Dear J-POP

In the last article, I want to talk about my feelings toward J-POP and introduce you some my favorite songs.

I still remember the first time I noticed J-POP is because of staying in hospital. At that time, I had a severe disease so I had to stay in the hospital. I didn't know what I could do because I felt very bad so I turned on the TV and I saw something interesting--Hamasaki Ayumi's new album TV CM.  It really gave me a big shock! I'd never heard such style of songs before and I was fascinated by her songs!! After I left the hospital, I went to buy that album, My Story. Actually, I didn't like all of her songs in that album, but after few months, I couldn't help but repeat the album again and again. And then, I became ayu's super fan.

After becoming ayu's fan, I started to listen to other Japanese songs, and I found some of them are really attractive. Gradually, my computer was filled with J-POP music.

For me, loving J-pop is not simply because of the great melody but their lyrics. I noticed that those lyrics are really different from Taiwan's. Japanese lyrics always contain many kinds of emotion and relationships, such as the idea about future or jobs, feelings toward love and the reflection to ourselves.

After reading above paragraphs, I believe that you may be curious about what songs can be so attractive. Let me introduce you some of them.

1. Utada Hikaru (宇多田光) - First Love


2. Hamasaki Ayumi (濱崎步) - Moments


3. Orange Range - 花


4. 南方之星 - Tsunami


5. Misia - Everything


6. 平井堅 - 瞳をとじて (輕閉雙眼)


7. GReeeN - キセキ (奇蹟)


8. Mr. Children - くるみ (成人)

Avex's July

This July in 2010 will be very exciting because 3 most famous female singers will release their new singles.

(cover: Gossip Candy)

The 1st one is Koda Kumi (倖田來未). This single, Gossip Candy, is her 47th single which will be released on 7/7. It will cantain 5 songs, and one of them (Got To Be Real) will be collected only in the form of CD+DVD.

Actually, this year is her 10th anniversary in her singing career. At the beginning of this year, she had released her new best album which contains a best album and a new album. She said that she will give her fans many surprises in 2010. At the present, she is holding her 2010 tour concert called "UNIVERSE". It's obvious that she won't let us down because this single is a sexy one.

(cover: Sweet magazine)

The 2nd one is Hamasaki Ayumi (濱崎步). Her 48th single, MOON/ blossom, will be released on 7/14. This single has 4 types including MOON/ blossom CD only, CD+DVD and blossom/ MOON CD only, CD+DVD. MOON is tied up Honda's TV commercial and blossom is tied up Zespri TV commercial.

Although a lot of people think that Ayu's voice is broken and her fame is not as usual, this single is still expected by her fans very much. The CEO of Avex even said that "MOON" is the best song within recent years.

In fact, Ayu's plan is to release 3 singles during next months in 2010, because she hopes she can hold the 50-single concert in 2011. I believe that she will continue bringing more surprises to her fans.

(Cover: coca cola CM)

The last one is Namie Amuro (安室奈美惠). On 7/28, her 37th single, Break It/ Get Myself Back, will be released. "Break It" is tied up Coca Cola CM.

Although Amuro doesn't release singles very often, everyone knows that once she releases a new single, the single will have a super great grade.

Singer Interview - Nishino Kana

(西野加奈)


Recently, I am fascinated by her. No matter her voice and pretty looking, they all attracted me deeply. It's really hard to find a second new female singer who can compass her.

Kana's debut was in 2008, by her first single, . Her beautiful quickly attracted many audience's attention. Moreover, she composes lyrics for her most of songs and it becomes her feature soon. A lot of senior high female students said that her lyrics are very real and touching as if their own experiences. 

In 2009, her fame raised up very soon. Some reporters even said that she was the most popular new singer in the year. Her single, <もっと・・・>, in 2009 10/21, got the first place on cellphone music downloading ranking for weeks. This single made her become a new model for teenagers. 


"The most effective female singer for senior high female students," reporter said. 

Also, her first album, , had great grades on every ranking in Japan. This album has sold out 181,898 pieces. It's really a miracle for a new singer who can have such good sales number. Her second album, , is even predicted which will sell out more than 300,000 pieces. 

