He's not bad but the "freak show" culture around his TV appearance is so typically Japanese and kinda depressing. There are plenty of shows like this on Japanese TV, shows that are basically, "OMG LOOK this non-Japanese person can use chopsticks/do kendo/play the shamisen/speak JAPANESE."
It's not that hard, people. Get over yourselves. Japanese people don't have a monopoly on singing Japanese songs.
That said, it's a pretty rare coincidence of personal history, interest, and talent that created a marketable and decent black enka singer...
I'm not sure that it's shocking to the Japanese in the sense that it's egregious; Instead it's like saying, "Hey look an outsider has embraced our culture. That's peculiar."
It's like the first time I saw highlights of a woman dunking on ESPN. I wasn't shocked that a woman intruded on a space reserved for men. I was shocked in the sense I saw something different.
A black guy singing enka? That's different.
Posted by: AJ Papa | 04/10/2008 at 02:00 PM
I wouldn't consider that to be Enka. There is none of the ultra wobbley vibrato.
Also, is he really singing or just milly vanillying it?
Posted by: lion-gv | 04/10/2008 at 03:05 PM
Not that Americans do not do the same thing, especially in regard to those crazy Japanese. Though I can say I was kind of surprised that there is a music show (Music Machine) hosted by a Japanese-fluent foreigner.
I thought you had to be wearing a kimono for it to be real Enka?
Posted by: Alice Lee | 04/11/2008 at 12:15 PM
Not that Americans do not do the same thing, especially in regard to those crazy Japanese. Though I can say I was kind of surprised that there is a music show (Music Machine) hosted by a Japanese-fluent foreigner.
I thought you had to be wearing a kimono for it to be real Enka?
Posted by: Alice Lee | 04/11/2008 at 12:23 PM