J-Pop Origins Of Caro Emerald's Hit Single

[Mulboyne]

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Dutch singer Caro Emerald's debut album has now gone triple platinum. In the Netherlands, it stayed in the charts for longer than Michael Jackson's "Thriller". There's a Japan angle to this story. Her first single, "Back it Up", became a word-of-mouth hit but it was originally written for a J-Pop act. Dutch producers David Schreurs and Jan van Wieringen combined with Canadian songwriter Vince Degiorgio to pen the song. Degiorgio is a well-known writer in Japanese music circles but has also come up with material for the likes of 'N Sync and Atomic Kitten. He's on record as saying that J-Pop embraces a broader range of musical styles than pop markets in the West. It's unclear whether the song was intended for any specific artist but Schreurs and Van Wieringen roped in Emerald to sing for the demo they planned on sending to Japan. She began singing it live in her own set and a performance on Dutch TV led to its release as a single in its own right. It's fascinating to think what might have come of a J-Pop version. Try and imagine the video above with a mamasan and her oyaji customers.

[Yokohammer]

Whoa ... that track gave my subwoofer quite a workout.

[xenomorph42]

The tune is rather Jazzy! I wouldn't really consider it or categorize as pop at all.
She has a good voice and love the bebop, 20's style vibe and she did it without shrieking or killing anyone's ear! Personally, I don't know any J-female artist with the exception of "Ai" that could pull that off.
-Good job!

[American Oyaji]

I think I've got a new favorite artist. Thanks Mul!!
Listening to some of her other stuff on YouTube.

Here's another version of the same song as above.

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