I usually don’t do song by song review types or anything like that on this blog, but after the leaks (cough from the normal sources), I’m certain ⊿ (Triangle) deserves attention and praise for what its achieved – both for Nakata and for Perfume.
While youtube-browsing, I came across a clip of Music Station that goes back through the history of Johnny’s. Apart from the fact that their gay, colorful, sparkly outfits apparently haven’t changed for more than two decades, one thing struck as odd – if this is the entire history of Johnny’s popular artists, why is it that around halfway through the video I can recognize every group and song?
Filed under: Angela Aki, Aoyama Thelma, Ayumi Hamasaki, DBSK, Ikimonogakari, Japan, Jero, Jpop, Koda Kumi, Nakashima Mika, Opinion, Otsuka Ai, Perfume, Television, WaT | Tags: Kouhaku
Kohaku’s artist lineup for this year has been released.
Newcomers on the red team (female) are Aoyama Thelma, Akimoto Junko (enka singer who I think made it big this year with her single “Ai no Mama De”), Ikimonogakari, GIRL NEXT DOOR, Perfume, and Fujioka Fujimaki and Ohashi Nozomi (the two men and the little girl who sang the theme to Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea).
Newcomers to the white team (male) are Kimaguren, Kiyama Yusaku, Jero, Shuchishin with Pabo, Tohoshinki(DBSK), Mr. Children, and Mizutani Yutaka (enka singer who made a comeback).
Overall, expected additions for the year. I’m not familiar with enka singers, but the female singers who made it big this year all made it onto the show (Perfume! Yes!). I’m surprised and pleased that Ikimonogakari are finally on. For the male artists though, I’m surprised it took this long for Mr. Children to make it on.
Full lineup is
Filed under: Opinion
Now that my music collection is temporarily out of commission, I’m turning to CDs again – and it hit me how little official Japanese music I own. I love J-pop – I have thousands of J-pop songs by several artists that I love, and I love watching PVs and concert DVDs – but as for the ones I buy, this is it.
Here’s the question: what CDs do you own? Do you buy all releases that you like? Do you buy some releases that you like? Do you only buy overseas versions? Do you only buy pirated versions? Do you not buy anything at all? And if you do buy a lot of releases – how do you afford it?
First things first: with some computer problems, I haven’t really been too caught up on the scene and what’s happening – which means I haven’t been blogging much and probably won’t be blogging much for awhile.
But just for fun while I’m borrowing a friend’s computer, here’s a list of the ladies in Japanese entertainment I want to look like the most. I found that many times, talent and popularity doesn’t equal me exactly wanting to look at them – and women that male fans (and some female fans) drool over don’t seem so hot to me.
So based completely on being shallow and judgmental on looks for once, here’s my top ten girls:
10. Toda Erika
Toda Erika used to look a little weird and awkward to me, but it’s mostly her fashion that caught my attention. I’ll admit, I only started liking her after I saw her in her drama Liar Game with a great colorful costume, bright tights and all. Also, recently she’s been going for a more sexy look – and it’s really working for her.
When my roommate said to me that Ohno Satoshi of Arashi had a marijuana and threesome rumor, I laughed, because come on, that just sounds unbelievably ridiculous.
And it still sounds unbelievably ridiculous. From what I can gather from the little bits of information over at the Arashi community at Vox, there’s information of Ohno having participated in a threesome and that he was caught at a club smoking pot – which is bad, not only because Ohno is in a drama and the group that will be promoting the Olympics on NTV, but because pot is really, really illegal in Japan, and so the police will be investigating into this.
Filed under: Amuro Namie, Angela Aki, Aoyama Thelma, Ayumi Hamasaki, BoA, Hello! Project, JYONGRI, Jpop, Kimura Kaela, Koda Kumi, Leah Dizon, Nakashima Mika, Opinion, Otsuka Ai, PUFFY, Perfume, Tsuchiya Anna, Utada Hikaru, YUI, Yuna Ito, ayaka, chatmonchy
With Hikki working on her second English album, the question really still stands: if one j-pop diva or female group would make it in the English music industry, who would it be? After all, basing on the American charts, popular songs by female artists are rather limited. Pretty much most are R&B/hip hop hits (Rihanna, Beyonce, Fergie, Danity Kane, Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis), a smattering of pop rock (Colbie Caillat, Natasha Bedingfield, Paramore) and occasionally, a big pop song that makes it (Miley Cyrus).
So if all our favorite j-pop girls give it a try, who has the best chances of breaking into the market?
Utada Hikaru
I love Hikki and I love “Exodus,” but let’s face it – “Exodus” was brilliantly experimental and alternative but nowhere near mainstream. If she does her next English album in her Cubic U style or in her Japanese music style, she’d have a chance, but her idea of American mainstream R&B is a little too alternative. Unless she completely changes her image and sound, she won’t make it in the urban music genre she’s aiming for. But she does have beauty, quirkiness, and her language – she just needs to tailor herself to be more mainstream. Chances: 60%.
Filed under: Arashi, Hey!Say!JUMP, Johnny's Entertainment, Jpop, KAT-TUN, Kanjani8, KinKi Kids, NEWS, Opinion, SMAP, Tackey & Tsubasa, V6 | Tags: Oricon
So the Oricon half year charts are finally out. Out of the top 100 singles, the Johnny’s releases are:
Filed under: Johnny's Entertainment, NEWS, Opinion | Tags: Yamapi, Yamashita Tomohisa
This has been circulating madly amongst NEWS and Yamapi fans, but for those who don’t know yet: a few days ago, Yamashita Tomohisa (NEWS, probably better known now as Yamapi) went on a private trip to Korea with his friend Shirota Jun (D-Boy’s Shirota Yuu’s brother) and his manager. It went all well, but news of his trip somehow leaked on the sixth, and at the airport for his return flight… well, I’ll let the video speak for itself. (You might want to turn down the volume.)
