Holy Christ. I really don't know where to begin with this one. I hear the beginning is a very good place to start (thank you for these wise words Julie Andrews) but even after 5 days I'm still sort of overwhelmed by the whole experience.
For those unaware (WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?) the Korean agency SMEntertainment held not one, but TWO concerts in Paris, France. Confirmed artists were f(x), Super Junior, Girls' Generation, SHINee and TVXQ.
Needless to say when I discovered the lineup I almost peed myself from excitement. I mean flippin' heck, my favourite Korean artists were going to be in my continent! At the same time! Lord knows when or if they'll ever come to London, so I knew right then that I was going to go to Paris no matter how much it was going to cost. This is an opportunity far too good to miss! Tickets were bought (trust me, it was a nightmare. They sold out in 10 minutes), hotel was booked and so was the coach.
I only found out about this concert in May, so I only had to wait less than a month before the concert finally came round. Before I barely had time to blink, I was on my way to Paris with my sister, who kindly accompanied me despite the fact she never really knew who these people were!
One thing that greatly angered me was the touts; there were so many of them and they had so many tickets. Both dates were completely sold out so it annoyed me that there were a couple of empty seats due to the touts getting the tickets before genuine fans. It's a nasty business.
The Le Zenith venue has a capacity of 6000, although it didn't actually look that large inside. It's a great venue in my opinion - it didn't matter where you sat because you always had a great view. They had the normal stage, but then they attached a catwalk to it which then branched out in two ways so everyone got to see everyone! And although I was quite near the back, I was still able to see a lot so I was a happy bunny!
First on were f(x), the band I was least familiar with. I have googled them since and they are so young! The youngest member is only 16, but at the time I thought that they must have been in their early 20's like the other band members are. I have to say, despite their young age they were really good and energetic live, not to mention they got the crowd going! At first I wasn't sure if it was the type of music I'd listen to on a regular basis, but it was definitely good party/concert music. As the concert went on and even as the days have gone by I have discovered that their songs have been circulating my head, so I think I'm definitely a fan now!
Super Junior were exceptional live. They were so energetic, so much fun and above all, they looked so bloody happy to be there as well. They were also really good to their fans in the front row as they really interacted with them. When they weren't dancing they were running around the stage like little boys high on E Numbers! They were great fun to watch and such good entertainers; it really was a pleasure to see them live!
I don't consider this next song to be one of their more well known songs (well, it was my first time hearing it at the concert!) but I absolutely love it. So energetic and happy! I love how this video really showcases their personalities and enthusiasm - especially towards the end!
Girls' Generation were, of course, also just as good. The crowd went absolutely wild when their big hits "Run Devil Run", "Oh!", "Gee" and "Genie" came on. Everyone sang along at the top of their voices and really stuck their teeth into their performances. They performed perfectly and their timing was excellent - although the dances aren't the most technical they are very effective and you can make any dance look good if everyone moves as one, which is what Girls' Generation do. Check out their exceptional performance of Run Devil Run here:
Can't forget SHINee!! What an adorable bunch of lads!! Just like Super Junior, they were energetic and enthusiastic, really an absolute delight to watch. They have great chemistry on stage as well! Their songs were really popular - especially Ring Ding Dong and Lucifer! Onew sang a solo as well, singing "Nessun Dorma". Unfortunately his voice cracked at the end but otherwise did a very good job and his pronunciation was really good, too!
Last but not least...my absolute favourite...TVXQ. Oh em gee. This was the first Korean boyband I listened to back in 2008 and here I was in the same room as them, about to watch them perform. Utterly incredible. Of course it was sad that it was only 2 and not 5, but at least I got to see them! They didn't come on until very late which was a bit annoying, as I had absolutely no idea that the concert would be over 3 hours and my video camera battery ran out! So I had to use my picture camera to record instead which means I couldn't zoom in anywhere near as close and the sound quality wasn't as good either. But still...footage is footage!
They really brought a lot to the table. The crowd went nuts when they were announced on stage! It was like everyone had been waiting for them and they were the main act, and boy did they not disappoint! Their live vocals were perfection as was their dancing - sharp, masculine and powerful! They were very serious whilst performing - unlike Super Junior who were game for a laugh - but I quite liked that each group was different.
