The J-Pop Thread

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.

I'm actually liking that Sakanaction single more than the Mt. Fuji one from last year. There's a little more going on in it, to my ears.

Perfume - I'm Not Okay http://lovetheperfume.tumblr.com/post/44058090587/im-not-okay-perfume

speaking of Perfume, someone uploaded an earlier "demo" version of Polyrhythm to Youtube the other day, interesting to compare to the final version, for one thing its missing the awesome polyrhythm section https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jVZjFdkDQ0

oops didn't mean to embed
2 separate Capsule comp albums out in a weeks time, tracklistings here http://www.tokyohive.com/2012/12/capsule-to-simultaneously-release-2-best-of-albums/

http://1topi.jp/system/curations/saved_quote_image_111659.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiX22vnR-SU

J-pop as ___________

yesssss

MomoClo album has a track written by the guy from OK Go, lol
Kyary has a new video, song not v good tho http://youtu.be/teMdjJ3w9iM

It's about ninjas tho

new Spitz single

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcAaL7lworY

Perfume have shows in July in Cologne, Paris & London. Wish i could go :/
2nd MomoClo album came out this week and sold 102,000 first day - by comparison their previous album sold 9,000 first day. their time has really come, huh!

In London? Shiiiiiiiiiiit.

*checks bank account*

Empty your bank account if you have to.

Secretly I'm wishing it was a Babymetal UK date announcement. But no, I'd love love love to see Perfume live. Sorely tempted.

gogogo! also lol Babymetal, there's a MomoClo metal covers album out there haha http://youtu.be/xDWBMDkrvjY

Definitely going to try and get tickets for the London one, 9am Monday on sale. I have no idea if they will sell out really quickly or not.

Apparently presales available here: http://www.livenation.co.uk/event/410918/perfume-tickets?c=api-000001&camefrom=CFC_UK_BUYAT_73074

No, doesn’t work.

My girlfriend got up early for the presale this morning so I guess I'm going to the London show!

just got back from the kyary pamyu pamyu nyc show. it was basically the most fun ever.

yay just got tickets to the perfume london show before they sold out

I kept trying from about 5 past nine and it kept telling me there were none available.

(So, if anyone has any spares, get in touch)

I am going to the London show too! From the timing I'm pretty sure they're playing Japan Expo in Paris the next day, a really big event that Kyary played last year.

The Momoclo album is incredible.

Yeah I've been pumping the MomoClo album myself. They've got the top 2 on the upcoming Oricon chart, #2 is a re-entry of their first, equally good album - Battle&Romance.

Might be able to see Perfume again this summer - they're coming back to Korea. If I can I will, happy the world is getting to see them as well.

Sold out already? Jesus.