Let It Rain

BY YASMIN LEE ARPON
BANGKOK ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Jung Ji-hoon, Rain to his fans, must have believed that if he can make it in New York, he’ll make it anywhere. The 23-year-old South Korean actor and singer performed at the 5,600-seat Madison Square Garden, New York, on Feb 3 and 4, which was dubbed as only a prelude to his real US debut later this year.

Rain is learning English, but is not yet confident enough to speak the language spontaneously. When I asked him at a press conference in Bangkok recently what was the next step for him after the Medison concerts, he did not need a translation although he answered in Korean.

“It feels great to be the first Asian artist to have a concert in Madison, it makes me feel very proud. I hope that this will be the start for more opportunities in the United States,” he said.
Rain’s next step, as he gears up for the US market, is to make a movie. At least two have been reported to be in the can for him: One to be directed by Old Boy’s Park Chan-wook and the other, a remark of John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow that would co-star fellow Korean Jang Dong-gun (Taegukgi/ Brotherhood) and hong Kong actor Louis Koo. These movies are meant to expand Rain’s pan-Asian appeal.

When asked what he likes more, singing or acting, he had a hard time choosing. He believes that both are vehicles in his bid of bigger stardom. He noted that before him, it was not common to be a singer and actor at the same time in south Korea. He was the first to be both.

He acknowledged that the Korean drama Full House – where he played a spoiled, but lovable character – provided a significant boost to his career. But he said his being a singer has made a difference and set him apart from the Won Bins and the Bae Yong-joons. During his Bangkok concerts, Rain’s spiels were scripted in English. The pressure for him to master the language is increasing as he prepares for his first all-English album.

He wants to be Asia’s ambassador of pop music to the Western world, a dream that has remained elusive for those who tried to cross over before. The plan is to strengthen Rain’s base first in Asia before conquering the US charts.

“I want to be a representative of Asia and Asian people regardless of whether they are Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, Singaporean, Filipino,” he said in an interview with CNN’s Talk Asia.

His popularity in the region grew with Full House, which has been aired in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. But his journey to success was not easy. He was rejected 12 times in auditions in Korea and was told to undergo cosmetic surgery to look more Western. He started out as a back-up dancer for several singers, including Park Jin-young, his manager.

Park saw a certain hunger in him. The same hunger which he says creates superstars. Part of Rain’s hunger came from losing his mother a year before he made his debut. He vowed to work hard in her honor. Park has described Rain’s lifestyle as similar to that of monks. He steers clear of vices and girls and sleeps only two hours when he is working. “Only monks, reverends and Rain live like that. That is why I think he can make it anywhere in the world,” Park said.

However, Rain is facing criticism that his music does not sound Korean, but only mimics Western songs. His style has been likened to Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Usher. He also has to guard against being a passing fancy in the West just because he looks and sounds different. Park explained that the reason why previous attempts of Asian singers to cross over failed was because there was no “Asian Color” in their albums. He said the songs in Rain’s forthcoming album were written by Korean songwriters to ensure that such Asian flavor will be present.

Rain himself has acknowledged that he needs to emphasis his roots if he were to become a real ambassador of Asia’s pop culture. He said an Asian artist has better chances at getting recognition in Western shores if they stick to their culture. This is why, he said, he incorporates martial arts into his dancing to add an ethnic flavor into his performance.

He is not the only one to do this, however, Taiwanese singer Jay Chou blends traditional Chinese musical instruments into his songs, and has also employed martial arts in his choreography. But Rain’s edge over Chou is he willing to learn English and is open-minded about the sacrifices one has to make to break into the US market.

“Being a singer and actor teaches me to set bigger goals and climb higher steps,” he said. That is why, even when there are other Asian countries awaiting his performance, he is working towards his goal to hit the United States because in his words, it is the “dominant” music market. “I would really like to see an Asian make it there. And I would like that Asian to be me,” He said.

Source: Asianews Magazine; March 10, 2006
Credit: janejz@Bi's Kingdom/JJHTH