Japanese Music - Recommendations/Discussion

Utada's English album didn't leave any memorable tracks, Exodus was pretty good and the rests were :bleh: I miss her japanese songs.

Jpop artistes reach a saturate state after 5-10 years (if some even last that long)after the debut. The musicians change style and music (usually to a negative side, in my opionion) eventually. First they start out successfully, they evolve and finally hit the wall. The music itself declines. What's I'm saying is, for instance, I used to love ELT old music, they were addictive and catchy but their music has declined steadily. What they have produced lately is plain horrible. "Commonplace" album was full of boring ballads. I was like "what happened to the ELT I used to love?" They either changed dramatically or just a saturate level hit them. After the incident I skipped the the current album (the previous songs in acoustic). Many musicians I liked have come to this state. Ayu's another well good example (in my opionion)
Is it just me or anyone else has experienced this issue? Maybe I'm being picky about the taste. I'm the kinda of a person who sticks to the same stuff until the end, "if it ain't broken, don't fix it".

Good thing is they are "replaceable" (this may offend some fans). People come and go, new jpop artistes appear and old ones leave. Nothing lasts forever. The pace is awfully fast and colourful.
The Day After Tomorrow really struck with their music when they released the debut album. The music sounded so ELT-ish, later found out an ex-ELT member, Mitsuru Igarashi, was behind the music. The group is still young, I'm sure they will achieve the goals they set. When I grew tired of the artistes I liked, I found alternatives and they turned out to be excellent! Such artistes and groups were Garnet Crow, Chihiro Onizuka, Kokia, Miho Karasawa etc. I kinda dread boy bands. I shall continue at listenin as various jpop as possible :victory:

eightysix wrote:My personal favorites on that album are Exodus '04 and Kremlin Dusk. It's definetely not her best album though. :beaten:

I liked Hotel Lobby too.

I have a question. I'm listening to Rip Slyme's tune "Zatsunen Entertainment", and it totally samples chunks of Blood, Sweat and Tears' "Spinning Wheel".

So what I want to know is, does BST get any royalty from this?

P.S. I saw a clip of Puffy on some "Jimmy Kimmel" show, boy was that guy a buffoon. He asks a bunch of dumb questions like "Have you ever eaten sushi?" Sheesh.

P.P.S. I miss Pizzicato 5.

loris wrote:I have a question. I'm listening to Rip Slyme's tune "Zatsunen Entertainment", and it totally samples chunks of Blood, Sweat and Tears' "Spinning Wheel".

Wow, really? That's probably my all time favorite BS&T songs ever. But I'm not sure if you're implying that it's a good thing or bad thing that they sampled their song. :sweat:

eightysix wrote:Wow, really? That's probably my all time favorite BS&T songs ever. But I'm not sure if you're implying that it's a good thing or bad thing that they sampled their song. :sweat:

Heh. Well, I wasn't really trying to imply anything about it there, just wondering how the music industry works between US and Japan.

But now that you bring it up, I can't say I care for that Rip Slyme song. I do love "Spinning Wheel" by BST though. It's a classic.

I like a few things Rip Slyme has done: "Dandelion", "Galaxy", "Rakuen Baby", but most of their stuff leaves me "meh".

loris wrote:
But now that you bring it up, I can't say I care for that Rip Slyme song. I do love "Spinning Wheel" by BST though. It's a classic.

It's funny that you mentioned Spinning Wheel because I had the sudden urge to hum the melody in my car while I was driving yesterday. :hehe:

I like a few things Rip Slyme has done: "Dandelion", "Galaxy", "Rakuen Baby", but most of their stuff leaves me "meh".

I feel the same way about this as well. I dunno, I never really did get into Japanese Hip-hop. I think Orange Range is pretty cool, but I'm not nuts about them like everyone else is.

eightysix wrote:I never really did get into Japanese Hip-hop.

I'm not big on hiphop in general. I do like Halcali though. But are they hiphop? Their songs are happy. Maybe we need a new word, "happyhop".

loris wrote:
P.S. I saw a clip of Puffy on some "Jimmy Kimmel" show, boy was that guy a buffoon. He asks a bunch of dumb questions like "Have you ever eaten sushi?" Sheesh.

Yumi and Ami were on a talk show, and I missed it?
:goddammit: :shamefulcry:

kitakaze wrote:Yumi and Ami were on a talk show, and I missed it?
:goddammit: :shamefulcry:

If you have Usenet access, the clips were posted Fri Apr 29, to alt.binaries.sounds.jpop

The Subjects were like:
puffy ami yumi on Kimmel Live _4-28-05 (interview))
puffy ami yumi on Kimmel Live _4-28-05 (performance)

Honestly the interview part was too painful for me to watch and I already deleted it. The songs they did were "Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi Theme" and "Planet Tokyo".

