Listening to Kpop singers in Japanese

[ParaParaJMo]

Well, as some of you may know, Korean singers have been becoming popular in Japan to the point that they are now releasing their own songs in Japanese. Such artists are Girls Generation, Kara, Touhou Shinki, and Big Bang. I think other big names such as SHINEee and Brown Eyed Girls should be debuting in Japan soon. But 10 years ago, there was also SES and BoA who also broke into Japan.

As a non-native Japanese speaker, I think it's really cool that they are breaking into Japan by singing in the language. Not like I got the singing talent to do such a thing, but here's the thing. I actually find Koreans singing in Japanese very easy to listen to. Very easy to follow, and the words and grammar used is pretty simple. I'll admit I do resort to songs to study Japanese and to stay on top when I got no one to talk to late at night, but Kpop in Japanese has really been beneficial to my Japanese. Plus, when I do karaoke with my co-workers, when I do some songs in Japanese, I mostly do the Korean artists though I do pull out SPEED, Morning Musume, and Shinohara Ryoko to freak them out how much of a music freak I am in context to Japanese music.

Here are some samples

[M/V] BIGBANG -

KARA - Winter magic MV hd 720p - YouTube

SNSD - genie [japan version] MV - YouTube

[kokirikid]

I took a semester in Japanese. Although I had to stop, Japanese doesn't seem like too hard of a language to pick up grammatically wise and hopefully I can pick it up when I have time. Thanks for the links though I still listen to Japanese music !

[Garyuu]

Younha is probably the only pop singer I will choose to listen too, and she did this years ago.

[mussolini]

I also noticed that a lot of K-pop in Japanese is simple and easy to follow. Personally I think that SNSD sound better in Korean and KARA sound better in Japanese.

Not Korean, of course, but AKB and Perfume are often good for comprehensible lyrics, too.

[apoc9]

I noticed it too. It's easier to follow, because they don't mumble like native speaker. But in some songs I can hear clearly Korean accent in it.

[sysmibmip]

Apparantly these Korean groups are/were trained hardcore in music, dance, languages etc. for 5 or so years, and most if not all of them can speak Japanese or even Chinese.
Personally I detest Kpop, especially when it's in Japanese because they they always (and always will)have a faint Korean accent. Not that I can do much better.

Korean groups are indeed getting popular (韓流phenomenon). We may think it's cool and all but it's started to piss off some Japanese, and not just the average left-winged ones.

[mussolini]

Originally Posted by sysmibmip

Personally I detest Kpop, especially when it's in Japanese because they they always (and always will)have a faint Korean accent. Not that I can do much better.

What is wrong with you?

Originally Posted by sysmibmip

Korean groups are indeed getting popular (韓流phenomenon). We may think it's cool and all but it's started to piss off some Japanese, and not just the average left-winged ones.

This is stupid.

[Funkgun]

I have been listening to a lot of Kpop too, but only because my wife has become addicted to Korean dramas. They play Kpop songs all through the shows.
Even more so when it is about a Korean music band, or singer like Mary Stayed Out All Night. The only drawback is they play some of the songs over and over again.
If it is a happy spot in the show you will get a happy song played.
If it is a sad point, it is a sad song.
If it is toward the end, you will get the closing song. (hopefully it is not one they are using them for the ringtone of the main lead girl or guy)

I do enjoy most of the pop however. Even the Korean covers of English songs.

[ParaParaJMo]

Well, a lot of Korean singers are also originally from California as well (such as Jessica, Tiffany, and Sunny from SNSD/Shoujo Jidai) which is why the English lyrics in their songs are far^over 9000 superior to a lot of Japanese pop songs with English lyrics. SNSD's Japanese songs certainly have a strong Korean accent and still uses Korean expressions, but that's part of the charm. To me, Kara only in Mister do they sound Korean-esque but in their other songs, their voices sound a pitch higher than the original Korean versions.

I still mostly listen to old school jpop such as SPEED, Morning Musume, Shinohara Ryoko, and Suzuki Ami. I listen to current jpop sometimes, but old school to me is more my style. Kumi Koda is a terrific singer, but I lost respect for her when she became more about ultra slutty image as opposed to her talent.

[mussolini]

I don't think Sunny's being born in America counts for much.