If you are interested in Asian Music or just plain curious about it, this blog will introduce you to the more popular and not so popular music artists from Asia. Just browse the site and maybe you’ll find something that will interest you.
Right now I’m into Jpop. I like Namie Amuro. The MV I posted is old but I like it so I’m not going into uber critic mode other than say, “It’s so American-ish.” So someone’s going to say, “She’s Japanese. Why can’t she sing Japanese music?” Do you mean all those songs you hear in anime? Please… don’t be so narrow-minded. This comment is also directed to Filipino, Korean and other Asian artists being that they “copy” American music. Music is universal (and that’s cliche so all people should already know that). Music is an expression. They like the melody, rhythm, beat etc. and they like the lyrics to be in a certain language and sometimes mixed (is it called Engrish?). Some people like it, some people don’t. Do you have to be American/British/any nationality to appreciate music? To sing American et. al. songs? NOT!
I got to be honest, I wasn’t really that thrilled with Korean and Japanese music. All I know is that the theme songs of the KDramas are good (sounds heartbreaking though) and I like anime songs (especially Naruto opening and closing credits themes). But lately I’m discovering Asian music (I really have to force myself!). I’m not regretting it though because I’m having fun. I certainly had fun watching some of the vids and live performances in youtube. So now, I know that there are really annoying Korean artists, not themselves per se but based on what they did in the vids (ultimately themselves if I watched them in several vids and they are still annoying) and there are some who looked really fake. Luckily I found DBSK! I made fun of their clothes (didn’t comment on it on youtube, just kept it to myself). Jaejoong needs to have a new stylist, same as with Yunho…. okay… all of them.. nyahahaha.. Ahermmm…. Let’s forget about my little outburst there because I really like DBSK. All of them. Another group I like is Big Bang or Bigbang.. whichever. Because of one video that sounds like trance music. It’s their latest, I think. (If someone would give me the title of the song, thanks!)
I first heard of Utada Hikaru then I saw names of Namie Amuro and Ayumi Hamasaki in forums. Like I said above, I like Namie Amuro. Utada Hikaru also. Arashi is fun but too bubblegum for me. L’arc-En-Ciel– I like (they’ re JRock, I know..).
I referred to Fpop as almost non-existent because Filipino pop artists tend to concentrate on ballads. They are really good but I want them to record pop/rnb songs. They can really sing this genre, but so far few have released records. I’m so frustrated!
MIRAA ga utsushidasu maboroshi wo ki ni shinagara
Itsu no ma ni ka sokudo ageteru no sa
Doko e ittemo ii to iwareru to
Hanpa na ganbou ni wa hyoushiki mo zenbu haiiro da
Kono yurameki koyoi no yume wo egaku
Anata no fudesaki kawaite imasen ka
Aoi sora ga mieru nara aoi kasa hirogete
Ii ja nai ka KYANPASU wa kimi no mono
Shiroi hata wa akirameta toki ni dake kazasu no
Ima wa makka ni sasou tougyuushi no you ni
KARAA mo iroaseru keikoutou no moto
Shirokuro no CHESUBOODO no ue de kimi ni deatta
Bokura wa hitotoki mayoinagara yorisotte
Arekara hitotsuki oboete imasu ka
ORENJI iro no yuuhi wo tonari de miteru dake de
Yokatta noni na kuchi wa wazawai no moto
Kuroi fuku wa shisha ni inoru toki ni dake kiru no
Wazato makka ni nokoshita RUUJUU no ato
Mou jibun ni wa yume no nai e shika kakenai to iu nara
Nuritsubushite yo KYANBASU o nando demo
Shiroi hata wa akirameta toki ni dake kazasu no
Ima no watashi wa anata no shiranai iro
Utada Hikaru (宇多田 ヒカル, Utada Hikaru? born January 19, 1983), also known by her fans as Hikki (ヒッキー, Hikkī?), is a third culture singer-songwriter, arranger and record producer in Japan and the US. She is well-known internationally for her two theme song contributions to Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts video game series.[1] Her debut album, First Love, is the best-selling album of all time in Japan with over 7.65 million copies sold in Japan alone. With the release of 7 Japanese and English studio albums, 1 compilation album, 25 Japanese and English solo singles, and several VHS/DVD releases, she has sold over 41 million records worldwide (with over 34 million in home nation Japan). Moreover, 3 of her albums are in the Top 10 best-selling album of all time in Japan (#1, #4, #8)[1], making her one of the most indefinitely successful and popular singers in J-pop history. She has won the Nihon Golden Disk “Song of the Year” award for fourteen of her singles since 2000 and has won the Golden Disc “Pop/Rock Album of the Year” award for all four of her Japanese studio albums.[2] In 2003 Utada Hikaru was ranked the #24 Japanese pop artist in its survey of “Top 100 Japanese pop artists” by HMV, [3] #10 in HMV’s “Top 30 Best Japanese Singers of All Time” in 2006.[4] In 2007, her single “Flavor of Life” reached #2 in worldwide digital download single sales with over 7.2 million downloads (the only non-American artist to hold such a distinction), and she totally sold 12 million digital ringtones and songs in that year, making her the first artist ever to have this many digital sales in a year’s time.
