9 posts tagged “j-pop”
...because their new album Petit-Petit is awesome, that's why!
For the most part, Petit-Petit is a compilation of their last five singles and B-sides. They make up about two-thirds of the 17 tracks. But when you put all of their music together like this, I think this CD stands up to any full length album any idol group has recently put out. I know many people (including myself) have called them to task for their live performances. But as far as the material is concerned, the writers and producers are doing a great job.
The music is great!!! I love the opening intro track, so cute...
Daisuke!!!! They are such a fun and cute group. I purchased the Limited Edition CD/DVD w/Photobook version of the album. Also, since I purchased it from HMV it came with one of those HMV exclusive covers. Those covers are so much fun. You get them when you buy the CD from HMV, Tower or Tsutaya...
A few months back I purchased the Idoling!!! DVD compilation, which featured their first eight PV's Like AKB48, they put a little bit of a storyline into most of their videos, mixed in with the dance shots. One of my favorites is Shokugyou: Idol., which is also featured on this album.
What I love about their music is that it is a great cross between techno and alt. rock. Most of their songs are fun to listen to, and they don't do too many syrupy ballads. There are very few throwaways on this CD. But I won't give you the whole album as I am a big believer in supporting the groups I love. And that means spending my money on their merchandise. I never thought I would find myself buying Idoling!!! CDs, but lo and behold I am close to completing the collection. (hehe) And I find myself listening to them in my car more than any other group. That said, here are a few of my favorite songs, enjoy...
I think Forever Remember is a new song, but Soushoku-Kei Carnival is the B-side to their "Baby Blue" single., and Tokimeki DREAMing!!! is the c/w to "Shokugyou: Idol." The three songs are a great example of the different styles the group does. Oh, and one other great song is Idoling!!!'s third single, Kokuhaku. I was surprised to see it on this CD, as I was sure it appeared on the first album.
And if you were wondering...the "shuffle singles" are on the CD as well, including everyone's favorite NA*GA*RA. BTW, here are a few shots from the photobook that accompanied the disc. Every girl gets a page with two shots. And I am holding out the pics of them wearing nothing but pink bubble-wrap. You'll have to buy the VCD to see that, hehe. These are my five favorite current members out of the current fifteen, in order...
For whatever reason I don't think Idoling!!! gets the respect it deserves when it comes to cute idol groups. But the truth is they are putting out a quality product and deserve some recognition. Petit-Petit is a prime example of that. I just wished that they did more live concerts. They have never been performing the numerous times I have visited Japan. Just once I would love to see them live!
I need to get a glimpse of my girl Yazawa in the flesh!!!
CK in California
Now here is something I thing Morning Berryz might appreciate. I'll start by saying how much I love C-ute's upcoming single, Shochuu Omimai Moushaigemasu. What immediately struck me was the omnipresent "retro" feel to the melody. It is very "sixties", very "beachy". My first thought was that it was a cross between the Beach Boys sound and that of Lennon/McCartney. I love those musical eras. And as much as I may be a connoisseur of that style of music, I am still a virtual student when it comes to the history of J-pop. So when I plugged the title of the song into a Google search, I was surprised and excited to find quite a few earlier versions of the song.
Lets start with the original by Candies, one of the big J-pop groups of the 70's. Sometimes I look at the idol girls of yesteryear and find their look so dated. But Ran, Miki and Sue were adorable. Oh, by the way...do those names sound familar? Yes, the same names as the guardians from Shugo Chara. That's so cool! And so was this cute little video from back in the days when there were no videos...
Nice Bikini shots! Good to know that the video producers were obsessed with sex even back then!
Then there is SweetS, a group that I should love. But I have honestly never given them the proper chance despite the prodding from J-pop enthusiasts like Ray from Pleasure Principled and Cat from Macaroni-i. Shochuu Omimai Moushiagemasu was never a single for them, but they did perform it as a cover on their live tour a few years ago. It's nice to see the Wota haven't changed a bit, as I love listening to them cheer their favorite girls on during the performance...
All of the different versions of the song sound essentially the same. But that's okay. Perfection doesn't need much tinkering. And while C-ute's version does sound a little more contemporary, it sticks to the formula that makes the song great. I give them credit for not trying to push so song too hard into the 21st century.
So with all of the new releases going on with Hello! Project, this is the one that captures my heart...and my ear. It wasn't long ago that I said that C-ute was my least favorite of the H!P groups. But that is quickly changing. To me this is the Hello! Project song of the summer. And it is the one I am most looking forward to seeing performed live...
And when I do see C-ute perform this classic, you can be sure I will be thinking of the beautiful women of Candies. Another great group from the annals of J-pop history.
CK in California
I haven't been paying enough attention to this blog lately. But I have been posting regularly on my AKB48 sites, My Sweet Meetan and Chuo Dori. So if you want to keep up on all of the AKB48 happenings, please visit! In the meantime, here is a response to the survey recently posted by Midori of Midori's J-pop Overanalyzations...
Other info: (This is just for sorting results if I feel like doing it that way)
Gender- Male
Approximate age- 41-50. But keep in mind I am at the front end of that range!!! (41)
1. What was the first pop song you remember liking?
Pop song? Ever??? I was originally a rock fan, even as a kid. But if I had to pick a pop song (and this is really going to date me) I think it might have been Saturday Night by The Bay City Rollers!
