"The Chinese are not used to hearing their traditional instruments sound different," Wang said. "With time, they'll find an audience at home. It' s already happening."
Their luck didn't change until last year, when an executive with Warner Music in Japan, Kazuma Tomoto, saw a video of one of the Girls' concerts and knew Japan would love them. But his bosses at Warner disagreed and so Tomoto set off on his own, forming Platia Entertainment.
The girls' debut album, Beautiful Energy topped Japan's Oricon music chart for more than 10 weeks. They became the fastest selling Chinese group in the history of Japan with 1.5 million copies of the album sold in three months. In its first year of business, Platia made some US$50 million marketing and distributing 12 Girls. Their music is piped into convenience stores and elevators throughout Japan. And, imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, there's even a porno film featuring look-alikes of the girls.
Now they're trying to duplicate that success -- most of it at least -- in the rest of Asia, having played dates in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, then flying on to Thailand and Indonesia after their stop in Taiwan. They' re also scheduled to promote their upcoming album with a tour of the US. Due out in August, Eastern Energy will even contain a cover of Coldplay's Clocks.
How US audiences -- and, sooner, Taiwan audiences -- will take to them remains to be seen. Between the culture vultures circling overhead in China and the legions that love them elsewhere, the girls are at least stirring a debate.
Wang, for his part, is not worried: "They love us in Japan."
Performance notes:
What: 12 Girls Band.
When: Tomorrow, Saturday, June 19 at 8pm.
Where: National Taiwan University Auditorium
Tickets: Cost from NT$800 to NT$2,500 and can be purchased through ERA Tickets, or at the door. For more information, contact ERA Tickets at (02) 2341 9898.
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