TVXQ sang new hits such as "Why (Keep Your Head Down)", "Before U Go" (which is a very steamy number, I'd like to add!) and "Maximum", but they also sung old hits like "Mirotic" and "Rising Sun"!!! I really could not believe my ears. Rising Sun was the first song I heard from them so it's really special to me. I never, ever thought I'd hear those songs live simply because it was way back when they were a 5-piece, so it was an absolute treat and a complete surprise!
Here's a video of Maximum, the last song to be recorded on my video camera. Sorry it's a bit shaky in places! The more I zoom in the more shaky the camera becomes, but it stops after a short while! Please enjoy.
If you wish to see anymore of my concert videos (I took over 20 and it took me 3 bloody days to upload...) my channel/playlist is right HERE.
So, was it worth it? Would I go again? Hell to the YES. It really was worth every penny, and considering it was over 3 hours long I really did get my money's worth. I feel absolutely privileged to have seen it with my own eyes and hope that, even though some of my readers may not have attended, you still feel a part of it by watching my videos. I know it's barely any consolation at all, but I do hope all the fans get to see them at some point. Good things come to those who wait!
Showing posts with label DBSK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DBSK. Show all posts
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Monday, 1 November 2010
JYJ - The Beginning?
"JYJ" consists of three Korean guys; Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu. These 3 very talented men belonged to a five piece once upong a time called Dong Bang Shin Ki (otherwise known as DBSK/TVXQ/THSK in Korea, China and Japan).
For the regulars that come my blog you will know that I am a big fan of DBSK, which also included the members Changmin and Yunho. JYJ sued their agency SM Entertainment due to unfair wages and treatment where they were apparently overworked and under paid (rumour has it that they HAD to sell 50, 000 per record otherwise they'd get nothing) so JYJ decided to go their own way.
As a five piece, they were always so in sync with each other. When they danced it was like one, when they sang it was like one (they can even sing acapella) and their music was also unique. I listen to Asian music to get away from the mediocre American and English tunes - a lot of things are very samey now and so generic. While there are American influences in Asian music, it still has it's own unique sound and each artist I have come across are so diverse in what they do that I never find them boring.
So, I was super excited to hear that JYJ were releasing a worldwide album! They were touring round Asia doing showcases and even going to AMERICA. I was like Wow! Things are really looking up for these dudes!
And this is where the bad news comes in.
I heard the whole album was going to be in English and I just thought "Erm...okay. It's endearing when they sing English bits in their Korean songs but a whole song in English? ...Right." and then I heard that Kanye West had done a song for them.
No, no, no, no.
I will openly admit I'm not a Kanye fan. I'm not a particular fan of his music and I am definitely not a fan of his egotistic, arrogant personality either, so when I heard that Kanye was doing a song for them I was crushed. I knew JYJ weren't going to be what they thought they would be and I was worried for them.
Some the songs began to leak soon after it was released (i.e. put on YouTube) and I gave some of them a listen. Unfortunately, and it really saddens me to say it, but I couldn't listen to any song in it's entirety. It was all generic, American sounding music. And bless their souls, their accents made it difficult to understand what they were saying.
These 3 men are so, so talented and brilliant live. DBSK and JYJ are two very different groups and it pains me to see these 3 men not using their full potential, because JYJ could be so much better.
Today the video for their first release "Ayyy Girl ft. Kanye West" was released. I forced myself to watch and listen to the whole thing.
JYJ - Ayyy Girl ft. Kanye West
Kanye West, what have you done to my boys? The song is so bland, generic, boring and one level. There's no change in tempo or tune, it doesn't make me feel anything. I don't want to dance. I don't want to cry. I just want to switch it off. (Actually, I do kinda want to cry, but for the all the wrong reasons...)
I understand that they want success, that's what every musician wants (and they ARE musicians, they do write some of their songs and Micky plays the piano) but it's a shame that they've had to go down the generic route in the hopes to get it, especially in America.
Please don't get me wrong, I wish the boys all the best in their endeavour and sincerely hope that they do well. This music just isn't for me.
If you want to, compare the JYJ song with DBSK songs.
DBSK - RISING SUN
DBSK - "O"
DBSK - Tonight
DBSK - My Little Princess (Acapella)
Maybe I'm just bitter because DBSK are currently on hiatus, but I don't think so. I was excited to hear that JYJ formed until I heard their music. I commend them for going outside their comfort zone and doing something else, but seeing what they did in DBSK and seeing what they're doing now...I can't help but think that their talent is being wasted.