2. What bands/music groups/singers did you grow up listening to?
My father was a huge Motown fan, so I listened to a lot of Temps and Tops. And my mother was a big Beatles and Elton John fan. But when I was in school my favorite groups were Devo, The Smiths, Rush, Oingo Boingo, The Cars, The Surf Punks, Van Halen and X
3. What bands/music groups/singers were popular when you grew up? (ie. Were on the radio a lot)
This is similar to the previous question. But I remember my parents listening to a lot of Paul McCartney, The Who, The Carpenters, Elton John, Barry Manilow and Bread. If the question is referencing my childhood, it was mostly mid-late 70's music. If you are talking about my teen years, then it was generally 80's rock and alternative.
4. When (What year) did you first hear Jpop that you liked? What groups were popular?
I mentioned this on Misa's survey last year, but the first Jpop I ever heard and liked was Sukiyaki by Sakamoto Kyu. I heard it on an oldies station. I first heard Shonen Knife when I was in High School. And I first heard and liked Puffy about 10 years ago.
5. What kind of Jpop/Jrock did you initially like?
Once again, Shonen Knife was the first group I ever got into. But I didn't totally get into J-pop until I heard W's Robokiss about 2 1/2 years ago.
6. Do you still like said kind of Jmusic?
Sure
7. Do you still listen to the music in your native language (or some other language) as often as Jpop?
I don't listen to Western music nearly as often. I did see Iron Maiden in concert recently. And I still enjoy classic rock groups like The Who, The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd.
8. If so, what other kind of music to you enjoy listening to?
Most of the groups mentioned above are among my favorites. I still love The Smiths, Surf Punks, Iron Maiden, X, Primus, 311, Blink 182, Motorhead, and in the 80's I was a huge fan of The Grateful Dead.
9. Do you go to concerts/performances of your favorite groups from your country? Do you go to ones for J-pop groups?
If you have read my blog, I'm sure you are aware that I have been to many J-pop shows...
AKB48-10 times
Morning Musume- 5 times
I have seen Berryz Kobo, C-ute, Matsuura Aya, Manoeri, SCANDAL, Ketchup Mania, and Hello! Project Winter 08. So I have seen just about everyone in H!P
As far as concerts in America? Jeez, I have been to countless shows over the years, in all genres. Let's see...
The Blues Brothers, The Monkees, The Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, The Who (twice), The Rolling Stones (twice), Santana, The Grateful Dead (4 times), X (twice), Depeche Mode, The English Beat, The Smiths (twice), Iron Maiden (6 times), Judas Priest, Rush, Van Halen, Prince, Pink Floyd, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Guns n Roses, Billy Idol, The Cult, Oingo Boingo, The Specials, Twisted Sister, Sammy Hagar, The Gipsy Kings (twice), Lost at Last (twice), Air Supply, Blood Sweat and Tears, Poison, Motorhead. I'm sure I am forgetting some...
10. What do you think about the Jpop industry's future? Do you think that you'll continue to like it for another 5 years?
Gawd, I hope so. After all of the time and $$$ I have invested. I am sure J-pop will be around, although I have no idea what it will look like.
11. What's your favorite group?
AKB48
12a. Is your favorite song/single/album a Jpop one?
J-pop: I love both of Buono's CD's. Western: The Smiths' Hatful of Hallow is awesome! Also The Who-Tommy
12b. Is it from your favorite artist?
Nope, but AKB48 doesn't really put out full length albums, other than the stages and one "Best of"
13. Do you like pop from outside of Japan, such as Hannah Montana?
No, In fact I dislike it!
14. Do you like musicals? If so, what's your favorite, and one you really want to see? (This one is just to humor Midori)
I love musicals! My all-time favorites are Guys and Dolls & Bye Bye Birdie. I really want to see Spamalot, and I am sure Midori is aware that it is playing in San Francisco right now!!!
CK in California
Another Christmas has come and gone. This is my favorite time of the year. I love the lights and music of the season. I love the chill in the air. I get to see my family around the holidays. And of course I was born in December.
But to be honest, I am past the point in my life where I wake up with tons of stuff under the tree with my name on it. I enjoy getting gifts for the important people in my life, and I have fun watching my young nieces get excited about the pending arrival of Santa Claus. My brother and I have made a tradition of getting drunk while putting toys together late on Christmas Eve. That's my Christmas fun!
What I really enjoy is getting presents for myself while holiday shopping. This year my birthday present to myself was an Iphone. I love it! It's great having access to myblogs and IW on my phone, and I have already loaded the ipod with hundreds of J-pop songs. My old Motorola Razr was totally on the fritz anyway! And for Christmas?
If you read my Japan travelogue posts, you might remember me talking about all of the great stuff I found at Book Off, which is a major used book/CD/DVD chain in Japan. I later learned that they have four locations in California. [US Location Site] Since I was making my annual trip to Newport Beach to spend Christmas, I figured I would stop at the three L.A. Area Book Off locations to see if I could find a few random gems...
