ひとり by Mika Nakashima

1.) ひとり (single version)
2.) ひとり (album version)
3.) ひとり (endroll version)
4.) ひとり (instrumental)

Released: June 8th, 2005 ~ Highest Chart Position: #15 ~ Total Sales: 26,275

ひとり is Mika’s 15th single and her 1st re-cut single. ひとり is a track from her MUSIC album. The single version was used in a video game titled DRAG-ON DRAGOON 2.

ひとり (single version) is vastly different from the album counterpart. Instead of starting out with a faint piano, we get strings right away. I think I liked the piano better because it established a great atmosphere. But the strings are nice nonetheless xP But then the thing I dread the most comes in. It’s soft-rock instrumentation with a BASSLINE. WHY JESUS!?! WHY?!? Anyway, Yeah the instrumentation is really different. Reminds me a lot of 火の鳥. Mika’s voice from the original album version just don’t fit with the soft-rock stuff going on in the background =/

Thank goodness ひとり (album version) is here in it’s amazingly awesome originalness! You can go ahead to my MUSIC review to see what I said about this song ;D I wrote like a freaking paragraph just on it! Mika just did so well on this track, and I wish that this was the theme song for that video game. Rather than the single version D:

ひとり (endroll version) could have been released by itself and would have had me gasming! It’s just an orchestra of strings playing out the melody of ひとり. So you can probably assume how much I love this track I love the part at around 2:20 however! It gets really dramatic and I just fell so hard for it XD This track is amazing. I guess I’m a stan when it comes to strings =P

ひとり (instrumental) is the instrumental for the single version. So you know that I do not like this instrumental xD I would have preferred the album version.

ひとり was a nice re-release. The album version and endroll version would have been better by themselves though. I just did not enjoy the single version all too much =/ But yeah, album version and endroll version save this single for me xD <3

A-

MUSIC by Mika Nakashima

1.) 桜色舞うころ
2.) 朧月夜～祈り
3.) 火の鳥
4.) 蜘蛛の糸
5.) Rocking Horse
6.) Carrot & Whip
7.) Shadows of you
8.) LEGEND
9.) ヘムロック
10.) SEVEN
11.) FAKE
12.) Fed up
13.) ひとり

Released: March 9th, 2005 ~ Highest Chart Position: #1 ~ First Week Sales: 231, 521 ~ Total Sales: 547, 148

MUSIC is Mika Nakashima’s third album. 4 singles were released beforehand along with a mini-album. SEVEN, 火の鳥, The title A-side to the 朧月夜～祈り EP, LEGEND (and all it’s B-sides) and finally 桜色舞うころ. ひとり was released after the album as a re-cut single (I’ll review that after this album, since I wanted to see if I could review a re-cut after an album. Since I have always reviewed re-cuts before an album xD). No other album tracks were used to promote anything since all the pre-released tracks took that job already xD

I think I’ve sadly grown fond of the bassline in 桜色舞うころ (That review for the single I made a week ago, I just forgot to put it up hehe). The instrumentation here truly shines, showing off that SONY loves Mika and the composers and arrangers at SONY deserve some props. Mika’s voice is tender, and carries the melody along nicely. A gorgeous way to open up this album.

Things just keep getting better! 朧月夜～祈り was released as it’s own Mini-Album and putting it on MUSIC was a smart choice. The choice of instruments and the careful playing of them all make a beautiful sound. It gives you a feeling of walking through a Japanese park with the snow just dancing around you. Mika’s voice isn’t as strong as I would have wanted it to be in the chorus, but she still pulls it off nicely. The ending does get a bit frantic near the end with the inclusion of electric guitars and the stirring of all the instruments. But this song is gorgeous from beginning to end.

The intro to 火の鳥 always throws me off! You think it’d be some sort of fast paced upbeat track. But it quickly turns into an ambient ballad. Parts of this song still remind me of STARS for some reason. I blame the instrumentation. Mika’s voice is still fabulous of course. I love her note jumps in the chorus, she pulls it off in a beautiful manner (unlike Ayumi in Moments *coughs*). All in all, a beautiful ballad that’s worth a listen :3

Wow, and I thought 火の鳥 was ambient. 蜘蛛の糸 is like being stuck in a dream…or a nightmare xD The song fits both of those for some reason IMO. The instrumentation is really…different. I don’t know how to explain it. Mika’s voice is great, but the faint choir in the background are amazing to! They give the song a creepy feeling. The chorus doesn’t exactly stick out too much, but Mika’s voice makes it interesting. And the choir to xD I seriously love how SONY gets the best background vocalists for Mika to work with. Anyway, 蜘蛛の糸 is a pretty nice ambient track. It sticks out in this album defiantly.

The laugh at the beginning of Rocking Horse always scares me! It’s so sudden, and being right after the ambient 蜘蛛の糸 doesn’t help! Anyway, Rocking Horse is the first upbeat track on this album and holy crap it is a ton of fun to listen to. Mika is having a ton of fun with her voice, and the instrumentation just makes it funner. The chorus is insanely catchy for some reason. The melody is unique in this song, I don’t recall hearing any other song with a flow like this song. The instrumentation mainly has this drum beat with saxophones once in a while. And this weird instrument I cannot describe at all. I love the whistles in the chorus, makes Mika’s vocals stand out xD The saxophone solo was amazing! That saxophone player did an excellent job! Anyawy, this is an amazing song.

Oh hey, it’s Carrot & Whip! Mika can’t have an album without the Reggae inspired track xP So Carrot & Whip takes that cake for us. Mika’s voice is smooth and she knows what she is doing with the instrumentation. The song has a very relaxing and tropical island feel to it. I can imagine just sitting on a beach, watching the waves crash in and the clouds scatter on by. It’s on the same level of 接吻, MY SUGAR CAT, and 永遠の詩 for me. It’s a great song (: Can’t get enough of it!

Shadows of you slow down the album after those two insanely upbeat and fun tracks. The song starts with only an acoustic guitar at first, but soon some finger snaps and (sadly) a bassline kick in. The song reminds me of mid-tempo R&B songs for some reason. Mika is fantastic, and the harmonization by the vocalists in the background bring her voice out. The song is a bit too slow for my liking, and I didn’t really find anything catchy out of this song. But it’s not a terrible song at all no.

LEGEND (which is missing the (Main) tag on here for some reason) is our next track! This was the song that made me a fan <3 So it holds a special place in my heart. The song begins with an ambient atmosphere that will draw the listener into. Mika’s voice is fragile, but after the first chorus the song picks up. It’s frantic and you feel like flying through clouds. The choir I absolutely just adore in this song though! They really outworked themselves. I love it when they sing the beginning of each chorus with Mika because they just stick out so nicely. This song is a gorgeous song. It’s addicting to listen to as well.