The DBSK fanclub is called Cassiopeia which is named after the five star constellation, and the fans are called Cassies. I am a Cassie. I am a fan of each member of the group and from what I've seen, they seem like lovely, genuine, fun young men. I wish each and every one of them success in what they do, but I'm afraid that I just can't get to grips with JYJ.
For the regulars that come my blog you will know that I am a big fan of DBSK, which also included the members Changmin and Yunho. JYJ sued their agency SM Entertainment due to unfair wages and treatment where they were apparently overworked and under paid (rumour has it that they HAD to sell 50, 000 per record otherwise they'd get nothing) so JYJ decided to go their own way.
As a five piece, they were always so in sync with each other. When they danced it was like one, when they sang it was like one (they can even sing acapella) and their music was also unique. I listen to Asian music to get away from the mediocre American and English tunes - a lot of things are very samey now and so generic. While there are American influences in Asian music, it still has it's own unique sound and each artist I have come across are so diverse in what they do that I never find them boring.
So, I was super excited to hear that JYJ were releasing a worldwide album! They were touring round Asia doing showcases and even going to AMERICA. I was like Wow! Things are really looking up for these dudes!
And this is where the bad news comes in.
I heard the whole album was going to be in English and I just thought "Erm...okay. It's endearing when they sing English bits in their Korean songs but a whole song in English? ...Right." and then I heard that Kanye West had done a song for them.
No, no, no, no.
I will openly admit I'm not a Kanye fan. I'm not a particular fan of his music and I am definitely not a fan of his egotistic, arrogant personality either, so when I heard that Kanye was doing a song for them I was crushed. I knew JYJ weren't going to be what they thought they would be and I was worried for them.
Some the songs began to leak soon after it was released (i.e. put on YouTube) and I gave some of them a listen. Unfortunately, and it really saddens me to say it, but I couldn't listen to any song in it's entirety. It was all generic, American sounding music. And bless their souls, their accents made it difficult to understand what they were saying.
These 3 men are so, so talented and brilliant live. DBSK and JYJ are two very different groups and it pains me to see these 3 men not using their full potential, because JYJ could be so much better.
Today the video for their first release "Ayyy Girl ft. Kanye West" was released. I forced myself to watch and listen to the whole thing.
JYJ - Ayyy Girl ft. Kanye West
Kanye West, what have you done to my boys? The song is so bland, generic, boring and one level. There's no change in tempo or tune, it doesn't make me feel anything. I don't want to dance. I don't want to cry. I just want to switch it off. (Actually, I do kinda want to cry, but for the all the wrong reasons...)
I understand that they want success, that's what every musician wants (and they ARE musicians, they do write some of their songs and Micky plays the piano) but it's a shame that they've had to go down the generic route in the hopes to get it, especially in America.
Please don't get me wrong, I wish the boys all the best in their endeavour and sincerely hope that they do well. This music just isn't for me.
If you want to, compare the JYJ song with DBSK songs.
DBSK - RISING SUN
DBSK - "O"
DBSK - Tonight
DBSK - My Little Princess (Acapella)
Maybe I'm just bitter because DBSK are currently on hiatus, but I don't think so. I was excited to hear that JYJ formed until I heard their music. I commend them for going outside their comfort zone and doing something else, but seeing what they did in DBSK and seeing what they're doing now...I can't help but think that their talent is being wasted.
The DBSK fanclub is called Cassiopeia which is named after the five star constellation, and the fans are called Cassies. I am a Cassie. I am a fan of each member of the group and from what I've seen, they seem like lovely, genuine, fun young men. I wish each and every one of them success in what they do, but I'm afraid that I just can't get to grips with JYJ.
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Korean Music is taking over!
I'm not kidding. As much as I love Japanese music, I have to say that the Korean scene is doing pretty well. With Japan I tend to follow the female music scene more but with Korean it's all about these boybands. I'm not really sure why I prefer different genders when it comes to different countries, but that's just how it is. I've discovered the bands "Super Junior" and "SHINee" through friends, but "DBSK/TVXQ/Tohoshinki" I discovered through Japanese music artist Koda Kumi. I've talked about DBSK before and I've even shown you two of their music videos in a previous post, so I'll give you another song that I was recently addicted to.
