Cutie Party Survey...And A Tribute to Kyu

Surveys are fun!  This one is from Cutie Party, here goes...

1. What was the first Japanese song that you ever listened to?

I'd like to answer this question last (see below)

2. Did it inspire you to like that group/singer, or did it turn you away?

Yes, I would say it made me a fan

3. What is the one song that you have been listening to for the longest time?

The J-pop CD that has been in my collection the longest AND I still regularly play is Pipo Angels' "Luvly Merry-Go-Round"  I love that song.  And I love that group!

4. What group/singer have you liked the longest?

That would have to be Shonen Knife, because I have liked them consistently since I discovered them while I was in college...

5. What is the song with the most plays on your itunes/media player?

I can only base this on memory, since I don't use a media player other than CD's and YouTube.  But the song I have listened to the most would have to be Ne~e by Matsuura Aya

6. Is that song your favorite?

I've never thought about it, but it might be

7. If not, what is?

Difficult question.  Ne~e is my favorite Ayaya song.  I'll list my favorites of a few UFA groups:

Morning Musume:  I Wish

Berryz Koubou:  (tie) Berry Fields or Fighting Pose wa Date Ja Nai

C-ute:  Ookina ai de Motenashite

Melon Kinenbi: Kokuhaku Kinenbi

W: Shiroi Iro wa Koibito no Iro

Mini Moni:  Mirakurun Guran Purin

ZYX: Shiroi Tokyo

8. Is there any one group that you can listen to all/most of the songs by? If so, who?

The only J-pop artist I can think of is Buono!  But they have only produced one album and one additional single.  As for J-Rock, I have three Ketchup Mania CD's, and I like just about every song on them

9. What is your favorite agency?

Up Front Agency, I thank heaven for their existence!

10. What is your favorite group/singer?

Matsuura Aya

1. What was the first Japanese song that you ever listened to?

I had to think about this for a minute.  The first Japanese pop song I ever heard (and it came out long before I was born!!!) had to be "Sukiyaki" by the great Kyu Sakamoto.  It is such a beautiful song, and proof positive that it IS POSSIBLE for a Japanese artists to "strike gold" in the west as it was a #1 song on the billboard pop charts in 1963!  And it is probably the best known Japanese song in history.  Sadly, he was taken away from us too soon in the 1985 crash of JAL Flight 123 in Gunma...

Rest in Peace, Kyu-chan

CK in California!