Her last single, <会いたくて　会いたくて> (想見你 想見你), has sold out more than 40,000 pieces in the first week. 


Anyway, this singer is really a good model for some people who want to be singers, too. 

2010 Jan.-Apr. HIT albums

2010, in J-POP market, groups are still hot and famous. Just some female and male singers have great grades.

1. Tohoshinki (東方神起) - BEST SELECTION 2010

This album sold out more than 400,000 pieces in the first week, and its sales volume has accumulated 535,705 pieces now. It seems that their attraction will continue for a long time, though they are going to dismiss. For me, this album is really attracted because it contains many famous songs. On the other hand, this is their last best album so it is very precious!!





2. FUNKY MONKEY BABYS - FUNKY MONKEY BABYS BEST

Using entertainers' photos as their covers of albums is the biggest feature of this 3-young-guy group. This album contains 2 CDs and 24 songs which were released after they made their first debut in 2004. Their songs always give listeners energy and happiness, because of the lively rhythm. The sales volume of this best album is 505,445 pieces, and it is still on the board.





3. Namie Amuro (安室奈美惠) - Past < Future

 












If someone say that Amuro is a goddess in J-POP, I will not be surprised. She really finds her style and the second climax of her career. This album sold out 561,730 pieces, and its sales volume is the most in this year so far.  She will hold 73 concerts in this year in Japan. For me, I love this album very much because it contains many kinds of music like electronic, rock 'n' roll and sentimental.





4. aiko - BABY

With a soft voice, Aiko has moved many people. This 9th album contains many theme songs of Japanese soap operas. Although she is not as famous as Amuro or Ayumi, she still has many fans and her CDs' sales volume are not bad. This album has sold out 193,274 pieces.





5. Ayumi Hamasaki (濱崎步) - Rock 'n' Roll Circus

This album also took 1st place on Oricon in the first week. Moreover, this album helped her get a new record, "the 5th singer who has champion albums in 12 years. " Although this album's sales volume is not as well as usual, it still has sold out 272,394 pieces. This album is called the best one of Ayu by herself. She is proud of this album because she said it is a turning point in her career. She will hold 34 concerts in arenas in Japan this year and the tickets has been sold out more than 90%. I think this album is a big masterpiece in her singer career because every song in this album is unique and attracting.

2010 Jan.-Mar. HIT singles

This time, I wanna introduce you some hot music in Japan from January to March 2010.

1. Arashi-Troublemaker

As usual, as soon as this single released, it got the first place of Oricon on the first week. Untill now, it has sold out 648,647 pieces. We can see that Arashi's fascination is still rising!!




2. 遊助-ライオン (Lion)

遊助had been in a group called 羞恥心, and after he left the group, he called him as 遊助and continued his singer career. This deed made him become a famous male singer. His clear voice has attracted many fans so this single also got a good grade.




3. AKB48-桜の栞 (The bookmark of the cherry tree)

What I can say is.......they are unbelievable!!! This new single sold out more than 300,000pieces on the first week!!! I think they have become the most famous female group in Japan.
PS: sorry, I cannot find this song's MV.


4. 東方神起-BREAK OUT !

There is a bad news about them. Because of the contract problem in Korea, they cannot use 東方神起the name to perform. It means that they have to dismiss!!! What a pity it is !!!!!! Although this is a bad news, it gave them a big chance to attract more fans. A lot of fans bought their CDs because they thought they cannot listen to their music anymore in the future.




5. HEY! SAY! JUMP-瞳のスクリーン (eyes' screen)

Originally began as HEY! SAY! 7 and now as HEY! SAY! JUMP. From 2007 to now, they have established a position of J-POP. Their every record can have a good great, not to mention this one.

Singer Interview - ICONIQ

In the beginning, when I saw this picture, I couldn't help but predict that this singer must give a lot of audience and medias a big shock!!

For a woman, cutting all of her hair must a mission impossible. However, ICONIQ bravely did so and it really attracted everyone's attention.

She was raised from former Korean girl-group Sugar, and her name was Ayumi Lee. In 2009, she released her first Japanese single, I'm lovin' you feat. EXILE," and changed her name into ICONIQ.

