Strange Pleasure: YUKI’s “うれしくって抱き合うよ”

ByPatrick St. Michel

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT2GGvFHuog&hl=en_US&fs=1&] YUKI caught me off guard once before – with her disco-pop-romp “ランデヴー.” It’s one of those tunes that should bomb really badly but manages to be great by making something irresistible out of potentially off-putting parts. After falling for the charms of her tune “うれしくって抱き合うよ” I’m ready to label this risk-to-riches ability her calling…

Station To Station: Music Station Lineup For 03/12/2010 Featuring NEWS, YUKI And Ikimono-gakari

ByPatrick St. Michel

Ikimono-gakari “ノスタルジア” – This is basically a ballad, but let’s take the “glass half full” approach and look at “ノスタルジア’s” positive attributes. Unlike most J-Pop ballads swelling to the brim with strings and peaks, Ikimono-gakari keeps things rather understated. Only some acoustic guitar strums and keyboards accompany lead singer Kiyoe Yoshioka’s vocals. Something about this…