The J-Pop Thread

The Korean musical roots of enka. . .

Stuff like that.

was hedging on buying that. but yeah, sold.

Genuinely amazing scenes as Perfume takes on the 'Rock In Japan' fest

http://youtu.be/Gvgh7jn1Atw
http://youtu.be/tuuJvSaJseY

holy crap

New Kyary Pamyu Pamyu video; it's called "Fashion Monster."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GivkxpAVVC4

!

I'll say it again: WOW.

I've always enjoyed this band's catchy singles but couldn't really call them anything special - catchy straight j-rock by the book. This year, though.. 8 months after this song's release I can confidently say it's a Big Song. The instrumental hook is soo satisfyingly huge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ufh2CL-K4k

Also I'm seeing Perfume live in a month omg.

Also I'm seeing Perfume live in a month omg.

!!!

x-post

I kind of like that. The vocal sound, especially when they all sing together, is what stands out the most to me. Would you agree it's a little out of the ordinary, or no? I'm not familiar enough with j-rock/j-pop to say. I could almost see them go j-country or something.

(I wish I could learn to drink the perfume kool aid. You all seem to have so much fun with it.)

Yeah, the huge contrast between the two lead vocals make for fun dynamics on some of their tracks. Some people don't like the bassist's chipmunky voice but it stands out when used in harmony. She does a fun track on their new album http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xtx34u_scandal-kill-the-virgin-queens-are-trumps-track-06_music

Here's the Perfume crowd pleasing at Rock in Japan re-uploaded http://vimeo.com/49485967

I'll see them at a much smaller venue, but I'm sure it'll be a party.

loving this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmzfKSlv0ss

Bourdaghs apparently considers this a very important early j-pop (qua j-pop) single:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C2-me3pC18

but he goes off on more unhinged critical theory/cultural studies* type rambling to justify it than probably anywhere else in the book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWSbfCPkTBk

<3 MomoClo, especially after reading this blogpost about how their manager used tactics usually found on the pro-wrestling circuit to promote them - interesting how mainstream they've become in the last year
http://patrickmacias.blogs.com/er/2011/11/on-momoiro-clover-z.html

With a ludicrous 5 minute metal epic and a 7 minute long, oddly shaped feminist-ish rock anthem written and produced by Yakushimaru Etsuko, so it's not like they've 'sold out' either. I genuinely thought the latter was too inaccessible and lacking in obvious hooks for a band approaching star status in the country, but it's the first physical single of theirs to break 100k sold.

This new one ("Farewell My Sorrows") sounds pretty conventional in comparison, but rocks.

looking fwd to playing "santa san" around xmas time

ayo zappi i love that song you posted upthread

these are mostly rearranged miku songs right?

like this is the most insanely up my alley thing in the world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOrzlgiPkbc

Yeah that's great.

And this is super nice, early Utada vibes http://www.wat.tv/video/miliyah-kato-konya-wa-boogie-5ccnb_2ey5f_.html

'UK Rampage'? what the hey. good song, I would take a risk on that album if I saw it

SF Amoeba's J-pop section has shrunk to a meaningless size, it's basically just a used section. shouldn't have to be that way.

The group's name is actually called "Rampage Tangible" or "Tangible Rampage" - I downloaded the album and made it about halfway through. It's not all as weird as that song; a lot of it is jazz-funk-prog, but there are a bunch of guest vocalists, some better than others.

Queen Utada is on a hiatus but releases a new song as theme for Evangelion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWLGEU5cfd8

I have now been to a Perfume concert. I have now lived life.

Still living on that high. My itunes and youtube play count is now absurdly slanted in favor of this group. Qhen you've experienced concerts with artists whose fan bases are as exstatic, ready to jump and dance and be 'on' the entire show you kinda don't want live music to be any other way.

Needless to say 'Fake It' exploded onto the crowd.

Thought this was a nice reminder of how they struggled for a long time in obscurity even after establishing their trademark sound and releasing some of my favorite singles.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8dtgnQXdn1qa23ffo1_500.jpg

line up for New Year’s Eve program "The 63rd Kohaku Uta Gassen" announced, no K-Pop this year as far as i can tell
(numbers in brackets are amount of times they've been on the program including this year)

Red Team (Female)

aiko (11)
Ayaka (6)
Ikimonogakari (5)
Ishikawa Sayuri (35)
AKB48 (5)
SKE48 (1)
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (1)
Koizai Kaori (16)
Koda Kumi (8)
Godai Natsuko (19)
Sakamoto Fuyumi (24)
Tendo Yoshimi (17)
Nakashima Mika (9)
Nishino Kana (3)
Perfume (5)
Hamasaki Ayumi (14)
Fuji Ayako (18)
Princess Princess (1)
Mizuki Nana (4)
Mizumori Kaori (10)
Momoiro Clover Z (1)
YUI (1)
YUKI (1)
Yuki Saori (13)
Wada Akiko (36)

