And YUI's captures my attention again.
YUI is BACK with her latest single/PV entitled Summer Song. After having released (to me) a mediocre album, "I LOVED YESTERDAY". She breathes life into what she does best, creating spectacular music. Yes, there are some songs on "I LOVED YESTERDAY" which are pretty good, but pretty good is no spectacular (well there are some songs which are spectacular but overall it is "pretty good"). Her previous two albums were spectacular and Summer Song is definitely spectacular.
YUI has something special when it comes to nature, the sun in particular. She has this really special relationship with the sun. She really "shines" (haha) when it comes to music or anything that comes to nature. Just take a look at her starring in Taiyou no Uta as Kaoru Amane to CHE.R.RY, there is this connection like she belongs side by side with nature. Plus she looks far happier when she's in the sun, which is a plus since she always looks so depressed in her less-upbeat songs. Good-Bye Days is not an exception since she wasn't singing about the sun or nature. :D
Firstly, it seems Sennheiser and Sony have found themselves in this PV. I was quite amazed that a Sony Walkman would be advertised but in hindsight, it’s not surprising at all since YUI is signed with Sony Records and Sony will jump at any opportunities which can see their products advertised and YUI is very big in Japan. I wouldn't be surprised if I see other artists signed with Sony will have products subtly advertised in their PV's as well.
Also Sennheiser is the maker of the girl's headphones, PX-100, I'm also getting the same ones that she's got. It's is honestly one of the best headphones you can get for under $50 USD. Highly recommended.
This song is perfect for Summer. I can just picture people listening to this on a hot Summer's day on the beach or in a convertible driving through countless kilometres of beach. The use of acoustic guitar couldn't have been any more appropriate. It makes the song not over-powering while giving it a refreshing after-taste. YUI's voice also makes the chorus smooth and cruisey like walking on a beach on a Mid-Summer's day. The use of falsetto is executed beautifully in Summer Song, especially in the pre-chorus and the some parts of the chorus. And it ties in with "Laugh Away"...but I won't elaborate on that.
The instrumentals of the song isn't something to be focused on, since the Summer is a time where one really just forgets about the complexities of life and just enjoy life to its fullest. The instrumentals have no special structure, there's no complex solo's, just simple and plain, as Summer should be and I'm sure YUI wanted to portray it in her song. My last Summer I went to the beach every few days with friends, played sport, sleep late, had a lot of barbecues, got drunk, and just had a good time around. I hardly thought about university until it got close, I just put it all aside. Of course I went to work and such, but when work finished it was just full on play, or in this PV's case, "work" (since it isn't really work in a sense) should be fun and enjoyable. 
The location of where this video was shot, is just jaw-droppingly beautiful. The pristine blue sea and the stretch of golden sand is just...wow. I wonder where it was shot in, because it is really beautiful, probably on one of the Islands...
Some individual things in the PV caught my attention and some were nostalgic to me. Like the sand in the bottle, the photograph hand pose reminded me of things I've seen in dramas before. The sand in the bottle reminded me of the sand that Saku in "Crying Out Love, in the Centre of the World" had to get ashes of his grandfather's past love. With those ashes, Saku had to mix his grandfathers ashes and spread them together. It was such a touching scene and you had to shed a tear at that moment.
I also have an immediate connection with YUI and Kaoru Amane, the character that YUI starred as and as the one that Erika Sawajiri starred as. I recently watched the PV of Erika's "Taiyounouta" (I have the CD/DVD :D) and that connection with the camera pose instantly clicked. Because Erika used a camera in that PV as well...not a major point but what was got me was the sunflower within that camera.
The sunflower is obviously related to the sun, but the thing that I relate YUI and sunflowers is that, (sorry this is quite sad, literally), is that in Taiyou no Uta where YUI starred in is that in the end (spoiler) her disease progresses and ultimately kills her and she lies in a coffin covered with sunflowers. It’s pretty ironic (can I use it in this situation?), since she has DV, a disease where if she's near the sun she's going to die, but she gets buried covered with sunflowers, a symbol of Summer. Honestly, you guys have to watch if you haven't. YUI's debut in Taiyou no Uta is not to be missed by any YUI fan, but if you aren't, watch it, it’s a really good film.
All in all, YUI brings back what she does best back, and she does it with simple and plain flair. A simple song but it contains a great Summer vibe. A brilliant track for any Summer day.
Credits: JPS
Saturday, 28 June 2008
[PV] Summer Song - YUI
Thursday, 19 June 2008
OH MY GOD. NO WAY.
Its 2.50am, I've been up for nearly 22 hours now. I was just looking for pictures for my previous post, and I came across this.
Oh shit...This is surreal...
2 weeks ago, Hayley Westenra released her new album entitled "Hayley sings Japanese Songs." Basically a cover album of her singing Japanese songs....