(Book Off, Near Gotanda Station-Tokyo)
1st Stop: Rolling Hills Location (Pacific Coast Highway and Crenshaw)
First rule, never take Crenshaw Blvd to the coast. the street was packed all the way. It took forever! This store is in a huge outdoor mall. Luckily the shop was located near the driveway I pulled into. Now forgive me for sounding jaded, but the selection was fractional compared to the stores in Tokyo. I did figure it would be like that, but it was still a little disappointing. No AKB48, a few Momusu CD's, but they did have a decent selection of photobooks. I saw a few Maki Horikita books (didn't buy them, bad move) and three from H!P. Abe Natsumi's "Cam On" was the only one I didn't have, so I bought it...for $19.
2nd Stop: Gardena Location (Redondo Beach Blvd. and Western)
In a little strip mall, this was the busiest of the three stores I visited. Sadly, it had the worst H!P collection of all the locations I went to. Ironically, it was the largest of the three stores! I didn't see any PB's there at all. The only H!P CD they had that I didn't own a copy of was Ongaku Gatas' 1st Goodsal, for $30!!! Forget it, I left this store emptyhanded.
3rd Stop: Costa Mesa Location (Harbor and Baker)
This is a mile away from my brothers house, lucky bastard! Also in a little strip mall. It is right across the street from a Kinokuniya Book Store, which usually has plenty of H!P stuff, but at double the price of what you would pay online. (Try $70 for a Berryz Kobo concert DVD!) Of the three locations, this one had the best selection. There were around 20 H!P photobooks, although they were all old. Quite a few CD singles, and a few concert DVD's. If you are in Southern California, this is the Book Off I would recommend. So what did I get myself for Christmas? A whole bunch of Ayaya...
Matsuura Aya First Photobook (2001)
Matsuura Aya 2003 Haru ~Matsu Ringu Pink~ DVD
Matsuura Aya Concert Tour 2003 Aki ~Ayaya Hit Parade~ DVD
Aya no DNA, drama starring Matsuura Aya
They also had two copies of the Aijou Ippon Box Set, the TV series where Ayaya works in a dojo. But it was pretty expensive, so I skipped it...for now!
I know it's pretty old stuff, but one can never have too much Ayaya. So it was a decent haul. By the way, the only AKB48 to be found at any of the stores was the Team B shirt I was wearing, which drew some curious looks from the staff! I consoled myself by purchasing the History of AKB48 book online later that night!
Overall, not bad. It just makes me look forward to my next trip to Japan.
CK in California
It is now official. AKB48 has now surpassed the groups of Hello! Project as my favorite J-pop act. Lets flashback to the beginning of January to see how it came to be... New Years Week 2008 After I had decided to make the trip to see the Hello! Project Winter concert, I enlisted Ohta to assist me in purchasing tickets to all three dates. He came through in amazing fashion, getting me 10th row seats to the final show. So in passing I mentioned to him that I would love to see AKB48. And I asked him if he had any inside track to getting tickets. Keep in mind this was before the email lottery thing, and the best way to get tickets was to go down to the Don Quixote Theater before dawn and hang out in a huge line in hope of getting in. Since this was my vacation I had no intention of spending it in a line all day. But to my surprise Ohta said that he could get them for me without a problem. It wasn't until I won them that he told me that the show I was going to would not be at AKB48's theater in Akahibara, but at Shibuya AX. I was fine with that as long as I saw the group. He offered to get me tickets to multiple nights, but I figured it would be the same show each time so I told him to just get them for the last show. Little did I know... In Japan...
I scouted the location of Shibuya AX on Wednesday afternoon in a driving snowstorm. It was my first full day in Tokyo, and although I was appropriately dressed for the frigid weather I was still freezing my butt off. So I decided to head back to Yokohama and get some rest for the next evening show. I spent the next afternoon in a coffeehouse in Harajuku with a nice guy from Canada who I met that afternoon. He made fun of me for liking AKB48, about an hour before showtime I left for Shibuya AX, which was about a ten minute walk.
This was the last night of the 4-night show, but I didn't know that. Luckily for me at the time, they played the Top-25 hits from their history. And given that I had limited knowledge of AKB48 at the time, that was perfect for me. That is what I wanted to hear anyway, their top hits. It was a surreal experience, which I described a few months ago on this post. And I left feeling happy that I saw AKB48 playing all of the songs I know and love. But little did I know...
It wasn't until the DVD came out in July that I realized what event really unfolded back in January. I am kicking myself now knowing that I could've seen the third night as well, and quite possibly the second night if I was really committed to it. After watching these DVD's, the second night is my favorite part of the show. But I was determined to purchase this amazing set. It was tough, and it took a little luck. But now I have the DVD and Photobook. Here are my thoughts...
Monday Night 100-76
So if you didn't know, AKB48 played four consecutive nights at Shibuya AX. It was a countdown of their all-time top 100 songs, 25 on each night. The first night began with #'s 100-76. Now keep in mind that although I have liked AKB48 for more than a year, I still do not know many of the members' names by heart. And I have only seen one stage show. So many of these songs are brand new to me, and sometimes I am not sure which member I am looking at. So forgive me if I make a few mistakes along the way.
The songs are presented in sets, with an occasional break where we are treated to commentary by various members of the group. It is also these members who do the audio commentary on the next set of songs. Even if you don't understand a word of Japanese, there are great moments in these breaks, and some very funny commentary with the girls just being themselves. My five favorite songs of the first night are as follows...
