The J-Music Lovers' International Assembly

[Mandilinn]

Digest for Suju's first Japanese album.

 

 

It's crazy to me they haven't had one until now. It seems like they've been there forever.

 

They're both good in their own ways, I can't really say which one is better, I eventually warmed up to the last one too, this one I have a better first impression but it doesn't seem like something I'll love in the long run

 

and same here, the song and choreo was perfect for me, I want Flower to come out with an album, if it's good I'd buy a physical copy

 

 

EDIT uhh topped

 

 

just blessing you guys with this cuz it's all I can think of

 

I don't understand why they give generic K-Pop tracks to vocalists that are actually good. You'd think that they would put a little more effort into making something that would actually show them off. It feels like a waste of talent.

 

Flower needs to come out with an album soon. They're up to 5 singles already. If they release one more then they won't have much room for new songs. But their costumes were so pretty this time. I love the light and flowy material 

 

 

 

[Mandilinn]

I like all of their B-sides but with so many singles I'm betting we'll only see a few on a new album =(

 

and Ailee's title tracks have shown off her vocals but the songs are just not that great, Heaven was good and I was looking forward to her future but her title tracks since then have been a bit lacking, I've been following her since 2009, her songs before going to Korea were just downright bad, I can't find them anymore

 

I want YOUR GRAVITY to end up on there, at least. I think it's one of their best upbeat B-sides. If it doesn't, I'll be pretty sad :(

 

Did she write her songs before she went to Korea herself or were they just really bad covers?

[Mandilinn]

Just so you know, Avex has uploaded all of Hitomi Shimatani's PVs it seems in anticipation of her 15th anniversary best album. My fave:

 

 

It's about time they did this for her. All her PVs have been disappearing from Youtube, so I wonder if that was part the reason. Might buy the best album if the new songs on it are good.

 

This is still one of my favorites.

 

 

 

That's one of my fav B-sides along with Just A Little Bit, I hope they end up on the album

 

and her covers are on youtube right now, her channel is called aileemusic, she has another called mzamyx3 (Amy is her real name) which is her old one before she became Ailee, her covers were great but her original music was bad, I'm pretty sure they weren't written by her lol she probably had some sort of input in it but it doesn't seem like she wrote them herself, her collabs with Johnny Phlo and Decipher were pretty okay

 

here's her in 2006 with Andrew Choi (top 3 contestant on Kpop Star 2)

 

 

and here's a single from her before Korea

 

 

and this one was okay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHRVY7zhDdA

Meh. These are just okay like you said. I wonder if they'll train her a bit and let her go back to writing her own music eventually.

 

I seriously wonder sometimes if Hiro knows what to do with his girl groups. =/ The guys get so much better treatment.

[Mandilinn]

Been going through some older playlists today.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr1sClvSywU

 

The guys sing Kuu's part better than Kuu :O I loved this song when it came out.

[Mandilinn]

I never like Koda's part in "Won't be long." I have always preferred EXILE EVOLUTION's album version with Neverland. 

 

 

I haven't heard this live version is nice. Nesmith does a great job. 

 

Everyone's vocals were more or less perfect here. I want to go to an EXILE concert someday. They look like so much fun. @___@

[Mandilinn]

Bought 2 Japanese albums for our summer giveaway! ^_^ 

 

Expect it soon hopefully :D

Can't wait ^_^

 

 

and yeah E-Girls gets the push but individually not as much, I wish Hiro did the same with the girls as he did with the guys, make sure they're steady and then promote them together as Exile Tribe, he should have given more push to each group individually before investing in them as E-Girls, then maybe there would be better results

 

I think the guys' version is better too haha

I would love to see them in concert but with Hiro leaving at the end of the year, I will never see them whole =(

I think it's harder for girl groups than it is for guys, though. GENE's sales right from the start were pretty good for a newbie that was a non-idol. The girls on the other hand have had to work much harder just to hit 20,000 on a single. E-Girls probably did them some good, but the problem now is that Hiro is having trouble differentiating between the two. He has got to give them stronger material.

 

Any EXILE is better than no EXILE. :( I'd rather see them without Hiro than pass up the opportunity completely.

Edited July 14, 2013 by Mandilinn

[Mandilinn]

Another K-Pop in Japan topic from Arama

 

http://onehallyu.com/index.php?/topic/12247-has-japan%E2%80%99s-k-pop-bubble-burst-weakening-yen-hits-major-korean-record-label-hard/

 

Already some people claiming political tension is the reason for the decline. Why can't they admit that a lot of the music out of these groups hasn't been that great and maybe part of the reason for the decline is poor music and unwillingness to promote? They're not popular enough to get away with 0 promotion like some artists can. I don't buy that SM has no say in their Japan promotions, either.

