Just J-pop: Dreams Come True Part 2

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Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. flop / flɒp / (v.) – to fail or become unsuccessful
    Example:

    The movie flopped. It had a budget of $200 million, but it earned only $150 million.


  2. inadvertently / ˌɪn ədˈvɜr tnt li / (adv.) – in a manner that’s not planned or intentional
    Example:

    My sister was rushing to get ready this morning, so she inadvertently wore her house slippers to work.


  3. rebound / rɪˈbaʊnd / (v.) – to recover from a failure
    Example:

    The company’s new successful project helped it rebound from last year’s losses.


  4. compilation / ˌkɒm pəˈleɪ ʃən / (n.) – a collection of works or information
    Example:

    A compilation of the artist’s works is available online.


  5. visible / ˈvɪz ə bəl / (adj.) – known or easily noticed by the public
    Example:

    The company plans to release several ads to make its new product visible to the public.


Article

Read the text below.

Continued from Part 1…


While that effort flopped, the band inadvertently gained worldwide attention — even if the achievement took a while to become clear. Nakamura composed the music for the massively popular Sega video games Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic The Hedgehog 2 in 1991 and 1992, respectively. The music showed surprising depth for a video game given the technological limitations of the time, and over the years has become celebrated. For many young people of the time, those background tunes were among the most influential music they encountered.


Dreams Come True rebounded from their American expedition. Although Nishikawa would leave the group in 2003, the duo returned to their signature sound and once again became a chart-topping outfit. Albums routinely sold millions of copies, and even their recent best-of compilations have been top sellers.


The duo also continues to collaborate with Sega on Sonic soundtracks. They’ve worked on special 30th anniversary numbers to commemorate the beloved blue hedgehog, and continue to cross over into his world. That’s helped make an already incredibly popular duo even more visible, as they have played a huge role in one of Japan’s biggest exports.


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • After their failed debut in the US, the band returned to their signature sound and became chart-toppers once again. Do you think the group should’ve avoided experimenting and just stuck with their signature style? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The band’s music showed surprising depth for a video game given the technological limitations of the time, and over the years has become celebrated. What do you think helps a song or music be remembered for years? Why? Is there any old song that you still like? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Dreams Come True remained visible through their work with Sega and their best-of compilation albums. What do you think are good ways for musicians to be visible nowadays (ex. collaborating with online celebrities, working with games and movies)? Why? Discuss.
  • What artists do you know are still playing for a very long time (ex. TRF – Tetsuya Komuro Rave Factory, U2)? Why do you think they’re still successful until now? Discuss.