[s@nbi]

Jim Farber has been the Daily News chief pop music critic for more than a decade. He wrote an article about Bi (Rain).

Rain drops on Garden

Asian idol takes the city by storm

Rain hears the love last night at the Garden.

He's got the abs. He's got the croon. And he can dance.
But does the South Korean pop star known as Rain have the right songs and image to be the first Asian-born singer to become an American idol?

Last night, the chiseled star made his first appearance in New York, at the 5,000-seat Theater in the Garden. And, if nothing else, he proved he already has a solid fan base among Asian-American girls in their late teens and early 20s. He has a strong enough hold on that screechy demographic to sell out two shows at The Theater (the other takes place tonight). This, despite the fact that not a single Rain CD in English has been released in this country. His debut arrives this fall.

Those with connections overseas, however, know Rain as the most popular, and spicy, thing out of South Korea since kimchi.

Certainly, the show had nearly enough of the requisite glitz for a modern pop spectacle. Rain brought with him a somewhat cut-rate version of the flames, sparklers, confetti and video imagery of a Western extravaganza. He also brushed up on his halting English - at least enough to learn the two most important phrases for a teen idol: "Make some noise" and "I love you."

Whenever he was stumped for what to say, which appeared to be often, he'd opt for the latter phrase, with winning results. Rain also made sure to pose and stroke his serpentine body as often as he sang.

To prove the seriousness of his crossover bid, he brought several American stars on stage. Sean (Diddy) Combs showed up just long enough to give props to Asian culture and to boost his own connection to an expanding market. The teen R&B star JoJo also forsook singing in favor of a little cross-promotion.

If that wasn't enough outreach, when it came time for Rain to dance with a girl from the crowd, he picked what might have been the only white kid in the place.

In his music, Rain kept things light and dewy. Like many Asian pop stars, he offers a softer version of American R&B, with a little Will Smith-level rap tossed in. Mostly, he croons in Korean, though there's the occasional American phrase.

Rain has often been compared to Usher and Justin Timberlake. But his music sounds less like their current work than their dated songs from the '90s.

If Rain really wants to make it here, he'll have to toughen his style and hire a hipper producer, on the order of Scott Storch or The Neptunes. Should his handlers bring this off, however, there's no reason Rain can't make girls of every race scream.

Originally published on February 3, 2006

Click here to see actual article

Credits to New York Daily News.

[echoxd]

oh man...HIRE A HIPPER PRODUCER??
isn't JYP HIS PRODUCER?
thats a diss to jyp yo...

[n!kk!]

Cool.

He also brushed up on his halting English - at least enough to learn the two most important phrases for a teen idol: "Make some noise" and "I love you."

Hahahahah.

Of course he would a pick a white female, duh.

Thanks for the news ^^

[Olivia*sSlave*]

jyp has pretty hard sounds
idk what he's talkin about lol

[pammie]

Rain doesn't need a "hipper" producer....JYP is doing the very best job for him. And who knows Rainbest other than his hyung/mentor? psch~ I don't see why he has to follow the "American taste" in music to succeed there...ugh, here we go again with "let's have him become more Americanized". JYP is right about wanting Rain to steer clear of being the American imitation...Bi should be doing what he is doing...which is bringing in the Asian flavor to the American scene.

[charissejeong]

poor JY! Is the article alluding that Bi can be good enough to succeed in America but he has to drop JY? Youch!

Although I do agree that his songs can sound more poppy than the kind of R&B or hip hop that is consumed and craved in America. The songs need some major fine-tuning for the American market.

But wow, the writer really thinks Bi can make it in America.

[Dah_jOkA]

straight diss to JYP, s*** wack mang, propz to Bi for doin his thing, represent us asians mang!

if JYP gets dropped then dats messed up, JYP busted his ass to bring Bi to where he is now, what does he get out of it? he gets dropped, pshh

must be wun hell of a choice for a producer to make, keep ur star and hold him back just so u can still be his producer, or let him go to become a bigger star and u disappear from his existence, wack

[charissejeong]

i have a weird thought about this "tough, rough" image americans demand from Bi. THe thing is, whenever I watch Korean action movies, I have never seen an American movie that could punch, kick, shout, shoot, and chop as realistically, or as brutally as the Korean films.

