3 posts tagged “angela aki”

I sign in to Vox for the first time in a month or so to find I have 3 messages (we have messages?), all of which were from accounts that were already deleted. This comes after I declined a friend request on Last.fm from an up-and-coming "gothic" and "dark alternative" band. Meanwhile, my recently played tracks are "2 Hearts" by Kylie Minogue, "VACATION" by Hoshimura Mai, and "Never Stop" by Hilary Duff. Strong work.

The release of Ayumi Hamasaki's latest boxset -- her first since the COMPLETE LIVE and COMPLETE CLIPS boxes in 2003 -- is nigh. This is an excellent -- hopefully -- release to celebrate her 10th Anniversary, though its announcement has put a glaring spotlight the rigid dichotomy between Japanese/East Asian and the western fans.

A COMPLETE ~ALL SINGLES~

浜崎あゆみ

★★★★★

The western fans that make up an overwhelming majority of her English-speaking online following seem to forget -- or just not understand -- that she is a real-live Japanese artist; she is a household name in her native Japan and much of the neighboring Asia. It's her target audience. The reason the announcement seemed so sudden to fans like us isn't because she was being "lazy" for her 10th Anniversary; it was because she spent her entire anniversary personally bringing her music to her core fans in the form of an enormous, nation-wide tour (one that will expand into Asia later next month).

A new boxset acts as a nice bookend for the promotional blitz that kicked off in Japan in April. And let us not forget that just because she has elbowed her way onto the public conscious doesn't mean everyone rushes out to buy every album she releases--or, in the case of many overseas "fans", pirating everything. By releasing a 3CD set for a mere 3800 yen (one out of her 10 studio albums would cost 2800 yen), Avex is giving the casual listener a chance to find out what Ayu's really all about (and make a quick buck in the process).

And for those of us that do buy everything, there's the DVD of unreleased footage and photobook of unreleased cover artwork, which -- judging by this post at AHS -- is truly unreleased artwork; even the covers of older singles are different from the one's featured in the COUNTDOWN LIVE 2000-2001 book. 

COMPLETE CLIP BOX

Granted, there are definitely things I would change about this. I would have prefered if the cover were similar to the COMPLETE CLIP box with the single gold A on a black background; something classy and understated that would speak volumes about her pop culture legacy. Any starlet worth her salt can take a pretty picture, but how many have branded themselves so well that their logo is instantly recognizable?

I also have my doubts that the photobook will be nearly as nice as the the hardcover, glossy, COUNTDOWN LIVE 2000-2001 book, but I'm excited to give it a chance.

手紙~拝啓 十五の君へ(初回生産限定盤)(DVD付)

Other than that, I'm really looking forward to Angela Aki's new single. I've been holding off in getting Namie Amuro's BEST FICTION and ayaka's second album in hopes that they'll get a US release in the next few months, and any other entertainment purchases will be put on hold  until Dissidia and all of its merchandising has been officiall unveiled.

Edit: So apparently Tofu Records folded? \0/

(unceremoniously x-posted from a private LJ entry to make my Vox feel like it has purpose)

I wish Safari would stop crashing. 

And what's up with this "pay $50 to upgrade Parallels so it'll actually work in Leopard" thing?

KISS

L'arc~en~ciel's latest is on iTunes.  I'm not the biggest fan of the band, but their albums are fun.  This isn't much different, and "Hurry Xmas" is, like, hysterical.

I was kind of worried that Sony (and its J-pop sub-label that will not be named) was holding back its artists in favor of exclusive distribution elsewhere -- why else would it pull Angela Aki before FFXII hit or sit on popular fluff-artists like Mika Nakashima? -- so this release is a pleasant surprise.  This iTunes release isn't issued by -- ugh -- Tofu Records.  I guess its still managed by the creme de la creme of village idiots.

I mean, really. The otaku =/= J-pop's only demographic in the west.  Yes, anime and video games are responsible for introducing many artists to listeners outside of Japan, but I'd wager that most people that are "otaku" enough to actually fall for its easy, breezy, wapanesy "marketing" wouldn't actually pay for its music.  They like the music because it's from Over There. Making it readily available Over Here kind of kills the allure for those shallow schmucks.

So why doesn't it just, I don't know, try to connect with Real Live music fans? 

Also: Emi Music, why haven't we gotten old Utada Hikaru singles (you know, the good ones?) like the UK iTunes, or, like, ANY Shiina Ringo?

In other news, Ayu's new Vivi shoot is haute.  I can't wait to get my hands on this issue!  She's been looking exceptionally beautiful lately.

Books, movies, music; what's in your top 5 right now?

I've been meaning to do this for, like, a week now. Top 5 music releases of the moment are:

LOVEppears

I've been listening to LOVEppears era stuff a lot recently--both the actual album and the ayu-mi-x II collection.  Some of my favorite songs are from this period -- it had some truly classic singles -- but I really don't think it was her strongest.  It was definitely the one that launched her into the superstardom, so maybe it's the sentimental value that's been pulling me to it recently.  "immature" and "And Then" have been getting a lot of play, especially. 

Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack

FFXII is always coming up on my playlist when it's on shuffle, but I've been... voluntarily listening to it a lot more, especially "Kiss Me Good-Bye".  ONE MORE DAY!  

Home

Of course, Angela Aki's solo stuff has also been played to death.  See also my top song at Last.fm.  "Uchuu" is my favorite song from her library and quickly climbed to the top of my list; I recently ordered her first Japanese album (the One indie), and I can't wait to hear it.

Can't Sleep Can't Eat I'm Sick/Ningyo

Other artists that have taken over my playlist recently are Jolin Tsai and Namie Amuro.  Namie's addition to iTunes has allowed me to indulge in some of her pre-Hip Pop singles, though I have to say I prefer my Namie with slightly skanky Engrish.  Even so, her recent single CAN'T EAT, CAN'T SLEEP, I'M SICK is still on constant repeat.  I love the whole thing--even "Ningyo", which is a lovely change of pace.

Dancing Diva

As for Jolin Tsai... I'm not quite sure how the recent kick got started.  Although the assumption of Dancing Diva and J-Top probably had something to do with it, I've found myself listening to Magic and Castle a lot.  It's been awhile, so I suppose it was due.