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Forum - View topicNEWS: Spooky Graphic to Animate Music Video for Jero, NHK
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Tofusensei
Posts: 365 |
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Jero is actually not bad for an Enka singer.
He'd never have even gotten signed if he wasn't black, but neither would have Bob Sapp lol I take that back, if a Japanese guy was as big as Bob Sapp he'd probably get signed too 
-Tofu |
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Kougeru
 Posts: 5584 |
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fighterholic
Posts: 9193 |
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Jero adds color and diversity, obviously. I remember watching Minnanouta while I was in Japan, it was always fun to watch.
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enurtsol
 Posts: 14888 |
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Well, that's like saying many seiyuu "singers" wouldn't have been signed if they weren't obvious otaku jailbaits! So what's new? 
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Mysticmidnightmaiden
Posts: 123 Location: California (Bay Area) |
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I guess since hip-hop is dead (MJ killed pop a while ago), we're branching out. What's next, country (damn straight)? Opera (hell yes)? Classical (watch out, we're going back to actually PLAYING instruments for music)?!
In all seriousness, I'm happy for the guy. I like enka and I'm glad someone's trying to bring it back (a little hip-hop flair never hurt anyone...). I guess his album's next on my buy list, then... |
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eaglestorm
 Posts: 133 |
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I watched quite a number of clips featuring Jero after reading this article. And it's certainly true you can't tell he's not pure Japanese just by listening to him. And he certainly has a very good voice. Needless to say, I enjoyed watching all those clips. But, I'll have to agree with Tofu that he'd probably not have been signed, or if signed, be as popular. While he may have a very good voice, it is not unique by any means. There are countless who are much better. It is the novelty of his color, race and country of origin that makes him stand out amongst the multitudes of talented people around. It's his background that makes this an interesting story and makes him a phenomenon. Also, the conscious effort by the record company to present him to the public as hip-hop enka singer. Don't get me wrong. I do admire him for his ambitions, talents and perseverance, and do wish him all the best but let's be realistic. |
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kakoishii
Posts: 741 |
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well his grandmother was Japanese and he grew up singing along to a lot of the enka songs she liked, so it's no wonder they thought he was a native, it's in his blood. Here's a little fun fact, Jero graduated from my university and actually visited the campus and performed at a concert there just a few months ago. Up until that point I had no idea who was, but it figures since Enka isn't really my type of music, it's for an older crowd after all. |
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Kenji_Ikari
 Posts: 144 |
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It's called "The Gaijin Advantage" or "The Gaijin factor." I pretty much agree with you... in that he was/is probably good enough to be signed, but if he wasn't "unique" in some way, he probably wouldn't have gotten the attention to be. This is sorta true all over the world, but especially (and to a much larger degree) in Japan. Just look at BoA, Becky, Leah Dizon, Monkey Majik, Verbal, Eiji Wentz, etc, etc. Japan loves it's halfies, as well as any other people that are Japanese enough to be considered "part of them" but un-Japanese enough to provide entertainment. :p |
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