5. Kiss wa Dame Yo (#87) From Team A, 1st stage. Performed by Minami M., Mariko and Haruna. This song is very sexy, with an R&B feel to it. Haruna looks the hottest, and gives some great "come hither" looks when she is up front. But I am always amazed at Minegishi Minami's stage presence. Looks-wise, she is not one of my favorite members. But she always knocks my socks off when she performs.
4. Christmas ga Ippai (#79) Performed by Team K, from their 3rd stage. It's a very cute and festive holiday song. The girls are dressed in Navy "Sailor Fuku". What I really like is the way no girl really stands out in the song, and that isn't a bad thing. It's just a great example of how cohesive a unit Team K is. The Team K member I fell in love with during the song: Noro Kayo
3. Dreamin' Girls (#91) From Himawari Gumi's 1st stage. This song is performed A Capella, and has some great harmonization. And I love the clothes, the red tartan skirt and white sleeveless top is a lot like one of my favorite outfits from Tanaka Reina's AloHello PB. The member that caught my attention here is Tojima Hana from Team A.
**One of the biggest turn-offs for a lot of people about this group is the massive number of members. But I am determined to learn everyone's names!
2. Honehone Waltz (#97) Team K, 3rd Stage. Performed by Erena, Manami, Aika and Reina. So actually there are multiple teams represented here. I couildn't believe this song when I first saw it. This is AKB48??? This is the cutest thing ever!!! They take the yougest and most petite girls in the group, dress them up in skeleton costumes with tutus, and have them sing a cute little waltz? Amazing! Reina looks a bit intimidated up there, but I'll forgive her because I believe she was still a "AKB Research Student" at the time. Oku Manami, and especially Ono Erena really own this song. Erena always catches my attention when she is on stage. She is very much like Hagiwara Mai from Hello! Project to me. She is obviously younger than most of the members, but she has tremendous confidence and presence onstage. She is very impressive.
1. Leo no Kakumei (#77) Originally from Team A 2nd Stage, performed here by Team B. Not only is this my favorite song of the first night, it is one of my favorite songs of the entire four night extravaganza! And it was done by Team B, the most underappreciated team in AKB48. It's a sophisticated song, and I love the "Ska" feel to the music. There is one line in the song where it sounds like they are saying "Hata me Shmata", which I always laugh at because it sounds so yiddish. But Team B dances well, sings well, and have a lot of energy. And who is the girl who sings the English part of the song? I think it's Matsuoka Yuki, but I'm not sure.
Other songs I liked on Night 1 were #83 Haru ga Kuru Made, which also stood out to me on Team A 4th Stage, and #93 Karukurupaa, which is a fun song and has Team K dressed as court jesters. By the way, I keep mentioning the "Teams". Just in case anyone isn't familiar, AKB48 is split into three teams, A K and B. Generally each team performs seperately, although there are exceptions to this. Certain songs are credited to each group, although at the time of the concert Team B didn't yet have any original songs. They had only sang the songs of the other teams.
Tuesday Night 75-51
This show took place the evening I arrived in Japan. And that kills me because it is my favorite set of the four nights. With the benefit of hindsight, I could've made it to this show had I booked a hotel near Shibuya. And I am beginning to realize that Team K is far and away my favorite unit. I am also staring to have a little trouble with Team A, which I will get into shortly. My top 5 of night two...
5. Tonari no Banana (#67) From Himawari Gumi 2nd Stage, specifically Oku Manami and Kobayashi Kana of Team K. This song is kind of like Honohone Waltz from the first night in that it is very cute, and they use some of the youngest members to perform it. And it also has a theater-feel to it. I've never been a fan of Manami, although she has done a very good job in these shows. I think Kobayashi Kana is very cute.
**If you are only familiar with AKB48's singles, you will never get how versatile and talented the groups really are. Their music runs the gamut of different genres, and they are very theatrical performers. It is something I never knew before these shows. It makes me wish that the stage DVD's were more affordable, I would've learned this a long time ago!
4. Hana to Chire (#74) Team K, 3rd Stage. The hook of the chorus is great! It's a very intense tune, and I love the beat into after the first verse where the tempo slows down and then picks back up. Once again I am amazed that Ono Erena is front and center for Team K on this song. She is great, but looks like a girl possessed. She needs to have more fun here.
3. Ki ni Narou Tenkousei (#53) Team K, 3rd Stage. What a cute song, and I love Kasai Tomomi's squeaky-high voice! Everyone seems to be having a great time performing this. And the music sounds just like the Beach Boys' 60's surf sound.
2. Doku RINGO wo Tabesasete (#75) Team A, 1st Stage. This is the opening song of the second night, and I am ready to proclaim it my favorite Team A song of all. Cute little red dresses, and the song has a very pretty jazz-electronic feel to it. It is subtle and sweet, and gives the girls the chance to emote and be cute. Takahashi Minami really dances this song well.
1. Seishun Girls (#57) Team K, 1st Stage. Jeez, Team K gets the best songs! This was the first video I forwarded to all of my friends after I received the DVD. It's the type of song you could open or close a show with. It is so special, and I'm having trouble picking who the standout is because they are all so cute here. Anyhow, this is my favorite performance of all four shows...
