J-Pop-ga suki desu-ka?

[SuiteOne]

Hi everyone!

I've brought this topic up before on the old site, but since we're starting over, I'll bring it up again!

I LOVE Japanese music! I've been listening to J-music for over 10 years now. I even go to karaoke with friends every now and then. It's so much fun! Some of my favorite artists include: Amuro Namie, Utada Hikaru, Nakashima Mika, L'Arc~en~Ciel, Hamasaki Ayumi, Bennie K, Bonnie Pink, Do As Infinity, Otsuka Ai, Koda Kumi...the list goes on and on!
My iPod is packed with artists. It would take too long to list them all here!

So, who do you all like to listen to?
I'm always looking for fellow J-Pop-philes.
Let's share!

Nicole

[Squallman]

I've heard all popular japanese music grouped into the term "J-Pop," but I'm not a big fan of "pop" as a genre. The music I listen to is often called J-Rock, but whatever. I think that The Pillows is the greatest band in the world. They've got so many albums out and they're all amazing. If you like music with awesome hooks, a singer with genuine emotional depth and awesome guitar, give it a check out.

Other bands I listen to are ORANGE RANGE, Asian Kung-Fu Generation and nobodyelse+ (I think that's the name....)

[alfa1]

So, who do you all like to listen to?

Here in Australia, one of the 'free to air' TV stations has recently started showing the Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi cartoon show. Its really weak IMHO, but one has to remember that not many bands ever get their own TV show. More amazingly, I even found 2 of their CD's in second hand CD shops around town. Because of listening to them, I also found myself importing CD's from Tamio Okuda.
Generally speaking, its kind of good that I dont speak much Japanese, because I do know deep down that the lyrics to all of it is going to be rubbish... but right now I'm immune.
Anyway, I also like Aikawa Nanase, The Brilliant Green, Orange Range, Cocco, Chara, and Thee Michelle Gun Elephant.
Ah.. and I've also seen (live) the 5,6,7,8's - the band made famous by being in the first Kill Bill movie.

[Jason]

The pillows are pure love. <3 I'm hoping they might be playing some shows when I (hopefully) go to Japan in 2007 with some friends (who are also all pillows fans).

Other than anime soundtracks, the pillows, and the occasional Bonnie Pink <3, I don't listen to a lot of mainstream Japanese music. Though there are some groups I have had tastes of and really liked, like HIgh and Mighty Color, GO!GO!7188, and Mr. Children (their song Surrender is beautiful). The pillows tribute album, Synchronized Rockers, had a nice selection, but I've don't remember the names of most of the bands on there. Though Bump of Chicken did an absolutely wonderful cover of Hybrid Rainbow.

[MikeCassidy]

I like Toshiko Akiyoshi and Junko Onishi.

[tarokun]

My current fav artists:

中島美嘉
栗林みな実
片瀬那奈
上戸彩
安室奈美恵
玉置成実
坂本真綾
岡崎律子
Boa

[The Frankensteiner]

J-pop is all fine and good, but I like local music. Stuff from bands that aren't discovered.
Check out this episode of Guzen Radio, Chaz takes a walk trhough the Shizuoka street art fesitval. Lots of great bands playing here, I have a feeling any j-pop fans will like some of the folk music.

http://media.libsyn.com/media/guzenradi ... dio_23.mp3
Hope you like it!

[Solvi]

Envy is an amazing hardcore/emocore band! Even though I don't understand what they are singing (or mostly screaming) about, they really make me feel what they feel - at least what I think they feel...

Does anyone know about other Japanese bands in the same genre?

[wolonpanda]

i have been listening for a couple of years now and ilike

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
the brilliant green
椎名林檎
Tommy february6
東京事変
etc...

A great way to find new music is to go to www.jpopsuki.com check out the tv and the radio.

[ali17]

I have been looking for some good hip hop or breaks to bring to the Seattle b-boy scene. Kick the Can Crew (please excuse spelling) I was wondering if anyone could give me a few names I could look up. we have a great import store where you can get most of what is pop in Japan anime/manga/music/books (Uwajimaya) I just can't tell what anything is because I can't read the cd covers. Thanks for any help.

[doriangrey64]

I like Jpop and Jrock but id say that i prefer Jpop to Jrock. I started to get into Jpop really from watching different Anime's some of the intro and outro songs are really good. slowly building up my collection of songs (mostly Anime theme tunes). I managed to find a website when looking for a certain anime ending theme from the Anime DevilLady. But id say that the only Jrock group I like is UVERworld only because of their song from the Anime Bleach called D-technolife, thats really good. I foy uhavent heard the song before check out the link below:

D-technolife [Video Version]:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qr4h_hc1P4

D-technolife [ Anime Version from Bleach]:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pn8BqjCgPA

The have also got a new song out called Colors of The Heart which is the new intro theme for the Anime Blood+, this is pretty good aswell it kind of reminds me of D-technolife but i dont mind because i like that song.

Colors of The Heart [Video Version]:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uQSbZe9evo

Colors of The Heart [Anime Version]:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnCbOeNAIqo

I also like the song Silly-Go-Round by FictionJunction YUUKA, its from the anime .hack//roots. i have never seen the anime but that doesnt matter, if you havent heard the song check out the link below:

Silly-Go-Round [Video Version]:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWXbuFtEQ3s

The place where I hear/download all my Anime songs is here http://gendou.com/amusic/ there are supposedly over 3000+ songs on that site. All you have to do to download the songs is register and thats it. Enjoy.....

[The Frankensteiner]

Has anyone played the game Fatal Frame 2? The ending theme of that game is wonderful. It's called "Butterfly" and it is by Tsukiko Amano.

Look for it.

[helen]

The place where I hear/download all my Anime songs is here http://gendou.com/amusic/ there are supposedly over 3000+ songs on that site. All you have to do to download the songs is register and thats it. Enjoy.....

Hey thanks for that link! I wanted an mp3 of Boa - Duvet from Serial Experiments Lain for ages but couldn't find one, and I just signed up there and got it in like 2 minutes! Excellent

[doriangrey64]

no problem

[IssueGirl]

I'm not a huge fan of Japanese music, but I do enjoy L'Arc~en~Ciel and Hyde. I don't know that many bands, or haven't heard a lot of them, but this is definately a topic that interests me and I wish I had more access to J-Pop or J-Rock.