So its funny that they think Rain is not rough enough when he comes from a country where a 2-year army service is required for every able-bodied male.

How ironic.

[ginachan]

I like bi styles of music..y does he have to follow the American taste...
I'm glad JYP doesn't want that for Bi
I don't like it when they compare him with usher and JT...
anyways I think Bi is more talented than those two
all I can say is Bi Aja Aja Hwaeting!!!

[Kristtina]

interesting,but i dont like bi a lot

[boo_its_lisa]

LOL i don't knoe if that reporter knoes if JYP works with P Diddy and lil' kim and all those hot HIP people.. LOL.. all im goign to say to BI is get ready to hear a lot of criticism.. but i dink he'll make it.. WOOHOO

[leeMinJ]

so basically bi should conform to american standards huh? -__-
sure it'll be difficult to succeed here but ...
worth a shot and i want him to do it HIS way. not the "usher" way.

[paulinee]

the writer of the article is obviously retarded.

[★rainydays★]

=) I'm so happy to hear that he did well.

If Bi drops JYP, I'd have to seriously rethink my affections for him... =/ But if it's all the same, I doubt he will. I don't know any other producer as connected to America as him.

If Bi or JYP read this article, I'd hope they just smile and forget everything written. I'd rather Bi just stick to his current, more Asian style than risk his Korean fanbase by trying to become more international.

Best of luck, Bi!! <3333333333333333333

[ginachan]

so basically bi should conform to american standards huh? -__-
sure it'll be difficult to succeed here but ...
worth a shot and i want him to do it HIS way. not the "usher" way.

yeah I want him to do it HIS WAY..
I hope he won't change his style...

[leeMinJ]

Rain has often been compared to Usher and Justin Timberlake. But his music sounds less like their current work than their dated songs from the '90s.

If Rain really wants to make it here, he'll have to toughen his style and hire a hipper producer, on the order of Scott Storch or The Neptunes. Should his handlers bring this off, however, there's no reason Rain can't make girls of every race scream.

JYP works with "hip" artists here so what is this dude talking about that the producer isn't "hip" enough?
Do yerr research, SIR~

Well it wasn't a a completely negative review though, which is good.

[MythnoonA]

I think I'm just a little p-o'd, or at least slightly put off. Too bad this guy didn't do a little research on his fanbase (among other things) before commenting. The ajumah deul would flatten him if he got in their way. I'm sure the 'white' girl wasn't the only one in the arena. I suppose he saw every single person that went to the concert. If I'd been in NY, this Caucasian noona would have been there also. At least it wasn't a negative review--but like I said-and other mentioned-- a little research...on some Korean culture as well. (I wonder how many letters he's going to get. lol)

His English may not be perfect, but I've heard him speak it many times more than this guy. I don't have any trouble understanding him.

The other thing that gets me mad every time I hear it--is what the 'American' public would like--and how artists should go that way. I don't care what American people want. So many of us here at soompi--and in other forums--ARE American (and non-Asian). If people that aren't used to Bi, or anyone else's non-US style--then too bad. I'm not saying he shouldn't improve English (We know I Love You is not the only thing he knows how to say), or anything--but why conform to American tastes? As with anyone else--if they don't like it--then they don't have to listen.

Does this guy realize who JY really is? What kind of dancer and performer he is himself? A hipper producer? he's got his feet in both Korean AND American music. (If he'd read up, he would have known things like JY working with other artists and producers--and that he lived here a long time. )

there's no reason Rain can't make girls of every race scream.

I suppose he thinks only Asian or Asian Am's are attracted to him...just like there was only one white girl in the whole audience.

[h@teusernames]

im totally in agreement with you folks...btw, JYP is working on diddy's next album

[tomjones]

well i do think bi should become more masculine like with his clothes and look and his sound is tame, but i like it. i guess compared to artists NOW, his music is a little out of date.

[ShinHwasbabe]

Are they saying that he's not good enough? He's trying very hard!! It's okay Rain, show them who's boss!