Other standouts, Aisareru to iu Koto (#65) from ICE is a very pretty ballad. I really enjoyed the latin flavored Cinderella wa Damasarenai (#51), which was the final performance of the second night. They finished with members from multiple teams onstage, and the flamenco outfits and dance were great! To me Team K dominated this set of songs. My problem with team A is they seem like less of a "team" than K and B. But I really don't think it is their fault. Team A has the lion share of the most recognized members of AKB. And when I watch them I think of them more as individuals than a team. Oh well...
Wednesday Night 50-26
This was the day of the big snowstorm in Tokyo, and it kills me that I was standing outside the theater shortly before this performance. Man, had I only known! Something I got a real kick out of was the non-performers sitting on risers toward the rear of the stage clapping and singling along. It is extremely reminiscent of H!P's Winter concerts. Of the four nights, this one is the least memorable to me. It kinda drags through most of the first half, but it picks up steam towards the end.
5. Warning (#32) Team A, 3rd Stage in the same Seifuku outfits as Mr. Kissman (#34). Tight grey coats with two-toned flannel skirts. Team A seems to get a lot of the "sexy" songs for AKB48. Maeda Atsuko did some of her best work this night, and I like the way she is leading the team here. I never knew Acchan could be that sexy (that was until I saw the full version of the Baby! Baby! Baby! PV).
4. Yakusoku Yo (#27) Team B, 1st Stage. This was the penultimate performance of Wednesday night's show. I have to give Team B some credit, they are so enthusiastic when they are on stage. And the producers gave them a lot of fun songs to do for this program. I am having a hard time picking a favorite member from this team because they are all so cute, but none of them stand out as the leader from what I can see. It will be interesting to see what their 3rd stage is like!
3. Keibetsu Shiteita Aijou (#28) Team A, 4th Stage. This is one of the songs I was completely familiar with since I purchased the Set List CD the day it came out. This this is the song about teen suicide with an excellent PV. It's an intense song, and the theatrics of the dance are great. Team A really did a great job on Wednesday!
**By the way, if you're wondering what the stages mean (1st Stage, 2nd Stage etc...) It's too involved to explain here. I'm not even sure I could explain it properly. Just replace the word "stage" with "album" for the time being.
2. Hajimete no Jelly Beans (#50) Himawari Gumi, 2nd Stage. Performed by Atsuko, Hitomi and Fujie Reina. Like I said, Acchan did a great job on the third night. And she is so adorable here! This was the cutest song of the night. And I am quickly becoming a fan of Reina.
1. Run Run Run (#40) Himawari Gumi, 1st Stage. Cool! They sound great doing a total guitar-rock song! I love the guitar solo in the middle, it is so retro! It looks like there are quite a few from Team K performing this. BTW, did I mention how cute Sato Natsuki is? She has one of the greatest smiles in all of AKB48. I also noticed that there seemed to be more schoolgirl costumes on this night than any other.
I just realized I didn't give Teams K much love for the third night. So for K my favorite song was Maria (#43). All three of the performers look very hot in those dominatrix gowns, especially Masuda Yuka! Another amazing factor about these performances were the amount of costume changes during the four nights. I don't think I ever saw an outfit used for more than 2-3 songs, so that means there were at least 50 different costumes designed to be used by over 50 participants. Very impressive indeed!
Thursday Night 25-1
Okay, finally the show I attended! The snow had left Tokyo and it was merely a frigid evening. Oh, and no one in Japan dresses for the cold weather either. Everyone was freezing, but they made fun of me for wearing long johns and a scarf. Yet I was the only warm person in the group! They don't show much of the interaction between AKB48 and the crowd on the DVD's, but they did talk to the audience quite a bit. In fact after the first song they all started exclaiming how cold it was outside! And Shibuya AX looks a lot bigger on this DVD than it really is. The place is tiny! Maybe not as tiny as the Don Quixote Theater, but it is small nonetheless. So there wasn't a bad vantage point in the house, unless you were behind someone particularly tall.
5. Only Today (#17) Team A, 4th Stage. We'll start this with my favorite song before I ever saw this DVD. This song has the greatest lyrics! It's about a girl going to the beach to have one last fling with her best friend's boyfriend. That's great! And it's such a cute song too. Just like Dear My Teacher, I love when AKB makes such racy lyrics sound cute. And they dance like they are the Rockettes!
4. Nagisa no CHERRY (#15) Team A, 2nd Stage. Wow, they look just like the Supremes, and Acchan is Diana Ross! Obviously this song is a total nod to the girl groups of the early-mid 60's. Atsuko may seem to hide out on the energetic and intense stuff. But on silly and cute songs, she is perfect!
3. Nounai Paradise (#18) Team K, 3rd Stage. Team K seems to favor those red plaid skirts and white short sleeve tops, but I like just about every song they perform in them. This is so much fun, and it has one of the catchiest choruses of all! "1 2 3 4 A B C D", "Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday". But Oku Manami looks like a little fireplug up there. I still can't decide whether or not I like her, I mean she catches my attention...
2. Nage KISS de Uchi Otose (#24) Team A, 3rd Stage. I remember wondering what the heck this song was when I was at the show. And I loved the "theatrics" of the dance. Minegishi's little pout near the beginning was stuck in my head all these months. By the way, this is another "cutesy" song lead by Maeda Atsuko. Lets talk about her for a moment...