Of course, with Mika, You must contain that really long song xD ヘムロック is our long song of the album. Clocking at about 4 seconds off of 7 minutes. The song is one fun little jazz trip. I like the little jingle thing that plays over and over. I find myself tapping in sync with that thing. Mika’s voice sounds “cuter” in this song. But that must just be me thinking that. I like the chorus, it’s catchy without having any English to make it catchy. The instrumentation is my favorite part of this song, it’s just a jumbled up bundle of amazing fun! So even though ヘムロック is 7 minutes long, it’s 7 minutes of fun vocals with fun instrumentation. Which equals success in my book :3

SEVEN still startles me at times. The way it just starts out all of a sudden! Like Rocking Horse xD The instrumentation is funky, and I adore the piano that plays in the song at times. I like the “I Shout! I Shout! I Shout for You!” endings to the chorus, the way that Mika sings them makes me giggle. Although I wish the choir sang with her for that part. Would have made it stick out a bit more. The ad-libbing sections were done with ease from everyone (I still can’t do them : ( They’re too hard to sing). SEVEN is a pretty funky track ;D

FAKE just randomly comes up and slows down the album for us it seems! The jazzy lounge atom-sphere is shown without no troubles at all due to the instrumentation and Mika’s great tone of singing. The chorus could take a few listens to get used to since Mika kinda semi-belts and she goes off-pitch a few times. But she gets the point across emotionally. I don’t think anyone else can pull off this song other than Mika.

The introduction to Fed up is GORGEOUS. It’s piano with a cello, and cello’s have never sounded better (Kanon has nothing on this cello player!). Mika’s voice is a bit frantic and heartbreaking in this song. When the chorus rolls around, rock instrumentation suddenly blares out of nowhere. Letting Mika let out some angst inside her! The rock instrumentation sticks around after the 1st chorus, and honestly don’t make the 2nd chorus stick out because it plays right into it. But I still adore this song. The emotion in Mika’s voice alone makes me want to keep listening to it. The blend of orchestral sounds and rock was done well here, and the person who composed and arranged this deserves some applaud.

ひとり is everything I could ever want in a perfect ballad. The gorgeous piano playing that sets up the mood of solitude. The strings that give you a sense of no hope, and the vocals of an angel that give you the sense of loss. Mika did everything right in this song. The only thing that brings this song down just a few points is that Mika didn’t write the lyrics. Anyway, the song starts with a piano and Mika’s faint vocals to start off. After some time a bunch of fluttering strings enter the scene. The emotion in the chorus gives me goosebumps. Mika hits those notes with such ease that it’s amazing. I really like this song. The title translated in English is called “Alone”. And how Mika interpreted it was done spot-on! The best part? No stupid bassline! Yesss!

Favorite Tracks:
1.) LEGEND / ひとり / Rocking Horse [Tie]
2.) 朧月夜～祈り / Carrot & Whip / ヘムロック [Tie]
3.) Fed up / 桜色舞うころ

MUSIC was such an amazing album from beginning to start. From the gorgeous piano in 桜色舞うころ to the playful vocals in Rocking Horse. I’m sure that the listener will find at least one song that they’ll like. Everything is cohesive and an interlude wasn’t needed to help transition at all! All the songs have great arrangements in them, and the arrangers at SONY really did out-do themselves on here. It is sad to see it not sell as high as TRUE or LOVE. But it still sold well and hit #1, so that’s excellent within itself I love this album to bits.

A+

桜色舞うころ by Mika Nakashima

1.) 桜色舞うころ
2.) 桜色舞うころ (acoustic)
3.) 桜色舞うころ (instrumental)

Released: February 2nd, 2002 ~ Highest Chart Position: #5 ~ Total Sales: 105,631

桜色舞うころ is Mika’s 14th single, and the last single in the MUSIC era. The single had no tie-in, yet was still able to sell pretty well.

桜色舞うころ starts with a GORGEOUS piano opening. Mika’s vocals are frail sounding and match the instrumentation nicely. The bassline kinda ruins the song for me because it’s strong. But other than that, this is a gorgeous song. I really like it.

桜色舞うころ (acoustic) answered my prayers. This is a piano + strings version. NO BASSLINE OMG OMG. I was so happy to hear this version. Bassline’s shouldn’t be used in ballads. They just ruin everything. Anyway, this is the same song but with a prettier instrumentation!

桜色舞うころ (instrumental) is beautiful. Minus the bassline, which ruins everything for me ;3;

桜色舞うころ was a nice single. As you can see, the bassline ruined the songs a bit. But it’s still okay. The thing I liked the most was how the single sold so well without even having a tie-in. Now that’s impressive!

A-

Samsara

[1] – List your top 10 celebrity crushes.
[2] – Put all of them IN ORDER of your LUST for them. (10 to 1, 1 being the number one fixation)
[3] – Say which movie/show/thing it was that hooked you.
[4] – Supply photos for said people.
[5] – Tag five people!

——————–
And so we begin…

[10] Bi ※ What he got me in: Full House

[09] Joe Cheng ※ What he got me in: It Started With A Kiss

[08] Akanishi Jin ※ What he got me in: Well, no specific piece of work, more really just being one of Johnny’s boys.

[07] Vic Zhou ※ What he got me in: Meteor Garden

[06] Ju Ji Hoon ※ What he got me in: Goong

OMG We are on the home stretch !!!

[05] Eita ※ What he got me in: Voice (yeah I know it’s taken me forever & yeah I am ashamed)

[04] Matsumoto Jun ※ What he got me in: Hana Yori Dango

[03] So Ji Sub ※ What he got me in: I’m Sorry I Love You

[02] Oguri Shun ※ What he got me in: Hana Yori Dango

[01] Kimura Takuya ※ What he got me in: Long Vacation (to name one but really, every time I watch him it feels like I’m discovering something new. He is that amazing.)

Volia! That used up alot more brain cells than imagined.

I’m not going to tag anyone. I say play at your own leisure.

FYI, positions may be subject to change depending on my mood &/or what I am currently flogging ^^;; And major apologies to Kang Dong Won & my ultimate girl crush, Mika Nakashima. I love you both <3

Fujita Maiko- Koi ni Ochite
Miliyah Kato- Eyes on you
Aya Ueto- Binetsu
Aya Kamiki- Believe in you
Mika Nakashima- Life
Mai Kuraki- Season of love
Kotoko- Agony
Ai Otsuka – Planetarium
ayaka – Ai Wo Utaou, Te Wo Tsunagou
Otsuka Ai – Yumekui
OLIVIA – Space Halo, A Little Pain, Dream CatcherERIKA – Destination Nowhere, Escape, Taiyou No Uta
Kamiki Aya – A Constellation, Youthful Diary, Are You Happy Now
Stereopony – My Mistake, Smilife, Nagareboshi, Hitohira No Hanabira

LEGEND by Mika Nakashima

1.) LEGEND(Main)
2.) LEGEND(Original)
3.) FAKE
4.) Carrot & Whip
5.) LEGEND(Instrumental)

Released: October 20th, 2004 ~ Highest Chart Position: 5 ~ First Week Sales: 35,332 ~ Total Sales: 67,527

LEGEND is Mika’s 13th single and the 3rd single in the MUSIC era. LEGEND(Main) was used in Sony CM, FAKE was used in the KATE commercials, and Carrot & Whip was used in some other commercial.