Of course, I have no idea what these guys are singing. I don't know a single word in Korean nor do I plan to learn it, but what I like about songs in foreign languages is that you get to concentrate on the actual music itself, the rhythm, pace and the effects they use. The Korean songs I've tended to like have been a mix of R'n'B and Dance which are usually genres I'm not that bothered about. However, these guys have got it going. They've got the looks (most of them, anyway), the style, the hot moves, and of course the voices. These guys are all talented and in it for the long run which is more than what I can say about other bands I've seen come and go in the English world. (DBSK have been around since 2003 and are currently on a hiatus due to a lawsuit, and Super Junior started in 2005)
The thing with DBSK's song "Mirotic", is that is was actually apparently banned in Korea for being too dirty, and the video would only be shown on TV passed 10pm. The video itself isn't dirty at all, and I've googled the translated lyrics and I've definitely read dirtier lyrics, but I guess that's Korea for you.
DBSK MIROTIC
Next in line is a large group who call themselves "Super Junior". I discovered these very recently so I don't know much about them, but I do know that their super catchy song "Sorry, Sorry" and the album with the same name earned them a lot of awards, as said by "Wikipedia":
SUPER JUNIOR SORRY, SORRY
This next group is my latest discovery. Out of the three, these have the youngest members (16, 18, 18, 20, 20) and they've only been around since 2008. This song I'm about to show you was released only last year and is insanely catchy. It took me a while to actually learn the "ring ding dong" bit and that's freakin' English. Hah! Here it is. Don't forget to put your dance shoes on.
If anyone has any recommendations, feel free to share! I'm an open book.
Of course, I have no idea what these guys are singing. I don't know a single word in Korean nor do I plan to learn it, but what I like about songs in foreign languages is that you get to concentrate on the actual music itself, the rhythm, pace and the effects they use. The Korean songs I've tended to like have been a mix of R'n'B and Dance which are usually genres I'm not that bothered about. However, these guys have got it going. They've got the looks (most of them, anyway), the style, the hot moves, and of course the voices. These guys are all talented and in it for the long run which is more than what I can say about other bands I've seen come and go in the English world. (DBSK have been around since 2003 and are currently on a hiatus due to a lawsuit, and Super Junior started in 2005)
The thing with DBSK's song "Mirotic", is that is was actually apparently banned in Korea for being too dirty, and the video would only be shown on TV passed 10pm. The video itself isn't dirty at all, and I've googled the translated lyrics and I've definitely read dirtier lyrics, but I guess that's Korea for you.
"In November 2008, the Korean Commission of Youth Protection ruled that Mirotic was detrimental to youths and declared that the lyrics were provocative and overly sexual. As a result, the album was labeled with stickers indicating that it was unsuitable for people under 19 years old and any performances of the song would have to be broadcast after 10 PM. In response to the ruling, SM Entertainment agreed to make a clean version but also had filed an injunction to overrule the commission's decision"When I first heard this song I admit that I thought the tune and rhythm was annoying due to being repetitive, but when I heard it again a couple of years later and watched the entire video, I found myself wanting to learn the dance and not wanting the music to stop. So, for your entertainment (hopefully), here is...
DBSK MIROTIC
Next in line is a large group who call themselves "Super Junior". I discovered these very recently so I don't know much about them, but I do know that their super catchy song "Sorry, Sorry" and the album with the same name earned them a lot of awards, as said by "Wikipedia":
"Super Junior's third album, Sorry, Sorry, was released on March 12, 2009 with acclaimed reviews. The title single of the album, "Sorry, Sorry" was digitally released on March 9, 2009. In less than a week after preorders were announced, over 150,000 copies were pre-ordered. Sorry, Sorry was their first album to debut at #1 on the Hanteo Charts, and it sold over 29,000 copies the first day, defeating Seo Taiji's record of 25,000. Promotions for the album started March 13 with the performance of "Sorry, Sorry" and "Why I Like You" on Music Bank. Two weeks later, "Sorry, Sorry" became the number one song of the week on the same program. During the group's performance on music program Popular Songs on March 15, ratings went up to as high as 14%, the highest in recent years. From March to May, "Sorry, Sorry" collected a total of ten #1 awards with consecutive wins in Korea, having the single becoming a national and international success. After only a month of release, the album became South Korea's best-selling album of 2009. Sorry, Sorry was also a critically and commercially successful hit in other Asian countries, opting the group to become the only overseas representative for the second time at Taiwan's annual Golden Melody Awards. "Sorry, Sorry" was also #1 for a record-breaking 33 weeks in Taiwan.Sorry, Sorry was a best-selling Korean-language album in Taiwan, Thailand, China, and the Philippines, in which the latter listed the album to be the first K-pop album to reach #1 in music charts from the country. Super Junior won three awards in the 1st MNET Asian Music Awards - Overseas Viewers Award, Mobile Popularity Award and CGV Popularity Award despite not attending. Super Junior's Sorry, Sorry won Daesang at the 2009 Golden Disk Awards."So, does this song live up to it's standards in your opinion? Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.
