--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was criticized a lot when I was singing…" description: "\"I was criticized a lot when I was singing in Korean. The producers and people from my agency would point out my accent and tones, and would tell me I s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/eric-nam-7940_american_i-was-criticized-a-lot-when-i-was-singin_1289523.jpg" --- # I was criticized a lot when I was singing in Korean. The… ![“I was criticized a lot when I was singing in Korean. The producers and people from my agency would point out my accent and tones, and would tell me I sound too American to fit the local market.” quote by Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/eric-nam-7940_american_i-was-criticized-a-lot-when-i-was-singin_1289523.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/eric-nam-7940_american_i-was-criticized-a-lot-when-i-was-singin_1289523.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/eric-nam-7940_american_i-was-criticized-a-lot-when-i-was-singin_1289523.jpg) > “I was criticized a lot when I was singing in Korean. The producers and people from my agency would point out my accent and tones, and would tell me I sound too American to fit the local market.” [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He faced criticism for sounding too American while singing Korean, highlighting cultural expectations in music markets. **In simple terms:** He was told his accent was too American for Korean audiences. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique voice despite criticism. Themes identity culture music authenticity Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - live performance - media interviews - fan interactions Key Concepts cultural expectations self‑acceptance artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How does cultural expectation shape artistic expression? - Can authenticity outweigh market demands? A Different Perspective Criticism may stem from commercial pressures rather than artistic merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Korean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean/) [Market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/market/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) ## Related quotes > [I would be criticized, like, 'You don't talk Korean enough. You sound very American. You sound very white in your music.' 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For the longest time the English, like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/i-don-t-speak-cockney-and-i-don-t-pretend-to-come-from-that-part-of/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [A sound American is simply one who has put out of his mind all doubts and questionings, and who accepts instantly, and as incontrovertible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-sound-american-is-simply-one-who-has-put-out-of-his-mind-all-doubts/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I want to position myself as a great singer/songwriter in Korea, then jump off that into different markets. South-east Asia, China, Japan - I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-want-to-position-myself-as-a-great-singer-songwriter-in-korea-then/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I am so excited for where and what K-pop is doing and how it's growing. 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I can do pop, EDM, rock, R&B and it doesn't matter, K-Pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-think-k-pop-is-something-that-sucks-people-in-because-it-s-open-i/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [Korean, yes, I am now fluent in Korean. I was not always. When I got to Korea, I was constantly put on TV shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/korean-yes-i-am-now-fluent-in-korean-i-was-not-always-when-i-got-to/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I think one thing I wish would be a little different, and it'll take time, is yes BLACKPINK, BTS, these teams are taking over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-think-one-thing-i-wish-would-be-a-little-different-and-it-ll-take/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [In 2013, Samsung accounted for about 20 percent of South Korea's total business profits. Samsung Electronics, just one of scores of subsidiaries, accounts for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-young-ha/in-2013-samsung-accounted-for-about-20-percent-of-south-korea-s-total/) [Kim Young-ha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-young-ha/) ## More by Eric Nam > [I learned Spanish as my second language from middle school through high school. I grew up volunteering at homeless shelters and tutoring kids of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-learned-spanish-as-my-second-language-from-middle-school-through/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [On any collaboration, you want to respect your music and the other's music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/on-any-collaboration-you-want-to-respect-your-music-and-the-other-s/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [When you first make money, you're just excited that you have it and just buy things on a whim. You don't really think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/when-you-first-make-money-you-re-just-excited-that-you-have-it-and/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I actually received a lot of messages from Central and South American artists who complimented my songs and showed interest in collaborating with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-actually-received-a-lot-of-messages-from-central-and-south-american/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I know people love Supreme. 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I personally didn't enjoy the type of music that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-was-part-of-the-atlanta-boy-choir-probably-like-fourth-and-fifth/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I've always been very passionate about trying to have Asian-Americans or Asian faces be more prominent in mainstream media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-ve-always-been-very-passionate-about-trying-to-have-asian-americans/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [Sunbae-hoobae seniority is a very tricky, weird kind of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/sunbae-hoobae-seniority-is-a-very-tricky-weird-kind-of-thing/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [Typically in Korea when I perform I have a full band, a ten-piece band, and that's a completely different monster in itself to prepare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/typically-in-korea-when-i-perform-i-have-a-full-band-a-ten-piece-band/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I want to position myself as a great singer/songwriter in Korea, then jump off that into different markets. South-east Asia, China, Japan - I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-want-to-position-myself-as-a-great-singer-songwriter-in-korea-then/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) [Explore all 86 Eric Nam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. 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