LEGEND(Main) was the song that made me a fan of Mika. The ambient atmosphere, her silent but fragile vocals, and the choir of course. The beginning is a bit slow, and it builds up slowly. The arrangement is fast-paced and gives off a vibe of running through a big crowd of people. Mika’s vocals are pure excellence in this song. I cannot get enough of them! The choir that backs up Mika at times make the song even more amazing. All in all, this song is amazing xD I’m glad my friend Tom showed me this song. It set me up for this amazing girl’s discography ;D

LEGEND(Original) on the other hand is a piano ballad. Mika’s voice truly shines in this version. But I honestly prefer the Main version since that one had a much better arrangement. But the piano in this song is nice anyway.

FAKE reminds me of those jazz lounges. With the lady singer sitting on the piano singing out her soul. Mika’s vocals give off that perfect vibe. Her performance in the chorus can take a while of getting used to, but you’ll be amazed at the power she has. I love the saxophone in this song, That player did an amazing job. Very nice and lounge-inspired song.

Oooh yay! Another reggae inspired Mika song! Carrot & Whip starts out with the nice tropical instrumentation, but I seem to like this arrangement more than 接吻. Mika has a playful tone in her voice, making the song sound energetic and fun. The chorus is catchy, and I love the choir that harmonizes with Mika. I think that Mika should make an all Reggae album (: Because she obviously excels at them.

LEGEND(Instrumental) isn’t as fun to listen to without Mika’s vocals. But I love the arrangement anyway. The beginning reminds me of floating in space XD

LEGEND was just an awesome single. Not only did it make me a big fan of Mika, It had all amazing tracks. So I think that this was the stand-out single for me in Mika’s discography xP You have the amazing ambient track, the piano track, the lounge track, and a nice reggae tune.

A+

Title: Mika Nakashima – Nagareboshi
Release Date: 4th November 2009

<CD Only>

Tracklist:

01. Nagareboshi (download)
02. Memory(feat.DAISHI DANCE)
03. Nagareboshi [Instrumental]
04. Memory(feat.DAISHI DANCE)[Instrumental]

Download (MediaFire)

Yay now we’re onto part II of my Christmas Blowout Series (and there’s still one more part to come!) This time I’m focusing on the more upbeat songs. There aren’t nearly as many of these as there are ballads, so I’m only doing a “top 10.” More male artists/bands will be featured this time, and there are even some jrockers! Again, this might feature a song or two that is not especially “Christmas” or even winter… but any song I associate with this particular season is eligible. So, without further ado, enjoy!

10. Jingle Bell- 雅-miyavi-

Hah so if you first listen to this song you won’t believe it’s a Christmas song. We definitely see what miyavi calls “happy hardcore.” So we have heavy guitars paired with a major melody. Honestly the song just makes you want to dance or something. You don’t see much variation in miyavi’s voice throughout the song, but I think the emphasis is on the instrumentals anyway.

9. Winter Winner- ORANGE RANGE

Listening to this song it’s no mistake that this is a winter song! We open up with some Christmas bells, but soon transition into a positive guitar melody. The song is very upbeat, and it makes you want to go out and have a snowball fight or something. Also, this is one of ORANGE RANGE’s older songs, so many of you will appreciate the style.

8. I Wish- L’arc~en~Ciel

This is a classic winter song for any jrock fan. We have a progressive beat in the beginning of the song, but the chorus is super cute. Why? We have kids singing =D. Haah I’m a sucker for kids singing. The chorus features alternating English lines, so you can understand some of the song if you don’t speak Japanese. This song features Christmas bells and brass, making it a perfect precursor to another jrock song on this list!

7. Nichiyou no Asa- Utada Hikaru

Meaning “Sunday Morning,” this song was featured on her album “Ultra Blue.” Knowing Utada, we get a nice hip hop influence. A xylophone beat follows us throughout the song, giving it some variety. The song structure is a bit unusual, because between each verse and chorus we get Utada speaking, saying different aspects of a Sunday morning. Not a traditional winter song, but good for any Utada fan.

P.S. This is my favorite Utada cover of all time!

6. Ｃｈｒｉｓｔｍａｓ曲（櫻井ソロ）- Arashi

Haah this is definitely just a random image. Anyway, this is a solo by arashi singer, Sho. My version of this song is pretty low quality, but I love it all the same. It’s very laid-back and features acoustic guitars, faint background synth, brass, and bells. Sho, being the rapper of the group, raps throughout the verses, and it’s surprisingly relaxing. The rest of the group joins him for the chorus. The chorus is sooo cute too if you listen to the lyrics (but they are in Japanese, so beware). I love this song so much that I’ll listen to it year ’round.

5. Hitoiro- Mika Nakashima

This is not a winter song, but it was released for Nana so I will always associate it with winter. Anyway, while I don’t think it represents Black Stones at all, this is one of my favorite songs of all time. Since it’s for Nana we know it will have some rock influence. The verses feature some piano in the background, and they’re very calm. The chorus however, is amazing. The strings in the background are what give it its power. It’s too upbeat to be a ballad, even if it has many ballad elements. IMO it’s Mika’s best song.

4. Hurry X’mas- L’arc~en~Ciel

Remember how I said the brass would prepare us for another jrock song? Well this is it! Hurry X’mas is much more of a jazz song than a rock song, but it’s a new taste on Christmas songs. We have an especially wide range of instruments… even an accordion. The PV is cute too… and HYDE wears a Santa hat xD. This whole single is Christmas themed, because it features another rendition of “I Wish.” The song also features some English for those of you who don’t speak Japanese!

3. White Light- Namie Amuro

You all knew it was coming… this is one of the more famous jpop Christmas songs. I love the cover… pretty gold wreath is a nice spin on a traditional Christmas symbol. White Light is easily a love song with some very cute lyrics. We have a nice R&B beat, but also some bells in the background. Namie’s English in this song is pretty good, even if it sounds like she’s singing “silent night, hory night.” Everything about this song is winter love themed, making it a timeless winter song.

2. Actuality- Kou Shibasaki

Actuality is Kou’s first Christmas single, and if you like this song I’d suggest getting the whole thing because the b-sides are lovely winter songs too. We have bells throughout the song and lots of strings. The song is a bit slower paced, but definitely not a ballad (for example, this song always reminds me of ice skating). Like many of Kou’s songs, there’s a faint jazz influence. The end of the song ends nicely with Kou gently fading into a winter day scene (shopppers, church bells).

1. So Merry Christmas -take 06- -Mihimaru GT

To me this is a classic Christmas song. Unfortunately it was just a b-side, and it could have totally been an a-side. Anyone familiar with Mihimaru GT knows that they combine singing and rapping, which they do here. This combination along side bells and chimes gives us a new sort of Christmas vibe. My favorite part of the song is the bridge when we hear a choir that leads into Hiroko’s solo against piano. This song is a different style for Mihimaru GT, but to me it makes the perfect upbeat Christmas song.

"Best" sold over 1,205,000 copies since its release, ranking 2nd only to "Love" as one of Mika Nakashima's most popular albums.

