Comments
Posted by Stella on July 1, 2002 1:53 PM:
Sounds like Jennifer's trying to pull a reverse Utada Hikaru - or, at best, an Asian version of Anastacia. Not just an unoriginal market plan, but one that sounds way too risky, especially if breaking through in the Mainland US market is the ultimate goal.
I did hear Jennifer's song on the radio, though, and really didn't think much of it at all. I'm already not a fan of most young female musical artists, to be honest, and as I've said before about "kids" like Alicia Keys, Vanessa Carlton, or Michelle Branch (who, BTW, is also part-Asian and immensely popular), I think that just because someone displays talent early doesn't mean that they'll turn out good material for the marketplace - IMO, good songwriting takes more time than it does to market, really.
(Not to mention that I do get too worried to enjoy the music coming from these girls. Every time I read about this sort of thing, my "mommy" instincts start kicking in: Come on, guys, SHE'S ONLY FIFTEEN! Can't you guys wait until she's legal? Then the liver spots start breaking out on the backs of my hands...)
But, hey, look on the bright side: She's not Britney. Or, worse, Avril Lavigne.
Posted by Ryan on July 1, 2002 1:54 PM:
Funny you should mention Alicia Keys, Vanessa Carlton and Michelle Branch. Isn't part of the deal with them, at least, that they're musically trained, and write much — if not all — of their stuff? By contrast, I think "Jennifer" is pretty much 90 percent management, 10 percent voice.
P.S. Found a blast from the past! Here's a Honolulu Star-Bulletin article from 1998 on Ms. Jennifer Perri:
You go, girl!
"She idolizes Barbra Streisand, co-hosts Oceanic Cable's new TV show -- and she's 11."
How time flies!
Posted by Stella on July 1, 2002 2:07 PM:
So her name is Jennifer and she idolizes Barbra Streisand...
Next thing we know, she's going to get temperamental on us, start making awful movies, and hold up interviewers while manicurists tend to her expensive nails.
And I'm not even going to throw in any references to shortened names, scattered flower petals, low-cut Versace ensembles, collaborations with Ja Rule, and quickie marriages to friendly but unexciting backup dancers in there. Oh, no.
Yes, I'm excruciatingly salty today. ;)
Posted by Linkmeister on July 1, 2002 2:16 PM:
Caution, non sequitur follows:
Hey, what's another teenage phenom? The sports pages and broadcasters have been going ga-ga over Michele Wie for a year now. (I didn't look for a link; she might have a website, and I don't wanna know that). Grins...
Posted by Stella on July 1, 2002 2:39 PM:
...Now if you'll excuse me, I need to fetch the rest of this board an ice-cold six pack of ENSURE to serve on the rocks... ;)
Posted by NemesisVex on July 2, 2002 8:41 PM:
Coco Lee was raised in San Francisco, and even she couldn't break into the US market after recording seven Chinese-language albums. It didn't help that her English-language debut album sucked much ass.
This stragedy is doomed for failure. What makes the folks over at Victor Entertainment think Hawaii is any litmus test for what the rest of the nation will like? What's cool on the Mainland usually takes about year to reach Hawaii, and popular stuff in Hawaii almost never crosses over to the Mainland.
(I say "almost" because that Iz fellow. :)
Sony learned from its mistakes when Matsuda Seiko spectacularly failed to break into the US, only to witness indie upstarts like Shonen Knife and Pizzicato Five develop a rabid cult status.
Now, Sony is heavily courting college markets by plugging its electronica artists -- DJ Krush, Mondo Grosso, Sunahara Toshinori -- and positioning Puffy AmiYumi to college radio.
I guess Victor needs to fall flat on their faces to learn the same lesson. What an expensive lesson to learn.
Posted by Eric Apaka on July 9, 2002 2:13 PM:
I just wanted to post a little something about my friend Jennifer. I am a total believer that she is a true achiever in what she does. I am also a true believer that she will make it big !!