**Acchan gets a lot of flak on the internet, but that comes with the territory of being the "face" of AKB48. She is extremely cute. I mean she was the first girl that caught my eye in the Aitakatta PV. However, she doesn't come across as a leader. And that is why she gets that "dead fish" reputation. That is why I am glad to see her sexy bit in the new Baby! Baby! Baby! PV because it's a side of Atsuko I've never really seen before. And you know what? She pulled it off! Now for the #1 song of the final night...
1. Blue Rose (#23) Team K, 2nd Stage. Performed by Sayaka, Sae, Yuka and OMFG Megumi!!! I've held off mentioning Meetan-hime (my favorite person on the planet!) until this moment. She is cute as hell, sexy as hell, and willing to do just about anything! Watching Ohori Megumi tear her clothes off in the middle of the song blew my mind, and I think it blew the minds of everyone else in the group! Most of the girls sitting in the background have their hands over their mouths. And the audio commentary, with Acchan laughing her ass off is hysterical! Blue Rose is the rockingest song in AKB's catalog. My only complaint (if you can call it that) is Meetan's theatrics totally overshadow the amazing performances of the other three girls.
I have to say this is by far the greatest concert DVD I have ever encountered. The only thing that could've made it better was if Ohe Tomomi had performed. But apparently she was ill that entire week. Poor Oh-Yay! If this boxed set was made more available to the general public, I think AKB48 would grow a much bigger fanbase. There is so much more to this group than meets the eye. They have some great dancers, especially in Team B. Much of their choreography almost makes you think you are watching a musical as opposed to a concert. They are just as cute as Hello! Project. And after hearing most of their catalog, their music is just as good, if not better! I was already a fan of the group, but this DVD set has made me a fanatic!
The question is now that AKB48 has become my far and away favorite J-pop group, what do I do about the name of this blog???
CK in California
(You Tube videos generously uploaded by user "Lovebomcote")
I got all caught up in the Natsuyaki Miyabi birthday festivites, that I totally overlooked August 25th is also the birthday of one of my favorite idols, Ohori Megumi
Ever since I got into AKB48, I have been drawn to three girls in the group...
Ohe Tomomi from Team A. I love Oh-yay because she is so damn funny! Nakanishi Rina, also from Team A. Rinatin is just naturally beautiful. And Ohori Megumi from Team K. I would never have guessed that Megumi was (far and away) the oldest member of AKB48. But that is one of the things I like about her. I have always found her to be irresistably cute. But those shower and bedroom bits she did at the beginning of Oji59fun a couple months back shot her right up to the top of my idol chart. She is definitely the idol I would most want to have a sexual tryst with. Since she just turned 25, I don't have to feel guilty about wanting to go to bed with her either! And every time I hear about her being referred to as "perverted" or "kinky", I just love her even more!!!
I was watching this weeks' episode of AKB48's Oji59fun this morning. They were doing some sort of bio on Megumi. At the time I didn't really understand what was being said, so I figured she was graduating since a bunch of other members were crying through it. But I got the scoop from Cat's Aitakatta! blog...
The "bit" was supposed to be about Megumi's struggle to become an idol amidst a bunch of much younger girls. It dramatized her coming from humble upbringings, working in menial jobs, and struggling for popularity among the other girls. Then there was a moment with Akimoto Yasushi where she was issued the following challenge. Megumi is going to release a solo single under the pseudonym Meshibe Ohori, and the single must top 10,000 sales or she will be forced out of AKB48. Now my first thought is this sounds exactly like the Tsunku/Morning Musume/Ai no Tane challenge. I have to believe with this kind of promotion she will have little trouble topping the 10K sales mark. But I am still going to buy the CD the moment it comes out. And if they have multiple versions, I'll buy them too. Anything to keep Meetan in the group. I think she is the hottest AKB member of all! Oh, and will there be a "Single V"? (hope hope!)
So a big Happy Birthday! to my favorite "sexy" J-pop idol. Here is some eyecandy directly from Megumi's Blog to celebrate!
DAMN
SHE
IS
SO
FREAKIN'
HAWT!!!
I am going to make it a point to do my part to help Megumi realize her dreams.
CK in California
This was inspired by the article posted by Japanator on the illegal filesharing issue between Japanfiles and LiveJournal...
Dear Japanfiles.com,
Let me begin by saying Thank You for your tremendous effort to bring J-music closer to the fans in the west. I am an avid listener to your channel on Live365.com. And I have enjoyed sharing a dialogue with you on your MySpace pages. It is because of people like you that we have the opportunity to discover amazing music we may never otherwise hear.
I also appreciate your dedicated promotion of Ketchup Mania, who are currently one of my favorite bands. I have posted/promoted them many times on this blog. I enjoy listening to your KM "one hour block" every Monday Night, and quite often I purchase a CD after listening to your programming.
I recently read the article regarding your concerns about LiveJournal and illegal filesharing. I know this is a very touchy subject. I do not own an mp3 player, and have never uploaded music or videos on to the internet. I absolutely respect your desire AND your artists desire to protect their artistic and intellectual property. I am also aware that without illegal uploading, I surely would have never discovered J-music in the first place. And as a result wouldn't have had the opportunity to enjoy these amazingly talented artists. It is a double-edged sword. But this is not what this letter is really about...
What really bothered me was an excerpt of an e-mail allegedly sent by you regarding the LJ controversy...