Genres: J-Pop, International, Adult Contemporary, Easy Listening, Jazz, Rock, New Age

Tracklist

1. Amazing Grace (‘05)

2. Stars (New Vocal ‘05)

3. Crescent Moon

4. Will (Original Version)

5. Resistance (Original Version)

6. Aishiteru (Original Version)

7. Love Addict

8. Find the Way

9. Yuki no Hana

10. Seven

11. Oborozukiyo~Inori (with Taro Hakase)

12. Legend (Main Version)

13. Sakurairo Maukoro

14. Glamorous Sky (with Hyde)

Best is Mika Nakashima’s 6^th album and her very first Greatest Hits album. Released on December 7, 2005, it topped the Oricon 200 and has since sold 1,204,996 copies – thus making it Mika’s second most popular album after Love being the first.

Best most definitely proves that Mika is one of the best artists ever to step into the music industry, distinguishing herself from other J-music artists thanks to her classy, elegant brand of pop music which would eventually incorporate softer commercial J-music elements. Its 14 songs include 13 singles, which registered the highest chart positions on the Oricon Singles Chart and at the same time sold the most copies, and a re-recording of “Amazing Grace.”

“Amazing Grace (’05)” is a rearrangement of the first song from Mika’s True album; this new version focuses solely on a jazzy piano arrangement. Mika’s English pronunciation doesn’t show too many signs of improvement on this version, but her performance is rather touching on this version. While still not up to par with other renditions I’ve heard of this hymn, Mika’s efforts deserve some merit nevertheless. (NOTE: This song was never commercially released as a single, but this version was made as a radio-only promo single for Suntory’s Freixnet Champagne brand. Suntory is a Japanese alcoholic beverage company, and opera singer Andrea Bocelli did one ad for Suntory Beer with his single, “Canto della Terra,” in the background.)

“Stars (New Vocal ’05)” has completely different lead and background vocals from the original 2001 version and the 2002 Album Version on True. The arrangement is exactly the same but Mika’s vocals sound so much better this time around. Possibly the best version of the song she did to date. Well done, Mika!

“Crescent Moon” is still a fantastic song. Some people may think that it might have seemed useless to place it after “Stars,” but since the whole intention of the album was to showcase Mika’s highest-charting and at the same time best-selling singles, it was a smart move on Sony Music Associated Records’ behalf to do so. After all, the single did sell all of its 100,000 copies when it came out, and as I mentioned in my review of Mika’s True album, the Latin percussion and violins show why it has a greater hint of sophistication than almost any disco tune ever made.

“Will,” Mika’s 5^th single, is shown here in its original 5:23-long version, not the 5:30-long Album Version from True. The piano, strings, and other acoustic features of the song bring a whole new concept to the genre of “easy listening.” It’s everything you can expect from what we call a “power ballad,” but with a much greater arrangement and a touching aftermath that’s guaranteed to leave plenty of sentiment with listeners after it’s ended.

“Resistance” follows, but in its original Album Version from the EP of the same name. The Mary J. Blige/Brandy influence is still there, but then so is the stylish sophistication brought on by the horns. Meanwhile, Mika brings the song’s subject of angels in love to life amidst the prominent heavy electric bass and the hip-hop beat.

“Aishiteru” (I Love You) begins with a lighter piano solo than the Album Version on Love (the version here is the Original Version), and the strings come into play, showcasing the romantic, elegant mood of the song throughout. Billed as a “St. Valentine EP for the Lovers” (the single was released in January 2003), Mika’s soft, sentimental singing is the highlight of this ballad, whose bass beats sound almost exactly like that from the late Notorious B.I.G.’s “Can’t You See,” with Total! My favorite part of the song is the end chorus, which goes “Do it. Joy to love. Love me. Let it snow…”

The next three tracks appear here in their unaltered versions just as they did on the Love album. “Love Addict” goes by faster than its 7 minutes and 15 seconds may imply, largely due to its sophisticated club jazz arrangement and the overall mood of its syncopated rhythm. “Find the Way” continues to hit me deep thanks to its elegant and poignant string-and-piano arrangement; and “Yuki no Hana” does the same thing…only deeper.

“Seven,” taken from Music, is a real energy drink all in one. The way the song begins with blaring horns and a funky piano-drum sound with a George Benson appeal and stays that way until the end of the song, blows everything by Ricky Martin, J. Lo, Shakira, etc. out of the water!

“Oborozukiyo~Inori,” performed with Taro Hakase on violin, follows on from the previous song with its luxurious techno-based arrangement, drawing on traditional Japanese folk music. The koto, the guitars, and Taro’s violin solos – when paired with Mika’s simple yet delicate singing – create an atmosphere of beauty and elegance that very few other artists emerging since the mid-1990s have done.

“Legend” appears next as the Main Version, not the Original Version. Its techno sound might not be the best way to follow on from “Oborozukiyo~Inori,” but it’s a wonderfully performed enigmatic track with bittersweet vocals from Mika.

“Sakurairo Maukoro” didn’t make this album for no reason. Despite being the second most popular single from Music only to “Seven” chart-wise, it became the best-selling single from that album, and the proof is in the pudding. The piano gracefully opens the song, and Mika sings in her trademark serene manner while the piano and strings gracefully provide romance and style to the theme of the cherry blossom, one of Japan’s symbolic flowers.

Then, finally, we have “Glamorous Sky,” which was the theme for Ms. Nakashima’s second motion picture appearance, Nana, in which she played her first lead role: that of the title character. Her film debut came with Worst by Chance in 2003, but she played the co-star. Nana brought her even more fans than she already had, but it was this song that transformed her personality as an Ingénue into a versatile diva in much the same vein that Sarah Brightman is. “Glamorous Sky” was Mika’s only #1 hit to date, but it soars brilliantly with thoughtful lyrics from Hyde (of L’arc~en~Ciel – he would later sing the song in full English), a simplistic uptempo punk sound, and ambient electric guitars. All the while, Mika flows into the song immediately, and the background arrangement doesn’t seem to swamp her voice.

This album’s follow-up, The End (her soundtrack album for the Nana franchise), would include songs that sometimes sounded terrific, sometimes put too much demand on Mika’s voice, and everything in between, but except for some minor flaws, this compilation is a highly demonstrative showcase of talent coming from an artist whose taste in musical style, fashion, and attitude make her better than most of the pop stars, who instead of making catchy dance tunes that leave a lasting impression do nothing but sell out, so to speak. Mika Nakashima is one of those artists who stand on their own.

Pros: Wonderful compilation!

Cons: None, but “Amazing Grace (’05)” should have been replaced with a bonus track or a B-side or even a new song, of which none appear here. This is the factor for which No More Rules would make up four years later.

Bottom Line: Worth the buy for Mika fans and those newcomers who want a taste of what Mika has to offer. At least Sony Music didn’t do the stupid task of putting Radio Edits or remixes of Mika’s songs on here.

Final Grade: A.

YesAsia link

Mika Nakashima had her fourth #1 album with "Music."

Tracklist:

1. Sakurairo Maukoro

2. Oborozukiyo~Inori

3. Hi no Tori

4. Kumo no Ito

5. Rocking Horse

6. Carrot & Whip

7. Shadows of You

8. Legend (Main Version)

9. Hemurokku

10. Seven

11. Fake

12. Fed Up

13. Hitori

Music is Mika Nakashima’s 5^th album. It peaked at #1 on the Oricon 200 Album Chart in Japan and has sold 547,138 copies since its release on March 9, 2005.

