After seeing a documentary in Arirang TV (a Korean broadcasting channel) about Rain, a Korean pop singer, I will write about him for my third blog.He is somewhat different from other Asian singers who attempt to enter foreign market (i.e. The Wonder Girls, Utada Hikaru), in a sense that he is well known not only as a singer but also as an actor. His case gives a good example of Korean culture globalising throughout outside Korea.
From his interview with CNN in which he mentioned that he failed several times due to his appearance, he made an effort to become a star after releasing his first album, ‘Bad Guy’ (CNN, Rain TalkAsia Tanscript).
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/12/14/talkasia.rain.script/index.html
While enjoying the success in Korean music market, he also sought his career in acting, by starring several Korean dramas which also reaped a huge success, not only in Korea but also in Asian countries.
Since 2004, he has been spreading his popularity in foreign markets; with the first concert in Shibuya, Tokyo, he took a world tour not only in Asian countries but in Western countries (US, Canada). He is the first Asian singer who performed in US, but his case can be differentiated from The Wonder Girls, since he did not indeed enter into US music market (note that I have mentioned earlier that The Wonder Girls was placed 76th in Billboard, with their English song Nobody). However, his music style is distinct from other singers in Asia, which I think is the reason why he has become successful, as he mentioned in an interview before he held a concert in Sydney that his music is significantly influenced by African-American musicians (As can be seen from the ‘I Am’ documentary, his dance is outstanding) (Rainonus).
Since 2004, he has been spreading his popularity in foreign markets; with the first concert in Shibuya, Tokyo, he took a world tour not only in Asian countries but in Western countries (US, Canada). He is the first Asian singer who performed in US, but his case can be differentiated from The Wonder Girls, since he did not indeed enter into US music market (note that I have mentioned earlier that The Wonder Girls was placed 76th in Billboard, with their English song Nobody). However, his music style is distinct from other singers in Asia, which I think is the reason why he has become successful, as he mentioned in an interview before he held a concert in Sydney that his music is significantly influenced by African-American musicians (As can be seen from the ‘I Am’ documentary, his dance is outstanding) (Rainonus).
His dance has helped him to gain his popularity outside of Korea even if he performs in Korean which most of the audience cannot understand.
As a matter of fact, language barrier is the biggest problem in globalising Korean music into foreign market; since Korean cannot be understood elsewhere in the world. I’ve always had doubts that Korean singers would be hampered by the language barrier, but Rain’s popularity overwhelmed the language issue that the audience may not understand Korean. Music is easily traversable even if it’s sung in other languages, not because the music is good but because the singer is outstanding in musical capability, e.g. dance, performance. Also, it can be said that the Internet played a pivotal role in shaping the identity of 'Rain', as Internet users started to post information about his music, in such forms as translated song lyrics and biographies, thereby making it possible to diffuse the identity of a singer (Williams 176), in this case, the identity as a Korean singer Rain.
His endeavour to adventure venture into foreign markets is pivotal, since he can be said to be one of the first singers who illustrates the globalisation of Asian music. His success is attributed to his musical identity, as Arirang TV points out, ‘Unlike Unlike other singers who approached their fans up close with friendliness and compassion, Rain captivates them from a distant, arousing overwhelming art and apparition, this is how his stage charisma remains second to none… Unending sweat, passion, and dream have catapulted this once unknown little boy into a global icon’ (‘I Am’)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOLVYesIErc&feature=related
As a matter of fact, language barrier is the biggest problem in globalising Korean music into foreign market; since Korean cannot be understood elsewhere in the world. I’ve always had doubts that Korean singers would be hampered by the language barrier, but Rain’s popularity overwhelmed the language issue that the audience may not understand Korean. Music is easily traversable even if it’s sung in other languages, not because the music is good but because the singer is outstanding in musical capability, e.g. dance, performance. Also, it can be said that the Internet played a pivotal role in shaping the identity of 'Rain', as Internet users started to post information about his music, in such forms as translated song lyrics and biographies, thereby making it possible to diffuse the identity of a singer (Williams 176), in this case, the identity as a Korean singer Rain.
His endeavour to adventure venture into foreign markets is pivotal, since he can be said to be one of the first singers who illustrates the globalisation of Asian music. His success is attributed to his musical identity, as Arirang TV points out, ‘Unlike Unlike other singers who approached their fans up close with friendliness and compassion, Rain captivates them from a distant, arousing overwhelming art and apparition, this is how his stage charisma remains second to none… Unending sweat, passion, and dream have catapulted this once unknown little boy into a global icon’ (‘I Am’)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOLVYesIErc&feature=related(Works Cited List)
Williams, Patrick J. "Authentic Identities: Straightedge Subculture, Music, and the Internet." Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 35.2 (2006): 173-200. SAGE. Web. 15 May 2010.
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