[Album] J-Pop: An Introduction (and discussion)

Faye Wong sang "Eyes on Me" from FFVIII and was pretty huge in her homeland of China anyways (see the rather large number of well-selling albums she has). Rikki was, and is, a bit of a Enka style traditional singer, I don't think you would expect her sales to leap up anyway. As for "Melodies of Life", that was Emiko Shiratori.

I was never arguing that it brought huge success to everyone, but it's certainly not a curse by any means, case in point: Koda Kumi.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by soulsteelgray

Also, my usage of "curse" was mostly geared towards the fact that Faye Wong, Emiko Shiratori, and Rikki seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth in terms of presence in the Japanese music industry. I mean, I don't even know who Shiratori is.

None of these artists ever had any real presence in the Japanese music industry anyway, coming from very specific backgrounds. Faye Wong, as I mentioned, is Chinese and was primarily in that market.

As for Koda Kumi, to dismiss her involvement with the FFX-2 soundtrack, and the exposure it gave her, would be naive at best.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

vemp: Give the album a few listens through, there's a surprising amount of variation in the songs despite them sharing a common theme/sound due to Angela's use of the piano. Seriously, that's one great album right there. However, more important things...

'Tis new music day once again. Today's arrivals:
- [CDS] Morning Musume - Ambitious! Yashinteki de Iijan (Ltd Edition CD+DVD)
- [CDA] Lena Park - COSMORAMA

I'm really liking the new MoMusu single (though that's not entirely a shock I know). I think I prefer SEXY BOY, but that was a really good single. The PV for the new single, however, is a much needed step up and hoorah they finally released a limited edition with a DVD. It comes with concert footage and some other stuff I've not got to watching yet. The coupling track is actually really nice too, I wasn't sure at first, but after a few listens through it won me over.

The Lena Park album I've not got around to listening to, but MUSIC and the previous single were amazing, and having given the first track a play through I'm confident the album will blow me away when I get a chance to listen to it through (busy working/watching the World Cup ^^).

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by The GreyFox

I'm not sure if I quite understand this sentence very well. If you're saying "Eyes On Me" was very popular in China then that's not necessarily true. It was more of a hit in Japan, and later in the year in North America (whom know her, for the most part, for this song only). It's not a surprise alot of Fayenatics dislike the song, as it's not really a Faye styled track at all. But if you meant the sentence in a way that she was popular in China (as in past tense), then that's not true. She is still extremely popular, and is a major influence to this very day in the East Asian music industry.

Sorry, that should say 'is' (don't know why I put was, brain not working properly maybe), but yeah I was refering to the fact that Faye herself, not that song, is huge in China. Poor wording on my part.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Lena Park's album is a huge cup of <3. Seriously, I'm in love with her voice and this album, especially "This Love" which is amazing. Go listen to now.

FELIPE NO

You do follow GARNET CROW though so I'm sure you're aware their 22nd and 23rd singles are on the horizon - mid-August and early September respectively.

Also, MAY has her third Japanese single coming out. It's called "SURRENDER" and the coupling track will be a Japanese version of a song from the Korean version of "Wonderland" called "LYDIA".

And for those people who have been living in cave recently, Koda Kumi is releasing her 32nd single on the 26th July, called "4 hot wave", which has seven tracks, though three of those are an intro, outro and interlude.

How ya doing, buddy?

You'll have to let us know how Sowelu's new album is. I bought "Sweet Bridge", mainly because I rather liked her debut album and felt bad not having bought anything of hers, and plus I hoped it would be as good. I felt it wasn't necessarily as good, but still a pretty solid album. I'd certainly be interested to hear her 3rd, maybe I'll pick it up when I'm out there.

Oh, and, I'm deifnitely attending Asami Konno's graduation. At least that's what I've been told as I've been informed we now have tickets for the event. Should f-ing rock. I'm so excited right now. ^^

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Dhsu

Get lots of pics and vids plz.

Of what, Konkon's graduation? Given their pretty strict policy of no cameras I imagine that's not going to be likely.

As for a new Namie album, still not for a little while. She's only had two singles since her last album, and whilst that was about a year ago now I imagine it'll be at least one single more before you hear mention of a new album.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Elrasiel: Sowelu would fall under the R&B category, if you ask me.

Originally Posted by Flara

I LOVE IT!!!!
EVERY TRACK IS AMAZING!!!

Well, when JPOPSUKI reappears I may have to check it out. Either that or see if I can pick up a copy cheaply when I'm out there.

Originally Posted by Dhsu

That's what *hidden* cameras are for.

