EY Y02 L38 Idols

  1. Each generation in Japan reveres different idols from music, TV or film. Tell me about an idol who was big when your parents were teens. Did you like that idol? Why?
  2. Tell me about an idol from when you were a teen. Did/do you like him or her? Why?
  3. The careers of idols in Japan are often short-lived. Tell us about an idol who has managed to stay popular over several decades. How have they done that?
  4. The careers of idols in Japan are often short-lived. Tell us about an idol who lost their popularity really suddenly. What did they do?
  5. Why has K-pop become a global phenomenon when J-pop idols have only had limited success abroad?
  6. If you could meet any idol, who would you meet? What would you ask them? Why?

Question 1

My parents are English, so I think The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were big. But my parents liked others, my mother adored The Beach Boys, while my father enjoyed Deep Purple.

Question 2

When I was a teen, Britney Spears was all the rage. I thought she was cute, but I was not a fan of her music.

Question 3

I think Ayumi Hamasaki has been around for a long time. I think she has stayed popular with her singing talent, looks, personality, and interesting personal life.

Question 4

This is a tough question, I think the guy who sang "Apple Pen" came and went quickly.

Question 5

I think K-pop stars can speak English a little better when compared to their Japanese counterparts.

Question 6

I would like to meet Baby Metal and I would ask them, "Do you really like heavy metal or do you pretend to?"

Tough Vocabulary

- English - - Japanese -
were big 大衆的
adored 惚れ惚れ
all the rage 大人気
been around for a long time 人気がある
counterparts 相方