SUPER JUNIOR SORRY, SORRY
This next group is my latest discovery. Out of the three, these have the youngest members (16, 18, 18, 20, 20) and they've only been around since 2008. This song I'm about to show you was released only last year and is insanely catchy. It took me a while to actually learn the "ring ding dong" bit and that's freakin' English. Hah! Here it is. Don't forget to put your dance shoes on.
If anyone has any recommendations, feel free to share! I'm an open book.
Monday, 16 November 2009
I Am A Japanophile
I have to thank my sister's boyfriend for lending me his Final Fantasy X game. I was already into Animé, but it was this game that introduced me to Japanese music because it came with a "making of" DVD (and I love seeing how things are made). The first ever Japanese song I heard was a very beautiful, soothing song called "Suteki da ne" ("Isn't it wonderful?") and it was the theme song for FFX.
I've always been quite open musically, and I fell in love with the song instantly. I googled the lyrics and printed them off, and began to learn. I mean, how cool is it to sing in a different language? Not everyone can and it's a skill I'm proud to say I possess.
This is the song.
It didn't matter to me that I had no idea what she was singing. I loved the classical melody and it was all about the emotion, and it really made me realise. It's not just words that make a story, it's the way you say it, it's the passion you feel within.
I was eager to learn more, and discovered the song "Melodies of Life" from Final Fantasy 9, which is also sung in Japanese and English also.
The good thing about these songs is that they are quite slow, so for me it was a good starting point to learn the pronunciation and really get to grips with the language.
I learned these two songs in Japanese fluently and then Final Fantasy X-2 came out. There were two theme songs to this one - Real Emotion and 1000 Words - and both songs were sung by a very popular Japanese artist named Koda Kumi.
Real Emotion was the first fast-paced Japanese song I learned. A lot of people may well call me weird, but when I got home from school I just wanted to learn Japanese songs, rather than go hang out with schoolmates behind shops while they smoked (I was in a bit of a bizarre crowd, truth be told).
This was when I discovered YouTube, back in 2005. My friend Matthew is also a fan of "everything Japanese" and he introduced me to Japanese all girl pop group Morning Musume.
Thank goodness for YouTube because it's helped me stay in touch with my favourite Japanese artists, and I hated it when they were taking videos down due to copyright issues. I completely understand that of course, but at the same time these videos were allowing others to discover different things about different countries, and I was learning. Plus, it's exposure! Isn't that what every famous person wants, really? To be known? To be discovered? It's not like people were making money from uploading videos, let's face it. Or maybe I'm ignorant? As far as I'm aware, I couldn't see the harm.
The good thing about Japanese songs is that you get to learn some bits of the language from it, from where certain words pop up from time and time again.
I thank the site www.helloproject.com for their Japanese, Romaji and English translations for Morning Musume songs. And Cherryblossom-garden.com, too.
I soon became a Japanophile. (Please don't take that too literally, I just mean I became a bit addicted). I got so bored with the English music scene and Japanese music was a good distraction from it (until Mika came along, that is, but that's a different story).
I want to share some of my favourite Japanese music with you, and show you how different some of it is. I guess Koda Kumi is quite Americanised, but she writes a lot of her own songs, she's amazing live, has her own style...I do adore her quite a lot.
There are some Morning Musume songs that I like, and others not so much. It's difficult to describe this group, because the members keep changing. Members who want to leave graduate, and then they hold auditions for a new person, and everytime a new person (or persons) join, it becomes a new generation. The 4th generation was the "Golden Era".