Yeah sure, except I've heard of people trying to sneak cameras in and of those caught with cameras in there and it ends up with you being thrown out. Quite frankly I'm not going to give up my chance to be in a concert for the attempt of sneaking a camera in, sorry.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

No worries, I had a suspicion you were joking. I'm very excited right now, been talking to the person I'm going to see and talking about things including the concert. It's going to rock so hard. Got to stock up on pink glo-sticks for the end though as they're the official colour for Konkon's graduation bit. Wheeeeeeee. ^^

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Sakabadger

One of the links in the topic post no longer works:

http://bunko.theppn.org/

Yeah sorry about that. I restored this thread from a very old save and didn't go through all of it to update it. I'll see about doing something at some point.

Originally Posted by Hiiragi

Any fans of YUI here? I've been listening to her album all day, really liking her voice.

Any YUI fans here??? Have you not read any of my posts, like the multitudes that exist where I praise YUI and say how much I love her? YUI = <3 * lots and lots and I now own every single one of her releases.

So yeah, I'm back from my three weeks vacation in Japan. Boy did I have a good time and then some. Got to go to Konkon's graduation concert, met Maki Goto, went to a Maeda Yuki mini-live (and shook her hand twice) and spent a lot of money on CDs and DVDs. This is what I bought:

- ayaka - I believe [CDS]
- ayaka - Real Voice [CDS]
- Aya Matsuura - The Last Night [CDS Ltd. + Photobook]
- Bonnie Pink - Every Single Day (Complete Bonnie Pink 1995-2006) [2CD+DVD]
- Coco d'Or - Coco d'Or 2 [CD+DVD]
- Do As Infinity - DEEP FOREST [CDA]
- Do As Infinity - TRUE SONG [CDA]
- Emi Hinouchi - Dramatiques [CDA]
- Every Little Thing - Every Best Single +3 [CDA]
- Every Little Thing - Every Best Single 2 [CDA]
- Every Little Thing - Many Pieces [CDA]
- Hello! Project - Petit Best 3 [CDA]
- Hello! Project - Petit Best 4 [CDA]
- Koharu Kusumi - Koi Kana [CDS]
- Koharu Kusumi - Koi Kana (Single V) [DVD]
- Maria - Tsubomi [CDS]
- Miki Fujimoto - MIKI1 [CDA]
- Mio Isayama - Woman [CDA]
- Morning Musume - 3rd ~Love Paradise~ [CDA]
- Morning Musume - Ai Araba IT'S ALL RIGHT [CDS Ltd.]
- Morning Musume - As For One Day [CDS]
- Morning Musume - Concert Tour 2006 Spring ~Rainbow 7~ [DVD]
- Morning Musume - First Time [CDA]
- Morning Musume Sakura Gumi - Sakura Mankai [CDS]
- Otsuka Ai - Frienger [CD+DVD]
- Otsuka Ai - LOVE COOK [CD+Picturebook]
- Otsuka Ai - LOVE COOK Tour 2006 [DVD]
- Otsuka Ai - LOVE PUNCH [CD+DVD]
- Otsuka Ai - Sakuranbo [CD+DVD]
- Otsuka Ai - Yumekui [CD+DVD]
- Perfume - Complete Best [CD+DVD]
- Remioromen - HORIZON - [CDA]
- Sowelu - 24 -twenty four- [CD+DVD]
- Suzuki Ami - Like A Love? [CD+DVD Ltd.]
- SweetS - Sweets [Minialbum]
- Takenaka Eri - Perunna
- Tanpopo - All of Tanpopo [CD+Photobook]
- Yaida Hitomi - Go My Way [CDS]
- Yaida Hitomi - Sound Drop ~MTV Unplugged + Acoustic live 2005~ [CD+DVD]
- YUI - feel my soul [CDS]
- YUI - LIFE [CDS]
- YUI - TOKYO [CDS]
- YUI - Tomorrow's Way [CDS]
- Yuki Maeda - Nishi Shinjuku de Atta Hito [CDS]
- Yuki Maeda - Omae no Namida wo Ore ni Kure [CDS + signed card and handshake]
- ZONE - N [CDA Boxed Vers.]

Click to see big style (included in the pic is some PBs I bought):


I'll post more later or something, but yeah, f-ing rocked. XD

I was speaking idiomatically.

Yeah, some of them I had copies of in mp3 form, but wanted to buy as I listen to them quite a lot, so I did indeed by them. The DAI ones I picked up stupidly cheap, the two albums cost, together, less than 500 yen.

