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Arashi - One Love

June 12, 2008

Arashi’s next single “One Love” is the theme song to the Hana Yori Dango Final movie. It will be released June 25th, right before the June 28 release of the movie.

“One Love” rounds off the trio of Hana Yori Dango songs the group releases for the franchise. “WISH” did very well, while “Love So Sweet” became a giant success. What about “One Love”?

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HAPPY! - episode 5 and 6

June 10, 2008

I am really behind on my HAPPY! episodes - oh, life - so I’ll be playing
catch-up for awhile. They’re going out of the studio for filming now, focusing not on celebrity blogs but on their own interests now. Screencaps from veoh again.

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Save the Future with NHK

June 3, 2008

NHK is launching its Save the Future campaign to raise awareness for global warming. For three days, June 6 to 8, there will be different types of programming on the channel all relating to the issue.

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JYONGRI - Unchanging Love ~Kimi ga Ireba~

May 25, 2008

Unchanging Love ~Kimi ga Ireba~” is JYONGRI’s fifth single, to be released June 4th. The title song was used as the Au Lismo CM song.

While her fast paced “Possesion” is her best known song, I find JYONGRI’s ballads to be her best work. She has a great range, and does very well on power ballads like “Lullaby for You” and”My All For You.”

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Tegomass - AiAiGasa

May 21, 2008

Johnny’s subgroup Tegomass, of Tegoshi Yuya and Masuda Takahisa from NEWS, will be releasing their third single “AiAiGasa” on June 18. The title song is being used as the ending song for the Neo Angelique Abyss anime.

Tegomass have lovely, pleasant voices - they are currently the two best singers in NEWS and I personally consider Tegoshi one of the best singers in all of Johnny’s. Together, their voices match and harmonize pleasantly - some of their best songs are their ballads.

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alan Releases Song for Sichuan

May 20, 2008

Following the devastating earthquake in Sichuan, China, alan is releasing an impromptu single “Shiawase no Kane ” with a Chinese version, “Ai Jiu Shi Shou” (Love are Hands). It is only available online at internet music retailers; proceeds for the song will be donated to the Chinese Red Cross for the disaster relief.

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SNoW is YUKIE, teaming up with SoulJa

May 17, 2008

SNoW was one of my favorite jpop artists; she has a lovely alto voice, plays guitar, is fluent in English, and was best known for contributing “Sakasama no Chou” and “Nightmare” for the Jigoku Shoujo animes. I loved her sound and although she didn’t write all of her music and lyrics, her English lyrics were poignant and touching; an excerpt from her English b-side “I’m No” on her “Hanabi Made ato Sukoshi” single was my high school senior quote.

Unfortunately, her releases were mostly unsuccessful, and after releasing just one album, in July of 2007 she was dropped by SONY and was not picked up by any other company.

But now it seems like she’s back, now known as YUKIE.

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Jin Wants To Taste Your Lovejuice

May 15, 2008

Akanishi Jin’s solo “LOVEJUICE” on the KAT-TUN “Don’t U Ever Stop” single is possibly one of the dirtiest English songs I have ever heard - even dirtier than all those rap songs that only talk about booties and hoes and whatnot.

First, just listen to the song - it’s got a great R&B beat, paired with his smooth vocals.

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Otsuka Ai - Rocket Sneaker/One x Time

May 12, 2008

Otsuka Ai’s double A-side single “Rocket Sneaker/One x Time” (in a CD and a CD+DVD version, each with two covers) will be released May 21st. “Rocket Sneaker” will be used as the theme for the Samma no Mamma television show, while “One x Time” is used as the CM song for Ponds.

During the summer, Ai usually puts out double A-sides with a past paced song matched with a ballad. “Rocket Sneaker/One x Time” is her first single of 2008 since releasing “Pocket” in winter 2007; I was excited to see what she would put out this time.

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KAT-TUN - Don’t U Ever Stop

May 8, 2008

KAT-TUN is releasing their next single, Don’t U Ever Stop, on May 12th.

…sometimes, I wonder how huge KAT-TUN fans live. Can they ever pay the rent buying all those releases? Do they go hungry buying merchandise? If you look at that regular edition, you’ll realize that it’s only 476 yen. What?! KAT-TUN only charging 476yen for a single?! Are they pitying the fans’ wallets?

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