After the commercial success of Love and the crossover acclaim of Oborozukiyo~Inori, Mika Nakashima followed on from the popularity of those two albums and its predecessors (True and Resistance) to release her third main album, Music. This time around, Mika expands her horizons and explores a much wider range of genres than any of her previous four albums, but continues to maintain her grown-up attitude.

“Sakurairo Maukoro” (When the Cherry Blossom Colors Dance), which leads off the album, is a gorgeous spring ballad about separation and reunion underneath cherry blossom trees. Mika plays the piano in the video, but not in the song. Nevertheless, her vocals are pristine and angelic, and the background music is unique, with glossy violins, ascending harp glissandos, and the piano itself setting an elegant mood.

“Oborozukiyo~Inori” (A Misty, Moonlit Night~Prayer), the same song that appeared on Mika’s previous mini-album of the same name, is one of Mika’s first attempts at a techno-influenced song (dubbed “electro” in Japan). The Japanese koto and Taro Hakase’s beautifully done violin solos pay homage to traditional Japanese folk songs, but with a modern touch (“Oborozukiyo” itself was a Japanese folk song; “Inori” is a fresh composition from Mika and Taro).

The next track, “Hi no Tori” (Phoenix), is a techno-easy listening ballad with a luxurious arrangement that has “adult contemporary” written all over it. Also the theme from the Japanese animated series of the same name, the song has one of the best melodies out of all the songs chosen for the album…it sounds heavily Latin-flavored, and the video for the song fits the theme of the song very well. Mika sings the song in such an elegant way that I don’t blame Mika fans for saying this was one of their favorite songs from her. It was terribly unsuccessful sales-wise compared to four other singles from the album, though.

“Kumo no Ito” (Spider Web), whose lyrics are based on an early-1910s poem of the same name, begins with an atmospheric pattern of descending chromatic chords that smoothly lead into the first verse. This song has great vocals from Mika and a flowing electronica arrangement that would’ve made it suitable for airplay on one of XM Satellite Radio’s “Lifestyle” channels!

“Rocking Horse” changes the tempo of the album with a sophisticated 70s-soft rock sound a la Blood, Sweat, and Tears. This song is about life struggles (“No job, no education – oh my God I’ve fed up myself”), but the jazzy mood is so cheerful that it actually forgets about its own storyline! The track that follows, “Carrot & Whip,” is an even more charming jazz song with a cute horn solo in between verses and at the end of the song.

“Shadows of You” is a midtempo ballad with some potential, but the melody doesn’t stand out among the more hit-potential numbers here, so forget this song. “Legend” is fantastic. Its electro-based arrangement (complete with a harp) is stylish, even though I think the Latin-flavored Original Version of the song is much better.

“Hemurokku (Hemlock)” continues the upbeat trend of the album with an arrangement comprised of strings, guitars, and glamorous harmonic vocals from Mika and her background singers. The song is so very much like the Spinners’ “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” but the feel of the music is much funkier. “Seven,” the first single released for the album, makes listeners want to get up off their feet and dance in two seconds. Its jazzy influence brings to mind “Love Addict,” from Mika’s Love album, but with a heavier Latin flavor and gorgeous trumpet stabs at the very end. “I shout for you…”

“Fake” slows down the tempo with a simple, yet sensual, late-night jazz arrangement. The piano is one of the most prominent instruments here, along with the sax solo. Mika delivers her lines like a true torch singer, and the lyrics also kept me interested. Billie Holiday would be proud.

“Fed Up” is the first time Mika ever attempted a rock sound in her music before all the “NANA” stuff. The piano and violins are heard throughout the song, and some radical electric guitar bursts allow Mika to tell her audience: “I’m fed up with being trapped in my cocoon, so I’m gonna spread my wings like a butterfly!” I hear ya, girl! And your singing brought serious depth into this long, but endearing, symphonic rock ballad!

“Hitori” (Alone) closes the album in the same manner in which it began: exquisite. It places plenty of emphasis on the piano and the string ensemble, and the melody is probably the most poignant melody I ever heard by any artist anywhere. Not to say there are no other contenders, but the song’s lyrics are extremely painful (“Even now, I can’t forget you”), and Mika brings out the extreme sadness of the song in the most intense way. This song gets my two thumbs up (like Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert would).

Music might drag on sometimes, but its arrangements are amazing, and the choice of genres sure beats the monotony of teenybopper music. With all the teen trash I continue to have to deal with (a neighbor was playing very hard pop music as I wrote this review), albums like this give me the assurance that artists like Mika are a breath of fresh air.

Pros: Smooth production; great vocal performances; solid arrangements; and great range of genres make this album a winner.

Cons: Only “Shadows of You” weighs things down.

Bottom Line: If you love easy listening, you’ll very much enjoy this album. It and its follow-up, Best, were in my opinion the best albums released in 2005.

Final Grade: A.

YesAsia link

Christmas music wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have those sweeping ballads. So here I’ve compiled some of my favorite Christmas ballads. I’ve tried to pull from different genres so that there’s something for everyone. Just a note, not all of these are Christmas songs; I’ve included some songs that I associate with snow/Christmas etc. So here we have it, Aoliwa’s top 15 Christmas ballads.

15. Stay With Me- Koda Kumi
Kuu looks so pretty in this cover… and it’s perfect for winter. Be sure to check out both versions!
I love how this song opens with strings, harp and piano… all these musical elements are what make the ballad so stunning. We soon transition into a consistent ballad beat that continues for the rest of the song. The verses are pretty, with Kuu-chan alongside strings, piano, and even backup vocals. She really shines in the choruses and bridge though. The orchestration during the bridge is some of the best work I’ve seen in Kuu’s ballads. There’s so much power in the last chorus, but Kuu calms it back down when she utters the final, “stay with me.”

14. Harmony of December- KinKi Kids

This is one of my favorite winter ballads. This was actually my first KinKi Kids song, and I happened to listen to it on a whim. I’m so glad I got it though! We have a lot of traditional elements… the beginning opens up with an erhu (or some variation of it). The verses aren’t my favorite, as I’m not too much of a fan of KinKi Kids’ vocals, but the choruses are heavenly. I’d recommend this song to anyone looking for a new, ethereal, take on a Christmas ballad.

13. Yuki no Hana- Mika Nakashima
Despite Mika-chan’s poor makeup, I like this cover because it reminds me of a Northern aurora. Plus that dress is way ahead of its time =D
All you hear in the beginning is a melancholy xylophone, and you’re ready for something like Hitori. However, once the piano kicks in you get this sad, yet hopeful ballad. For a while all we have is Mika and piano… but it’s a beautiful combination because of her smooth voice. After the first two choruses we get the full affect of Mika and strings. We have the strength of a ballad paired with the delicateness of Mika’s voice… just perfect. By the end you can just imagine “snow flowers” falling from the sky.

