In Asia, Bigger Often Is Better

I regularly dip in and out of Channel V, Asia’s answer to MTV, and have noticed what seems to be a trend in Asian pop and hip-hop groups (is it still called hip-hop or am I just showing my age?). Most of them could easily form a football team as the average group contains between around fifteen members! Now, Girl’s Aloud have five members, the Sugababes three (even if they change their members more often than the guards at Buckingham Palace), the Black Eyed Peas four... I needn’t go on. With the exception of Blazing Squad, a group that proved that bigger is definitely not always better, and So Solid Crew, who had more members than anyone could ever count and who are apparently about to make a comeback, most western groups keep it to a family sized number. Asian groups prefer an extended family vibe. Perhaps it’s got something to do with the fact that many Asians love to socialise in huge groups and often organise large family gatherings. The extended family often live under one roof, or at least very close to each other. I don’t know what the reason is, but it does make for some very amusing music videos, where each member jostles for the attention of the camera. On the upside, I suppose, at least they don’t have to pay for backing singers or dancers, and they could probably fill an arena just with their own family and friends.