A Conversation for Talking Point: The Future of Pop Music
Idoru
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Started conversation Apr 24, 2002
The Japanese have mastered the art of the Pop Idol long ago.
The average Idoru or 'Idol' singer (the name meansd what it says in the tin-they are there to be idolised) in Japan has a career that lasts about 12 months, if they lucky. They are then ruthlessly dumped the minute they are deemed too old or unpopular for the target audience. The Japanese even invented the worlds first entirely computerised pop star, Kimiko Date in a n attempt to take the human element out of the equation altogether. That experiment continues to this day.
Yet they also have a hive of happening and real bands that continue to be trend setters and highly regarded round the world-The Wolftones did the Hives before the Hives were created, Pizzicato Five did lounge before anybody else. Shonen Knife, Cornelius, Ken Ishii, X.
All came out of a pop and rock scene that can seem hopelessly tied into manufactured pop.
No rock scene can exist without pop, be it manufactered or otherwise. Seven year olds don't want to listen to the Manic Street Preachers, but they may grow into fifteen year olds that do.
Long may the reign of the Idoru continue. More money in the coffers of the record companies means more acts signed. 
Idoru
Bagpuss Posted Apr 24, 2002
So how does Kimiko Date sing? Is there a real-life singer behind the voice (à la Gorillaz)?
Idoru
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Apr 25, 2002
I believe so, but effectively it is a 'franchised' operation in that they just hire someone to sing the track and then electronically alter it to sound how they want.
Idoru
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Apr 25, 2002
I believe so, but effectively it is a 'franchised' operation in that they just hire someone to sing the track and then electronically alter it to sound how they want.
Idoru
kelli - ran 2 miles a day for 2012, aiming for the same for 2013 Posted Apr 25, 2002
Ah, just like all those S-A-W tracks in the 80's then 
Idoru
Xanatic Posted Apr 25, 2002
Ah yes, I remember Kumiko Date. She's a fairly old phenomenon now isn't she?
Idoru
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Apr 26, 2002
Oh yeah, but they are still tinkering with the basic idea.
Idoru
LokuZ Posted Apr 26, 2002
Here's a link to my original (unedited) 'Manufactured Bands and How to Avoid Them' Entry: A536203.
Take a look at the 'Future of Manufactured Music' bit (it's a just my imagination gone a little wild, so it was cut from the edited entry).
Please note that this was written a while ago. And yes, I know it can be argued that The Beatles were manufactured. But hey...
Idoru, the book
simone b Posted Apr 27, 2002
When I saw the subject here, I thought of the book by the same name, American cyberpunk god William Gibson's "Idoru." Its futuristic, and involved fabricated Japanese singers, and its supposed to be pretty good. (I've read quite a bit of his other stuff, so I feel qualified to recommend him.) So I know this is slightly off-topic; but it does deal with some of the discussed issues of artificiality in music and music star, so I thought I would post.
Idoru, the book
LokuZ Posted Apr 27, 2002
Yes, Idoru is a great book. It's going to feature heavily in my forthcoming Guide Entry on Cyberpunk and Neo-Cyberpunk Fiction.
I also recommend All Tomorrow's Parties (the sequel to Idoru).
LokuZ - the closet Cyberpunk fan! (not mentioning Project X, which is *not* going to launch in a few weeks' time).
Idoru, the book
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Apr 27, 2002
The interesting thing about Idoru is that it borrows very heavily from ideas that were originally explored in anime such as Macross, and they in turn were undoubtedly inspired by things such as Kimiko Date.
Gibson is a very clever writer to be sure and without doubt spotted a trend earlier than many.
Idoru, the book
Xanatic Posted Apr 29, 2002
I remember when Kuyiko Date came out, I thought that only japanese could get so obsessed with a computer figure. That was before Lara Croft.
Idoru, the book
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Apr 29, 2002
Well, I never knew you were so naive...
Key: Complain about this post
Idoru
- 1: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Apr 24, 2002)
- 2: Bagpuss (Apr 24, 2002)
- 3: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Apr 25, 2002)
- 4: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Apr 25, 2002)
- 5: kelli - ran 2 miles a day for 2012, aiming for the same for 2013 (Apr 25, 2002)
- 6: Xanatic (Apr 25, 2002)
- 7: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Apr 26, 2002)
- 8: LokuZ (Apr 26, 2002)
- 9: simone b (Apr 27, 2002)
- 10: LokuZ (Apr 27, 2002)
- 11: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Apr 27, 2002)
- 12: Xanatic (Apr 29, 2002)
- 13: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Apr 29, 2002)
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