I am a hard to impress person, as I have talked with, and mingled with many well known recording artists (CELINE DION, NSYNC, BRITNEY SPEARS, etc....). During these times I have "hung out" with them as their personal Chauffeur I have had gut feelings whether they would still be around in a few years or not, and if they would be a hit or not. My gut instincts are correct on most of these singers. The people I mentioned above are all Mega Stars, and will continue to be. However, the singers/groups I havent mentioned such as NIIU, Changing Faces,Brown Skin, and countless others are all long and gone.
As for Jennifer though, she will always be one who has made my gut feeling be one of success, and a success that will carry her a long way. I heard her sing live at Aloha stadium with the group TUBE. I was one of the people to encourage her to sing wih them during a rehearsal just to fill in for one of the Hawaii singers who couldnt make it to practice for that particular number. She learned the words in lke 20 minutes, and sang the best she could... SHE BELW ME AWAY. In my mind I thought, "My goodness.....shes gonna be a star someday." Even Maeda-san the leadsinger of TUBE said "WOW". Now here she is breaking into the music world.
I listened to her just released CD, and I have nothing but joy for her. Not only because I know her personaly, but because she has a talent which not too many have. She has the voice, and the "looks" to make her a HUGE SUCCESS.
I believe if not mistaken that a CD release party was here for the benefit of the Hawaii people. Her market is really going to be in Japan, where she will be bigger than Namie Amuro. she has a long way to go yet, but remember what I say......SHE WILL MAKE IT BIG !! Even if she wasnt destined to be a star, and just so happened to be heading in another direction, at least she isnt one of those delinquent kids up to no good. She has a wonderful Mother and Father, and a wonderful Manager who are all pointing her in the right direction.
NO WORRIES JENNY, YOURE GONNA HIT IT BIG !!!!!
LOVE YA !!!
Eric Apaka
(Your Future Chauffeur)
Posted by NemesisVex on July 9, 2002 6:06 PM:
I won't judge Jennifer's talent, not having heard her, but never underestimate the stupidity of the major label machinery. It's not an industry that attracts or inspires genius.
What would you call an industry which runs on a business model where 9 out 10 of its investments end up in failure? In a word, insane.
(9 out of 10 is actually pretty generous. In fact, 1 to 2 percent of successful artists pretty much pays for everyone else who doesn't make it. In a way, I hope Jennifer is successful -- she'll keep Bugy Craxone and Kicell on the payroll.)
Posted by Stella on July 9, 2002 7:38 PM:
While I shouldn't talk, either (being that I work in a marketing-related field and all), my sentiments about the record industry are summed up best by a song that just happens to be from a woman:
Industry's down, think I've died and I've flown away
So so long to the thieves who came and took all of the things to say
I play the joker sometimes but then those moments slide back my way
'Cause for real, I'd give my soul away, give it all away
So take my hand and lead me where you wanna -
Pay no more mind to what you think you've seen
It's as they do only
Say what they say
'Cause there's only one way
They Say Vision
It takes you back to just where you want
Like when you ain't know no way
And if you think that you know
Take the back road
They've got you where they want...
Sorry. I just couldn't help but sing it, what with the CD being in my player and all. :)
Posted by Ryan on July 25, 2002 4:54 PM:
A quick update to this thread... Wayne Harada wrote up a bubbly and fluffy promo-slash-bio of Jennifer Perri in today's Honolulu Advertiser.
"There's a glut of 10-year-old Japanese singers, and it's very crowded," she said. "It irritates me. Little Japanese girls with big eyelashes, pink lipstick. And most can't sing."
Note the hard-hitting, insightful information in the sidebar, noting Jennifer's pet, favorite N'Sync member, and preferred make-up brand.
Posted by anikka on July 27, 2002 10:31 PM:
I learned about Jennifer Perri a few years ago when she was performing at Ala Moana with teeny bopper music. If I recall correctly, I believe she did a song/dance routine to "Oops, I Did It Again." So much for no being a fan of Britney Spears - whom she "definitately doesn't want to be like."
