I was talking to someone about this the other day, and this question came up. Why do [i]I[/i] like Japanese music? It really made me think for a minute because I really didn't have an answer besides that I just did, but I was thinking later, is there a reason? I, for one, am not a wapanese person. I don't watch anime or really keep up with the pop culture, but Japanese rock(/indie LOL I'm indie) really captivates me sometimes. Does it have to do with they way it's made with a different style?

Someone also told me that why do I just like mainly Japanese groups, considering it sounds like some American groups. But most of those good groups are old now, and modern American music sucks. But why is it different here in America than in Japan? Is it really? Does it have to do with tastes and cultural influences having to do with taste in music? And what about the lyrical side of it. Most people think its awkward not being able to sing along to their favorite tune, and I for one don't really sing along to Japanese songs for that reason.

Do lyrics matter? Is it just sound we listen to or the message along with it? Is that what makes a great song, having a message with a meaningful melody? Or is it just a series of sounds that we just listen to to make us feel a certain way? Isn't that all music really is?



Yes, I know I'm overthinking it, but it is interesting to think about. I'm interested to know what you people think.

I run into the same problem sometimes. People asking why I like Japanese music (I like a lot of J-indie too) and me not having a straight forward answer for them. It probably doesn't happen as often as one would assume it would, because I'm asian and people generally assume it's because I'm Japanese (which I'm not). But, if I had to say on why I like it, I guess I would say that it's really the quality of the music is what helps me appreciate it more. Let me explain. Maybe not understanding or being able to follow the lyrics allows me to really focus in on the quality of the music itself. At least, that's what I like to believe. Obviously, I'm not saying that the quality of Japanese music is better than American music (I do listen to some American bands too), but being able to appreciate the music more than the lyrics might be the reason why it has more appeal.

But then again, it may all just be coincedence that a lot of the bands I like tend to fall into the category of J-Indie. *shrugs*

I don't get asked a lot on why I like Japanese rock/pop, but I guess its enjoyable becuase the vocals and the guitars and drums compliment each other well and sort of "melt" together creating a great song, kinda like classical music. You could say the same thing for American music, but its gotten so repetitive and lazy there's nothing good to listen to besides the oldies.

Quality also is pretty important too I guess, but it's not like the Japanese take everything we do and makes things better. They just do it in a style they like and if a person is open-minded about stuff, they might like it it and say, "Hey, this is pretty good."

Lyrics aren't as important to me as they used to. When I loved the Pillows pop/rock era to death I was off and on about [i]Please, Mr. Lostman[/i] in terms of sound. Until I actually took the time to look at "Strange Chameleon's" and "Swanky Street's" lyrics, that was the first time a song like that actually had a good moral meaning to it and made sense to me. Eventually, as I obsessed over PML, I payed attention to the guitars, melody of the vocals and harmonies, and drums and understand how it works with the lyrics.

To tell you guys the truth, the Pillows were my first ever band that I really liked.

People ask me that, too. My answer: I blare Guitar Wolf into their ears. They then bow before the music.

There's no real way to explain J-MUSIC's awesomeness. The only way to explain it is for them to actually listen it to themselves. That's why I'm doing this radio show. If they listen, they will come.

the pillows speak to my heart. they could have been american, they could have been swedish. but it just happened that they were japanese. people are people, and music is music no matter the language. i think the feelings can be conveyed even if you don't understand the exact meaning of the lyrics. there are plenty of songs in english i couldn't honestly say i truly understand.

I like music in general. I don't think language should really be a deciding factor in whether you like a band or not. Hell, if I wanted to read meaningful lyrics, I'd just read poetry. Not to say that I don't appreciate them, it's just a plus when a band speaks a language I know and gets a message across.

I hate it when people are like "OH YOU LIKE JAPANESE ROCK?" then they think you like every single band.. ugh.. I hate about as many Japanese rock groups as I do American rock groups.. fuck.. I hate that whole Visual kei genre..