Morning Musume are under this huge umbrella called "Hello! Project", and there are numerous groups next to MoMusu, like "Mini Moni" for example. They're a quartet aimed at the younger generation but I find them far too cute.
Gackt is mainly a rock guy, but he can sing pop too. I consider him the Japanese Mika in a way, especially in the live version of "Vanilla", because he's a guy who plays on his sexuality, and no-one actually even knows how old he really is. Not much is known about his personal life, as far as I'm aware.
Ayumi Hamasaki is another artist, but not one to get all her kit off. She's quite modest actually and has quite a strong voice. I don't like all of her songs, truth be told, but I adore her song "Voyage" and the video for it.
Anyway, I will stop waffling now and give you some videos to watch, if you are actually interested.
Here are some of my favourite live performances from Koda Kumi, because she's awesome. I want to see her live.
BUTTERFLY
ECSTASY (I love this song)
TABOO
These next videos contain some of Morning Musume's songs. You'll see the change in music, style, and member line-up.
LOVE MACHINE (3rd generation)
THE PEACE (4th generation)
SHABONDAMA (sixth generation)
ONNA NI SACHI ARE (8th generation)
This is the first song that includes two Chinese girls. Tsunku, the producer behind MoMusu, wanted to expand their popularity and so got "exchange students", if you like. This is currently the line up as of right now, but Kusumu Koharu is going to graduate soon. (The girl who is the first to sing in the above video)
And how about this: Koda Kumi auditioned to be in Morning Musume when she was 16, but she got rejected!
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Blue Bird
I would have shown you Voyage but there aren't any videos of it on YouTube, OR Imeem. It sucks, because it's really pretty. Anywho, moving on.
GACKT - Vanilla.
Now, I tore myself up over this song. Do I show you the official video where he looks like Cloud from a Final Fantasy game, or do I show you live footage of Gackt and his band performing very gay? I give you this video.
GACKT - Lu:Na...just to prove that he can be masculine. (Sort of).
The good thing about Japanese music is that you also learn about other foreign artists...like this male group DBSK who are Korean. They sang with Koda Kumi ("Last Angel") but I absolutely ADORE their song "Rising Sun" because it has various musical elements, plus I want to learn the dance.
DBSK are a very talented band, because they can sing pop, R'n'B, rock, and acapella. They're huge in Korea and rightly so.
RISING SUN
I would just like to boast that when I was watching the latest Final Destination film, I was sandwiched between two guys and the song "Rising Sun" was in the background in one of the scenes. I got mega excited but don't think my two friends were that interested and probably thought I was weird. "ExcitedOverForeignMusicAndGushedAboutItToColleagues Failed Attempt Number 2"
BALLOONS (you probably won't recognise them, they look completely different. I barely recognised them myself when I first saw this video! I love how geeky they are. If I did a music video, THIS WOULD BE IT.)
Okay, so that's my love for Asian music over and done with. Sorry it was long and possibly boring, but if you've become a fan of one of these artists simply because of this blog, then yay.
Until next time...
Sayonara!
I've always been quite open musically, and I fell in love with the song instantly. I googled the lyrics and printed them off, and began to learn. I mean, how cool is it to sing in a different language? Not everyone can and it's a skill I'm proud to say I possess.
This is the song.
It didn't matter to me that I had no idea what she was singing. I loved the classical melody and it was all about the emotion, and it really made me realise. It's not just words that make a story, it's the way you say it, it's the passion you feel within.
I was eager to learn more, and discovered the song "Melodies of Life" from Final Fantasy 9, which is also sung in Japanese and English also.
The good thing about these songs is that they are quite slow, so for me it was a good starting point to learn the pronunciation and really get to grips with the language.
I learned these two songs in Japanese fluently and then Final Fantasy X-2 came out. There were two theme songs to this one - Real Emotion and 1000 Words - and both songs were sung by a very popular Japanese artist named Koda Kumi.
Real Emotion was the first fast-paced Japanese song I learned. A lot of people may well call me weird, but when I got home from school I just wanted to learn Japanese songs, rather than go hang out with schoolmates behind shops while they smoked (I was in a bit of a bizarre crowd, truth be told).
This was when I discovered YouTube, back in 2005. My friend Matthew is also a fan of "everything Japanese" and he introduced me to Japanese all girl pop group Morning Musume.