I wanted to buy more, but there was a limit to how much I could consider carrying back with me, so like I almost bought Garnet Crow's boxed best of set thing, which looked cool and a load of other albums. I can't complain though, I got a decent haul. ^^

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Flara

i've been addicted to M-flo's Beat Space Nine album... and I've been blasting it in my car for the past 2 weeks while driving to work early in the morning hahahaha

That album, much like Astromanic, f-ing rocks. No wonder you've been listening to it losts. If I could have fitted any more in my case I would so have bought it (and lots of other things XD).

Quote:

anyways OMG OP OP OP OP OP!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU MET MAKI GOTO????
OMG OMG OMG!!!
YOU ALSO GOT SOWELU'S 24 ALBUM!!! OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!
me too hehehe
mine arrived 2 days ago weeeeeeeeeeeeee

I sure did meet Maki Goto. Spoke to her somewhat, saw her dancing around and being a goof, and shook her hand. Oh yes. ^^ It was soooooooo cool. I've also met like her entire family, who are also fucking cool.

Oh and funnily enough I so thought of you when I decided to pick up Sowelu's album (well she looks so adorable on the cover, how could I resist XD).

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Rollins

Haha, sounds like you had quite a trip in Japan OP. Good times, you came back with quite a haul and a few stories too as well. Where are the pictures? Haha.

Cheers, and yes, I had the bestestest time, absolutely amazing. As for photos, well I stuck a link in my journal, but I guess it doesn’t hurt to post it here too - wheee click me to see photos, right here. Enjoy. ^^

Quote:

I'll be going to a concert tomorrow myself as well, but unfortunately I don't think I'll be having the same chance to meet people as you did. Nonetheless, it'll be good music, Chemistry, Puffy, and Koda Kumi will be there (it's a festival sort of thing).

That sounds an awful lot like a-nation, which if so, makes me jealous. I really wanted to see a-nation (a chance to see Otsuka Ai live, yes please) but unfortunately it just wasn’t possible with everything else we wanted to get done/did. Next year maybe.

Quote:

I'm also going to be stopping by used CD shops in Tokyo and probably go on my own shopping spree as well. Anyone have suggestions for what I should try and get? I'm looking to get old albums from people I just discovered recently, like Ketsumeishi, Dreams Come True, Yuzu, etc.

I already did a fair amount of shopping...I laid down about a hundred at Fuji TV and got a couple DVDs at Tower Records. I did manage to get the new Bonnie Pink "Best of" album, which saves me the trouble of hunting for all her CDs.

Yeah, I picked up Bonnie Pink’s Every Single Day too. It’s a really nice box actually, me likey. As for stuff to look out for, well that depends on who you like. I was on the look out for some of the albums I’d downloaded back when I was a very poor student and still love (like ELT’s Many Pieces, Otsuka Ai’s Love Punch and Emi Hinouchi’s Dramatiques, etc) but hadn’t got a proper copy of yet. And then also bought things that looked cool/interesting. Keep an eye out for Garnet Crow’s recent single collection/best of, which looked cool and I almost bought it about five times but always ended up not bothering for some reason.

Originally Posted by Flara

wow!!! her whole entire family was there too??? lol still man, you're the first person I've ever known to have met/shook-hands/met-entire-family of a (former)momosu girl!!! luckykyky

Yeah, I’ve met everyone from her mum to her sisters and even her three year-old niece who was the damned cutest thing alive I swear. XD And I’m sure other people have met similar, but I guess their likely to have been Japanese and mentioned it other places you might not read. ^^ But yes, I am incredibly lucky.

Quote:

if I could meet any momosu girl... I think I'll wanna have a chance to talk to Takahashi Ai, Tanaka Reina or Hitomi... or Yaguchi Mari... oooh Yaguchi Mari... I wanna mack on her boyfriend XDDD Oguri Shun *drool* ahem

Well now that’s one hell of a “What if?”. I mean if I’d had to pick before going out there I would probably have said Takahashi Ai (seeing as how she’s my favourite), maybe Sayumi but more likely Mari (yay the Gooch) or even Mikitty. But yeah, I certainly ain’t knocking having met Maki that’s for sure.

Oh and as for Mari, she split from Shun a while back now. He even has a new girlfriend.

Quote:

ehehehe I was praying for you to pick up Sowelu's 24 album... and my praying got through!! weeeeee

Ha ha. ^^ Yeah it definitely worked as when I walked into Tower Records (the first CD shop we went into) like the first thing I looked at was 24 –twenty four- and was like, “Oooo looks pretty I should buy”, picked it up… then my friend dragged me off to the H!P section, so I put it down. But on my way back to the counter I was like *yoink* grabs a copy of the CD+DVD version. “These please” ^^

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I agree, Crispy Park, from my one listen to it today, is rather lovely. The special edition CD+DVD which comes as a ribbon bound book thing is also fantastic. It's full of photos/drawing style sketches of ELT, with lots of Kaori (mmm <3).

