i remember when i was in Germany how cotton eye joe was like a number one hit for 10 weeks or something ridiculous like that or even some atrociously lame techno midi quality cell phone ring would dominate the charts, where you might get the guy to either repeat some inane English phrase over and over again, or just say "huah!" on the beat.
exhibit B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB82JWeeSRA
exhibit C
this is a bit better, but only slightly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD0BD0bN4FI
exhibit d
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32jWbVnoky8
also the same situation in Asia.
Now compare similar dance type music based in the US.
Here's Britney Spears latest single.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DdCFczrodc
i mean just the overall beat, layering of sounRAB, lyrics, everything just sounRAB like someone with actual talent produced this and put some thought into this, rather some guy with his fucking casio keyboard.
and of course Britney is hardly considered cream of the crop either.
so what gives?