Avril Lavigne Goes Kawaii

[Samurai_Jerk]

Make sure you have a barf bowl handy before watching the video.

THAT'S RACIST!!!

The bad news is, there's no actual Hello Kitty cameo in Avril Lavigne's new "Hello Kitty" music video. And the good news is… well, there is no good news. "Hello Kitty" is mewlingly terrible.

So terrible, in fact, that it is not even on her official YouTube channel, although it can be viewed on fansites and as a non-YouTube version on her own website.

Avril's bizarrely bad new clip premiered Tuesday night, and the claws instantly came out on the Internet, with music fans calling out Avril (and by proxy, her husband, Chad Kroeger, who co-wrote the song) for ripping off Skrillex's side-shaved haircut and Gwen Stefani's "Harajuku Girls" shtick from more than a decade ago — not to mention for inappropriately appropriating Japanese culture.

The video features the "Here's to Never Growing Up" singer (who, incidentally, is now 29) gleefully snacking on sushi, guzzling sake, oddly switching between exaggerated British and Japanese accents, seemingly screaming a dubstep remix of Styx's "Mr. Roboto," and ramsacking a candy shop — all with a posse of her own fembotic, identically dressed Harajuku Girls in tow. It's like a segment of that "Saturday Night Live" skit "J-Pop America Funtime Now," except, unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be a parody.

If inappropriately appropriating Japanese culture is racist, the Japanese government has a lot to answer for.

[Yokohammer]

Even recording industry people I know, who are pros and usually supportive of anything that comes up because it's their bread and butter, are tearing into this one with a vengeance. It seems to have hit a raw nerve.

[Isle of View]

Make sure you have a barf bowl handy before watching the video.

THAT'S RACIST!!!

The bad news is, there's no actual Hello Kitty cameo in Avril Lavigne's new "Hello Kitty" music video. And the good news is… well, there is no good news. "Hello Kitty" is mewlingly terrible.

So terrible, in fact, that it is not even on her official YouTube channel, although it can be viewed on fansites and as a non-YouTube version on her own website.

Avril's bizarrely bad new clip premiered Tuesday night, and the claws instantly came out on the Internet, with music fans calling out Avril (and by proxy, her husband, Chad Kroeger, who co-wrote the song) for ripping off Skrillex's side-shaved haircut and Gwen Stefani's "Harajuku Girls" shtick from more than a decade ago — not to mention for inappropriately appropriating Japanese culture.

The video features the "Here's to Never Growing Up" singer (who, incidentally, is now 29) gleefully snacking on sushi, guzzling sake, oddly switching between exaggerated British and Japanese accents, seemingly screaming a dubstep remix of Styx's "Mr. Roboto," and ramsacking a candy shop — all with a posse of her own fembotic, identically dressed Harajuku Girls in tow. It's like a segment of that "Saturday Night Live" skit "J-Pop America Funtime Now," except, unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be a parody.

If inappropriately appropriating Japanese culture is racist, the Japanese government has a lot to answer for.

Indeed. It's racist.

Link is to one of the dumbest articles every published on the internet.

1st world problems:

* cultural appropriation

* seeing racism where these is none.

[wuchan]

If she really wanted to get into japanese culture she would be at the bar every night and then off to the love hotel with the first dude that buys her a drink. She would then proceed to marry the first guy that knocks her up. After all, she is 29 and has limited time left.

[wagyl]

it is racist in exactly the same way that Van Gogh, Manet and Toulouse-Lautrec were racist.

I give it half a point for sampling a level crossing, but I find it hard to find merit elsewhere. Can you imagine this coming on the radio? Is there any way you would not skip this in your track list when driving in the car? The Promotional Video helps you stick with it longer than you otherwise would, but only because you want to see how much lower it can go.

[Wage Slave]

Link is to one of the dumbest articles every published on the internet.

1st world problems:

* cultural appropriation

* seeing racism where these is none.

In it, Lavigne — like Gwen Stefani before her — bastardizes Japanese Kawaii culture.

Good grief. Not paying homage to something called Kawaii culture eh? She didn't go nearly far enough on that one - Kawaii culture deserves everything it gets as far as I am concerned.

That said. it is certainly lacking in any discernible merit. Is it insulting and offensive though? I think it is and was meant to be whether you choose the label racist or not. There is something very nasty in the intention behind it - distinctly sneering and angry about Japanese women. Perhaps her hubby had an affair here or something.

[Coligny]

If the trend continues, our days of free Chav bashing will soon be over under the hammer of being racist...