...Hayley Sings Japanese Songs? Cover album...?
the Tracklist is as follows:
1. Amazing Gace / Heyley duet with Minako Honda
2. Hanamizuki
3. Yuki no Hana
4. Shiroi Iro wa Koibito no Ito
5. Sen no Kaze ni Natte
6. Hana
7. Nada Soso
8. Tsubasa wo Kudasai
9. Sotsugyo Shasin
10. Jidai
11. I believe
For those who don't know who Hayley Westenra is:
Hayley Westenra (born 10 April 1987 in Christchurch, New Zealand)is a New Zealand soprano of Irish heritage. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached #1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide. Westenra has received awards for her contribution to music, both in New Zealand and elsewhere.
So to put it in short, she's a New Zealand Soprano.
My first point is:
This is the FIRST time I've EVER seen an international (apart from Asia) artist reach out to Jpop.
Second point is:
HOLY SHIT SHE'S COVERING JPOP SONGS. And she's not Asian? (Mind you that, I haven't seen a non-Asian artist cover a Japanese song before so this is pretty new for me...Comment if you have :D)
"Hayley sings Japanese Songs" was just released around 2 weeks ago. And I've been searching for the last hour finding the album online. Funny enough, it hasn't even been leaked yet!
BUT, there has been a leak of "Yuki no Hana".
"Yuki no Hana", is originally sung by Mika Nakashima. But a lot of Asian artists from China, Hong Kong and Korea have remade their own versions of the song, using the same melody and instruments but just different lyrics but there's really nothing better than the original.
Hayley on the other hand, covers this song in English. YES. IN ENGLISH. Her captivating voice is sensational through this song. This cover, gives "Yuki no Hana" a whole new element, cover wise (its sung by a European!), since the original is still the best in my opinion. But it is honestly spectacular. She hits each note with passion and emotion, as if each note meant something important to her.
Her voice is exceptionally strong, but maybe a bit too strong? Like after every line, she puts a lot of emphasis on the last word. Maybe a bit too much emphasis for a soft ballad. The only place where Mika puts emphasis is during the last chorus, where there is a crescendo, which is acceptable, since she has to follow the pace and strength of the song. But I'm bias towards the original. Maybe I'm just not used to Hayley's voice yet.
Please give this a listen, it will blow you away.
Cover:
Original:
Credits: nana-nana.net
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
[Review] In response...
I read Pengie's latest post a few days ago on her having an emotional attachment to some individual songs that she's listened to in the past. And I found myself having similar attributes. I knew deep down inside that I had to respond but I was deciding on whether to put a comment up or make a full blog post on it. After thinking about it, I knew I wouldn't have the ability to express myself properly with such little space of writing, so I decided to use a post.
Yes, I know it sounds stupid to have an emotional attachment with a Jpop song, as it is Japanese and I don't understand it. But who gives? People from other countries like English songs but they barely have any idea what it means. But I love what I listen, and a lot of people know exactly what I mean. Even if I don't understand what they're saying, there is something special about these songs. And I've definitely formed a strong bond with these songs.
I didn't necessary choose these songs because they had some crazy instrumentals or some touching lyrics. The physicality of the song wasn't overly important, but it had role in why I chose these following 5 songs. The main reason I chose these songs were because I can relate these songs with all the different times I've listened to it, and where these songs have been placed throughout my time as a Jmusic fan.
Mmmmmm, firstly, credits to Millhouse for this. He was the person who got me into Japanese music by introducing me to my first Japanese band, Do As Infinity. So yeah, I've already thanked him a million times this, but thanks Millhouse.
Do As Infinity is something I hold very dear in my heart. Mainly because they were my first Japanese band/artist I have ever heard, and the ones who started all this madness. If I didn't get the opportunity to hear them, who knows what I would have become today.
Their music stayed with me continuously throughout 2005. I would come home from school, put on my headphones, and just listen to Do As Infinity until I slept. Getting their music was especially hard since I only had dial up at that time and it would take hours on end just to download a simple album.
During the Christmas break of 2005, I got to go back to Hong Kong by myself which was really cool, since you had no restrictions on what could do. So after leaving the plane and going back to my grandparents house, I quickly unpacked and I rushed to HMV and bought most of DAI's albums. It wasn't an impulse buy, it was like fully recognising them by buying their stuff, showing how much they meant to me during that year.
These two songs, "Yesterday and Today" and "Tangerine Dream" were one of the first songs that I heard from Do as Infinity. Just listening to these two songs brings back so many memories.
After I heard about DAI breaking up, I started to open up to other artists. The artist that I fell in love instantly was Mika Nakashima.
Her mysterious appearance and her sweet voice fully intrigued me. Her 'Best' album was also one of the first Japanese CD's I've bought.
