Oh this is going to be so good….
DBSK: Korea’s #1 boyband/music group/celebrities/people. Massively popular all over Asia (and the world…). Unlike other boybands (including some Johnnies…) they can sing, dance and write (some of) their own material. They have had unprecedented success in Japan, with a string of number 1 hits under their belts.
BUT
Their releases have always been well-timed to fill the gap in between Johnnies singles. They have never gone head to head with the likes of Arashi, NEWS, Kanjani8, etc.
Until now.
KAT-TUN: The sex-pots of Johnnies. Fronted by the steamy good looks of Akanishi and Kamenashi. They have the best scandals, some of the best songs and arguably three of the best singers (I think Koki can sing!). It’s always much harder to gauge popularity levels in Japan (as opposed to Korea) because Japanese fans are a lot less welcoming of foreigners (like me) wanting a piece of “their” idols. But in my mind KAT-TUN are right behind Arashi, in a strong second place. They recently announced a 7-day run in the Tokyo Dome which says it all really.
Now, on March 11th DBSK’s “Survivor” and KAT-TUN’s “Rescue” are both going to be released. Either DBSK are going to lay the vocal smackdown or KAT-TUN will pelvic-thrust them into oblivion.
I’ve been reading about this predominantly on Korean news sites (see what I mean about Japanese fans being less friendly?) and of course they’re backing DBSK. Personally, I’d put my money on KAT-TUN. I suspect that many of the people who buy DBSK songs in Japan are Johnnies fans filling the void. It makes sense that if you like the boybands of your own country, you’d like the hot and talented ones from another. But when it comes to making a choice between them, you always go back to your first love…
From what I’ve seen, this isn’t making BIG waves on the Japanese music blogs. But you can bet KAT-TUN fans have noticed…
I can’t wait!
This is the DEMO song that DBSK’s Survivor will be based on:
And a clip of KAT-TUN’s Rescue (which is the theme to a drama by the way, which always helps sales…)
February 3, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Actually there is a big trend here called “hanryu” and people really do love the Korean artists. Just take Boa, for example, she sells more here( Japan) than in Korea. Tohoshinki ( that’s how they are called here, different reading of the kanji) is really popular.
Personally I don’t like their Japanese stuff, I think it’s all too happy and kawaii… but hey, that’s Japan, they like it like to see grown ups look and act like kids… I like Korea’s sexyness better
February 3, 2009 at 11:26 pm
*laugh* You don’t need to tell me about the Hallyu wave. If you haven’t noticed I live and breathe this stuff.
And surely you don’t think “Bolero” is too happy and kawaii? That’s a fantastic composition!
DBSK have a huge following in Japan and Big East will do their part. But they are NOT Cassiopeia and I’ll…do something incredibly embarrassing if they beat KAT-TUN.
February 4, 2009 at 8:34 am
err.. i thought bolero and baby kiss the sky by dbsk were just ok?
i like dbsk because the members are damn hilarious not because of their songs but now i’m only starting to listen to their songs. bolero is my first dbsk song.
February 4, 2009 at 8:49 am
I was actually disappointed by Baby Kiss The Sky and Wasurenaide…I felt like they just picked two average songs because the lead single was so good.
But you’re right, they are soooo funny and total sweethearts too. If you haven’t seen it, you should look for the video on Youtube where they visit a Japanese high school and teach some of their fans to dance!
I love Japanese spoken with a Korean accent <3
February 4, 2009 at 11:40 am
My younger sister loves Kamenashi and Ninomiya.
There`re many posters of them on the wall !
And also,Korean drama is popular in Japan now.
I thought that it`s popular among only married-woman generation. But,one of my friends(man!) was really into it !
I know that sex doesn`t matter,but I was surprised^^;
February 4, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Your sister has good taste! I love them too, especially Nino!
I would be surprised if some of my male friends liked Korean dramas, especially my male Japanese friends! Some Korean dramas are very good but most of them are too dramatic for my tastes!
February 4, 2009 at 2:01 pm
omg, i get ur part on Japan fans being less friendly. either it’s bec. for one, this is not news to them, this competition thing is mainly made up of Kpop fans wanting DBSK to “compete” with KAT TUN, and 2, they just don’t care.
i like KAT TUN and Arashi. Arashi has been longer than KT so we can’t gauge much on who’s more popular. but for me, while Arashi has ups and downs in their career, KAT TUN has always been strong, from day 1 of their debut. i was comparing their album and single sales, and KAT TUN has been outselling Arashi (even if u exclude KAT TUN’s 1 Million sales for their debut single). so for the 2 years since their debut, they topped Arashi in terms of sales, until last year. I think mostly mainly bec of HYD and Matsumoto, Arashi was able to get a good grip and topped sales for JE last year. So i think KAT TUN and Arashi are kind of on the same level, if only owing to Arashi being the senior and KAT TUN always being strong, and never failing to be No.1 with their releases.