Thank goodness for YouTube because it's helped me stay in touch with my favourite Japanese artists, and I hated it when they were taking videos down due to copyright issues. I completely understand that of course, but at the same time these videos were allowing others to discover different things about different countries, and I was learning. Plus, it's exposure! Isn't that what every famous person wants, really? To be known? To be discovered? It's not like people were making money from uploading videos, let's face it. Or maybe I'm ignorant? As far as I'm aware, I couldn't see the harm.
The good thing about Japanese songs is that you get to learn some bits of the language from it, from where certain words pop up from time and time again.
I thank the site www.helloproject.com for their Japanese, Romaji and English translations for Morning Musume songs. And Cherryblossom-garden.com, too.
I soon became a Japanophile. (Please don't take that too literally, I just mean I became a bit addicted). I got so bored with the English music scene and Japanese music was a good distraction from it (until Mika came along, that is, but that's a different story).
I want to share some of my favourite Japanese music with you, and show you how different some of it is. I guess Koda Kumi is quite Americanised, but she writes a lot of her own songs, she's amazing live, has her own style...I do adore her quite a lot.
There are some Morning Musume songs that I like, and others not so much. It's difficult to describe this group, because the members keep changing. Members who want to leave graduate, and then they hold auditions for a new person, and everytime a new person (or persons) join, it becomes a new generation. The 4th generation was the "Golden Era".
Morning Musume are under this huge umbrella called "Hello! Project", and there are numerous groups next to MoMusu, like "Mini Moni" for example. They're a quartet aimed at the younger generation but I find them far too cute.
Gackt is mainly a rock guy, but he can sing pop too. I consider him the Japanese Mika in a way, especially in the live version of "Vanilla", because he's a guy who plays on his sexuality, and no-one actually even knows how old he really is. Not much is known about his personal life, as far as I'm aware.
Ayumi Hamasaki is another artist, but not one to get all her kit off. She's quite modest actually and has quite a strong voice. I don't like all of her songs, truth be told, but I adore her song "Voyage" and the video for it.
Anyway, I will stop waffling now and give you some videos to watch, if you are actually interested.
Here are some of my favourite live performances from Koda Kumi, because she's awesome. I want to see her live.
BUTTERFLY
ECSTASY (I love this song)
TABOO
These next videos contain some of Morning Musume's songs. You'll see the change in music, style, and member line-up.
LOVE MACHINE (3rd generation)
THE PEACE (4th generation)
SHABONDAMA (sixth generation)
ONNA NI SACHI ARE (8th generation)
This is the first song that includes two Chinese girls. Tsunku, the producer behind MoMusu, wanted to expand their popularity and so got "exchange students", if you like. This is currently the line up as of right now, but Kusumu Koharu is going to graduate soon. (The girl who is the first to sing in the above video)
And how about this: Koda Kumi auditioned to be in Morning Musume when she was 16, but she got rejected!
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Blue Bird
I would have shown you Voyage but there aren't any videos of it on YouTube, OR Imeem. It sucks, because it's really pretty. Anywho, moving on.
GACKT - Vanilla.
Now, I tore myself up over this song. Do I show you the official video where he looks like Cloud from a Final Fantasy game, or do I show you live footage of Gackt and his band performing very gay? I give you this video.
GACKT - Lu:Na...just to prove that he can be masculine. (Sort of).
The good thing about Japanese music is that you also learn about other foreign artists...like this male group DBSK who are Korean. They sang with Koda Kumi ("Last Angel") but I absolutely ADORE their song "Rising Sun" because it has various musical elements, plus I want to learn the dance.
DBSK are a very talented band, because they can sing pop, R'n'B, rock, and acapella. They're huge in Korea and rightly so.
RISING SUN
I would just like to boast that when I was watching the latest Final Destination film, I was sandwiched between two guys and the song "Rising Sun" was in the background in one of the scenes. I got mega excited but don't think my two friends were that interested and probably thought I was weird. "ExcitedOverForeignMusicAndGushedAboutItToColleagues Failed Attempt Number 2"
BALLOONS (you probably won't recognise them, they look completely different. I barely recognised them myself when I first saw this video! I love how geeky they are. If I did a music video, THIS WOULD BE IT.)
Okay, so that's my love for Asian music over and done with. Sorry it was long and possibly boring, but if you've become a fan of one of these artists simply because of this blog, then yay.
Until next time...
Sayonara!
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