At the first, everyone thought it as a weird name and hard to pronounce, but latter, it became a feature and help her establish a foundation in Japan. On January 20, 2010, she released her first Japanese album, "Change Myself." It seemed that she wanted to tell everyone that she is going to make a difference and become a brand new individual.

The record company she belongs to tried very hard to make many ads for her, such as 12 companies' commercial message and a lot of magazine's cover. Although this album just got 5th place on Oricon on the first week, media predicted that ICONIQ will become a new female superstar in Japan.

In my opinion, I have no idea about why her record company is willing to cultivate a new singer so hard. I cannot see any features from her but just her hair style. Maybe her next single can tell us that she can be famous or not. Although I don't think she is a very excellent singer, some of her songs are great.


I'm Lovin' You


Change Myself




資生堂CM

Singer Interview - Shimizu Shota

Shimizu Shota's (清水翔太) new 2nd album has released on 3/3 2010. It has been almost one and a half of year from the last one, Umbrella, to the brand new one, Journey.

He started his singer career from 2008, Feb. Because his grandmother operates a karaoke store, he sang from three years old. After he graduated from CALESS大阪校, a music school, he was fascinated by soul music and he started to write lyrics and make songs. On July, 2006, he defeated other attainers and got into the final in the "Sony Music Competition." After that, he signed a contract with Sony Music and started his singer career.


His first single, HOME, won the 5th place on Oricon, and he was also the first creative singer who was just 19 years old and won the place. Although his first album did not get the first place, he had arisen a lot of people's attention. 


His second album, Journey, got the first place on that week on Oricon. He is the first singer born after 1989 and get first place on Oricon.


His music really can console people's mind and give us good mood. He doesn't use electronic elements or rock style in to his songs. On the other hand, his music is lively and easy to remember. When I feel frustrated or confused, I always click his songs and relax in them. Hope you would like him, too.


HOME

美しき日々よ(美好的日子)

BUYCDs!!

Not only in Japan, the recession of record market is attacking every country. More and more people do not buy CDs but download from the Internet. In fact, it is a crisis for singers because their income is most from CD selling.

In recent 10 years, Japan's CD market continually decreasing.(you can take a look on the pic above.) In Japan, people have a lot of ways to get music, such as downloading from Internet buy paying some money or buying the newest music by cellphone. It seems that people still support their favorite singers in a different way, but it caused many record manufacturer going to be broken.

Because of this serious phenomenon, some young singers made a plan to arise people's attention to this problem. It is called "BUYCDs". They want to invite some singers to make a CD called BUYCDs and convey their concepts.

One of the originator said, "It is not interesting to get music by digital ways."

According to the research of Japan Record Association, the CD sales volume in 1999 was 5512 hundred million Japanese dollars. However, in 2008, it was only 905 hundred million Japanese dollars. On the other hand, the sales volume of music downloading was increasing from 342 hundred million Japanese dollars in 2005 to 905 hundred million Japanese dollars in 2008. It caused that some singers do not release CDs but offer digital music.

I don't know what you think about this, but for me, I think we should buy CDs to support our favorite singers. Although downloading is also a way to support them, but it is just like what the originator said, "buying digital music is boring." In a CD, you get not only the music but also the pretty cover and the delicate lyrics book. If you download, you can get nothing but just some low quality of songs.



PS, the picture is from PTT.

Singer Interview - Koda Kumi

Koda kumi (倖田來未)is seen as the most sexy female singer in Japan. This pic can prove that!

(It is her 36th single's (Freaky) cover.)

It's not exaggerative saying that Koda Kumi was once an savior of JPOP market. In 2006, she was the only one singer whose sales volume was over 100million. Moreover, in 2007, her records was sold out more than 1million, and only she did that in that year. From 2005 to 2007, her sales volume occupied the first place. 

(The 36th single, 愛のうた)

Certainly, you must ask why she can be so popular and successful. I guess that there are two possibilities. The 1st one is her sexy image. She showed the audience her beautiful body, and of course she was not shy at all. Moreover, she dare to speak some topics which others avoid of. The 2nd reason is she released 12 singles in 12 weeks continuously during 2005 to 2006. Before she, nobody did that! Because of the amazing deed, she caught everyone's sight and media's spotlight.

