Japanese Songs & American songs

Iwark · 13 Oct 2006

Konnichiwa. Ogenki desu ka? Watashi wa Ryokondo no tomodachi Iwark desu.
Since I was banned from thejapanesepage.com, I will not let anyone interfere in my thread. In this thread, I want to know the difference between japanese songs and American songs. So, What is the difference between them?

Mycernius · 13 Oct 2006

I have moved this to the Chit-chat in the music section, as I feel it might be better served here.
As for the question: what type of songs are you talking about? There are serveral different styles of songs. Pop, rock, ballads, dance, Enka, traditional.
You could say Enka is a typical Japanese type of music which I doubt you would find in the states. As for more modern music cultural backgrounds will influence the music written in whatever country.So you might find that Japanese Riock track might sound similar to an American band, but, apart from the lyrics, there might be a slightly different aspect in the musical composition that you wouldn't find in American Rock.
As a quick look into further discusiions on this type of matter look at this thread

Iwark · 13 Oct 2006

Mycernius said:
As for the question: what type of songs are you talking about?

I'm talking about Jpop and some American songs. I want to know the difference, not type.

leonmarino · 13 Oct 2006

Iwark said:
I'm talking about Jpop and some American songs. I want to know the difference, not type.

Jpop is spelled J-P-O-P, "some American songs" is not. What American songs do you mean? Your question is so open it is hard to answer.
Surely J-Pop has some distinctive characteristcs, but if you want people to compare them and give their opinion on it, you might give a hint about what to compare it with (the US is the birthplace of nearly all genres of modern music). And you could consider being a bit more polite to your co-forum-members.

EDIT: Forget the last sentence, I'm a bit cranky at the moment..

Ma Cherie · 13 Oct 2006

What's the difference between Japanese songs and American songs? This is a vague question.

Iwark · 13 Oct 2006

leonmarino said:
Surely J-Pop has some distinctive characteristcs, but if you want people to compare them and give their opinion on it, you might give a hint about what to compare it with (the US is the birthplace of nearly all genres of modern music).

I mean do the JPOP songs tell what they are all about like American songs?

Swordforhire · 13 Oct 2006

Since when do American songs "tell what they are all about"? If you're really that curious, search for translated lyrics, or check out the Jpop that's at least partially in English. Pop is pop, and often there's not much difference in subject matter, even if there seems to be no real meaning, just words that "fit". Though as far as lyrics go, I'd compare Jpop to early 80s Britpop: very similar, really.

Iwark · 13 Oct 2006

Swordforhire said:
Since when do American songs "tell what they are all about"? If you're really that curious, search for translated lyrics, or check out the Jpop that's at least partially in English. Pop is pop, and often there's not much difference in subject matter, even if there seems to be no real meaning, just words that "fit". Though as far as lyrics go, I'd compare Jpop to early 80s Britpop: very similar, really.

I mean the people tell what some American songs are all about. But, the japanese people tell what the japanese songs are all about.

leonmarino said:
And you could consider being a bit more polite to your co-forum-members.

doiukotoka?

ricecake · 13 Oct 2006

I enjoy the music of Japanese Enka,story-telling songs of nostalgia filled with enduring loves and heartbreaks.

Aki Yashiro is one of my favorite Japanese Enka singing queens,her 1980's hit song titled " Funa-uta " has a long-lasting impression on me.

Funa-uta's lyric :

Sake shall be tepid,grilled squid is enough for accompaniment.
Women shall be quiet,dim lamp is enough for light
I am drinking full of pain,and a pain memory is going by.
A tear drops,and I start singing " boatman's song " ....

leonmarino · 13 Oct 2006

Iwark said:
doiukotoka?

Please read the last sentence of that post.

Kinsao · 13 Oct 2006

Jpop songs are often (not always) sung in Japanese.
^ Main difference.
Musically, I find that most Japanese music I listen to (which is mainly rock, some verging on the pop though ^^) tends to use certain characteristic intervals more, but it's late and I'm too tired and lazy to pick up my guitar and put on some tracks and work out exactly what those intervals are. There is a certain pentatonic scale that seems to crop up more in Japanese music, but I'm damned if I can remember the technical details right off. :sorry:

Iwark · 13 Oct 2006

Kinsao said:
Jpop songs are often (not always) sung in Japanese.

I know that all ready, but I just want to know how I can tell what one of the JPOP songs I'm going to listen is all about.

I might be going to listen to "Ken Hirai - Pop Star".

Kinsao · 13 Oct 2006

If I were you I'd google it and see if you can find a translation that way. If you can't find it by searching, you can try asking on various J-music communities if anyone knows of links to Ken Hirai translations.

Mycernius · 13 Oct 2006

Do you mean the subject matter used within the lyrics? Such as 'Girl being meets boy being under the light of a slivery moon, which then explodes for no adequately explored reason'. If that is the case, then Japanese songs do use the same ideas ofr songs as do American, English, Indian or any other song written in any other country. Lyrics and subject are not a purely American idea within a song.

kamaru · 14 Oct 2006

窶堋ｱ窶堙ｱ窶堙俄?堋ｿ窶堙梗B]What's the difference between Japanese and American music!!![/B]
In my situation now I find this question a bit silly...Actually I used to listen to English music and just that seemed enough for me..but then I heard Japanese music and it was like this magical moment where you just can't resist the attraction...I rarely listen to English music now and if I do I just get bored after 2 or 3 times ........... BTW has anybody heard 窶｢lﾂ催ｨ窶堋?窶堙､窶堙敖'窶壺?慊 Bluebird ?
I think it was great , just awesome !!!

Iwark · 14 Oct 2006

Mycernius said:
Do you mean the subject matter used within the lyrics? Such as 'Girl being meets boy being under the light of a slivery moon, which then explodes for no adequately explored reason'. If that is the case, then Japanese songs do use the same ideas ofr songs as do American, English, Indian or any other song written in any other country. Lyrics and subject are not a purely American idea within a song.

I think that's what I mean.

Japanese Songs & American songs

Iwark

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Mycernius

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Iwark

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leonmarino

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Ma Cherie

Your Goddess is here

Iwark

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Swordforhire

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Iwark

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ricecake

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leonmarino

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Kinsao

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Iwark

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Kinsao

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Mycernius

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kamaru

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Iwark

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