Trust the voices

After a year since her “Yes” album, Mika Nakashima released her sixth studio album namely “VOICE” on November 26. Just two weeks from her ballad hit single “ORION”. The album contains the songs from her latest single from “LIFE”, “Eien no uta”, “Sakura~hanagasumi~”,”I don’t know”, to “ORION”. Not to forget “あなたがいるから” was released as a digital single, Leaving the album with just 4 new songs. 

VOICE
Tracklist

VOICE

1 LIFE
2 SAKURA～花霞～ (DAISHI DANCE)
3 FOCUS
4 永遠の詩 (endless songs)
5 ORION
6 あなたがいるから (because you are here)
7 MY GENTLEMAN
8 TRUST YOUR VOICE
9 IT’S TOO LATE
10 I DON’T KNOW｜MICA 3 CHU
11 SHUT UP｜MICA 3 CHU
12 conFusiOn
13 FLOWER OF TIME
14 声 (voice)

DVD Tracklist :

 

1 「LIFE」PV
2 「永遠の詩」PV
3 「SAKURA～花霞～」 PV
4 「I DON’T KNOW」 PV
5 「ORION」PV
6 「FOCUS」PV

Notice that ”Sakura~花霞～ (DAISHI DANCE)” is in the tracklist instead of the original version of it. This is somehow to make the whole album flows, from the energetic “LIFE” to jazz “eien no uta” to a ballad “ORION”, “my gentleman”, back to a jazzily ”it’s too late” to a rocky ”i don’t know” and ‘’shut up” and then ends it up with ballads ”flower of time” and ”voice”

To be noticed as the album title, “voice” appears to be a ballad with a very strong string arrangement of musics, creating a very dramatic feelings to the songs as a sad ballad. 

The album is already out on store and ranks #1 in the oricon daily chart on the first day. so, grab it now!

Kumi Koda Wants You to ’stay with her’

Kumi Koda promoting her most recent album, "Kingdom"

Written by Impracticable

Kumi Koda recently released her newest single, “TABOO.”  “TABOO” is a fun dance song involving homosexuality in both the video and the song.  It was an instant fan-favorite, being hailed as “her best work since 2007’s “BUT” single.” With this song, she landed her 5th number-one single in Japan.

Kumi promoting "TABOO"

Less than a month after the release of “TABOO,” Kumi has announced her newest single:  “stay with me”, slated for release on December 12th.  The song, based on the preview, is a winter ballad.  It is very similar to her older ballads such as “Kiseki” and “Through the sky”, while being vastly different from her more recent ones like “Ai no Uta”, “Moon Crying” and “Yume no Uta.”

Sadly, I can’t give positive reviews based on the preview.  I don’t like this song, just as I don’t like “Through the sky” or “Kiseki.”

The single will contain a yet-untitled b-side and an alternate arranged version of “stay with me”, which is a very lucrative part of the single.  The melody and vocals in “stay with me” sound amazing, but the arrangement and backing vocals are the giant flaw this song contains, so an alternate arrangement could be the answer to the prayers we said about this song.

The single also includes instrumental version for both the original mix of “stay with me” and the untitled b-side.

The video for “stay with me” is currently being shot.

The single drops on December 12th under the avex trax record label.  It comes in both CD+DVD and CD-Only formats.

Don’t worry, because you have ME!

Written by Impracticable

J-pop singer alan announced on her blog that she was recording a new song in China.  The song has turned out to be a  Chinese-language collaboration with a good old friend of alan’s, Wei Chen.  The song is title “加油!你有ME!”, which means “Keep on Fighting! You have ME!”  The song is vastly different from her other works:  This song scarcely features any sign of traditional instruments, a staple to her works.  It is similar in feeling to her Japanese song titled “My Stage.”

Here is a rough translation of the lyrics:

“You have my encouragement,
my doubled-happiness cheering.
Me having you and you having me is the greatest time
I don’t reserve myself with you

Even if I can’t see you
You’ll be in my heart
I feel so warm when just touching my heart,
Thinking”

In the picture, alan is on top and Wei Chen is on the bottom.

You can listen to the song here.

I’m writing my love letter …

"Kurage, Nagareboshi" cover

Written by Impracticable

Ai Otsuka has been victim of declining sales.  None of the singles off of her recently announced album “LOVE LETTER” were hit singles.  The biggest hit, “Pocket” was released a year ago already, and still only was a #5 hit.  The most recent single, “Kurage, Nagareboshi”, made it to #4 but had a shorter chart life then “Pocket”, although a longer one than “Rocket Sneakers.”  “LOVE LETTER” will contain 4 single tracks:  The aforementioned 3 and also “One x Time”.  Another track on the album, titled “Ai” which is Japanese for “Love” and also her first name, is appearing on the album and was used in the Nissay “LOVE A LIFE”/”YOU MAY DREAM” Health Insurance promotional campaign.  Also, this will be Otsuka’s first album to feature a title track: “LOVE LETTER.”  The album contains various other new songs, which we haven’t heard yet.  The names of these songs are “Creamy & Spicy”, “Ningyou” (Doll), “Kimi Fechi” (You, Fetch! or You-Fetish), “Do☆Positive”, “Bai Bai” (Bye Bye), “Shachihata” (Self Inking Stamp), and “360°“

The album drops on December 17th under the avex trax record label in CD-Only and CD+DVD formats, so keep an eye out for it!