Sakurairo Maukoro still stands as one of my favourite ballads. Her sweet voice touched my heart instantly. Its a clean and simple ballad which is just so beautiful to hear. It starts of very mellow, setting the perfect mood, and it slowly builds up into a more powerful piece. It's just like a relationship. It starts of slow at the start, and as time passes, the couple builds stronger and stronger feelings for each other.
A very special ballad by a very special woman.
Mika's "Yuki no Hana" is equally as beautiful, but I felt Sakurairo Maukoro played a more significant part during my time as a Jmusic fan than Yuki no Hana did. But if you have spare time, please try "Yuki no Hana", trust me, its a beautiful ballad.
Olivia's "Winter Sleep" gives me these wistful, almost nostalgic feelings whenever I hear it. This song brings back memories, a lot of memories. It also makes me think of the future and what it may bring. This is basically my "thinking" song.
The lyrics are in English so I can actually understand it. The lyrics sounds like something taken out from a fairy-tale story. A girl who has a broken heart, distances herself from the world, if only someone can come to mend her broken heart...It's quite (cliché?), but she sings this song so beautifully and the lyrics really do touch the heart.
"I'm gazing from the distance and
I feel everything pass through me"
As a side note, I honestly think Olivia portrays a better image of Reira than Yuna Ito. Endless Story and Truth are excellent songs, but after watching the anime and comparing it with the movie, I just feel the mysteriousness of Reira has been shadowed by too much "glamour" in Yuna Ito's songs. 
Now for something more recent (well not that recent, but recent for me), something from Hello! Project, namely Morning Musume Sakuragumi and their second single, Sakura Mankai.
A lot of people know how much I love Sakura Mankai so I'll just make this short.
Even though my first few songs of Morning Musume were ONSA, Koi no Dance Site and . But those songs didn't give me the "feel" for it, there wasn't a push in these songs to fully capture my attention, until I watched Sakura Mankai on Youtube. This was the song that has changed my whole approach to Japanese music. Never in my wildest dreams did I dream of liking an all girl group. Sakura Mankai was instant love. The song, the instrumentals, the girls, the dance, the whole atmosphere was inviting.
My favourite Morning Musume and Hello! Project song.
What really strikes me, is that all 5 songs are ballads. But after thinking about it, it isn't strange at all, since I'm a huge ballad fan :D. I know there are some songs like Resonant Blue and Wagamama Koushinkyoku by An Cafe that really made a mark on my timeline as a Japanese music fan. But when compared with the 5 songs I've picked, its mark is quite small.
Hope you guys enjoy the songs.
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
[Album] Cafe Buono! - Buono!
I was supposed to do a C-ute and Berryz Rankings, but while doublechecking it I noticed that i was just vomiting words out of my mouth and on to the keyboard, so I decided to put that on hold until later and I've removed what a sentence from my Miya post which i thought was quite offensive.
Anyways...
Buono! are going to be big. They already have over 130,000 CD sales in little over half a year. All their 3 singles, Honto no Jibun, Ren'ai Rider and Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! have been used as opening and ending songs to the anime Shugo Chara! Having a song used in an anime is quite a feat, especially for a group that has only been active for half a year.
Buono! to me, is the cute little sister of Biyuuden/V-u-Den. Biyuuden was/still is spicing up Hello! Project with its exotic and sexy charms. They primarily targeted younger males to older males. Their hot and suggestive outfits complimented with Yui's cleavage definitely defined what Biyuuden was.
Buono! is on the other side of the spectrum. They appeal to everyone. From Wota's who are like in their 30's to 40's, to kids who are 6-8 years old love Buono!. Their outfits are cute, except for Miya's heels, which are fucking sexy. Except for that, these girls pull off a cute image which is received extremely well. Statistics show that as well. Buono!, like I said earlier, has over 100,000 single sales for their first three singles compared to Biyuuden's 70,000 when they first started.
But society is in flux. Morals, values and tastes have changed since Biyuuden debuted. If they debuted today, would the public treated them more differently than back in 2004? Would they have been liked more?
Since Hello! Project is gradually bringing forward a more sexy image amongst its groups, maybe they would have enjoyed more success than they did back in 2004. Since Resonant Blue and Namida no Iro both showcase a more mature and sexier look for both groups, which have been well received by the public by both racking up 55,000 and 33,000 CD sales respectively, which is substantially more than their previous releases. Hmmmm...
Hopefully Berryz will join in the fun and pull of a mature and sexy image after their latest single which is due early next month. I can just picture Chinami in a long black dress...
Personally I was expecting Cafe Buono! to be something along the lines of an album with continuous happy and pop songs. But Hello! Project and Tsunku never cease to surprise me. Buono! managed to pull of stops which totally caught me off guard. It's no wonder Pony Canyon signed with them, they know what these girls are capable of achieving.
