[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PSJouofhbI&hl=en_US&fs=1] In the above ad, Perfume get transformed into pink “Perfume Kangaroos” in order to sell cars. Cute, but more pressing is the song playing in the back, new single “VOICE” due out in early August. For the impatient who need a tiny snippet NOW, here ya go. Have a pleasant weekend.
Photo by me at a Circle K. SMAP “We Are SMAP” Long-time-coming theme song “We Are SMAP” might mark a turning point in J-Pop history. Since the early 1990s, the Johnny’s-concocted boy band has dominated the Japanese pop scene, hitting Oricon gold with many singles and albums during that stretch. They’ve hosted multiple TV shows…including…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGrQQ09Cs5g&hl=en_US&fs=1] On a pure surface level listen, Moumoon’s “Sunshine Girl” comes off like a ho-hum, kinda stupid summer song. It’s got a beat as threatening as melting ice cream and lyrics featuring such observations as “Weather is great/it’s your holy day/we get to party all day long.” At best, it’s a completely inessential pop track…
After a few weeks off, Music Station thankfully returns this Friday to save me from thinking of one more piece of original content every week. Oh the humanity! It has been awhile, but let’s check in on the world of mainstream J-Pop, shall we? Arashi “To Be Free [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chWKkT49So8&hl=en_US&fs=1] Arashi haven’t been on a winning…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BYGAxFgs-Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&] “Ring A Ding Dong” only continues to improve with age, and now it gets the added boost of having a really adorable cover version on YouTube. Two young kids sing along to Kaela Kimura’s latest chart topper and it’s stupid cute. They even try to do her weird dance! Heartwarming! Just don’t activate the…