Thanks Loris :mrgreen:

Hey, has anyone heard of Rie Fu? If you haven't, I suggest you check her out. Her newest single is called I Wanna Go To A Place. I had it on endless repeat for pretty much all of today. :hehe:

Oh yeah, anyone else use Audioscrobbler? Here's mine:

http://www.audioscrobbler.com/user/86

First, my favourite bands:

1. Dir en grey
2. MUCC
3. X-Japan

Favourite Guilty Pleasure:

1. Gackt
2. Takashi Sorimachi (yep, I can say he's not a really great singer - flat voice but there're just some songs of his that I lurve, e.g. Hold the World Tight & Real Life)

As all can see, I am a fangirl. :woot:
Personally, I dig Jpop too but I don't have a favourite Jpop band/singer coz I'll like a few songs from each singer but not enough to say they are my favourite band/singer. Examples would be Dreams Come True (I love their Monkey Girl Odyssey album), Do As Infinity, The Brilliant Green, Cocco (It's a shame that she had to quit!) & even SMAP (this is not meant to be derogatory but if you look at my favourite bands, you'll know why my friends are even surprised that I dig some of their songs).

Jpop artistes reach a saturate state after 5-10 years (if some even last that long)after the debut. The musicians change style and music (usually to a negative side, in my opionion) eventually. First they start out successfully, they evolve and finally hit the wall. The music itself declines. I'm the kinda of a person who sticks to the same stuff until the end, "if it ain't broken, don't fix it".

I agree. I wish bands would stay the same and keep producing the same flavour of songs that made me like them in the first place but somehow, they are always cursed by the magic wand of let's-produce-horrible-music-in-the-guise-of-changing-direction after the peak of their career. :shamefulcry:
Glay was just one good example of a band gone that direction. Even now, I've somewhat lost interest in Dir En Grey & MUCC coz they started to do nu-metal rock (which I dislike) though I used to worship them and would kiss the ground they walk on if I had the chance back then. I still hold a tiny hope that they'll discover their "mistake" and go back to the old-trodden path! :fingerscrossed:

I need to know more Jpop bands - can someone recommend certain songs by Jpop bands to try? Will be grateful for that! :dancing:

ribi wrote:I need to know more Jpop bands - can someone recommend certain songs by Jpop bands to try? Will be grateful for that! :dancing:

Hi ribi, well I can post some of the things I like, but I don't know if you'll like them because I'm not really into those 3 bands you posted. :)

Bump of Chicken - Arue
Judy and Mary - Motto
Yaida Hitomi - Hitori Jenga
Matsu Takako - Ashita ga kitara
Porno Graffiti - Melissa
The Blue Hearts - Tabibito
The Scanty - Koibana
Tommy Heavenly6 - Swear

Those are mostly rock more than pop. But they're all good :)
But hey, I also like Zone, and Puffy, and Halcali too :)

A good way to pick jpop is to watch jdramas. The vocal theme songs (singer/group) chosen by the producers are mostly splendid if not best at that time! The groups were unknown to me until watched dramas featuring their music, got interested in the songs and looked for more info of a group and music. This is how I've got acquainted with the group/singer in a pretty common way :)

Pemu wrote:A good way to pick jpop is to watch jdramas.

Actually, come to think of it, that's how I first heard "Angel Song" by The Brilliant Green (theme used for Manatsu no Merry Christmas). Great song.

here's mine:

Favorite Band / Group
Chage and Aska
Glay
Kinki Kids

Favorite Solo Singer
Hal
Ken Hirai
Misia

Maybe they are a part of what u so called jpop or japanese idol or whatsover, but i dont care, as long as they can sing "live" very well and their voice is not that irritating to hear or is not trying to fit into what's "in" but wont suit their personality or voice i hope u guys got my point, then i think after some 10 to 20 years i still be go back listening to their songs reminising the good old days :P
errr.... i didnt put amuro on my list, coz i listed only 3 on each category, she's a good singer way back then...
btw, i've noticed some singers trying to sing in english , but i dont know if i got "hearing" problem or what, I just seems not to understand what they are singing !!!

gelyn wrote:Chage and Aska

I really like the little Miyazaki short they did the song for: "On Your Mark". Excellent song and video!

Hi tell me what are your favourite J-Ballads couse i love ballads and i love japanese music... Onegaiishimaaaasu

Mine are:

Utada Hukaru - Firs Love
Onitsuka Chirio - Watashi to warutso wo
Megumi Hayashibara - Omokage
Rie Fu - Life is Like a Boat

My favorite J-Ballads:

Utada Hikaru - First Love
Ozaki Yutaka - I Love You
K - Over
Misia - Everything

where do you guys get your mp3s from?