# Why is there no Asian-American music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2001, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802 "2001-03-21T02:09:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/21 "2001-03-22T07:25:12Z")
Astroboy wrote: > [@](#): > > Have you heard Asian music?? And he then disqualifies Asian music on the basis of his knowledge of Korean music. That is just plain daft. Like saying: All European music sucks, just listen to those German songs. IMHO, several Chinese pop stars produce high quality records, in particular Faye Wong. She has a style reminiscent of Bjork and the Cranberries. Which does not answer the original question of course, sorry about that… ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/22 "2001-03-22T08:16:29Z")
You could always try _**[Chö](http://www.frammis.com/cho.htm)**_, by [Choying Drolma](http://www.choying.com/), [Steve Tibbetts](http://www.frammis.com), and [Marc Anderson](http://www.fathands.com). Vocalists from Nepal, guitarist from Wisconsin, percussionist from Minnesota. That’s about as Asian-American as I’ve found. Or perhaps [Passages](http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/exchange-glance/Y04Y0042719Y6204546/qid%3D985248729/102-4773978-3803337) by Ravi Shankar and Phillip Glass. (Speaking of beautiful Asian musicians, have you checked out Ravi’s daughter, [Anoushka](http://www.anoushkashankar.com/)? Grrowwllll…) ---
**Author:** ![Evnglion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f04885/32.png) [@Evnglion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evnglion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/23 "2001-03-22T08:40:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Badtz Maru \* > \*\*J-pop is growing in popularity among anime fans and others who have an interest in Japanese pop-culture, I think it will gain more mainstream popularity eventually, but it’s time hasn’t come yet, and it may have to evolve to something more fashionable among Americans - one thing that I think is inhibiting it is that most Asian pop music is extremely upbeat and sounds very ‘teenybopper’. Closest equivelant would probably be boy bands like N’Sync and stuff like Britney Spears, which is popular among the pre-teen to teen girl market - but the American kids being exposed to it are teenage boys who are more interested in the darker elements of Asian pop-culture. \*\* Thanks for bringing this up, cause I was gonna have to type a lot when I saw the title of this thread. There is tons of asian american music, and it is actually starting to get pretty popular. Take my name for example, **Evnglion** , that comes from the anime series, _Neon Genesis Evangelion_. Just the very fact that I know what anime is, is saying a lot. 10 years ago anime was restricted to 2 or 3 dubbed English shows, but with the boom of the internet, anime is on the rise, and J-pop is right behind it…SES rocks!!! ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/24 "2001-03-22T10:22:38Z")
BigStar303: There’s also Rita Coolidge who apparently has a North American Music Award. But what you said about Redbone is also true for her isn’t it? Her Indian influences seem visual rather than musical. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/25 "2001-03-22T11:24:00Z")
Here’s another collection with a Native American angle: [Sacred Spirits](http://www.virginrecords.com/artists/VR.cgi?ARTIST_NAME=Sacred). ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/26 "2001-03-22T12:36:20Z")
Dijon Warlock: That’s a really marketable face isn’t it? It looks like it was made in a rock star face factory. In the pop and rock music world hooks and riffs are the only things that matter though. I will stand by that to the day I die. Perhaps Asian, Indian and other non-European musicians need to work more with that idea even if it means compromising their music a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/27 "2001-03-22T13:30:33Z")
The Japanese are huge into musical theatre. Almost every show gets done there, and translating English lyrics into Japanese while keeping the rhyme and music straight must be one hell of a job. They were the first to do RENT, they released the only other recording of Aspects of Love, and have two complete recordings of CATS and THREE complete recordings of Phantom of the Opera (English has one). The Chinese are huge into rap and Taiwan releases every Sarah Brightman CD with bonus CDS and Chinese lyrics. These are very sought after by fans. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/28 "2001-03-23T00:23:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by G. Nome \* > **Dijon Warlock: That’s a really marketable face isn’t it? It looks like it was made in a rock star face factory.** Well, they could market her to _me_ anytime. 🙂 Sounds like she plays as good as she looks, though. She’s been touring with Ravi, and reviews are good. Her sound clips are spectacular on that site. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/29 "2001-03-23T14:07:59Z")
> [@](#): > > ## Astroboy wrote: quote: > > ## Have you heard Asian music?? > > And he then disqualifies Asian music on the basis of his knowledge of Korean music. That is just plain daft. Like saying: All European music sucks, just listen to those German songs. > > IMHO, several Chinese pop stars produce high quality records, in particular Faye Wong. She has a style reminiscent of Bjork and the Cranberries. OK… wait a second! I hate Korean pop, and you may agree/disagree at your leisure… BUT I did NOT mean to imply that I am an expert on all Asian music! My post was meant to be tongue-in-cheek! If it was not understood that way, then I have no one to blame but myself. Ergo: I’m sorry! Please allow me to clarify. Korean pop SUCKS (and if anyone wants to debate this, please feel free!). Other Asian music; I dunno… haven’t heard it, can’t comment… ---
**Author:** ![yamo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecae2f/32.png) [@yamo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yamo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/30 "2001-03-23T18:47:12Z")
Asina music is based on a different tonal scale. It would be possible to use asian musical conventions…but i don’t think it would sell. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/31 "2001-03-23T22:57:01Z")
Heh, **Astro** , looks like you learned the lesson of tossing the word “Asian” around indiscriminantly. 🙂 I do share your opinions on “K-Pop,” though. Anyway, **yamo** , I was wondering what you meant by a different “tonal scale.” The term’s, well, foreign to me, and I was wondering what it is and what difference it would make to the marketability of \ Asian music. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/32 "2001-03-24T04:44:06Z")
**KKBattousai** , check [here](http://www.andymilne.dial.pipex.com/) for info on tonal scale… And yeah, you DO have to be careful throwing the “A” word arounf too loosely! [sup]Let’s see… what ethnic group or minority can I insult next? Hmmm…[/sup]😃 ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/33 "2001-03-24T07:55:10Z")
Cornershop is a band which successfully blended “ethnic” and traditional pop/rock music styles. Remember that line “Everyone needs a bosom for a pillow”? [http://www.wbr.com/cornershop/](http://www.wbr.com/cornershop/) ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/34 "2001-03-24T22:02:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BigStar303 \* > **There are occasional genuine Japanese elements in their songs** For example, their pronunciation. They have one song, I forget the name of it, but the lyric goes “You don’t have to be serious, you don’t have to be the walrus” and the way they (try to) say _walrus_ is absolutely hilarious. A great, great band. Check 'em out. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/35 "2001-03-25T02:21:40Z")
kodo just played a sold out concert here in philly on the 15th. they sold out carnegie in new york on the 16th. taiko groups sell out here, there are about 5 local groups in pa,nj, and ny. new york city’s group is fantastic. the first group i saw was from delaware, all asian-american, some of them only spoke “music-term” japanese. it took time for other ethnic music to hit the ‘’'mainstreet" chart. perhaps a haiku-taiko group is just around the bend. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/36 "2001-03-26T08:32:15Z")
**rocking** I am so seriously jealous. Here I am in LA and I can _never_ get into a taiko performance as I have the annoying tendency to a) never here about them until too late or b) have previous engagements on the night(s) of the performance(s). I hate me sometimes… And did you guys see CoCo Lee singing the song from CT,HD during the Oscars tonight? Pretty damn good for an R&B girl, eh? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802/37 "2001-03-26T08:44:56Z")
There’s also Cibo Matto, which I thought was, well, at least not that obscure. [http://www.cibomatto.com](http://www.cibomatto.com) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-asian-american-music/58802.md?page=1)