It’s been a while since I’ve done this kind of list (think it was 2 and a half years ago) so I thought to myself since my music tastes keep changing I’d better update the list again so here we go with the latest J-pop/rock artists that I really enjoy listening to. I’ll pick a PV from Youtube to accompany the writeup on each artist. Hope you like what I pick!
Perfume
This female technopop trio from Hiroshima have been around since 2001 but only on the national scene since 2005. Nobody really took much notice of them until 2007 when they released Polyrhythm as a single and since then they’ve exploded into being mega popular with their last CD - Love The World hitting No.1 on the Oricon charts (firs time ever for a technopop act to top the charts). Why they’ve only just become popular is a mystery as their first album Perfume – Complete Best had some brilliant tunes such as Computer City for instance. Their 2nd album GAME is even better containing many catchy tunes so no wonder the Japanese public finally took notice how good they were.
Perfume – Secret Secret
Koda Kumi
Slutty – a word you’ll find some people calling Koda Kumi due to her sexy outfits and outrageous behaviour in PV’s and on stage but to me she’s only expressing her sexuality. The truth is Kumi is incredibly popular in Japan especially with women in their late teens and early twenties. They absolutely adore her for her strong character, fun personality and that amazing voice she has. Who knows what would have happened had Tsunku picked Kumi to join idol group Morning Musume when she auditioned at the same time as Maki Goto. Debuted in 2000 but it wasn’t until after one of her songs was featured as the theme song for the anime Cutie Honey in 2002 that success came her way. Since that time her popularity has come on in leaps and bounds. Now regarded as one of the big 4 solo female singers in Japan alongside Namie Amuro, Ayumi Hamasaki and Hikaru Utada. I suppose I only took notice of her when I bought her Black Cherry album. I think her last album Kingdom is my favourite so far from her as it’s full of great songs. It went to No.1 in Japan. Her career nearly came off the rails in February when she said a rather insensitive comment about pregnant women over 35 years of age. She tearfully apologised and there was mention of her Spring tour being cancelled but it went ahead. Thankfully things are back on track for her again with her newest single Taboo being released on October 8th. Loved watching her 2007 concert from the Tokyo Dome on DVD – gotta be one of the best J-pop concerts I’ve ever seen. I like Kumi for her personality – hanging out with her would be fun I reckon and she’s beautiful as well which helps.
Koda Kumi – BUT
X-Japan
Returned triumphantly to the J-rock scene in 2007 after disbanding way back in 1997. During their early years they were pioneers of the Visual Kei style with their effeminate make-up and wild hair but they toned down that image during the 90’s. Of course everybody that’s a fan of J-rock knows about the sad story of hide, the band’s gifted lead guitarist that died suddenly in 1998 being found hanged after a heavy drinking session. X-Japan was the first Japanese band that I really became a fan of in 1999 due to hearing their powerful ballads such as Crucify My Love. I suppose I prefer the ballads more than their true metal songs. I couldn’t believe it when it was announced that they were returning last year. Their first 2 concerts back at the Tokyo Dome sold out instantly and a third was announced due to popular demand. Their new song I.V was even used for the horror movie Saw IV. Drummer Yoshiki has announced to the press that a mini world tour was in the offing visiting some European countries. I’d really love to see these guys in the future, they’re bloody awesome.
X-Japan – I.V
Namie Amuro
It was only this year that I started to take any notice of Namie after hearing her brilliant 60’s 70’s 80’s single. When I start to like an artist I usually download most if not all of their previous albums so that’s what I did with her. Not really too keen on her early material, I suppose it’s her music from 2006 onwards that I seriously like. Namie’s been around since 1995 when she was part of the pop group Super Monkeys before going solo in 1996. She changed her music in 2004 to a more hip-pop/r ‘n’ b style which has obviously paid off with huge success. This year her Best Fiction (Greatest Hits) CD is the biggest selling album of the year shifting over 1 million copies and her Best Fiction 2008/2009 tour kicks off next month. Guaranteed to be a sell out nationwide. Now in her early 30’s and a mother to one son, Namie Amuro is currently one of the hottest properties in the Japanese music industry and she’s absolutely gorgeous.
Namie Amuro – Do Me More
Kotoko
28 year old female Kotoko isn’t a name that springs to mind when you think of successful J-pop artists but she’s a very popular singer where her music has been featured in many animes and in dating simulation games distributed by her record label I’ve Sound. What’s unique about Kotoko’s voice is that it’s a little bit high pitched at times. You might think that would be a disadvantage but surprisingly her vocals work well with the music. Has performed in the US on several occassions at anime conventions each time to a rapturous audience.
Kotoko – We Survive (with clips from the anime Sailor Moon)
L’arc En Ciel
L’arc En Ciel (known as Laruku) is one of Japan’s best loved bands selling in excess of 13 million albums and 16 million singles. They formed way back in 1991. It was through watching the anime GTO that I was first exposed to their music. Haven’t got that much else to say except that they’re damn good!
L’arc En Ciel – Daybreak’s Bell
Hikaru Utada
Hikaru Utada or Hikki to her fans still holds the record for the best selling Japanese album of all time with her debut First Love which sold 7.65 million. Born in New York, she moved to Japan as a teenager in 1998 to try her luck in the music business. I don’t think in her wildest dreams she’d think that her debut would sell as many as it did. As she can speak English and Japanese she released an English album called Exodus in 2004. Whilst it didn’t set the Billboards charts on fire she sold reasonably well considering there was no marketing to her album whatsoever. To me Hikki is the best out of the big four solo female artists. Her songs are amazing and her albums Ultra Blue and Heart Station haven’t got a bad track on them.
Hikaru Utada – Shonen Jidai (Studio Live)
and finally to……..
AKB48
After growing disinterested in ‘Boring’ Musume (that’s what I call Morning Musume these days) I needed a quick idol fix and that’s when I switched to this fantastic group. Conceived in 2005 by producer Akimoto who in the 80’s also had a hand in another successful large idol group Onyanko Club. Split into three teams: A, K and B (not really interested in them except for Mayu Watanabe) which in total have 51 members. The premise of AKB48 is ‘idols you can meet’ and you can do that as they perform almost daily in their own theater on the 8th floor of the Don Quijote building in Akihabara. I’m not going to start going on about them as I could go on all day – all I’ll say is they’re fabulous and you’ll find a member that you’ll like. Oh and they’re all so kawaii too.
AKB48 – Sakura No Hanabiratachi 2008
