Nanba Shiho’s back in good form with her new single “Music.” It pretty much had nowhere to go but up following Shiho’s last single, a song about getting your hair cut set over some snore-inducing piano. “Music” returns to the more energetic pace of her earlier singles, this new number anchored by the forceful beat that switches up into different patters throughout the song but always remains attention grabbing. Unlike the still-excellent “Shoujo, Futatabi” from the start of 2012, the electronics aren’t as commanding, hanging out in the back of the mix to add a cushion to a song that is otherwise quite pounding. Shiho herself moves with the beat well, her chirpy voice adding a touch of sweetness to the whole number. Coupled with a good video…one not featuring Shiho at all…this is a nice return to form for a promising J-Pop personality.
For the next few weeks, Station To Station will be happening on Thursday nights for various reasons that will be revealed in due time. Don’t worry – our irrational hate of Sexy Zone won’t be going anywhere. Anne “Ai Wo Anata Ni” WATCH HERE New night, but same old boring material. This might be a…
BiS are an idol outfit who have done wonders in making whatever they do seem not particularly shocking. A primer: they are sorta an “anti-idol” group within the world of J-Pop idol groups, although they still partake in plenty of idol activities. Though many times, they blow those actions up to an absurd degree, so…
Nujabes jazzy beat on this song sounds pretty rad, but the video steals the show. Some of these shots are strangely hypnotic, especially the second-to-last one. [Via JapanProbe] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAxgpHWtLC0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1]
Ryu Konno dubs the music on his new album Miraisekai as “story,” combining electronic music with contributions from guests to create a “sound-journey.” The need to invent a new genre tag to bundle with the LP seems like pure PR…DJs like Konno have been borrowing elements from the organic side of sound long before he…
AKB48 member/drone Yuko Oshima appeared on some World War II special recently. Quizzed about who Japan fought in the war, she blunders a few historical facts up, such as thinking Japan fought Italy. Whooops! Read the whole account thisaway. Hmmmmm, never would have guessed being thrown into a J-Pop army at a pretty young age…
Last week I ate lunch with some of the students I teach. We talked about Japanese music and then the topic changed to the kids telling me the American musical groups they knew. The first artist out of there mouths? The Backstreet Boys. They all loved the Backstreet Boys. And High School Musical, but that’s…