On another note, I'm completely besotted with Remioromen's Konayuki at the moment. A couple of people karaoked it whilst I was in Japan and I was like "OK, who is this, what is this song, I likes it". It's very good.

Double Post:
Flara: Gave 24 -twenty four- a listen and it gets my official thumbs up. Really nice album.

Speaking of good albums, my hot off the press, you should go buy this recommendation is Takenaka Eri's debut album called "Persona". I bought it on a complete whim (because the cover looked pretty XD) and it's a gorgeous album so far (I'm listening to it right now). Seriously, after 8 of 12 tracks I love it. Go gets.

Most amazing jew boots

Two recommendations from me:
- Mio Isayama - Woman
- Takenaka Eri - Persona

Both fantastic albums I picked up randomly and would highly recommend to anyone. Go gets.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by splur

OP - how did you meet Maki Goto?

I was at her family's restaurant and she walked in. There's slightly more detail in my first part of my tales in my journal if you're interested.

Also met Maeda Yuki, let's not overlook this fact (yeah I know, "Maeda who?").

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

If people fail to find those two (Takenaka Eri and Mio Isayama) then let me know and I'll sort out a YSI upload or something for those who frequent this thread.

And yeah, I think hanging out and being mates with your fave J-stars is like a dream for most people. That'd be so cool.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

OK, when I get home (just started work) I'll see about putting those two albums up on YSI or something. Thankfully I don't use JPOPSUKI, or any tracker for that matter, for anything more than a few random PVs and TV performances I can't buy so I don't really run into that problem so much these days, but I've experienced it before.

Also, YUI's new single/PV = <3 <3 <3 <3

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Hiro

She's not exactly the most well-known of artists, so I can't say I'm too surprised about this. The only reason I know of her is because she sang Getsurenka for Shadow Hearts II, which I think is also the reason why OP knows her, though I could be wrong.

Actually, no it's not. The reason I know about her is because the day before I left for Japan a friend of mine (someone from j-poop) had told me he was considering buying her album and sent me a link to her site. I gave the samples a listen and thought they were really nice. I said to him that if I saw it out in Japan I might pick it up, though by the time I was in Japan I could only remember the name of the album and roughly what the cover looked like. Could not, for the life of me, remember her name, not even vaguely. It just so happened that in the last few days when we were in a CD shop, whilst looking for another artist altogether, I happened to spot a spine with 'Woman' written on it, pulled it out and there it was. Pure luck. XD

Vemp: k k, sorry, will get onto it.

Update:
I've started uploading the three albums to SendSpace, here's the first, I'll update this post as the others complete:

- Sowelu - 24 -twenty four-
- Mio Isayama - Woman
- Takenaka Eri - Persona

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Computer says: wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_Friedman_(guitarist)

Can't say I had heard of him, but that should give you some info on what he's been up to.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Unas

Ah thats the ticket, thank you kindly, he doesn't appear to be as rooted in the music as I thought

No worries, anything we can do to help.

To others looking to grab stuff, I've upped all three albums now, so enjoy.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

She was nice, she was cute, she was cool. That's about all you'll get from me really. If you have anything else to ask you can do it via PM, but please don't post the same question in here over and over.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Hey Evo-X, welcome aboard. If you have the ability to order things online I'd recommend you check out YesAsia and CD Japan in future as they should be able to hook you up with CDs you're after. YesAsia is especially good for people in the UK as you can get free shipping + VAT paid, which is great.

I have to say, well I have all of Hikki's albums except the Singles Collection, but collecting all of Ayu's albums, now that's one hell of a task. Does that include all the remix albums?

EDIT: I know Hiro will probably be aware of this, but there's a new GARNET CROW album on the way, "The Twilight Valley", which will be out on 4th October and has some very pretty covers.

Most amazing jew boots

No problems, Evo-X, and yes I have heard of MOVE and have heard some of their songs and whilst it was nice enough didn't do much for me.

For Hikki, apart from ULTRA BLUE, you're missing her First Love (as you mention), her Single Collection, and there's also her US debut release, which I have, from years ago when she went by the artist title 'cubic U' (called "Precious").

As Scarletdeath implies about your Ayu collection that's a bit of a way off (though a good collection none the less). Ayu has 9 original albums, not to mention one mini-album (Memorial Address), but when you add remix albums to that it goes up to 30 albums. The one of those I'd recommend in a heartbeat is "MY STORY: Classical" which is an brilliant album. The little of her trance remix stuff I've heard I've not been won over by, but to each their own.

So yeah, good luck with your collections. ^^

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.