New Koda; Next Utada?!?; & Nearly Everything Else On My Mind

So, as you can hear from my sampler in the playlist at the right, Koda Kumi is releasing a new 3-part single on the 8th. I am so excited. Each of the 3 songs will have a pv-and the preview just makes me want more. Damn you, Koda Kumi, for being so freaking amazing. I would eat a live rat's ass if it means I could look anything close to her. .__. Regardless, her three main tracks are "Lick Me ♥" (yes, really), "ECSTASY," and "Hashire!" Like the different styles but still the same ol' Kumi.

Nextly, we have Jasmine, who has just entered the music scene. She's 20, dropped out of high school in 10th grade, tried out and obviously earned acceptance into Sony Entertainment. She's being compared to the next Utada Hikaru, so of course I had to listen when I got the text a few days ago. And while, for me, nobody could ever replace Utada Hikaru- I will love, treasure, and respect her and her music for my entire life- this Jasmine girl is damn good. I can also see how they compare. For some reason I can't quite point out, they have a similiar...something. Maybe it's the way they arrange the music (which they do themselves), powerful vocals, use of english,I don't know. Check out "Sad to Say" in my playlist on the right, or watch her music video. She's had a lot of positive response in Japan, so I hope she does well and can't wait to see what's next from her!

I like Megu much more now (from BRIGHT). I watched a video she just posted, and holy crap those girls are so effing cute. They all got matching animal cups that are different colors/animals that fit them. And when they had paper cups, they wrote their names on them and drew. Megu drew a girl with a long nose because she has a big nose and knows it. ;A; It was so oddly cute. She's insecure! Poor baby. She is so cute... I can't wait for them to release more; I want them to become more successful and popular, to SPREAD THE BRIGHT! hahahar -shot-.
If you're interested, here's the video I was taking about.

I really do like Arashi's PV for Crazy Moon. It's nice. Reminds me of Truth. Some better dancing (I know Christine would shoot herself hahaha) but I mean, you can't say it's terrible. Especially compared to the choreography of other Johnny's... Please check it out. :]v

On the completely other side of my music tastes (basically, I'm going from Japan to Korea here), I think I've realized my love for G-Dragon. Damn homie damn, that boy is cute. I think he's kind of my favorite Korean...which isn't really saying much, because I really don't follow Korean bands. I do enough to know when there's new music, but I don't...follow. Like with KAT-TUN. 8D Which makes me a bit sad, because it's always cool to learn about the people behind the music. It's just so. kldjskl. Feels like I'm cheating or something.
I am particularily obsessed with the verses in Emotion. The second one. I keep reading people complaining about wanting Big Bang to go back to Korea, and I mean, I understand-if Utada started singing Korean&/or Indian music I'd be a little upset- but in the end it helps their careers, no? I mean, maybe they just need something new. Besides, it's something different, which isn't always bad. When music crosses language barriers, it has to change...and as odd as it might be for people to except the not-so-slurrish Japanese language*, I think it sounds very fresh. Their recent Japanese release is a nice addition to their portfolios, imo. /ramble like whoah
*By "not-so-slurrish" I meant merely a comparison. I can't say anything about the structure of the sounds because I don't know Korean, but when you compare the two, it's simple: Korean is very "smooth," while Japanese is very...I wouldn't say not smooth, but overly structured? in sound. Most people tell me Japanese is the "pretty" asian language, which is really all opinion, but I know where the come from. akldajsll It's hard to explain this without sounding biased, but I'm really not.

Back to Japan-my comfort zone lol- for closing...I. WAS. IN. JAPAN. WHILE. KAT-TUN. HAD. A. CONCERT. AND COULDN'T GO SKLDJFAKSDJHFKDFKSDFKSDFLJSKLFJSLD.
I was so immensely sdjfask spazzy about that. It was bittersweet- I got to see my exchange students for only the night the concert was going on. Clearly I care more about my friends, but I was this close to seeing them. Live. even if Kame's solo presentation sucks ass. Yuha and I were ready to run, haha.