plus, Johnny seems to giving good attention to KT, picking them for the shot at the historical record of 7 day tour at the Tokyo Dome.
and i agree w/ u. DBSK’s Japanese fans must have been Johnnies fans who are certainly interested in other boybands. and not some other Japanese fan fangirling only in just DBSK ALONE. to think she likes a foreign boyband but be oblivious to JE must be rare.
well we know what the outcome is, no matter how Kpop news makes this issue bigger. KAT TUN will just definitely outsell them.
February 4, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Tsina! I don’t know who you are but that was a great comment!
Regarding Arashi and KAT-TUN, I think you’re definitely right that those two groups are at the top (obviously SMAP don’t count!). I have always been first and foremost an Arashi fan but since Queen of Pirates came out last year, I really had to think hard about the whole thing.
When I was in Japan last year I was trying to get a handle on the whole thing, “from the inside”. What I came up with was this:
Arashi are bigger, in general. Actually, it seems that the members enjoy equal popularity. It’s not all Matsujun, I saw middle aged business-women profess their undying love for Nino!!! HYD definitely helps though and so do their variety shows. As far as the term “idols” goes, I think Arashi win.
BUT – QofP was a really unusual album. It was…good! Arashi have great singles and ok-ish album tracks that I enjoy because it’s Arashi. The songs themselves aren’t great. Since their debut though, KAT-TUN have had great album tracks and singles. Compared to every other Johnnies group, KAT-TUN are musically unique.
Because of their personalities and status as idols, even an average Arashi single will always sell well. KAT-TUN suffer because Akame are SO MUCH more popular than T-TUN and there are always bad rumours about the group’s relationship. So Johnny gives them the better songs to boost their popularity. The Tokyo Dome run is proof that they are above everyone else…just like Arashi’s Asian tour was their proof.
I can’t see KAT-TUN becoming the next SMAP, grannies and babies don’t love them. They love the Arashi-type. But KAT-TUN gives us an edgier, sexier side to JE that Arashi can’t really pull off.
We are sooooo lucky to have them both!
That was a really rambling comment…I need to rethink this and make a proper blog about it!
February 5, 2009 at 12:51 pm
@stepandgo
oh yes, u are totally right. when i opened to J-ent, i was exposed to Arashi and KAT-TUN at the same time. and when me and my friend was talking abt it, i differentiated them by saying Arashi has that boy next door type in terms of image and songs, but KAT TUN is more… extravagant (i had difficulty here),as i see it, they certainly have that most lavish MVs for their songs, seeing how Lips and Don’t You Ever Stop were produced. that makes them stand out among the JE groups.
and when i asked my other Japanese friend to tell me who is more popular as i am curious, she can’t say really who’s who. haha! and that’s coming from a Japanese fan. but then again, when I asked that question, Arashi is around for years, but KAT TUN has debuted for a year only. KT must have really that big of a debut to be make even a Japanese fan confused.
i can certainly see the Arashi people being idols, among KAT-TUN, maybe only Akame gives that idol feeling. Certainly Kame looks that part, and he already acted in a lot of dramas. While Akanishi…he’s really popular because he’s viewed as sexy and hot, but his image and personality doesn’t really make him as boy next door type, but still an idol.
it’s weird, we are talking abt DBSK and KAT TUN, but it is also ironic that Arashi is releasing their single before KT. i can expect Arashi to sell big time. even better than their past singles. Arashi has had sales in the 100K mark in the past, while KAT TUN hasn’t gotten lower than 250K. i don’t think it really is an issue DBSK is releasing same date w/ KT. Japanese fans would be looking more closely at KT and Arashi by now.
February 5, 2009 at 1:17 pm
yea… can recommend me any good dbsk songs?
February 5, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Tsina – If you don’t have a blog, you should start one. You have a lot of good ideas that you should share!
If you already have a blog, then give me link!
Also, Koda Kumi is releasing her single on the same day as Arashi. That’s pretty big…Let’s go Arashi!!!
February 5, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Renaye – I like their newest stuff the most because their sound matured a lot. The Japanese “T” album and Korean “Mirotic” albums are really good.
If you want faster songs that you can dance to, I like Rising Sun, Purple Line, Jumun/Mirotic, Last Angel, Are You A Good Girl?, Trick…
For slower songs: Love in the Ice, Bolero, Doushite Kimi wo Suki ni Natte Shimattandarou?…
But it’s so hard to choose, everything is good!