White Team (Male)

Arashi (4)
Itsuki Hiroshi (42)
HY (2)
EXILE (8)
NYC (4)
Kanjani 8 (1)
Kitajima Saburo (49)
Go Hiromi (25)
Golden Bomber (1)
Kobukuro (7)
Saito Kazuyoshi (1)
Sandaime J Soul Brothers (1)
SMAP (20)
Tachi Hiroshi (2)
TOKIO (19)
Tokunaga Hideaki (7)
AAA (3)
Naoto Inti Raymi (1)
Hikawa Kiyoshi (13)
FUNKY MONKEY BABYS (4)
Fukuyama Masaharu (5)
Hosokawa Takashi (36)
Porno Graffitti (11)
Miwa Akihiro (1)
Mori Shinichi (45)

There was a big number made out of the no k-pop thing earlier with some insiders saying it's because of political reasons which seems massively dumb to me - better if they'd jut decided that Kohaku is just for Japanese artists as a rule.

Nice to see MomoClo there though.

really surprised that its YUKI's first time? maybe she turned them down before, idk. Want to see Perfume, MomoClo, Kyary. and lol Golden Bomber, they are so terrible.

Yeah that's surprising. Some people do decline though.

Kyary's getting everything easy in her career so far, huh? Album sales surpassed expectations and now an early invitation. Feels like the similarly novel MomoClo had to work harder to get here. Not a dig and I've never placed much value in these spots but it's an argument that could be made.

Kyary has like two good songs so I'd agree with that.

<i>Kyary has like two good songs</i>

And "Ponponpon" sounds like "Edge" by Perfume.

..what?

Not the whole thing, or the production: just the chorus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQj8_RnoLk8

Does it count as Jpop if it's a Korean group who probably bought the demo off a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2E0ztHtZ-o";>Scandinavian</a> producer? DILEMMA.

Anyway this seems to have been the B-side to a single they released over the summer.

;_; html tags, should have been a link to this.

Delighted to see that someone nominated Momoiro Clover Z's Furious Space Symphony. 7th Movement 'Infinite Love' for the tracks poll, because it is remarkable and my favourite single of 2012 and I didn't get to nominations in time to do it myself. I guess it's unlikely to place, but it would be even better if it did.

For sure, it may get a few votes but top 70 - probably not. My favorite MomoClo song of the moment is PUSH - the lyrics are wonderful: http://youtu.be/rrbyUAByY1g

They're releasing an album this spring. The last one 'Battle & Romance' was silly good compared to the competition.

xp Rudipherous

is this song: http://youtu.be/XIVGQ-B9G38 mentioned in that book?

I've been in love with this song since I read on wikipedia that WINK were one of the first idol groups to "not smile." Plus this song has some killer New Order bass going on. (also if you care about the little things, the delay on her voice during the second verse is SO good)

I believe I'll be voting for that Momoiro Clover Z song. Never heard it before but songs about space are the shit in any language. Wow this is insane.

abcfsk, do you live in Japan? where did you see Perfume? well said about ecstatic fans and big live shows. I'd love to experience that. I was pleasantly surprised that "Spending All My Time" was partly in English. Are you aware of any indication that Perfume will sing more songs in English and attempt to tour in the states?

I live in Korea, and Perfume toured some Asian countries last year. It remains to be seen how much they put into global promotions - they're expected (more like it's semi-confirmed) to announce a 2nd global tour this year that will see them visit the US and Europe. They're also launching a global version of their official fan club with English content.

As for songs, their label guy said they wouldn't 'westernize' the Perfume sound because that would mean losing their appeal, but yeah the lyrics might be done in English for some songs. They're not great at English but it doesn't really matter with their style.

Irresistible new Sakanaction single http://youtu.be/iVstp5Ozw2o

Suzuki Aya - Neguse http://youtu.be/zBw4YqgorLs
love this song, reminds me of Sally Shapiro, used in end credits of currently airing series Tamako Market

Anyone excited about new Kyary? It's better than the last one at least...kinda Shibuya-kei meets Stock/Aiken/Waterman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=v=9Y6H-YjsE9Q

"fashion monster" >>>>>>

but i like the new one too

http://i.imgur.com/mbJZFnT.jpg

@Durf
AKB48's Minegishi Minami caught in fling w/male dancer: demoted to understudy, forced to shave head, apologize http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/entame/92205/

Lucky she was only humiliated in an ugly and disgusting way - she could've been fired like several other members have been!!

Nice follow-up to last week's SKE48 manager announcing he would perform seppuku if caught in an indecent relationship with a member.

In happier idol-related news this is an immense track

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JnRFB3NPvs

that's great
but makes me feel they should really allow japan to enter eurovision

ok, I was totally sold even before that guitar solo kicked in!

xp I've been thinking that a lot of times.

The album with the same title as the song all sounds like this, safe investment.