I read the article in Honolulu Advertiser on July 25, 2002, and I think the only thing that Jennifer Perri succeeded in doing was showing her blantant immaturity and haughty attitude. Humility, obviously, is not one of her strengths. She has not set a good image of herself to the her community.
Jennifer Perri has no singing talent. She has no voice - and for someone to stand proud and be condescending towards "pop wannabes," I think she should perhaps take a few steps back and observe her own career path and the road she's traveling. She is, after all, a "pop wannabe," too.
"There's a glut of 10-year-old Japanese singers, and it's very crowded," she said. "It irritates me. Little Japanese girls with big eyelashes, pink lipstick. And most can't sing." - My opinion? I think she's speaking about herself.
Perhaps I am being too harsh. She is, after all, still a teeny bopper, and perhaps her voice will develop if she's exposed to the right resources. I'm not too hopeful though.
"Making it in this business is not only about talent, but being in the right place at the right time. A little luck is involved, but it's luck you have to work for. I think people who don't work for it, or don't do anything, won't succeed." She said it herself. She didn't release an album because she had talent; she was probably at the right place at the right time.
As for her debut mini-album, "Jennifer," I think I just bought myself a $9 coaster. Her contract should've gone to an individual with greater talent.
Posted by Stella on July 27, 2002 11:29 PM:
What I would give to hear these sweet words...
"Jennifer Perri, I'd like you to meet Simon Cowell."
Posted by NemesisVex on July 28, 2002 6:47 PM:
Dude ... she should get ... Trail of Dead to open for her ...
Posted by Bubbles on July 31, 2002 11:45 PM:
I'd like to say that I think Jennifer has an ok voice. I don't think she would make it that big. And about that "one name" singer thing, those singers with "one name" are known all over the world and have accomplished a lot. For instance, if I ask someone if they know who Britney is,they would know. But when I asked people if they knew who Jennifer was, they thought I was talking about Jennifer LOPEZ! It's not for me to say, but I think she's "counting her chickens before they have hatched". What I mean by this is that, when I read her article she's already talking about going on MTV and that things are moving too slow for her, but she gotta face the facts that everything won't fall into her hands.
Now STELLA knows what she's talking about. Simon Cowell would tell her in his British accent....."Do you take voice lessons, because if you do, get a lawyer and sue her!!!!"
Posted by Stella on August 1, 2002 10:26 AM:
Actually, I was thinking more along these lines:
"I think, based on that performance... if you were to win this competition, it would be a disaster."
"You've done it again! It's karaoke, once again! This is so frustrating for me! Very disappointed."
(This is what happens when all those ".wav" files on the American Idol site get played back to back.)
Posted by Tammie on August 3, 2002 3:58 PM:
I kind of grew up with Jennifer. My mom, my sister, and I lived with my grandparents for approx. 2-3 years. It just so happens that she lived down the street. My sister and I would play with here every so often. I think she's to caught up in what she is told to do for the media, but whatever. I know she can sing because I had her Sample CD with 525,600 Minutes and Without You on it. SHE CAN SING. You all are very critical about her. But, yes she was NOT setting herself up for success in that particular article. I can't see her going big, but best wishes to her anyways.
Posted by anikka on August 4, 2002 12:06 PM:
Tammie,
She really can't sing. Her voice is flat and dry. She has no stage presence. She's conceited.
Perhaps there are a few songs that she has sung that exhibit what she can do - I doubt it, but maybe. If that's the case, she should kill her album and record songs that makes her sound at least DECENT.
Posted by NemesisVex on August 4, 2002 12:34 PM:
Who's got MP3s of this girl? I want to judge her voice for myself, and I doubt I'd find her mini-album here in Austin.
Posted by Ryan on August 4, 2002 8:02 PM:
Hmm. With an official artist name like "Jennifer," you'll be hard pressed to pick her out in any MP3 search. You can listen to some RealAudio sound samples at Auntie Maria's unstoppable Mele.Com, though. (Am I reading that right? Are there only six songs on this "debut CD"?) All I can say is, if a voice like this is worth a record deal, even within my small circle of karaoke-crazed friends there's a veritable gold mine. Hey, Victor Entertainment, gimme a ring, 'kay?