12. Itsuka no Merry Christmas- Gackt and Ayumi Hamasaki
Yes this crappy pic is the only one I could find of the two together… and I didn’t feel like doing screen shots xD.
I was surprised when I first heard the combination of Ayu and Gackt. As a whole Gackt’s vocals are MUCH stronger than Ayu’s (still love her though ^_^). We’ve got Gackt and his intense vibrato and Ayumi’s “choppiness.” The two actually make a good pair on the B’z cover (you can also hear “Silent Night” duets from them as well). Unlike the B’z version, however, we just rely on piano to accompany the vocals. Good idea… because with such strong artists you don’t want the music to overpower them. Very delicate song… makes me think of sitting by the fire place by Kowezhi (baaaah he’ll kill me if he sees I wrote that xD).

11. Forever Love (Bell ‘n’ Snow Edit)- Tohoshinki
Anyone who’s a fan of THSK has probably heard this song. While I love the original very much, this edition is just flawless. Even if you’re not a fan of THSK, I’d recommend this song anyway because of the unique orchestration. The boys opted for a “church” feel by using church bells and an organ to accompany their seamless vocals. We also have some faint soldier-like drumming in the background throughout the song. Overall the feeling is romantic and gracious. Although this was a B-side to Together, this truly is strong enough to be a single on its own (buuuut no one likes re-cut stuff so…)

10. Winter Love- BoA
I’m a BoA fan in a loose sense of the world… definitely not die-hard or anything. I actually tend to find the majority of her vocals a little nasaly. She can, however, sing a damn good ballad. I don’t think this single got much reception when it first came out, but I instantly loved it (one of the B-sides, Candle Lights, is also nice). This is reminiscent of Kuu-chan’s Stay With Me, but about 10 times more epic. There a lot of chime-y bells, strings, and background guitar (which is what gives it so much power). BoA slows it down during the verses, but totally lets loose in the chorus. One of the strongest Japanese winter ballads IMO.

9. Konayuki- Remioromen
Taking a  diversion from Jpop land we have a classic ballad from band Remioromen. I’m not an experienced Remioromen fan, but I know enough to say that this ballad is amazing. Meaning “powder snow,” Konayuki creates the atmosphere of freshly fallen snow by using soft and progressive guitar rifts. Strings are gradually integrated into the chorus, but we never lose sight of the fact that this a rock band. You can definitely feel the “Asian-ness” of the ballad in the choruses. By this I mean that kind of subtle mix between sweet and sad… and no one creates that mix like the Japanese.

8. Bokura no Love Story- WaT
Look at that (poor quality) cover… tell me that’s not cute! I want one of those sweaters ._.
It’s a shame these boys aren’t too active anymore, because they have some of the best harmony I’ve heard in the Jpop world. Bokura no Love Story is WaT at its finest. Unlike many other Christmas ballads we actually get a little bit of brass in the beginning and during the choruses. Wentz and Koike have a great understanding of each others’ voices, and it shows in the way they can trade of verses, line-by-line. The chorus (surprise) is what makes the song shine. They don’t try to be bombastic or show off-y, they seem like they’re trying to tell a story after all (fitting eh?) Also, my favorite part of the song is the string run just into the final chorus… it’s the sex.

7. Meri Kuri- BoA
I love this cover so much… even the tulle skirt xD.
Ok… everyone knows that this is THE classic BoA ballad, and a Christmas ballad stable. Admittedly I didn’t like this song when I first heard it (I wasn’t too keen on “happy” ballads then). Now I’ve grown to appreciate what really makes this song so timeless. BoA’s vocals are actually quite nice in this song. While I still stand by the fact that BoA never really reaches full potential with her vocals during this song, she still shows a good deal of control over her voice. The electric guitar in this song works well to give this that “pop” factor. The background chorus gives this song a special “holiday” feel.

6. JEWEL- Ayumi Hamasaki
Baaah this is one of the prettiest PV’s I have ever seen… please go check it out.
Anyway, the only reason why this song stops at no. 6 is because it’s not “technically” a winter song. This is probably my favorite Ayu song of all-time, though. Ayu stands alone with just a piano by her side. This song doesn’t have a sweeping climax like the other songs, but that’s where JEWEL gets its strength. The subtleties of the song give its finesse. It’s a very sad song, but extraordinarily beautiful. I don’t want to say to much because this song truly deserves a listen.

5. Cherish- Ai Otsuka
Like JEWEL the only reason Cherish doesn’t get a higher ranking is because it still isn’t a Christmas song. However, I remember this song was released on a tribute album for “Nana” and I discovered it back in December 2006. I don’t see how this song couldn’t be a winter one… we have these synth elements in the beginning that totally mimic winter wind. Harp is very prominent in this epic song, as is a strong drum beat. This is Ai-chin’s best song because it has some of the best orchestration I’ve ever heard in the Jpop world and Ai’s voice is very diverse. A sad song… but one of the best I own.

4. CAROLS (acoustic string ver.)- Ayumi Hamasaki
Ok I dislike this cover… sorry. I love that sky and I love Ayu on the swing… but the two images just don’t mesh well for me. The regular version of CAROLS is pretty, but this string version is just awesome. The orchestra in the background makes a good ballad great. The thing I love about Ayu’s string versions is that the orchestras always show a lot of variety (not the same string loop played over and over…) This is one of the more depressing songs here, but beautiful all the same.

3. Yume no Uta- Koda Kumi
I love these covers so much… looks like she’s getting married ._.
This song, and Unmei, are Kuu-chan’s best ballads of all time. This is around the time when Kuu started taking much more control over her music, as she wrote the lyrics to Yume no Uta and the other A-side, Futari De… Both songs revolve around the same melodic motif, but Yume no Uta, although the “sadder” of the two, is better. We open up with piano, which is present throughout the song. Drum beats, a chorus, and strings dominate the choruses. Yume no Uta also has a quartet version, which I highly recommend as well.

2. Ashita e no Sanka- alan
Baaah beautiful cover… her coat looks so warm… kinda reminds me of the wintery highlands.
Again… not technically a Christmas song, but I still think it works. For some reason this song (and the Orchestral Ver.) make me think of snow. Despite this being alan’s first single, it’s her best. Most people have heard alan by now, and if you haven’t just know that her vocals are jaw-dropping. Her Tibetan wailing dominates the choruses, giving this song an especial ethnic feel . Nothing much can be said about this song, except for “go listen now.”

1. White X’mas- KAT-TUN

Pretty cover, I love how it looks like snow is falling.

Yeah I know some people will probably bitch at me for putting a boy band first here, but honestly KAT-TUN deserves the hype with this song. It’s catchy and delicate (uses harp, strings, etc). The harmony during the chorus is so great. The lyrics are also easy to learn and understand. This song doesn’t appear outwardly “Christmas-y” but still manages to give off that kind of vibe.