If there is a band/label that you don't see on JapanFiles, it is most likely because (a) the label is not currently interested in USA digital sales; (b) the label is currently prohibited due to other contracts; (c -- and most common) the label is waiting to see how many American customers will support legal purchases Japanese music. (*The Japanese labels clearly see the rampant piracy, even for artists they have licensed to high-profile legal-download services like iTunes. So the view of the American audience is overwhelmingly negative.)
Now I don't want to "shoot the messenger" here. I realize that this is not necessarily your opinion of the American audience, and that you are merely informing us of the attitude about western fans held by the Japanese music labels. However, you seem to have a dialogue with these labels, and maybe you can relay our reaction to their alleged stance.
Perhaps I am misinterpreting what you are saying here. When you speak of "the view of the American audience" being negative. Are you talking about marketing to us? Or do the labels really prefer us not to be fans at all? And is this really because of the supposed "rampant piracy"? Or is there something else going on here? Whatever the motivations are, it is quite surprising to infer that we are "unwanted" by the Japanese labels.
Speaking of "rampant piracy", this is the first I've ever heard of the U.S. being the world hub of pirating CD's and DVD's. In fact, most every pirated product I have ever come across came from East Asia. Yet the japanese labels seemingly don't have a problem marketing their products to these countries. For better or worse, the U.S is one of the biggest "consuming" countries in the world. And I would bet that on a per capita basis, music piracy is equally present in Japan, or any other country for that matter.
Now I am not implying that the labels should actively promote and license all of their products in this country. It's the "overwhelmingly negative" attitude that I do not understand. Personally speaking...
I have purchased over a hundred J-music CD's, over 50 DVD's, two dozen photobooks, and countless other souvenirs. And I have purchased these items almost exclusively from Japanese merchants and Yesasia.com. Between the products and shipping I have contributed thousands of dollars to the Japanese economy. But these Japanese merchants certainly aren't reporting how much of their sales are going overseas. How would they?
As a result of my discovery of J-music, I have traveled to Japan to see the country and attend quite a few J-music concerts. Not only financially supporting these artists, but contributing thousands of dollars to the Japanese tourism industry. And I currently have another trip in the works.
I have attended J-music concerts here in the U.S. like Japan Nite. Thus showing my support for the musicians' presence in this country.
I'm sorry, I just fail to see how these above actions are "overwhelmingly negative".
I am a realist, and I understand there probably aren't enough people like me in the U.S. to substantiate any heavy promotion of the Japanese artists here by their labels. But in my travels I have met quite a few J-music fans with a track record similar to mine. We invest our hard earned dollars to legally purchase their products simply because we love the groups. And we continue to do it despite the labels' attitude. And yes, we have been acutely aware of their attitude the entire time. I am sure if you asked the artists themselves their opinion on the matter, it would be quite different from the label executives. Per usual, it's the corporate hotshots that screw it up for everyone. No different than in the U.S. I would really love to know how the labels feel about American fans like me.
I don't think we are expecting some sort of paradigm shift in the access to J-music here in the west. But as fans, we would simply like to feel welcome.
A J-Music fan
CK in California
This week I received my second Ketchup Mania CD...U.R.G.E
I loved "Greetings From Tokyo" so much, that it seemed fitting to sample their second full length CD. I made many comments in the first review that their debut CD reminded me a lot of the first CD by The Ramones. In many ways their second CD is reminiscent of The Ramones second CD, "Leave Home". Where the first disc is straightforward punk/rock in successive short bursts, this CD is a bit more experimental. KM keeps their basic sound, but branches out into different punk/rock styles and sounds. This was definitely an attempt to "spread their wings" creatively. The result was a couple of "near misses" surrounded by some creative gems.
This album had me thinking back to all of the punk bands I idolized so much in my youth. Yes, like Nakazawa Yuko I was a bit of a punker in my formative years. And it's easy to hear many punk influences above and beyond The Ramones on this album. There are definitely some Dead Kennedys and Sex Pistols influences. But what really grabs me are the similarites to my all time favorite L.A. punk band, "X". HIRO has a tendency to sing a little "flat" on many of the tracks. And no one sings flat quite as well as Exene Cervenka! It's interesting, when I saw Ketchup Mania live I thought of them more as a straight rock n' roll group.
KM starts the album with a wierd intro (Welcome to the Ketchup World) much like their first disc. It seems to be their signature bit. But to be honest, it's my least favorite part of both CDs. It then goes straight into their only "all English" track I've ever heard., KISS. (press the little button, it's the link to the song on lastfm)
This song reminds me a little bit of Hole (Courtney Love is another "flat" singer), but it's a great punk track. There is no band quite like them, and they use a heavy echo dub on Hiro's voice.
The third track, Handcuffs of Love is pretty good. Track 4 is the song I fell in love with at Japan Nite 2008. Real Yaayo is a great example of the overall sound of the band. I really love this PV (the only video I could find from the album)...
Track 5, TOKYO almost sounds like the rally chant for England's national Footie Team. The musicianship on Doubt Mail sounds like like the classic sound of the Dead Kennedys. All OK! is a pretty cool track, but the last two songs on the CD are by far my two favorites. The first is Juicy Candy. It's extremely fast-paced, and at the same time very melodic. It's the one song on the CD I love listening to over and over again...