Posted by NemesisVex on August 5, 2002 3:46 AM:
Even despite the lo-fi encoding, I can tell her voice still needs way more maturing. She sounds slightly out-of-tune (indeed, flat), and given the very generic nature of the music, she doesn't seem to be humanizing it any way.
Say what you want about 'NSync, at least they can take trite expressions and sound like they mean it.
Jennifer is good enough for Japan -- where audiences care more for catchy meldoies than for actual singing talent -- but ix-nay on breaking the rest of the US.
Posted by audrey on August 5, 2002 6:44 PM:
jennifer is a diva waiting to explode. first of all, why change her beautiful real name of jennifer GUSTIE to generic sounding jennifer perri? second, if she trully cares about her image and what she's projecting onto the public (for the sake of getting on mtv) she should be a little bit more careful in her actions, as exemplified by her expulsion from mid-pacific institute for drinking vodka at school during class in the seventh grade. hmmm...maybe she's ready for divahood and mtv already....
Posted by Tammie on August 7, 2002 10:25 AM:
Whoa! I listened to parts of her CD at Mele. Geez what happened? I think that she should stick to her broadway tunes. Pop just doen't suit her voice. Audrey, how did you know her real last name? Not many people know it. perri is her step-dad's (not anymore, because her mom& Perri divorced)last name. He was the one who got her all the music deals. She never talks about her real dad, or that side of the family.
Posted by Allysa on August 16, 2002 8:05 PM:
Hey! Wow I listened to Jennifer's song, Fall in love... with me and i love it!! Can someone help me please? I really want an mp3 of that song cause it sounds so good! Also Jennifer you are now my idle and Im a singer also and japanese hawaiian... I really look up to your singing its awesome to find someone like this! Well if anyone can help me with my mp3 problem then please do!! Mahaloz.
Posted by Allysa on August 16, 2002 8:10 PM:
Sorry!! :) this thing witht he comments is cool cause i like talking and typing uh well me and my friends or "crew" want to sing and perform the song above. Wouldnt that be awesome! And well I am wanting to know where to buy it, and I think I seen the cd being selled at Longs but I didnt get a clsoe up look at it well I dont know.
And wow theres alot of comments from everyone! Jennifers voice is like another one of those other people like keahiwai but with more spunk and attitude! Thats great well please again help me by emailing me the site or like download of the song cause i cant find it any where!!! And maybe some of you peoples may have better luck finding it or maybe you people already have it or something. Well got to to now 4 realz, see ya lata peace.
Posted by "jennifer" on August 19, 2002 8:06 PM:
hey guys, its jennifer. i just want everyone to know that my REAL name is Jennifer Gustie, im pretty chubby and i have a LISP, yes, a LISP. i really cant sing at all and my CD is on sale for like, 6.99 because it sucks so much! all of my songs sound the same and i dont even know how to write or read music. im an ugly, fat, bitch with no life and no talent. i stopped doing theatre, you know why? because i have an EXTREMELY bad reputation in the theatre industry of being big-headed and hard to work with. i recently performed at world cafe and nobody really liked me, i looked like a britney spears college reject, with gay backup dancers. i actually tripped on stage the everyone in the audience laughed. i should just give it up because i will never suceed. i am a LOOOOSSSEEERRR!!!!!
Posted by Ryan on August 19, 2002 8:18 PM:
Whew. Nothing brings 'em out in swarms like fame.
I have no doubt Jennifer stepped on a few toes on the way to where she is, but as modest a position as that may be, I'm beginning to suspect it still inspires some envy.
Posted by Stella on August 19, 2002 9:21 PM:
i stopped doing theatre, you know why? because i have an EXTREMELY bad reputation in the theatre industry of being big-headed and hard to work with.
