Pop- and rock music is spread over the world by sound systems made in Asia, but usually the Anglo-American rhythms have gained more prominence over the Asian ones. Different from culinary tendencies few Japanese popstars have managed to reach beyond the borders to Europe and the USA.
It may be because of the different mentality. In the Theater in the National there was an opportunity to hear two singers from different cultural background on one evening. On their tour the Japanese Mari Hamada and the English Kim Wilde came to Bern between their gigs in Paris and Utrecht.
The Japanese pop singer Mari Hamada is one of the biggest stars in her homeland and presented her somewhat western sounds for the first time in Switzerland. The songs consist of harmonic pop with a distinct preference for soft ballads, while the vocals stay very asian.
Unfortunately the concert sound of the band was too diffused and the presentation too bloodless, so that the attention of the audience soon faded. Mari Hamada had to experience in Bern that performing on new stages can be a tough experience.
Kim Wilde had less of a hard time, belonging to the elite ladies of pop. After rapid ascent and following stagnation she managed again and again to reap success with new hits. Her performance was devoted to looking back after all the hard work of recent years. With a lot of joy and a nice stage outfit she cleared away all doubt that she prepared her gigs with a lot of pleasure and takes pride in inspiring her fans with well-meaning gestures and old great hits.
With driving rhythms, a lot of percussion and some steam all went fast through the past 14 years. And Kim Wilde didn’t leave out any of the hits.
‘Cambodia’, ‘Kids in America’ or ‘You keep me hanging on’ were suitable for the taste of the mostly male audience.
With popsongs without lyrical depth and rid of moralism the 33 year old English woman managed to engage for over 90 minutes.