[Mandilinn]

Japan and Korea have had "political tension" for years. It didn't stop DBSK, BoA, SS501 etc from going there to make money back then and it's not doing anything to modern kpop groups now.

 

It really bothers me that they think we find it funny that K-Pop is failing, too. I spent a lot of money on Japanese K-Pop releases in 2010/2011 because they were good. I just don't care for it now that they're half-doing things. I even watched SNSD's second tour a while ago in hopes of maybe liking the album (lives have changed my mind in the past), but nope. It's even more samey than I remember it. It's sad because I still love their first Japanese album and I wanted to like the second one.

 

 

I know for a fact that SM does with TVXQ. It was pretty clear when they made Ayu replace Juno at a-nation because he's Junsu's twin.

Really? Wow. That guy is talented and has nothing to do with TVXQ other than being related to Junsu. Who did they replace him with?

Edited July 14, 2013 by Mandilinn

[Mandilinn]

^Good luck to him <3 How did he do last time?

 

They've gotten use to the more popular groups half assing things in Korea as well. These companies want their groups to be the pride and joy of Korea, but they way they're going on about it is just annoying. Rehashing and remaking isn't the way to go. The past 2 years of kpop have been disasters tbh and they're trying to take it right to Japan.

Agreed. But I have this feeling they're not going to stop anytime soon. either. There's no reason to since they're still getting a lot of people with their concerts and selling somewhat well in Japan. Why change when what they're doing works.

[Mandilinn]

Good luck picking from these.

http://onehallyu.com/index.php?/topic/12340-the-ideal-j-pop-artist-face-off-2013-round-1-pairings-7-and-8/

 

Completely random, I swear

 

Pretty bad lol. He got 17th on weekly with 5k sold

 

>~< hopefully he'll do better this time 

 

Idk if posted but clips from a bunch of different concerts (Kyary, Nishino Kana, Perfume, Porno Graffitti, Miwa, 48 Groups, Funky Monkey Baby, and Koda Kumi)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGDT5wQ3UBo

 

Eh, that's pretty decent for a rookie, actually. Hopefully he's gained a little more recognition and he'll do better.

 

Concert clips.   There's so many artists I want to go see live.

[Mandilinn]

Omg that stan is in here

 

 

So i have discovered MEG (thanks to yourfishnets), she is interesting! Her voice reminds me of Chara

 

You weren't listening to her new single when it came out weeks ago? :O It's so good. <3

 

 

Oh wow that's cool!

 

I've only been to one j-music act's concert and they've already disbanded 

 

 

He debuted in 2012 does that still count as a rookie ;A;

 

Same  I really really hope Perfume actually comes stateside (to NY/NJ)

 

I'd say so. 2012 was only last year. Now if you'd said he debuted in 2011, then no. I wouldn't really think of him as a rookie anymore.

 

I want Perfume to come here, too. I'd go see them if they went to Cali

[Mandilinn]

WHY ARE THEY REMAKING 1 LITRE OF TEARS IN KOREAN

 

WHAT?? NOOOOOOOO

 

Some things should just not be touched and this is one of them.

[Mandilinn]

I wonder how stereotypicall this drama is gonna be...if we look at their past melodramas concerning cancers and stuff :|

 

They ruined BoF :(

 

Yeah, they did.   The Japanese cast had really good chemistry, though, so it's hard to beat that. Jun and Mao <3

 

I tried to watch the Korean version of Hana Kimi but I just couldnt get past two episodes. Remakes of dramas are rarely good, if ever.

 

Didn't watch that version (I learned my lesson with HYD and Playful Kiss), but I had heard it was pretty bad. :( Wasn't that the one with the mostly SM main cast?

 

I wonder why they're even remaking it. It's not like the story is original and korea has plenty of these "sick girl" type of dramas/movies already.

 

They could have easily just made A Moment To Remember into a drama or just create a new sick girl drama.

 

I don't know. But they always make a really big deal out of it when it's a Japanese drama they're remaking. I wish they'd just stick to making something original. -_-

[Mandilinn]

I kind of feel like playing a old SNES game tonight.    Anyone played Illusion of Gaia? How is it? It sounds good from the description, but sometimes those aren't always helpful.

[Mandilinn]

Link to Jasmine's new (blocked) PV "Hero".

 

 

And Emi Hinouchi is featuring on a song for an artist I've never heard of....but it comes out tomorrow on iTunes.

 

 

 

Yue Cue 『FIRE feat. 日之内エミã€
[é…ä¿¡] ISDW-0003 Â¥450

2013年7月17日リリース!!