[Coligny]

it is racist in exactly the same way that Van Gogh, Manet and Toulouse-Lautrec were racist.

I give it half a point for sampling a level crossing, but I find it hard to find merit elsewhere. Can you imagine this coming on the radio? Is there any way you would not skip this in your track list when driving in the car? The Promotional Video helps you stick with it longer than you otherwise would, but only because you want to see how much lower it can go.

While I do get that you are trying (and failing as) hard at smartly implying that none of those are racist...

Putting cultural influence used to evolve an artistic styling (and therefore build upon) at the same level as a kindergarten level bashing of an even more stupid trend (akin to smearing shit on a napkin and calling it a day) might, in itself, not be the most brilliant way to do it...

Russel, sumthing to add ?

[matsuki]

hahahahahahaha WTF?

It's just a shitty song/video with some Japanese words and a bunch or neon "kawaii" bullshit themed crap and featuring *gasp* robotic lemur backup dancers. It's certainly horrible but offensive? Racist? Cultural appropriation? pwahahahahahahhaha yeah right

Remember this gem?

[Wage Slave]

Not so sure. She is trying to be insulting I think.

[Coligny]

Not so sure. She is trying to be insulting I think.

Don't forget her past pseudo pissed off punk shtick...
Like Marylin Manson being 'blasphemous'... It's just a trademark, not a statement...

[Wage Slave]

Not so sure. She is trying to be insulting I think.

Don't forget her past pseudo pissed off punk shtick...
Like Marylin Manson being 'blasphemous'... It's just a trademark, not a statement...

Maybe. I don't know her past work and on that evidence have no intention of investigating it. Perhaps you are right and it is just intended to be a swipe at the superficiality, vacuity and commercialisation of Kawaii kulture.

[Coligny]

THERE IS NO WAY A H00MAN BEING ON THIS PLANET HAZ ESCAPED THE PLAGUE THAT "SK83R B0i" WUZ...
I left France it was on radio and TV 24/7 landed in Japan to be assaulted by the same tune...

And the girl is half French... we are soooo sorry... But Jus Sanguinis cannot be revoked...

[Russell]

Russel, sumthing to add ?

Ouch, what have I got myself into?

Dunno where this racism thing comes from. It is just a stupid vid.

And I would do the blonde.

If that would not oblige me to try having a meaningful conversation with her beforehand...

[Coligny]

Russel, sumthing to add ?

And I would do the blonde.

You need a Minica too or viagra will be enuf' ?

[Isle of View]

Link is to one of the dumbest articles every published on the internet.

1st world problems:

* cultural appropriation

* seeing racism where these is none.

In it, Lavigne — like Gwen Stefani before her — bastardizes Japanese Kawaii culture.

Good grief. Not paying homage to something called Kawaii culture eh? She didn't go nearly far enough on that one - Kawaii culture deserves everything it gets as far as I am concerned.

That said. it is certainly lacking in any discernible merit. Is it insulting and offensive though? I think it is and was meant to be whether you choose the label racist or not. There is something very nasty in the intention behind it - distinctly sneering and angry about Japanese women. Perhaps her hubby had an affair here or something.

By the author's same logic, the following video is "racist" for it's cultural appropriation of the West:

[Coligny]

Steampunk.., the ultimate hate masheen...

[Russell]

Russel, sumthing to add ?

And I would do the blonde.

You need a Minica too or viagra will be enuf' ?

I'd do it in a Skoda with her.

An iron-curtain area one, mind you...

[Russell]

Who is that singer?

Can't be a "talento", because:

1. she has a beautiful voice,

2. she knows how to use it.

[Coligny]

Who is that singer?

Can't be a "talento", because:

1. she has a beautiful voice,

2. she knows how to use it.

3. she speaks english...

Steampunk goodness...

[Taro Toporific]

Who is that singer?
Can't be a "talento", because:
1. she has a beautiful voice,
2. she knows how to use it.

That's Psyche Chimère who is either:

1) A one-off, 30-gun, French frigate (launched 6 February 1758 at Toulon)

2) A time traveler(mundane name, Genevieve Yang, 2010 grad of NYC Columbia) who was banished from the future during the aftermath of a massive power struggle amidst the executive board of the Shadow Court where she was next in line for the highest seat on the board, but jealous colleagues plotted to overthrow her so she became the first Shadow Queen of Psyche Corporation. Since by then protective nanotechnologies and electroencephalocoders had made murder very difficult, they decided to bifurcate time and stick her in a place where she couldn't get back to them. After all, how could she single-handedly re-create all the key events and technological advances necessary to get the split timeline back on track with the original? psychecorporation.com/techxibition/bios

[yanpa]

Indeed. It's racist.

