Miho Mingu
07-10-2006, 07:32 PM
That's right. This thread is a guide to japanese pop. So, to all that are curious, or new to the genre, I welcome you, and enjoy.
Akiko Shikata- I made a thread (http://beastieboys.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=67045) about her debut album, Navigatoria. I recommend this to new listeners, as it's jpop, and I use that loosely, of a different fashion. Rightfully, there shouldn't be a label placed on it--it's just standard japanese singing, only it sounds like authentic traditional japanese singing. As linked on the other thread, you can hear samples of her album here. (http://hats.jp/shikata.htm#HUBD-10011)
HINOI Team- This is a relatively new group, consisting of 14-15 year old girls--yeah, young girls indeed, but this is nothing shocking or new for japanese pop. That's the average age for pop groups. If you can put that aside, you'll surely like them, as their music is catchy, and well-sung. They mostly do euro beat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurobeat) covers. They are my current favorite jpop group. Do check them out first, if unsure what to listen to.
More information on them can be found here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinoi_Team)
Their songs can be heard here. (http://www.myspace.com/hinoiteam) The last three are what you want to here.
Akeboshi- A male japanese singer, and his voice is pretty unique, as it's melodic. Now, I generally frown upon hearing male japanese singers, as a lot of them sound pretty boring, and typical. This guy, however, sounds nice. I was immediately turned into a fan when I heard the song "Wind".
This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnFRawOtGhw&search=akeboshi) song released some odd months ago. He certainly has a distinguished singing voice.
His background information here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akeboshi)
Utada Hikaru- One of the most popular jpop artists over the years. Personally, she's lower on my list of favorites, but don't get me wrong, she's by no means bad. She has quite a few good songs.
Her music video, Passion. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uipIi-SnPUU&search=utada) From her new album, Ultra Blue, released this year.
Background information here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utada_Hikaru)
Tomoko Kawase- *cracks knuckles* Alright, this is going to be a lengthy description, so bare with me--Tomoko Kawase has quite a background, starting with her involvement with the jrock band, The Brilliant Green. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_brilliant_green) When she left them, she took up a couple aliases, Tommy february6 and Tommy heavenly6, respectively. The former is supposed to have a truthful persona, far from innocent, but ultimately lead to a cutesy personality, which resulted in the decision to create the latter, a more rock-influenced personality. I prefer hearing Tommy february6 music, as it has a synth-pop sound.
The whole background can be read here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoko_Kawase)
Listen to her music here. (www.myspace.com/tomokokawase)
Maaya Sakamoto- Another personal favorite of mine. She's always been a great singer, and has been around the jpop industry for several years. This is a good singer to get into, as she has a pleasant singing style.
Background information here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaya_Sakamoto)
Music can be listened here. (http://www.maayasakamoto.net/dive/index.html)
Morning Musume- This shouldn't even be known as a group, but a talent agency--no, an entity. It spans generations of new singers that join the group. It is part of the Hello! Project, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello%21_Project) that finds new talent. Morning Musume is the header of the project.
Background information found here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_musume)
Music can be listened here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello%21_Project) Listen to "Koi Dance Site", if any. The second one is pretty good as well.
W (Double You)- This group consists of Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago, former fourth-generation Morning Musume members. They got quite a few catchy tracks, and what I especially like about their style is they sing in sync all the time, so it comes out well when heard.
Background information here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W_%28Double_You%29)
Music can be listened here. (www.myspace.com/wdoubleyou) The songs I enjoy from them are available there--which are "Robo Kiss", "Koi no Vacance", and "Southpaw".
Zone- A fun and hyper jpop group. I have some of their albums, but haven't listened to them well enough. What I can say is their song "Good Days" is a fun song to hear and watch. (music video)
Background information here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_%28band%29)
Promotion video of "Good Days" can be seen here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRyo81jwhdw&search=zone%20jpop)
Whew, I'm typed out. I hope this comes of some use to you all, as the jpop genre hasn't been too popular compared to other genres. I'd appreciate if people didn't make negative posts on here either. I know, we all have the best taste in music, and our peers listen to crap, but if you don't like it, it's alright to say so, just don't be a prick about it.