*TRACK LIST*
1. FIRE feat. 日之内エミ
2. FIRE feat. 日之内エミ (instrumental)
3. FIRE feat. 日之内エミ (with hook)
4. FIRE feat. 日之内エミ (acappella)

 

http://is-e.jp/news/130709.html

Edited July 16, 2013 by Mandilinn

[Mandilinn]

Previews for THE SECOND's new single: http://onehallyu.com/index.php?/topic/12642-the-second-from-exile-2nd-single-songs-previews/

 

I haven't heard from Emi in ages.

 

When was the last time she released anything?

 

 

Has anyone watched the Korean drama Reply 1997? I watched it recently with my mom and it's constantly been on my mind since then. It was so good, and Hoya from Infinite's storyline made me cry so much.
I don't watch that many dramas, but it was def one of the best I have seen in a LONG time, maybe my fave k-drama ever.

 

Nope. :( I'd heard it was really good, though.

[Mandilinn]

I thought it was fine actually. Yeah the male lead was kinda over the top, actually a lot of the drama was, but nobody was noticeably terrible. Hoya was def the best, his character was really convincing, I felt for him so much.

I cannot stress it enough, if you have free time you NEED to watch it.

 

I'll try to watch a few episodes when I get a moment. I only have time to watch one thing right now and I'm trying to get into Shingeki no Kyojin D:

Edited July 16, 2013 by Mandilinn

[Mandilinn]

New physical single coming from MiChi:

 

INdepeNdent GiRL?

2013年9月4日発売

å“番：AICL-2580  価格 Â¥1,300(税込)

åŽéŒ²æ›²

1. INdepeNdent GiRL?

2. Saturday Night

3. INdepeNdent GiRL? -remix-

4. Saturday Night -extended version-

 

 

http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/michi/info/428106

 

She'll be taking on EDM with this single. Both songs were produced by MiChi herself.

 

 

I don't want to spoil anything, but I'll just say episode 3, that episode will lock you in and then you will want to watch the rest immediately. At least that's what happened to me.

 

Okay. Guess that's another thing to add to my list of things to watch~

[Mandilinn]

AI's album is up at j-mp3. Praying she gets decent first day sales.

Speaking of which, a chart of sales vs concert attendance comparing female solo artists was released. Not gonna make a thread about it because I'd rather not start a numbers war, but I'll post it here:

 

Dome Class (30,000 or higher people in attendance)

 

Namie Amuro (300,000+ album sales)

Nana Mizuki (up to 200,000 album sales)

 

Nippon Budokan/Arena Class (up to 30,000 people in attendance)

 

Kana Nishino (300,000+ album sales)

Superfly, JUJU/YUI*, Ayaka (up to 300,000 album sales)

Koda Kumi, aiko, YUKI*, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Kato Miliyah (up to 200,000 in album sales)

Ayumi Hamasaki, miwa, AI (up to 100,000 in album sales)

 

Hall Class (Up to 5,000 people in attendance)

 

Yumi Matsutoya* (300,000+ album sales)

BENI (up to 300,000 in album sales)

MISIA* (up to 200,000 in album sales)

Mika Nakashima (up to 100,000 in album sales)

 

Live House Class (Up to 1,500 people in attendance)

 

Ieiri Leo/GILLE (up to 100,000 in album sales)

 

Hasn't Had a Solo Conert

 

Che'nelle (up to 300,000 in album sales)

 

*chart is counting an artist's cover album, not an original one
 

source: https://twitter.com/kanayan_nkt/status/357235933088731136/photo/1

 

The chart must just be counting the last few years with all those cover albums on there. There's no way BENI has had an original album that has sold 300,000....right?

 

WTF? They changed the title. It was called Right About You originally.

I'm glad they changed it. "Right About You" makes it sound generic. The new title catches my attention now. But I probably would have listened to it anyway. It's been too long since she released a physical single. I passed on her last digital single because I didn't really hear much excitement for it.

 

 

 

 

[Mandilinn]

I get the chart but parts of seem inaccurate, like the Beni part. Her best selling studio album was Bitter & Sweet in 2009 with 109,000.

 

The * next to an artist means they're counting cover albums, not an original ones.

 

Covers: 224,313

Covers II: 135,374

 

It also says up to (or close to 300,000) next to Beni, so this would be pretty accurate since they're going by those. Though I don't have the whole article/scan, so I'm probably missing some notes related to the cover album thing.

[Mandilinn]

There's no * so they're not counting cover albums so it makes no sense.

 

Oh...I could've sworn she had one (I wasn't looking at it when I replied). She should be once column over at the very least. I'll try and see if I can find the rest of the scans for whatever that came from.

[Mandilinn]

Someone please tell me this is an elaborate joke and that certain people on this forum don't really think this.