Hey... didn't I used to date someone exactly like this?
Posted by Linkmeister on August 19, 2002 9:53 PM:
Well, Stella? Did you? ;)
Posted by NemesisVex on August 21, 2002 9:16 PM:
If anyone who would like to part with his or her copy of Jennifer's mini album, please e-mail me -- I'm willing to accept it as a donation. I might even buy it off you.
I think it's high time she gets a full Musicwhore.org assessment.
Posted by Mari on August 27, 2002 12:30 AM:
NemesisVex: email me and I will send you the mp3s.
Posted by no one in particular on August 27, 2002 5:41 PM:
hello?
Posted by stacy on August 27, 2002 5:44 PM:
i gotta give jennifer props for making it this far in the business. she honestly surprised me. she has never been very well liked and i don't know how she managed to fool so many people. PERSONALLY, i don't want to have children looking up to a "pop star" that is flucking out of school, expresses fake morals, and was expelled for drinking in the 7th grade. i dont' know how you feel tho
Posted by aserjhawehra on August 31, 2002 6:27 PM:
i think jenni did a gud job going this far. i mean, she really loves doing what she does... ummm.... dont call "them" gay, its not nice....
Posted by anonymous on August 31, 2002 7:11 PM:
i kinda know her....and shes pretty stuck up...but people who dont even know her shouldnt judge her. i can cuz i do. if u heard her music n u think it stinks we got sumim in common...
Posted by Mari on August 31, 2002 7:59 PM:
There are some people you meet in life that you don't want to get to know personally because you can already tell that their personality stinks. Jennifer Perri is one of them.
She has no talent and continues to behave as if she does.
What is there to be so haughty about? She's fat, ugly, uncoordinated, and can't sing for beans.
Posted by NemesisVex on September 2, 2002 4:54 AM:
Anyone who goes on the record with a daily paper deserves any judgment resulting forthwith. I think it's part of the job description for "public figure".
Posted by sunway on September 9, 2002 11:31 PM:
My name is Sunway. I was signed to Victor Entertainment for 5 years and recorded 3 full length CD's for them. The is the same company that Jennifer is currently signed to. I can speak from experience in saying that she is probably not making a lot of the decisions in the way her career is being promoted. Also, the Japanese market is extremely different from that here in Hawaii, let alone the rest of the United States. Jennifer will probably do fairly well in Japan considering their affinity for "mixed" asian ethnicities and youthfulness. Whether or not Jennifer will cross over anywhere else remains to be seen. I think she may have done a disservice to herself in putting down other Japanese girl singers who just happen to be idolized by the exact market she's targeting. I hope she was misquoted or at best misunderstood. She's a cute girl...that can get you places but it usually doesn't take you to the top without a lot of help from other people.
Posted by lani on September 17, 2002 11:33 PM:
i think you all are jealous and really need to get a life, i bet you all wish you were in her place. i think you are evil to bring up about her real name, why should you care? you are hurting feelings of people who love, and support her. she's a teenager, and human. if you don't like her keep it to yourself, or be a little mature about it. where's the aloha?
Posted by NemesisVex on September 18, 2002 3:57 AM:
Actually, I'd rather be co-writing with Mukai Shutoku and opening for Number Girl.
Posted by Ryan on September 18, 2002 8:51 AM:
Whether we don't really know her (like most HawaiiStories regulars), or if we're folks with a personal grudge who just stopped by to vent, I think it would be safe to say none of us wants to be in her place.
She's following her dream. I wish her luck. But I hope she's got an MBA to fall back on.
Posted by some girl that goes to her school on October 5, 2002 1:02 PM:
Hey ya'll. I go to mid-pac with jen and i've heard about her expulsion in school when she was caught drinking vodka in CLASS! That was pretty dumb of her.. And when i had classes w/ her, she said that she steals clothes at ala moana. Many of you might not know this but she is incredibly stuck up and conceited. She thinks she's all that and treats people like shit. I know she has a talent for music and dancing, but when her reputaion sucks, she's not going to be succede in her singing career because some people look up for the singers but when a singer turns out to be not what they really seem outside, that's a bs. And i don't think she's that of a good singer. It's either she can go out and take drugs and crap, or she take her singing career seriously. Did i even mention that she tried to mess with my boyfriend.