I swear to God, I was about to punch my brother right in the jaw the other day. I was listening to Go!Go!7188 and he's like "Dude this music is awful"
"Well, it's better than me listening to slipknot isn't it?"
"Not really. At least they had musical talent. Instead of this ching chang chong shit."

I wanted to murder him. =|

[quote="terra"]the pillows speak to my heart. they could have been american, they could have been swedish. but it just happened that they were japanese. people are people, and music is music no matter the language.[/quote]

terra, that was beautiful...

Well i like it mainly because it has different rythm that american music..

If people ask me why, I pretty much just tell them it's because IMO, A lot of the bands out there right now don't sound great to me. In order to get at least halfway decent music, I have to go to underground sources...

Granted, I don't listen to [i]just[/i] Japanese music...I listen to all sorts of international stuff.

I listen to the Pillows in paticular because They aren't afraid of the major key. Too much of the stuff on the radio is all sad sounding, and it always puts me in a terrible mood. When I listen to the Pillows, though, it always makes my day better and puts me in a great mood.

Japan is superior.

[quote]"Well, it's better than me listening to slipknot isn't it?"
"Not really. At least they had musical talent."[/quote]

That just cracked me up.

I don't give a shit where these bands come from as long as they keep making quality tunes that makes my ears come back for more. I also don't care what the hell genre is it either or at least I try to. I listen to music from different countries and different genres.
Rap, rock, metal, world, trance the genres I listen to so far.
Phillippines, Japan, South America, Mexico, Germany, North America, UK the countries where some of these bands come from.
Whatever I just want to expand my list of music.

[quote]Quote:
"Well, it's better than me listening to slipknot isn't it?"
"Not really. At least they had musical talent."
That just cracked me up. Laughing[/quote]

Oh sure they sing choir at a church.

the pillows aren't even japanese.

I think it depends mainly on the difference of culture. In America, everyone is required to act a certain way, speak a certain way, and dress a certain way to be cool. So the American people are getting dumber and dumber everyday because they refuse to challenge themselves. This is even more so with the hip hop/rap culture; as long as it's new, everyone will like it(which is unbelievably ignorant and stupid). NO MATTER HOW BAD IT SOUNDS.

There's a certain moral code in this country. Since there are a lot of countries that "set their watches" to america in terms of culture and economy so to speak, Americans are too proud of their own country, and therefore think they are superior to others. So being different, or standing out from the crowd had become something that is frowned upon. (There is some shit that's just plain silly though. For example, punks in the early 80s wearing Nazi signs on clothing and tattoos specifically for shock value)

Kids and rock bands alike are so eager to rebel against the goverment and "rock against bush", but when you think about it, does it really matter who's running this country? If God himself was president, people would still rebel and complain about the shitty government....CAUSE IT'S THE "IN" THING TO DO. Cool people aren't supposed to like the government. That's reserved for war veterans and high school kids in ROTC.(Another stupid notion)
American Pop Rock is almost never influenced by any culture (other than maybe the British) in terms of music.
But on the other hand, many other countries allow themselves to be influenced by other countries and their cultures, and this is even more so in Japan.
Since the culture in Japan is much more accepting, and more innovative, it changes the way people think, act, and communicate with each other. (Why do you think Japan is so much more technologically advanced than the US?) So this changes the way they make music. But Japanese music is getting up there when you look at all the glam rock bands and Visual Krap they come up with. But since the indie scene there is smaller and inspired by american music, it ends up sounding better because it's styled like music we are familiar with, but with a interesting twist inspired by their own way of thinking and expressing themselves.

Japanese bands are just better period. They're less jaded and hard working. Simple as that.

.......... I'm very sorry about that. I've......probably just made everyone in the entire forum dumber after posting that.

Gonna go get a microwavable burrito from the gas station.

[quote="skoolyardpuck"]Since the culture in Japan is much more lax, accepting, and more innovative...[/quote]

Huh?