When the Blessed Rain Begins Falling From the Heavens …

Written by Impracticable

Today, the video for alan’s newest single “Megumi no Ame” (Blessed Rain) aired on Japanese TV.  The song turned out to be quite nice, even featuring alan playing the er-hu, also known as the Chinese Violin.  It has very heart-felt lyrics and a beautiful arrangement of modern and classical instruments, such as the piano, a strings section and multiple traditional Chinese intruments.  It is backed mainly, though, by a piano.  alan talks about her feelings in the song, in regards to being in love.  If I had to describe this song in a few words, these would be them …

“Gorgeous”, “Beautiful”, “Stunning”, “Epic”, “Heartwarming” and “Lovely”.

Although this song is not quiet as strong as her other singles, such as “Ashita e no Sanka” or “Sora Uta”, it is certainly superior to “Hitotsu” and “Kaze no Tegami.”  The song is about average in comparison to other alan songs, but is far superior to most music currently being produced overall.  Thankfully, alan has high standards for her music.  This single will be in stores on November 12th in both CD-Only and CD+DVD format under the avex trax record label.  Also featured on the single will be the still-unreleased b-side titled “Namida.”  Keep an eye out for the single and also for her album, due out early next year.

Amuro kicks off “BEST FICTION” Tour

B E S T || F I C T I O N || T O U R || 2 0 0 8 – 2 0 0 9

SET LIST

REPORT

01. Do Me More 02. Violet Sauce 03. ALARM 04. SO CRAZY 05. NEW LOOK 06. Hello 07. GIRL TALK 08. shine more 09. Full Moon 10. Luvotomy 11. Put ‘Em Up 12. It’s all about you 13. Wishing On The Same Star 14. ROCK STEADY 15. FUNKY TOWN 16. No 17. Say the word 18. White Light 19. Hide & Seek 20. Queen of Hip-Pop 21. Sexy Girl 22. WANT ME,WANT ME 23. Top Secret 24. BLACK DIAMOND 25. WHAT A FEELING Encore 26. WoWa 27. CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK 28. Baby Don’t Cry

Yesterday, Namie Amuro, a beloved figure in the Japanese music industry, started her newest and most extravagant Arena Tour last night.  It is in support of her record-breaking Best-Of album titled “BEST FICTION” which has sold nearly 1.5 million copies thus far and even stayed at number-one for 6 weeks in a row-the first time an album has done that in about 30 years. The tour will have a total 25 dates and will end in March of 2009.  Good luck, Namie!

DATE LIST

October 2008

25 – Makuhari Messe Event Hall
26 – Makuhari Messe Event Hall

November 2008

01 – Hokkaido Sports Center
08 – Fukui Sun Dome
15 – Shizuoka ECOPA Arena
22 – Hiroshima Green Arena
29 – Marine Messe Fukuoka
30 – Marine Messe Fukuoka

December 2008

06 – Saitama Super Arena
07 – Saitama Super Arena
13 – Sendai Hot House Super Arena
20 – Aomori Aoi Mori Arena

January 2009

14 – Nagoya Nihon Gaishi Hall
15 – Nagoya Nihon Gaishi Hall

20 – Osaka Jo Hall
21 – Osaka Jo Hall
24 – Kagoshima Arena
30 – Niigatashi Sangyoushinkou Center

February 2008

10 – Yoyogi National Gymnasium
11 – Yoyogi National Gymnasium
13 – Yoyogi National Gymnasium
14 – Yoyogi National Gymnasium
26 – Osaka Jo Hall
27 – Osaka Jo Hall

March 2008

20 – Okinawa Convention Center

Agent J: Preparing for More

Jolin Tsai on the cover of her most recent album, "Agent J" (2007)

Written by Impracticable

Jolin Tsai, a Taiwanese Superstar released her last album, titled “Agent J”, was an enormous hit all around Asia. “Agent J” was released in September of 2007 and topped many different charts in many different countries all across Asia, ultimately selling 150,000 copies in one week in Taiwan, over 20,000 copies in Hong Kong, and hundreds of thousands more across the whole of Asia.