Yay I’m done -_-”

Please comment… this took so much longer to do than I thought it would xD

–Aoliwa

Ya se han publicado los participantes del Kôhaku Uta Gassen 2009, y aquí están:

Equipo Blanco (Chicos)
Arashi
ALICE
FUNKY MONKEY BABYS
Masaharu Fukuyama
Akira Fuse
Porno Graffitti
Kenichi Mikawa
Shinichi Mori
Yusuke Kamiji
flumpool
Hiroshi Itsuki
EXILE
NYC boys
Saburo Kitajima
Takeshi Kitayama
Kobukuro
Jero
SMAP
TVXQ
TOKIO
Hideaki Tokunaga
Kiyoshi Hikawa
Takashi Hosokawa
Yuzu
Remioromen

Equipo Rojo (Chicas)
AKB48
Ai Otsuka
aiko
Ayaka
Ikimonogakari
Mika Nakashima
Ayumi Hamasaki
Perfume
Nana Mizuki
Kumi Koda
Sachiko Kobayashi
Fuyumi Sakamoto
Akimoto Junko
Angela Aki
Sayuri Ishikawa
Miyuki Kawanaka
GIRL NEXT DOOR
Mitsuko Nakamura
Ayaka Hirahara
Kaela Kimura
Natsuko Godai
Yoshimi Tendo
DREAMS COME TRUE
Kaori Mizumori
Akiko Wada

El evento tendrá lugar el 31 de diciembre a las 7:15 (Hora de Japón) y se retransmitirá por NHK.

Today, I’m starting something new on this blog by actively reviewing songs, albums, singles and releases. Hopefully I’ll also have time to review other things, such as movies, television shows, books and videogames. I hope to strike a nice little balance between news, personal musings and reviews. Wish me luck! Please also feel free to leave me feedback about my reviews; it’d be greatly appreciated.

For the first review, I’m going to review Nakashima Mika’s Nagareboshi (translated as Shooting Star).

中島美嘉 – 流れ星
2009.11.04

1. 流れ星
2. Memory feat. DAISHI DANCE
3. 流れ星 (Instrumental)
4. Memory feat. DAISHI DANCE (Instrumental)

Mika’s new song continues to to show her love of soul music. The song has a great soulful vibe, helped by her mellow vocals. Mika seems most comfortable singing songs with an r and b or jazz touch to them. When I first became interested in Mika’s music, I loved her distinctive soulful voice combined with pop melodies. But nowadays as her music as progressed and I’ve come to appreciate so much in the music I hear, it is her more jazz orientated releases that I find coming back to time and time again. The best quality about Mika’s work is that her voice soothes you like the sweet smell of spiced apples in Winter time. This song is no exception. In fact, the production values, complete with bells and shimmering noises make this a great Winter song. Listen to it as you walk down the dark street and you’ll definitely feel warmer.

The b-side is another DAISHI DANCE production, Memory, following on from 2008’s SAKURA ~Hanasugami~. Memory is actually taken from DAISHI DANCE’s latest album, Spectacle. It’s quite a nice little electro-pop song, although it’s not electro-pop like Lady Gaga or Black Eyed Peas. It’s more kind of… late 90s Ibiza trance music. Lots of piano. I actually quite like it though, the melody is very simple yet really endearing. Something about the simplicity I guess. Mika sings in English for the entirety of the song which is a pleasant surprise. She’s by no means perfect at it, but kudos for trying. The song reminds me a little of Lumines era Nobuchika Eri.

The PV for Nagareboshi is very emotive. Scenes of Mika are cut with scenes of a woman travelling on a train. Mika looks beautiful in a gorgeous dress whilst she swings at night-time. I’m not sure why, but she looks pretty all the same. The actress on the train is very good and you really get quite emotional as you watch her. It’s all rather voyeuristic, but interesting nonetheless. The single sleeve is also pretty; I think Mika looks amazing in her dress. I don’t know who the designer is, but it’s very cool.

Overall, this is a pretty nice little release, it’s not going to set the charts on fire (it hasn’t, it debuted on the weekly Oricon charts at number 10; which is still a pretty good success). I think Mika might have lost something along the way… I’m not sure what, I can’t explain it. Actually, perhaps it’s the fact that she’s making music that she wants to in the way that she wants to, but this just might not be commercial enough.

Rating – 6/10 peaches.

Nagareboshi (流れ星) is Mika Nakashima’s 30th single and it was released on November 4, 2009. The single reached #10 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and sold 10,539 copies.

I love it when Mika keeps it simple. This cover is classy and elegant!

♦ ♦ ♦

Mika Nakashima loves stars. It doesn’t matter what kind they are: wandering stars, invisible stars, winter stars, etc. SHE LOVES THEM! Ignore the fact that Nagareboshi is her 5th song about stars because it is gorgeous. Then again, so were those past songs (STARS, WILL, Mienai Hoshi, ORION). To me, this song sounded most similar to Mienai Hoshi because it has a minimal sound consisting of pretty piano and strings. The additional guitar riffs and percussion are a teensy bit reminiscent of ORION as well. Anyway, it’s an extremely pleasant song.

I was also quite pleased with the B-side. Nakashima and DAISHI DANCE were a match made in heaven when he remixed SAKURA ~Hanagasumi~ so it was great to see them working together again in Memory. You get more of that fantastic crossover sound here but with Nakashima singing in English. Her vocals are a little iffy at times due to her pronunciation but the music makes up for it. Even then, this is the best English singing I have heard from her.

Pros: What a lovely single!
Cons: Stars are neat and all but enough songs about them, OK? *side eye*

Overall Rating

4 stars

Tracklisting

1. Nagareboshi (流れ星)
2. Memory (feat. DAISHI DANCE)
3. Nagareboshi (Instrumental)
4. Memory (feat. DAISHI DANCE) (Instrumental)

So, I decided to take a look at the current Oricon Top 10 and after that at the Billboard (Hot?) Top 10 and find out if I really follow the music that I like the most. Maybe I did it wrong for 7 years o.o! Even though I always kind of tried to keep up with everything.
(Um, seems like you can’t look at the official German Top10. Don’t know which site I could trust XD So, it’s still only Oricon and Billboard.)

I will only listen to the A-side because that’s what it’s mostly about when people buy the singles. I will start now with the help of Youtube. It’s the (Oricon)week beginning on the 4th November, I think:

#10 Nagareboshi by Mika Nakashima – It sounds like your typical Mika Nakashima song, I think. She’s known for her ballads and for me it’s like I already heard it. Also, with over 6 minutes it  feels like it’s too long. But at least it doesn’t depress me. It has a rather hopeful sound and I think that’s the only thing I really like about it. Now Nagareboshi and before Candy Girl… I’m curious how her next album is gonna sound. 7/10

#9 Shunkashuutou by Hilcrhyme - I’ve never heard of those two and I’m not really impressed. It’s that Japanese R’n'B style that I think works especially for Japanese people but for me it’s kind of boring and only backgroundmusic, if anything. The next thing is the voice. I’ve heard similar ones to this too often and am not too fond of them… It’s a nice song but nothing that would be at #9 in my charts. 5,5/10

#8 Tsukiakari no Michishirube by Stereopony – Those girls get better and better in my opinion. I listened to their first album but I wasn’t too impressed. But now with Smilife a while ago and this good song I think I’m going to follow them more closely. The song rocks, it’s melodic, the verses aren’t boring and AIMI has a good voice. (And damn, she’s beautiful. Not cute but beautiful <3) 8,5/10

#7 GHOST†HEART by LM.C – It’s been so long since I’ve listened to something from them. I lost interest before because I totally couldn’t stand his voice but maybe I remembered it wrongly or he changed. I don’t know. The song it nothing too special but I somehow really like it. The verses have some nice bits and this quiet bridge is a nice touch in the otherwise fast song. (And about the PV: when I want to see skeleton-suits I’d rather watch Hone Hone Waltz! (Just kidding~ I only wanted to mention AKB48 even here xD))  8/10

