo, Ricky Martin & Enrique last brings on the Latin wave a decade ago.