I really don't understand my tastes anymore. @A@;;;




WAY TO BE A DIVA KAME.
It's okay, because you're my super-attractive diva. ♥

pimp post: BRIGHT

Official Website
Label: Avex and Rhythm Zone


BRIGHT is a four-member girl group comprised of Mi-Mi (Mizuki Inoue), Nanaka (Nanaka Kobayashi), Nagi (Nagisa Shigemura), and Meg (Megumi Nakaya). All four members graduated from Caless, a vocal and dance academy in Osaka. All the members are about 17-18 years old (born in 90-92), and the original 3 members (everyone but Nanaka) started the band when they were 11-12 under the named 子スペラーズ (Ko Spellers). Their name was changed in 2007 when Nanaka joined.

BRIGHT released two indie albums, Brightest e.p. 01 and 02, under Rhythm Republic, before getting signed to Avex. Nagi is considered the "leader" and is alto; Nanaka and Mi-Mi are mezzo-soprano, and Meg is soprano.

Their first releases were not bad at all; however, it is BRIGHT's most recent single, "Kotoba ni Dekinakute," that prompted me to pimp-post.

This single clearly displays their vocal talent the best. The song itself is a beautiful piano with some light R&B, but it is their vocals that really make the song shine. The group is pretty good about alternating solos and chorus leaders, so they all get to shine...usually. At some point.

Nanaka is probably the "prettiest" member, so it makes sense that she tends to hog the solos. Her voice can be nasally, but it has got amazing range. She's also the best dancer, apparently, but I haven't really seen enough of their actually dancing to say.

Mi-Mi, although she's not the technical leader, is sort of in control- she runs their blog. Ver voice is so smooth, mid-range, and beautiful for their R&B. At first she was kind of pitchy, but she kept getting better and better, and with their latest single, she sounds gorgeous.





Nagi is the leader because she's the oldest, but I'm okay with it-her voice is deep and rich and absolutely amazing. She has got talent. Nagi probably has the best potential out of the group, but we'll have to see!

Meg is...thankfully taking the back seat at the moment. She's totally fine in the harmonies, but her solos are lacking the most out of everyone else. She can definately sing high, but it is rather unpolished. I hope she'll improve to be up to par with the rest of them by the next single, because you can tell she's got something there.

Together they harmonize beautifully, and I really think that is their strong point. While they all have their pros and cons, when they are put together- even a capella- they perform instantly and with such fresh talent!

(See 3:16)

Also...they can dance. I hope they do it more in the future, because you can tell they have talent. This video doesn't even display it all-since it is a PV intro, it's meant to make them look good, so the camera isn't the best for dance show off- but it just makes me excited for more. So much more.



Bonus for BRIGHT: there's not that many good girl pop groups in Japan currently. BRIGHT isn't popular, but they will rise for sure: their first album ranked 147; their second, 68, both within a year of each other. Most other girl groups don't have raw talent, but go for more of a visual thing...which will definately work out for these girls. They're gorgeous and have the vocals. Now they just need to release some more up-beat tempo songs so that they can strut their stuff better.

All in all, I must say that BRIGHT is my favorite girlband from Japan. Hopefully they will rise in fame. Cannot wait for more from this amazing group!

Newest single songs:



[Kotoba is for sure the better of the two, but Shining Butterfly, while average, is extremely catchy and upbeat. Can't help but love them.]

extended concert, photobook, drama feature! oh my.

KAT-TUN officially extended their concert a few days ago, after originally just doing their ridiculous amount of days in the Tokyo Dome and then Osaka. SO now, they are doing two more concerts...while I am in Japan.
klasjfdasdfklasdjfkl;sdl;fklsjd

And although I do not agree with JE's decision to do this to poor Kamenashi, I would still kill a small child to go.
Except those are the exact two dates I am going to be in Toyota. .____. FML.
Not complaining, just...I could at least have taken pictures in front with the posters. And gotten fan/legit goods. (LMAO even my dad was like, "So how are you going to sneak away?")

Also, photobook date just released. No pictures as of yet. I hope it's good.
Their Break the Records tour pamphlet makes them all seem so mature. It makes sense-they are all 23+, it's just different. A very good different. As much as I love my Pirate!KAT-TUN, they look..better in suits etc. :) JE wouldn't be itself, though, without its fun concert clothes. Haha.

Episode 3 (featuring Kame) of Mr. Brain is aired soon. I'm excited. :] Now to just get some freaking subs! >:
It's not enough to have him in a decent sounding drama-but to have him appear as a doctor! IN GLASSES. Cupid shoot me now.