(The 4th album, secret)

However, her career seemed not so smooth. In 2008, she said that women's amniotic fluid would be decayed after 35 years old on her radio channel. Her inappropriate talk invoked female audience's anger and she was immediately forced to stop any performance and new album's propaganda. This incident really gave her a big impact and influence. Her popularity went down rapidly. Although she was affected by this incident severely, her new album, Kingdom, still got the first place for two weeks on Oricon.

(The 6th album, Kingdom)

Till today, somebody said that her popularity was lower than before because of the incident happened in 2008. However, her records are still popular. She won at least one ward in 日本唱片大賞 from 2005 to 2009. It means that there are still a lot of fans cannot resist her sexy fascination.


愛のうた



Can We Go Back



SUPERSTAR



Taboo

Singer Interview - AKB48

Just as the title, this time I wanna introduce you a "hot" girl group--AKB48. The title of their group may sound weird, but they really use it to attract a lot of attention.

You can see there are so many girls in this picture, and you may be confused why there are so many extras in it. The truth is that all of them are in the same group, AKB48. Isn't it amazing? A group contains 48 members!!!! 

Actually, AKB48 is divided into three teams, Team A, Team K and Team B. Currently, there are 17 members in Team A, 16 members in Team K, and 15 members in Team B, getting to the total of 48 members in AKB48. However, their members may changed sometimes so the total number of their members is not definite. 

AKB48 said that they hope they can get closer to their fans, so they held live concerts almost everyday at the beginning. Moreover, their biggest wish is to stand on the stage of Tokyo Dome.

I think they can achieve their goal easily, because their latest single sold out 350,000 pieces. This single (桜の栞) also got the first place of Oricon at the first week.

OK, Let's enjoy their music!!!

桜の栞 30秒CM

Choose me!

Know more about AKB48 !!

Singer Interview - EXILE

EXILE, a group made up by 12 dancers and two vocals. This group mixes dance and J-POP which attracts many fans.

Dancers: HIRO, KENCHI, MATSU, KEIJI, USA, TETSUYA, MAKIDAI, NESMITH, SHOKICHI, AKIRA, NAOTO and NAOKI

Vocals: ATSUSHI and TAKAHIRO


Here is their "evolution" form:

*1991, HIRO formed a 6 menvers dancing group named 「JAPANESE SOUL BROTHERS」.
*1999, 「J Soul Brothers」was formed which contained 4 dancers, HIRO, MATSU, USA, MAKIDA and a vocal, SASA.
*2001, SASA left the group and two voclas came in, ATSUSHI and SHUN. The group's name changed into 「EXILE」
*2001, First Single, Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～
*2003, 2nd album, Styles Of Beyond, got the second place in Oricon.
*2003, 3rd album, EXILE ENTERTAINMENT, became their frist million album and they was invited to attend 紅白歌合戰 in this year.
*2006, The vocal, SHUN, left EXILE

*2006, AKIRA came into EXILE and became the fifth dancer.
*2006, TAKAHIRO won the competition, 「EXILE Vocal Battle Audition 2006〜ASIAN DREAM〜」, and became EXILE's vocal.
*2007, 6th album, EXILE LOVE, sold out more than 1 million.
*2008, They announced that 2008 was 「EXILE PERFECT YEAR」, because they would release three collection albums, an anmition『エグザムライ』, monthly pubication EXILE, theatrical EXILE and 2008 Tour in Five Arenas In Japan.
*2008, First Collection, EXILE CATCHY BEST, sold out 1 million pies in the first day.

*2009, EXILE GENERATION was formed and another 7 dancers in J Soul Brothers joined EXILE and EXILE became a 14-menber group.


In my opinion, EXILE is really a cool group because all of their music contains dance, including lower-pace songs. But one thing is sure, they are really famous!! Their three best collections all sold out more than 1 million, and one of them even more than 2 millions. For myself, I love their music, too, but I don't think that every song should contain dances. Maybe they can release an album which only has dance part. XD


OK, let me show you some of their MV and Live performances clips.


Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～

 

Carry On


EXILE ２年連続！　日本レコード大賞


Someday