Philippines and Asian Pop Music

Koda Kumi, Kwon Boa, Rain, Utada Hikaru, Fahrenheit, Jacky Victor, Alice Nine & Arashi  Do they sound familiar to you? 

Well if not try to take a look at these photos, you probably have encountered them on the web while searching for; let’s say the lyrics of your favorite anime…

Recognize them now? 

I see some heads nodding… great!

Normally if your Asian (or not), and a teenager (by age or by heart) you’ll definitely say yes. Who wouldn’t recognize them?Why, their faces are all over fashion magazines, huge billboards and commercials on TV. They set the trend to what’s new in the world of fashion, from the latest hairstyle, make- up, accessories, clothes, shoes and everything. And mind you, they are not just a bunch of pretty faces with sexy bodies; these god-sent beings are blessed with talent too. Some of them dance, poppin’ and grindin’ their body showing captivating dance moves.  While others play their instrument of choice (guitar, piano, drums, etc). But most definitely their beautiful voices will swoon your feet off the ground. That’s why they’re so big all over Asia! (especially in the Southern, Southeastern & Eastern part). Wow, that’s so great!!! Imagine idols of our own continent? How cool can that be? But sad to say you have to exclude the Philippines for that (what? I live there, no way!) Geographically speaking the Philippines is located in the Southeastern region of Asia and yet only a little sign of Asian music infiltration. The only ones that had invaded our music charts were F4 because of the hit Meteor Garden drama.

 I’ve made a little scenario to show you what I mean. Let’s say one day a Filipina and a Malaysian Girl we’re having a girl talk.

Malaysian girl: I love Matsumoto!

Filipina girl:What’s that?…A new cell phone?Malaysian girl: ??? 

On the second day, the Malaysian and the Filipino girl went into a library and met a celebrity whose reading a book or something.

 Malaysian Girl: Ahhhh!!! It’s Matsujun!!!

Filipina Girl: Who’s that?

(Malaysian Girl fakes a faint and rushes over to Jun and asks for an autograph)

Filipina Girl: ??? 

-the end- 

See? A typical Filipino will probably mistake a pop or rock star’s name into a brand name of an appliance, in this example a cell phone! What a shame! I’m not putting my fellow Filipinos down. Well I can’t really blame some of them, I guess the history of our country is the reason why it has knowledge deficit regarding to the music of its neighboring countries. Our country had been colonized by different foreigners for a long time and each one left a portion of their culture engraved in the hearts and minds of our forefathers thus passing it unto the present generation. And the last country who colonized us was the American’s, no wonder why most of us adore Western Music. But I’m not putting this mentality in to a period (I’m kipping my fingers crossed). I hope one day the Filipino’s will appreciate Asian pop culture more. 

P.S.

Just for the record I’m not Miss-Know-it-All regarding Asian icons, nor their number one fan, in fact I just know little about them but I really do appreciate them. I just happen to be an observant and a generic fan.

 Peace.