Firstly, the girls look amazing. All three look like themselves, they're aren't pulling some kind of image. It is just Airi, Momoko and Miya. A bit too much black for my liking, but it works well for them so I'm not complaining. Miya's corset thing looks pretty cool as well may I add.
In a lot of Hello! Project releases, from what I've heard, there isn't a big focus on the instrumentals, it's usually masked by something electronic. But for Buono! it's totally different. There is a distinct emphasis on the instruments throughout the album. The amount of guitar solo's, drum fills and bass lines in this album is just jaw-dropping for a Hello! Project release. I know there are some elements in Cafe Buono! which uses an electronic source, but the amount of "true" instruments playing completely nullifies it.
Cafe Buono! is an fantastic debut album for the girls. They should be extremely proud of releasing this album. It comprises of their singles (Honto no Jibun and Ren'ai Rider) and a selection of pretty amazing album songs.
Their singles are without a doubt, a pleasure to listen. The singles are addictive and catchy, especially Renai Rider. The electric guitar is well used throughout Renai Rider, especially in the introduction and the chorus. But what makes Renai Rider so unique is the amount of detail they put in like from the ukulele to the random solo's in between and isn't the "One, Two, Three, Four" supposed to be at the start of the song? It's like they slapped heaps of toppings on a pizza and hoped it was delicious, which indeed it was.
The start of Nakimushi Shounen, was nearly enough to make me do air humps like C-ute in Massara Blue Jeans. I personally haven't heard a guitar used so profoundly at the start of a H!P song and the drumming, by golly, this drumming is something I would hear from Indie bands I listen to, and to hear it in a H!P song? Fuck me...
Baketsu no Mizu and Garakuta no Yume, showcase a blend of carefully selected instruments and synthesisers accompanied with just plain good vocals. These two songs are specially designed for Buono! and its niche market just because it sounds like what these girls should be doing, plain good genuine pop songs which just deliver.
I have reservations about Internet Cupid, mainly because of Momoko in the beginning and the synthesised vocals throughout the song. It just totally fucks me off. Its like if Kashiyuka or any of the Perfume girls did it, it would be fine, but its Momoko, so it sounds weird. Plus the synthesised vocals doesn't fit with these girls, they have no reason why they should synthesise their voice because their voices are superb to start off with. I'm not ranting about artists who synthesise their voices, its just when Buono! did it, it sounded "not-Buono!".
Now for the songs which totally left my jaw on the floor. Mainly because they are ballads. And I didn't expect ballads from Buono! since they aren't "supposed" to do ballads.
Last Forever. Probably my favourite from the album. Oh the footsteps at the beginning and at the end makes me reminisce of Miya's heels....
Last Forever is a beautifully constructed song from beginning to finish, especially the harmony in the chorus. The instruments work side by side with the girls, making this a sensational and refreshing semi-rock ballad. Its just during the bridge I don't really understand. It doesn't ruin the song, but it just leaves me wondering.
Hoshi no Hitsuji Tachi, is a ballad which I find hard to understand. It's a great ballad. But what I don't understand is just wouldn't it be better if it was acoustic the whole way through? It struck me during Airi's first verse. It sounded so lovely and gracefully until they added the random synthesised sounds in during Momoko's verse. Tthe potential to make this song acoustic is just mind-bloggling. Hope they do this someday because I would LOVE to hear it.
This was the song I was NOT expecting. Kimi ga Ireba. Personally, this was originally my favourite, but I just enjoyed Last Forever more. Normally, I would expect artists such as Hikki, Yuna Ito or Ayaka to sing these kind of ballads because that's what they do best, right?. But Buono?! An all girl trio who are barely even 16 to go out of their "comfort-zone" and sing a ballad which is composed and sung so beautifully? I'm barely holding my jaw in place.
In short, Buono! has produced an album which has totally blown me away by how much effort they've put in to create such outstanding songs. (Well not Buono! themselves, I would have collapsed if Buono! did it themselves, but kudos to producers.) Cafe Buono! is just like putting your hand into a jar of jelly beans, you don't know what you're about to get, but you always know that you're never going to be disappointed.
Credits: Hello! Online for sharing the album and for its relevant photos.
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
SecondBlossoming and International Wota Support Natsuyaki Miyabi
If this does happen.
I'm going to be fucking angry.
UFA are too money hungry to let go of Buono! and they know themselves if they loose her in Berryz then sales will drop, like my love for Berryz.
She is what keeps Buono! and Berryz functioning.
MIYABI FTW.
Yes, the pictures are from Miyabi's 1st Photobook, Yes, totally against what I believe in, so what? It's times like these where you need to rip these things out.