I may add some more, and I was going to now, but I've already wrote up a storm.
Akiko Shikata- I made a thread (http://beastieboys.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=67045) about her debut album, Navigatoria. I recommend this to new listeners, as it's jpop, and I use that loosely, of a different fashion. Rightfully, there shouldn't be a label placed on it--it's just standard japanese singing, only it sounds like authentic traditional japanese singing. As linked on the other thread, you can hear samples of her album here. (http://hats.jp/shikata.htm#HUBD-10011)
HINOI Team- This is a relatively new group, consisting of 14-15 year old girls--yeah, young girls indeed, but this is nothing shocking or new for japanese pop. That's the average age for pop groups. If you can put that aside, you'll surely like them, as their music is catchy, and well-sung. They mostly do euro beat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurobeat) covers. They are my current favorite jpop group. Do check them out first, if unsure what to listen to.
More information on them can be found here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinoi_Team)
Their songs can be heard here. (http://www.myspace.com/hinoiteam) The last three are what you want to here.
Akeboshi- A male japanese singer, and his voice is pretty unique, as it's melodic. Now, I generally frown upon hearing male japanese singers, as a lot of them sound pretty boring, and typical. This guy, however, sounds nice. I was immediately turned into a fan when I heard the song "Wind".
This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnFRawOtGhw&search=akeboshi) song released some odd months ago. He certainly has a distinguished singing voice.
His background information here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akeboshi)
Utada Hikaru- One of the most popular jpop artists over the years. Personally, she's lower on my list of favorites, but don't get me wrong, she's by no means bad. She has quite a few good songs.
Her music video, Passion. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uipIi-SnPUU&search=utada) From her new album, Ultra Blue, released this year.
Background information here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utada_Hikaru)
Tomoko Kawase- *cracks knuckles* Alright, this is going to be a lengthy description, so bare with me--Tomoko Kawase has quite a background, starting with her involvement with the jrock band, The Brilliant Green. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_brilliant_green) When she left them, she took up a couple aliases, Tommy february6 and Tommy heavenly6, respectively. The former is supposed to have a truthful persona, far from innocent, but ultimately lead to a cutesy personality, which resulted in the decision to create the latter, a more rock-influenced personality. I prefer hearing Tommy february6 music, as it has a synth-pop sound.
The whole background can be read here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoko_Kawase)
Listen to her music here. (www.myspace.com/tomokokawase)
Maaya Sakamoto- Another personal favorite of mine. She's always been a great singer, and has been around the jpop industry for several years. This is a good singer to get into, as she has a pleasant singing style.
Background information here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaya_Sakamoto)
Music can be listened here. (http://www.maayasakamoto.net/dive/index.html)
Morning Musume- This shouldn't even be known as a group, but a talent agency--no, an entity. It spans generations of new singers that join the group. It is part of the Hello! Project, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello%21_Project) that finds new talent. Morning Musume is the header of the project.
Background information found here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_musume)
Music can be listened here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello%21_Project) Listen to "Koi Dance Site", if any. The second one is pretty good as well.
W (Double You)- This group consists of Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago, former fourth-generation Morning Musume members. They got quite a few catchy tracks, and what I especially like about their style is they sing in sync all the time, so it comes out well when heard.
Background information here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W_%28Double_You%29)
Music can be listened here. (www.myspace.com/wdoubleyou) The songs I enjoy from them are available there--which are "Robo Kiss", "Koi no Vacance", and "Southpaw".
Zone- A fun and hyper jpop group. I have some of their albums, but haven't listened to them well enough. What I can say is their song "Good Days" is a fun song to hear and watch. (music video)
Background information here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_%28band%29)
Promotion video of "Good Days" can be seen here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRyo81jwhdw&search=zone%20jpop)
Whew, I'm typed out. I hope this comes of some use to you all, as the jpop genre hasn't been too popular compared to other genres. I'd appreciate if people didn't make negative posts on here either. I know, we all have the best taste in music, and our peers listen to crap, but if you don't like it, it's alright to say so, just don't be a prick about it.
I may add some more, and I was going to now, but I've already wrote up a storm.