A big step for Asians... or is it?

Fame Forum

Does Harlemm winning this competition help open the door for other Asian-Americans who want to venture into the music industry here in the United States, or do you think that any other Asian attempting "fame" will always be compared to him?

Personally, I think it's hard to tell right now... No matter what people say, Asians are still considered a minority in the US. So often we are overlooked in areas outside of technology, math, and science. I think it's great that Fame had such a broad template of races, and I hope that in future seasons, more Asians will feel encouraged to pursue fields outside of what "the Asian culture" deems as honorable... it's okay not to be a doctor, or a computer scientist.

Fame has given me a great psychological boost into pursuing my own dreams, and I'm sure it has done the same for many others.

Congratulations, Harlemm. You show 'em what you're made of.

"Yellow brothas in da house!"


p.s. - but I still have a crush on Shannon.

I think it will open doors to other Asians. Of course, as with any race they will have to be truly talented, as Harlemm is.

I couldn't help but be happy for him tonight, even though Brandon was my first choice. Harlemm is wonderful though, he just controls his audience with his every move and voice.

I am sad that it is over.

No it doesnt open the door for other Asians trying to attemp FAME. It didnt matter if he was white, black, hispanic or purple. He got through the door because of his over the top performance ability. Are all other black people compaired to Michael Jackson - no - I dont believe so. Are all other black actresses compaired to Halle Berry - no - I dont think so. Why? because they are unique, as is Harlemm, and compairing people to others based on their race only discredits the others who are trying to be their own person.

Harlemm placed a lot of emphasis on his heritage. He frequently wore Chinese-style outfits and he used martial arts moves in his act. He said in one of his interviews that he wants to sell millions of CDs in China.

The next artist of Asian heritage, whether he/she is of Japanese, Chinese, Hmong, or whatever, is not going to be able to use their ethnicity in the competition the way that Harlemm did.

The public is going to be less impressed by it the second time around.

It doesnt have anything to do with RACE - it has EVERYTHING to do with TALENT

I never meant that Harlemm only won because of his race. I meant that seeing him on TV can be encouraging to other Asians who also share a love for singing and performing.

i know i agree with shelmibelle what is up with all these people and saying oh he is asian ... who cares?! hes got talent thats all that matters! but personally i do not think he will do that good in show biz but who knows im always wrong! =)

To me personally it just get rid of sterotypes. Also, how many asians do you know that are singing and have record deal in the US?

THis is a start I am so happy

i agree completely. if you watched the last episode of that stupid show, america's most talented kid you'll know. who won it? the truly amazing 12 year old asian piano playing girl or the average guitar playing blonde girl from california? you probably know, and thank god fame didnt' go the same way, and people voted by talent unlike what johnny wright might have done.

I personally don't think his race had anything to do with his winning. He is very talented.

I live in an area that has a very high Asian population. I think it is one of the great assets of my little region of the world. People stereotype all the time here. It really sucks.

If Harlemm winning helps other Asians, that would not be a bad thing.

If Harlemm winning helps other people with talent, that would not be a bad thing.

If Harlemm makes people happy when he sings, that would not be a bad thing.

Good luck Harlemm, I have been on your side from the beginning.

It's a step, but we have a long way to go before the entertainment industry is open minded. I am so glad that he won, but let's be honest, he is 35 and been going after this a long time, and there are reasons for that.

When I used to sing with him, he was still looking for that opportunity. Why do you think Johnny wanted Shannon? Because she is the most marketable, followed by Brandon and Serena, hell even Alex and Justin are more marketable.

Hereinlies the dilemma. Clearly Gerry/Harlemm was the best singer and performer on the show, but how do you market a guy like that? It's been tried before on his previous albums-- where they didn't put his pic on the singles in so not to discourage the record buyers.
And to be quite honest, I don't expect his records to sell that well, and I don't really care. As long as he is singing in front of people, he'll be good. I think his role on Fame on 42nd Street will do well.

One thing that does bother me (and I'll say it to him when I see him next- though I haven't in a couple years), is that he was talking all about his Chinese ancestry, when we know he is Chinese-Pilipino. Come on Gerry, represent!
But either way, I'm glad he did it because I think for a lot of us who knew him at UCLA who are trying to make it still, he made it easier to believe again. And I thank him for that, and keeping on.

None of you remember or know Coco Lee. She's asian, but she didn't make it too well. But, she's an awesome singer. I just don't think she got as much publicity as she deserved. But, she still makes her money singing chinese songs.

I remember coco lee. she has a beautiful voice and was a great dancer. she sang the theme song to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but never made it that big here. I don't actually remember seeing any of her music videos on TV.

If you do it right, you can market anything. Have you looked at school supplies over the last 20 years. We went from plain and boring, to custom everything.

Marketing is not an issue. Go to the store, look at all of the things on "display". You really don't need many of those things, marketing makes you believe you do.

There are less than 6 ingredients in shampoo that are required to do the job. Read the bottle in your bathroom, it has 15 or more. Your hair does not need vitamins ON it to make your hair healthy, your body need vitamins IN it to make your hair healthy.

Just 2 examples, marketing sells.

True talent is easy to market.

I live in a High Rise in the city, and more than half of my neighbors are Asian. To me they are wonderful neighbors, very polite and hard working. I don't mean to stereotype Harlemm either, he won because he deserved to win, he was the best.

The marketing thing bothers me also. I am certain Johnny will take him to China and he will be a big star there. I am not so sure about the U.S. yet. Time will tell.