#6 Swan Song by KinKi Kids - I’ve listened to asian music for some years now and I constantly saw KinKi Kids in the charts but I was never interested in listening to some of their stuff. Maybe it’s because they are a Johnny’s Unit but I didn’t know about Johnny’s till some months ago, so that’s no reason. Well, now I’ve heard what Swan Song sounds like and my hopes got high in the beginning cause it sounded like it’s going to be epic but that was maybe the first second. Then it only was simple pop and I admit that the instrumentation still was pretty nice but not epic. And not even the voices helped in any way. No thanks. 5,5/10

#5 LOVE FIGHTER ~Koi no Battle~ by BREAKERZ – The label of these guys seems to keep their eyes open when it comes to YouTube etc. so the quality of the song I listened to wasn’t the best… The song is cool and I like the rock music combined with the vocoder but it’s just too repetetive and gets annoying especially since he sings “fighter” more like “fighta~a”. A big plus point is the PV. That was funny. Maybe you can find it over at JPS. 7,5/10

#4 Koi wo Kikasete by BIGBANG – This song is beautiful and the chorus got stuck in my head right away. I don’t know what to think about the whole rapping yet but it kind of fits. The voices work really well together which is nice because there are some really characteristic ones in the group. So, one of the best songs so far. And by accident I happen to know that I also like the B-side :3 8,5/10

#3 only my railgun by fripSide – It’s an anime opening and I think the first one so far but I haven’t payed too much attention. And it’s great ! I mean, we got the typical high japanese girl singing voice but the song is fast and reminded me a bit of the time when I first discovered Jpop and listened to Two-Mix. What a surprise that listen to the Top 10 would be worth it? And you should watch the PV. I recommend it! 9/10

#2 Ichou by Yusuke - So, now we got an actor turned singer but that’s not too important because the song doesn’t really need a singer. It’s this kind of R’n'B/Pop song that you rather expect while it’s summer so this is a nice change. You can just listen to it and it doesn’t get boring because of that energy you can hear. Good song but #2 might be too good for my taste. 7,5/10

#1 Kyu☆Jo☆Show!! by Kanjani8 - A JE group at the #1, what a surprise! No, but really, it is a good song. It might not deserve this position but a good one none the less. It has a big band which is always good and it is the group that doesn’t have to have good voices bedcause they are “the funny ones”. And it works! The song entertains you (and the PV even more) and I know why they are one of the few Jonny’s groups I kind of follow. 8,5/10

So, this week would get an average rating of 7,6/10 and if you know how seldom I give full points and that mostly there aren’t any songs with ratings worse than 5 it’s normal. Not too god, not too bad. But I didn’t expected the taste of the Japanese masses to reflect mine anyway XD (So, to make it clear: this is just for fun. I won’t change my fandom because of some chart ratings xD)

I still am curious to find out what I’ll think about the Billboard songs o.o

This would be such a beautiful cover if she weren’t wearing that hideous outfit. The top-half is ok, but that dress looks like a goddamn curtain.

Alright… I’m going to be the millionth person to say this… but this is another Orion. Fortunately, Mika’s voice is perfectly suited to ballads and slow songs. Nagareboshi is, however, an excellent song. It’s a soothing ballad that really does making you think about a falling star. I’m kind of surprised about how good this song is, considering she’s been releasing a lot lately (she’s already slated to release the single, Always in January).

Ok… b-side time. Here we have Memory (feat. DAISHI DANCE). I wasn’t exactly a fan of her previous collaboration with DD on her Sakura single…. I thought that the dance beat killed an otherwise gorgeous melody. Memory is a step above Sakura in my opinion. I think that after she released Overload she got the hang of working with more dance-oriented songs. I still believe that a song with as beautiful of a melody as Memory could do without the extra beats, but it’s not bad this time around. Memory is in English and I have to say that Mika’s English has gotten better over the years (as it should).

Overall: A solid single from Mika, but it’s in part because she’s “done it all” before.

Rating: 8/10

Track list:

1.Nagareboshi
2.Memory feat.DAISHIDANCE
3.Nagareboshi (Instrumental)
4.Memory feat.DAISHIDANCE (Instrumental)

**Tracklist**

1 流れ星
2 Memory(feat.DAISHI DANCE)
3 流れ星(Instrumental)
4 Memory(feat.DAISHI DANCE)(Instrumental)

[Download]

Cute MIKA NAKASHIMA 'Oborozukiyo~Inori' CD

Oborozukiyo~Inori (A Hazy Moonlight Evening ~ Prayer) is Mika Nakashima’s 2^nd mini-album and 4^th album overall. Released in September 2004, it peaked at #3 on the Oricon 200 Album Chart and sold 110,000 copies (10,000 more than its limited press of 100,000 copies).

The success of Mika’s first two proper albums (True and Love) was a highly unusual achievement anywhere in the music industry in that the debut (True) sold over a million, and its proper sequel (Love) sold better than it. Oborozukiyo~Inori plays as more of the follow-up to Love than to Resistance, but it more properly belongs in the “mini-album” category. The mini-album is a 7-track limited release that leans toward traditional Asian and Middle Eastern styles, and focuses on a moon theme.

The title track leads off the album with a gorgeous koto solo, and glides into a techno-laced waltz with a lavish violin solo by Taro Hakase, who produced the album. The whole song takes on a New Age mood while Mika gives a pristine vocal performance, taking care not to strain her notes. Meanwhile, Taro’s violin solos are shown with greatest prominence during the instrumental section, just as it did when he recorded the mega-hit “To Love You More” with Canadian ultra-star Céline Dion in 1995.

The next two songs, “Sara” and “Tsuki no Sabaku” (Desert Moon), further reach into Middle Eastern/Asian influences. “Sara” is more of a Middle Eastern dance track with the string section and the drums capturing the style and sensuality of Middle Eastern music. “Tsuki no Sabaku” is very long, but places great emphasis on the arrangement and the vocals.

True to its title, “Yuki no Hana (Silent Version)” is a rehash of one of Mika’s career-defining singles, using only the piano and Taro’s violin solos as backup. The original version is the best, but Taro and Mika prove that they should have collaborated on the original version to begin with. Meanwhile, “Oborozukiyo~Inori (Acoustic Mix)” blends a wonderful guitar solo with Taro’s violin solos to create an atmospheric tribute to the original song, but doesn’t top the original.

“Sara (Jazztronik Remix)” is somewhat uncalled for; it has a great jazz-dance groove but doesn’t quite cut it as a remix. The original version is fine enough. Finally, “Oborozukiyo~Inori” (Instrumental Version) is just that: an Instrumental Version of Track 1. It works well as background music, but who wouldn’t love to have the vocals?

Pros: Great arrangement and style selection; wonderful vocals; gorgeous violin solos.

Cons: This album would’ve been better off without Track 6.

Bottom Line: Superb work on this album. Check eBay for it because all versions are out of print!

Final Grade: A-.

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