“Agent J” featured the singles “Sun Will Never Set”, which was voted the best song of the year in Taiwan, “Bravo Lover”, and the title track, “Agent J”.  Other notable tracks are “Tacit Violence” and “Fear Free.”

Thr album featured a more mature feeling than the rest of her albums.  As you can clearly see on the cover of the album and as is also revealed by the title, the album has a sort of “James Bond” feeling.  The more mature and aggressive image is mimicked in the video for “Agent J” where she is seen not only pole dancing while also assassinating multiple men at the same time, which would likely be a difficult feat.

Jolin announced on her blog recently that she is once again in the recording studio, presumably recording her new album. If she is recording, the album would likely be due out some time in early or mid-2009. This would make it the longest wait in between albums since “Lucky Number” (July 2001) to “Magic” (March 2003).

With any luck, the album will retain the maturity and aggressiveness that was so prevalent in “Agent J”.

Good-Bye Project?

Written by Impracticable

The “Hello! Project” is an iconic part of Japanese Pop-Culture.  Mostpeople have heard of it, in some form or another, whether they know it or not.  Whether it be from the parody of the Hello! Project group “Morning Musume” being spoofed on the American show Mad TV to people seeing the video clip on youtube of the “Dramatic Praire Dog” from their TV Show, “Hello! Morning.”  They are known for housing many girl groups, such as Morning Musume, DEF.DIVA, Berryz Koubou, Ongaku Gates, and v-u-den, among many others.

Maki Goto

Earlier this year, it was announced that one of their solo artists-namely Maki Goto-was quitting Hello! Project.  Maki Goto was the only Hello! Project solo artist to ever get a number-one single. She announced she was in Los Angeles, taking singing and dancing lessons and would be singing onto Entertainment giant Avex Trax, house of megastars Ayumi Hamasaki, Koda Kumi, Ai Otsuka, and Namie Amuro.  Good-Bye from Hello! Project, Maki Goto.

v-u-den

The Elder Club

In June  of this year, popular group v-u-den disbanded,  making another group say Good-Bye to Hello! Project.

The last member officially left Coconuts Musume in April of this year.  Good-Bye from Hello! Project, Coconuts Musume!

Also this year, it was announced that the Hello! Project’s “Elder Club”-a group of the oldest members of Hello! Project-would be, as they call it, “graduating”, in 2009.  24 members exist in the Elder Club, along with the groups Ongaku Gakes and Melon Kinenbi.  Say Good-Bye, Hello! Project.

Misa Campo: The Next Leah Dizon?

Leah Dizon promoting her single "Love Paradox" (2008)

Written by Impracticable

Ethnically Sino-Filipina-French, the American born import model Leah Dizon was met with a fair amount of success when she debuted in Japan under Victor entertainment with her cover of Minogue’s “FEVER” back in 2006, despite not being able to speak Japanese. Leah quickly learned, and she maintained multiple top 10 singles and released two albums. She drew a large and loyal group of devout followers and fans, but finally dropped off on her own accord. During her last show of her first tour, she announced that she was pregnant and married. She was quoted as saying she would be taking a “break” from the music industry. While I wish her the best of luck with her baby and husband, her presence in the Japanese Music Industry will be missed.

Hardly weeks after her departure was announced, Misa Campo announced she was planning on debuting in Japan and was signed to an unnamed Japanese record label. Misa is also Filipina, and was also a popular import model. Most and many speculate that she will be very similar to Leah Dizon, career wise. Similar to Leah when she had debuted, Misa currently has virtually no grasp on the Japanese language.

Many fans of Leah have expressed nagativism towards Misa but many others have also expressed a great interest.  Misa’s debut has not been announced by any record label, but was confirmed by Misa’s personal blog.

“I’ll be in Japan for 6 months or so, maybe longer, for hopes of trying to start a career over there. I signed a contract with an agency over there and I’m super excited!” -Misa Campo

Best wishes and all the luck in the world to you, Misa!  Also, I anticpate your return, Leah.

BoA: The World’s Diva

written by Impracticable

A common subject in the Asia Pop world is BoA’s American debut. The Korean born K-Pop and J-Pop megastar debuted in America on October 21st, and her single quickly climbed to the top of the iTunes dance charts in various countries. It peaked at #1 on the Italian Dance charts, #1 in the Japanese Dance Charts, #2 in America and #24 in France.

BoA and her staff revealed that they were surprised at the quick success of the track, being that promotion had not even begun yet. Promotion will, though, begin very soon. BoA will appear on Radio Shows and Music Shows across America. She will also do in-store promotion and the video will also be played on the large screens in Broadway (New York City) and in Los Angeles.

Also, it was revealed that the song, along with the choreography, had been completed for the title track of her debut American album, “Look Who’s Talking.” To conclude, it was revealed that she has an unnamed surprise.