 

http://onehallyu.com/index.php?/topic/12772-this-just-in-exo-is-the-next-national-grouptheyre-too-organic-progressive-for-k-pop/

 

miwa was nominated for The 6th CD Shop Grand Prix in a sea of indie acts:  http://onehallyu.com/index.php?/topic/12744-the-6th-cd-shop-grand-prix-nominees-for-the-first-half-of-2013/

 

But this is her worst album The only good song on there was Delight.

 

 

 

I approve of their Miliyah cover:
 

 

It's good. I still think their Every Little Thing cover is their best.

[Mandilinn]

New Lecca digital single "SOLA" out today

 

 

http://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/sola-single/id668938153

 

Looks like jyA-Me will be the next one to do a cover album because she just released a song on Recochoku that's a duet cover and announced a full cover album for August 7th.

シンガーjyA-Meã®ãƒ‡ãƒ¥ã‚¨ãƒƒãƒˆã‚½ãƒ³ã‚°é™å®šã®ã‚¹ãƒšã‚·ãƒ£ãƒ«ã‚«ãƒãƒ¼ã‚¢ãƒ«ãƒãƒ !!　永é ã®ãƒ‡ãƒ¥ã‚¨ãƒƒãƒˆã‚½ãƒ³ã‚°ã®å曲を新ã—ã„世界観ã§æ­Œã£ãŸã€æ¥µä¸Šã®1æžš!!
jyA-Me
Duet Cover Album「With. Me -Duet Cover-ã€
â—（CD+DVD） KIZC-209〜10　￥2,800(tax in)
â—2013.08.07 On Sale!!

 

豪è¯ãƒœãƒ¼ã‚«ãƒªã‚¹ãƒˆãŒå‚加!!
ゲストヴォーカリスト：中西圭三 / å‰ç”°æ „作 / 中æ‘èˆžå­ /　中å·æ™ƒæ•™ã€€/ m.c. A・T　/ JUN (CLIFF EDGE) / 角田信朗 / KOAN / Lil’B

＜DISC1(CD)＞
1.Timing with 中西圭三 (original：BLACK BISCUITS　)
2.今を抱ãã—ã‚㦠with　å‰ç”°æ „作 （original： NOA）　
3.I miss you 〜時を越ãˆã¦ã€œ with 中æ‘èˆžå­ ï¼ˆoriginal：MISIA + DCT　）
4.ロンリ—・ãƒãƒ£ãƒƒãƒ—リン with 中å·æ™ƒæ•™ 　（original： 鈴木è–美　with RATS & STAR）
5.EVER & EVER with m.c.A・T 　　(original：内田有紀 & m.c.A・T)
6.世界中ã®èª°ã‚ˆã‚Šãã£ã¨ã€€with JUN (CLIFF EEDGE)　　（original：中山美穂 & WANDS）
7.æ„›ãŒç”Ÿã¾ã‚ŒãŸæ—¥ã€€with 角田信朗　（original：藤谷美和å­ãƒ»å¤§å†…義昭）
8.ã•ã‚ˆãªã‚‰ 大好ããªäºº with KONAN　 (original：花＊花)　
9.å¤ã®çµ‚ã‚Šã®ãƒãƒ¼ãƒ¢ãƒ‹ãƒ¼ with Lil’B　 (original：井上陽水・安全地帯)


＜DISC2(DVD)＞ MUSIC CLIPS
1.今を抱ãã—ã‚㦠with　å‰ç”°æ „作
[bonus映åƒ]
2.無敵ガール☆365 / DJ SHIMA☆YURI feat. jyA-Me

[Mandilinn]

MTV81 Announced its Collaboration with SYNC MUSIC JAPAN

 

 

MTV Net work Japan, a world’s leading entertainment brand for youth will start collaborating with “SYNC MUSIC JAPAN†for “MTV81â€, a project to promote Japanese culture including music to the world’s audience on multimedia platform.

This collaboration makes it possible to search for information on 1700 artists, including biography, directly from the articles on MTV81.com. “SYNC MUSIC JAPANâ€will also offer a part of its articles to“MTV81.comâ€.

By this collaboration with “SYNC MSIC JAPANâ€, which features Japanese artists’ official profiles and new contents, “MTV81â€will be able to improve the website’s usability and provide more accurate and up-to-date info for the readers.

 

http://www.syncmusic.jp

 

~~

 

I'm loving all these websites popping up for Japanese entertainment. This one seems like Tokyohive, only more accurate and no Johnny. I'd bookmark this one along with MTV81 if you haven't already.

[Mandilinn]

New sexy girl group from Avex. Seems kind of like the next MAX from the previews:

 

http://onehallyu.com/index.php?/topic/12947-new-girl-group-faky/

 

They're under Rhythm Zone.