Link is to one of the dumbest articles every published on the internet.

Wow, that site is pure Generation Millenial or whatever they call themselves. Pseudo-intellectual Buzzfeed with snappy headlines and not much substance. And a bit of an obsession with Japan.

[matsuki]

THERE IS NO WAY A H00MAN BEING ON THIS PLANET HAZ ESCAPED THE PLAGUE THAT "SK83R B0i" WUZ...
I left France it was on radio and TV 24/7 landed in Japan to be assaulted by the same tune...

And the girl is half French... we are soooo sorry... But Jus Sanguinis cannot be revoked...

...or this "masterpiece"

I read somewhere this was made to cater to her "Japanese fans" so while it is a quite shitty attempt at music/video/talent, there was no malice behind it. Unfortunately, as Japan remains one of the last places music actually sells (people still buy CD's??), the pandering will continue.

[Coligny]

Derp, she got lazy eyes...

[Coligny]

That's Psyche Chimère who is either:

1) A one-off, 30-gun, French frigate (launched 6 February 1758 at Toulon)

2) A time traveler(mundane name, Genevieve Yang, 2010 grad of NYC Columbia) who was banished from the future during the aftermath of a massive power struggle amidst the executive board of the Shadow Court where she was next in line for the highest seat on the board, but jealous colleagues plotted to overthrow her so she became the first Shadow Queen of Psyche Corporation. Since by then protective nanotechnologies and electroencephalocoders had made murder very difficult, they decided to bifurcate time and stick her in a place where she couldn't get back to them. After all, how could she single-handedly re-create all the key events and technological advances necessary to get the split timeline back on track with the original? psychecorporation.com/techxibition/bios

And, this people, is why I run away from steampunk boards...

[wagyl]

Who is that singer?

Can't be a "talento", because:

1. she has a beautiful voice,

2. she knows how to use it.

For Russell: an interview http://silver-goggles.blogspot.jp/2013/ ... rview.html

Her non-musical blog http://neurixir.wordpress.com/

[Taro Toporific]

Even recording industry people I know, who are pros and usually supportive of anything that comes up because it's their bread and butter, are tearing into this one with a vengeance. It seems to have hit a raw nerve.

Avril Lavigne responds to 'racist' video criticism by saying she loves Japan
washingtonpost.com -- Apr 25, 2014
Avril Lavigne is going with an "LOLOLOL!!!" defense in response to those who are offended by her new Japan-themed song and music video, "Hello Kitty."
"RACIST??? LOLOLOL!!! I love Japanese culture and I spend half of my time in Japan," Lavigne tweeted. "I flew to Tokyo to shoot this video specifically for my Japanese fans, WITH my Japanese label, Japanese choreographers AND a Japanese director IN Japan."
More...

hello-kitty-Avril.jpg

[Yokohammer]

Even recording industry people I know, who are pros and usually supportive of anything that comes up because it's their bread and butter, are tearing into this one with a vengeance. It seems to have hit a raw nerve.

Avril Lavigne responds to 'racist' video criticism by saying she loves Japan
washingtonpost.com -- Apr 25, 2014
Avril Lavigne is going with an "LOLOLOL!!!" defense in response to those who are offended by her new Japan-themed song and music video, "Hello Kitty."
"RACIST??? LOLOLOL!!! I love Japanese culture and I spend half of my time in Japan," Lavigne tweeted. "I flew to Tokyo to shoot this video specifically for my Japanese fans, WITH my Japanese label, Japanese choreographers AND a Japanese director IN Japan."
More...

hello-kitty-Avril.jpg

Yeah, I saw this. Fair enough. I don't think there was any actual malice in the production. Lack of foresight, maybe. But ...

The industry people I'm talking about aren't bashing the tune because it's racist, but because it's a lazy, derivative pile of shit that insults the intelligence of even the lowest common denominator. That goes for the music and the video. Especially for a supposedly "mature" artist.

Of course there are also the conspiracy theories that claim it's all a ruse to sell the song.

[matsuki]

it's a lazy, derivative pile of shit that insults the intelligence of even the lowest common denominator. That goes for the music and the video. Especially for a supposedly "mature" artist.

Sooooo, like I said, made for the Japanese market

[Mike Oxlong]

it's a lazy, derivative pile of shit that insults the intelligence of even the lowest common denominator. That goes for the music and the video. Especially for a supposedly "mature" artist.

Sooooo, like I said, made for the Japanese market