Huh, no kidding...
Hey everyone!! Please accept my apologies for the long long wait for this post.
I was having a look at our latest top 20 and happened to come across the gentleman to the left. On first glance, you might think this artist would be the newest on the hip hop/rap scene. And admittedly, his music videos look like something straight out of a Jay Z video. However, Jerome White Jr., aka Jero, is the newest singing sensation to hit Japan. His music type? Enka.
For those who don't know what Enka is, it's often been referred to as Japanese country music. But I don't quite agree with the terminology. It's one of those types of music that you definitely have to hear to fully understand. I would explain it as an old-school Japanese sort of folk singing. Occasionally Enka songs make an appearance in our top 20, but it's something quite difficult to compare to pop groups like News and Morning Musume types.
Jero is an American born Japanese enka singer, the first black enka singer in Japanese music history. It's surprising that more foreigners haven't tried to appear in this market. Obviously the appeal of a foreigner being Japanese-like would skyrocket them to success regardless of their actual ability. Not that I'm saying he isn't talented, but most of you would agree that being a Japanese entertainer has 100% to do with your marketability and 0% to do with actual raw talent. Not that the west isn't much better (eg Brittany).
Check out Jero's latest video, Umiyuki below.
posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 4:23 AM
2 Comments:
you said he's american born, but i imagine he grew up in japan? i agree. he's appearance and performance is quite a contrast. he has a good, dramatic voice. makes me think of very old, with complicated plot soaps.
Hi winnie!
Thank you for your comment. I'm answering as Celina has been away from the office.
Jero grew up in the States, I believe, and came over in 2003. But he must have been quite influenced by his Japanese roots. It's definitely a movement for the non-Japanese to get into enka.
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