LAnd the CD ends with another great track, POP POP POP POP POP POP POP LOLLIPOP, which starts off like The Ramones' Rock and Roll High School. I'm glad to hear them get back to their roots...
Although this CD holds up pretty well, I still prefer "Greetings From Tokyo" because I simply love more of the songs. But I am really falling in love with this group (and obviously their lead singer)! They sound great, and are a lot of fun to listen to. And I'll give a little plug to japanfiles.com, where you can not only download their music, but listen to a one-hour block of KM every Monday night on their live365 radio show. I hope they make it back to the U.S. very soon. But I am planning to make two trips to Japan in the next eight months. So I won't be too heartbroken if I have to see them on their own turf.
Anything you say HIRO...CK in California
I swear I could freakin' cry!!! I just spent 21/2 hours doing a review of this CD that I was totally proud of. And (thanks to the Vodka) I accidentally deleted it just before hitting the post button! Does that make me akin to Ernest Hemingway? I will try to recreate it from memory. I usually don't swear in my posts but...
MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!!
Okay, I've put my $5 bill in the "swear" jar. You could also say that I am "beating a dead horse" with this review. But I don't want to incur the wrath from PETA. Anyway, they are probably too busy in Maryland for the Preakness Stakes.
I received this CD (the regular edition) about a week ago. It came in a package along with Perfume's "Electroworld" CD, which I love. I remember getting hooked on that song after watching YouTube legend LucyMisser utilizing it for her latest sexy video. And the same package contained the "totally out of place here" debut CD from Milky Way. What the folks who put together my order were probably thinking...
"Jeez, this guy must've been tripping on Ecstacy to order these CD's AND Anataboshi!!!"
Now "techno" and "rave" music are not my usual cup of tea. I am more of a hard rock guy. In fact, it is a miracle I am into Hello! Project in the first place. So developing an appreciation for this genre of music is quite a stretch for me. It took me about a week to listen to the CD all the way through, as I kept switching back to the Electroworld single for another five plays before progressing to the next track.
The biggest inspiration for me to do this review was the post by Key's to Everything I read this morning. I was having a hard time verbalizing my feelings about this CD until I read that review. KTE mentioned that "This album really isn’t a casual listen. It’s underwhelming if you don’t give the songs your full attention, but when you apply yourself to the tracks it’s easy to see why Perfume are so popular."
I completely agree with that statement. When I listen to this CD in my house while I am doing other things, it doesn't grab me. But when I listen to it "full blast" in my car, like I do with most of my J-music CD's, I have a totally different experience. What the people in the #3 lane must be thinking when I play...
Anataboshi ~ "That guy is a total geek!"
AKB48 ~ It depends, "Dear My Teacher" is cool enough, but "Aitakatta"..."Who is the pedo in the sport utility?"
Ketchup Mania ~ "That is one angry dude in the fast lane!"
Anything by Buono! or Berryz ~ "Did the Chipmunks come out with a new CD?"
I am also prone to blasting "Rainbow Pinku" from Momusu's 7th CD while caught in rush hour traffic. The sentiment from my fellow commuters couldn't be anything other than "What the f**k is that???"
Perfume is one of the first J-pop CD's I am not self-conscious about cranking up on my car CD player as I am heading down the Eastshore (AKA Nimitz) freeway in Northern Cali. It sounds a lot like many other groups in their genre. And quite often you can hardly tell that they are singing in Japanese (according to my friend Chanta, who is Cambodian). But I find myself listening to the same few tracks over and over. Those tracks are...
1) Polyrhythm ~ This is an amazing song! One of the keys to me liking a techno tune is it usually has to have an "ethereal" quality to it. Most of the songs I like on this CD have that same quality. My favorite part is that "skip-py" part in the middle of it. I find myself listening to track #1 & #2 more than anything else...
2) Plastic Smile ~ After I got over the fact the Perfume has an extremely 80's feel to it (especially this track), I really started to like this song. Overall it is a fun listen with a "head-rockin'" beat. Very pretty and catchy.
5) Chocolate Disco ~ Another fun song with a cute hook. (Yes, I know I skipped Baby Cruising Love, it's just not one of my favs) I can imagine myself in a club tripping on the strobe light after a little too much alchohol...
7) Ceramic Girl ~ This might be my favorite song on the CD. It's a tough call between this and Polyrhythm. It completely registers into my "ethereal" requirement. And it has a fast beat/verse that I really like! A song I really enjoy and highly recommend...
11) Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow ~ Man I never realized how much of a "trip" this group was! It takes a while to get used to the heavily synthesized voices. And all of these references to "snow" have me experiencing some major cocaine flashbacks...
This is a really good CD, even if it isn't the genre of music I usually listen to. When listening to it for the re-review, I even started to like track 6) Macaroni and track 12) Puppy Love. When I was visiting Japan in January Perfume played at Shibuya AX the week after I left, bummer! I'll have to check out their tour schedule for my next return trip. After seeing some of their "live" videos on YouTube, I would love to see them in person! As far as recommening it, I am not sure it is for everybody. But I can now understand why it is selling so well. I'm not saying you need to be "high" to enjoy this CD either...but it helps!
Well, I still think my first post was superior, but I guess no one will ever know. It is lost to the internet gods!
CK in California
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Japan lovers ... Updated: 7 days ago
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Hello Project! Updated: Sep 22, 2009
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