Posted by Jennifer Gustie on October 5, 2002 2:58 PM:
Hey my name is jennifer gustie, or should i say perri(my stage name). I use that name because people in my school call me Jennifer Gustie is so crusty, and there is a song and everything. i am the laughing stock of the school. But i'll show everyone....lol....i wear the same clothes everyday and i am very materialistic. i am dating a guy named Colin and he is soooo ugly but...i cant get anyone else. Colin is such a loser, he doesn't even have his permit or license and he is a fucken senior. Just wait, when i turn big, i'll get a real boy. As i was saying, i go to school at mid-pacfic institute in honolulu, hawaii and no one likes me there. I stuff my bra, well actually it is just really paded and i think i have an ass like j-Lo so i wear thongs everyday of course. My best friend used to be tiana but then she was kinda getting boring so, i spreaded rumors about her. Oh yeah to tell u the truth, i cant sing. My whole album is edited with computers and stuff like that. and yeah if u want to call me, my cell # is
Posted by Ryan on October 5, 2002 9:58 PM:
All right, kiddies, this is getting ridiculous. (And please remember your computer IP address is always logged.) Please don't post other folks' phone numbers, 'kay?
I don't care how many folks "Jennifer" has stepped on to get to where she is, you brats are making her look pretty good.
Posted by a distant starr on January 8, 2003 1:19 PM:
Wow! I cannot beleive how many people hate on this girl. I personally dont know anything about her but reading the article in which shes cuts down britney and other japanese pop singers really shows her as someones who isn't exactly trained for this industry. Its a tough business and you have to be realistic. You cant just state your goals and dream on! You have to think realistically, be humble, hardworking, driven, focused and you must always have love and appreciation for the people who beleived in you. And above all always remeber your humble beginnings. However i myself am an aspiring singer/actress/model and dancer and from performer to performer,I wish the best of luck for you in breaking into the business. Just remember to know one thing; you are not the onlee one on this island who can do it all! There are others who are fiercer and more competive, hardworking and driven that will stop at nothing that will go a longer way, with true talent, and the heart and soul for this industry!
Posted by Madnamo on January 8, 2003 3:10 PM:
OK: Judge for yourself. I found this Star-Bulletin story that has audio samples of her debut album. Scroll to the middle of the article.
Posted by Celeste Respicio on February 19, 2003 9:01 PM:
I just met Jenn this past year, but for the time that I have known her...she has become a stranger to a awesome friend. I bought he CD and I thought it was awesome. It's not her talent that I am mostly amazed by (although she sings great), it's how humble and down to earth she is off stage-away from the cameras and lights shes a really nice and funny girl to be around. Some of you are posting things about how shes just another one of them...Well let me let you in on something-this girl is talented...Dancing, singing, AND acting...at the age of what?Exactly!Who lived their childhood thinking about the next record deal to sign with or the next show to host?
Jenn...don't worry about what people are writing on here. I'd actually like to hear them sing.
Keep up all the awesome work Jenn! We Luv You!
Posted by colin on March 3, 2003 7:29 PM:
hey guys im jennifers boy toy. As a matter of fact i kind of think she sucks. But the lovins good. keep up the work hun. but your going to have to do better then that. cause right now i wouldnt even buy your C.D. even though im your boy. sorry hun you SUCK. love, colin
Posted by Ryan on March 4, 2003 7:28 AM:
Fascinating. Jennifer isn't all that big of a star (and by all accounts, may not ever become one). Yet, Jordan Segundo hasn't attracted this sort of "past coming back to haunt you" hostility... at least, so far.
I think that's enough piling on for Jennifer, here. (We'll have a new thread if she ever releases a full CD, okay?) This thread is now closed to comments.
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