Jyongri – 無敵な愛 [8th Single]
Jyongri’s 8th single, entitled 無敵な愛, was released on 08.19.09. The title track was used as the theme song to the dorama Maid Deka.
無敵な愛 is an upbeat track that shows off what Jyongri can really do. The song starts off with pure instrumentation that definitely catches the listener’s ear at first listen. It’s upbeat nature and sleekness is something not truly familiar with Jyongri’s music and keeps the listener excited for what is to come next. Following is the first verse and Jyongri provides smooth and cool vocals that perfectly support the music. The chorus keeps up the strong pace from the verses and with the rapidity that Jyongri delivers the lyrics with, it really does catch the ear. She sounds particularly strong when she sings “I love you forever,” finishing off the section wonderfully. This is easily one of Jyongri’s best songs and proves that she’s got so much more in her than just ballads.
The B-side of the single is START. She stays more in the lower register for this song to give it a cool atmosphere that supports the A-side quite well. However the cheesy effect comes in with the chorus as she sings “Let’s start today so no-one can beat us.” It’s not very strong but it’s just nice.
In order to promote the single, a PV for 無敵な愛 was made. The video features two different Jyongris. One is more polished and pretty while the other is dirty and looks more desperate. Both of them sit in their rooms and long. Even though it’s quite simple, it’s an effective visual representation for the song.
Single Ranking: A –
Jyongri certainly stepped up her game for this release. Undoubtedly, 無敵な愛 is one of the strongest songs she has released and probably the strongest A-side. Hopefully she’ll continue to experiment a little because from this song, the results can be very great.
Jyongri – Maybe Someday [7th Single]
Jyongri’s 7th single, entitled Maybe Someday, was released on 04.29.09.
Maybe Someday is a piano-driven ballad. Opening the song is the chorus and Jyongri’s vocals sound nice with the piano supporting her although it does feel “done before” from her. On the verses, her vocals are more on the lower sound and that actually makes them stand out to the listener a little more. Maybe Someday is just another piano ballad from Jyongri so the listener doesn’t get to feel anything new or interesting, which is quite disappointing.
Special is much stronger at catching the listener’s interest. The song starts off with a really cool instrumental that feels like it’s going to tell a story and then Jyongri comes in on the chorus. She sings “you are special to me” and her vocals here are very strong, carrying a sort of draw to them that remains on the listener’s mind. She proceeds with “I am beautiful for you,” which could be taken a few different ways but it’s a standout line. Those vocalizations at the end sound great and spice things up a little. Jyongri continues to sound good on the verses while the music maintains that sort of darkness to it that provides such a strong contrast. For a moment, the music stops and it’s strange because it almost feels like the song is over so she manages to keep the listeners on their toes. Special is definitely a better song and should have been promoted to the position of A-side.
After a great B-side, First Kiss is a bit of a mess. It’s a cutesy and cheesy song about waiting for your first kiss. It’s cute but seriously, this just wasn’t very good.
In order to promote the single, a PV for Maybe Someday was made. The video features Jyongri watching a crowd of people go by as well as a scene of her in a room with a slew of other girls that look like mannequins. It’s not the greatest video but she does look pretty.
Single Ranking: B –
Special was the song that saved this single from getting worse marks. It’s a great song with a dark atmosphere to the music that makes it the perfect A-side. Maybe Someday is okay but it doesn’t sound like she brought anything new to the table. First Kiss, on the other hand, is just a cutesy mess, not even worth being on the single at all.
[Part Six] Oricon Year 2008 Top PVs
With all the PVs released this year, there have been some real standouts. We’ve seen some amazing dancing, sad love stories, cuteness and pretty lights. So here is the list of the best PVs released this year.
01. Koda Kumi – TABOO PV
02. Hey! Say! JUMP – 真夜中のシャドーボーイ PV
03. Koda Kumi – Under PV
04. Suzuki Ami – ONE PV
05. Perfume – Macaroni PV
06. NEWS – 太陽のナミダ PV
07. Hey! Say! JUMP – Your Seed PV
08. Ito Yuna – miss you PV
09. Jyongri – Winter Love Story PV
10. Hamasaki Ayumi – (don’t) Leave me alone PV
11. Koda Kumi – anytime PV
12. alan – 空唄 PV
13. Tohoshinki – 呪文-Mirotic- PV
14. alan – RED CLIFF ~心・戦~ PV
15. alan – 風の手紙 PV
16. Koda Kumi – 秘密 PV
17. Hamasaki Ayumi – Marionette PV
18. Koda Kumi – Moon Crying PV
19. Arashi – Beautiful days PV
20. Otsuka Ai – クラゲ, 流れ星 PV
21.Tegomass – アイアイ傘 PV
22. Leah Dizon – Vanilla PV
23. NEWS – SUMMER TIME PV
24. Koda Kumi – 恋の魔法 PV
25. Koda Kumi – 甘い罠 PV
26. Hamasaki Ayumi – Mirrorcle World PV
27. Arashi – One Love PV
28. DOUBLE and Amuro Namie – BLACK DIAMOND PV
29. Amuro Namie – Sexy Girl PV
30. AAA – Crash PV
31. Ishida Yuko – Changes PV
32. Morning Musume – Resonant Blue PV
33. aiko – KissHug PV
34. Tanimura Nana – SEXY SENORITA PV
35. Tanimura Nana – If I’m not the one PV
36. Shiraishi Kikyo – BLACK PV
37. C-ute – 涙の色 PV
38. Tohoshinki – Beautiful you PV
39. alan – 恵みの雨 PV
40. Suzuki Ami – can’t stop the DISCO PV
41. BoA – be with you. PV
42. Nishino Kana – I PV
43. Leah Dizon – Under The Same Sky PV
44. Utada Hikaru – HEART STATION PV
45. Amuro Namie – WHAT A FEELING PV
46. Tohoshinki – Purple Line PV
47. ayaka x Kobukuro – あなたと PV
48. Koda Kumi – MORE PV
49. C-ute – 江戸の手毬唄 PV
50. Koda Kumi – あなたがしてくれたこと PV
[Part Four] Oricon Year Top Singles
Well there have been a lot of singles out this year. Some of them have been amazing and have made me fall in love with certain artists while others made me feel very disappointed. Which single took the number one spot? How many Johnny’s singles and H!P singles made the countdown? You’ll have to continue to find out.
Hey! Say! JUMP has definitely impressed me this year, much more than I thought they would. I can’t even describe just how great their music has been but I’ll try anyway. The group’s fourth single, 真夜中のシャドーボーイ, wins title of “Single of Oricon Year 2008.” If there is one thing that these guys know how to do it, it’s make an upbeat single that makes the listener take notice. 真夜中のシャドーボーイ uses Spanish and Arabian themes to push their instrumentation over everyone elses. Except for Kei, Keito and Ryutaro, everybody has a real turn to shine. Yamada, Daiki, Nakajima and Chinen all have this center role (Yamada having the actual center role) since this song was used to promote their new drama Scrap Teacher so it was nice to see different people getting the time to shine. Everything about the song was perfect. With the constant repetition of the word “チェリー,” the listener is taken to another world. These boys really pull off the mature sound strongly and Chinen’s voice sounds different on this song than the others ones. Daiki, Nakajima, Yabu and Takaki all sound great too. With the multitude of live performances the song has gotten, the guys have looked hot and they sing the song with such confidence. It’s an amazing single that reigns above all the others so they should be very proud to have “Single of the Year.”
It was very hard to choose a first place winner and this single was so close to taking the top spot. Second place though 
is something to be proud of too though and the runner up for “Single of the Year” goes to Koda Kumi with TABOO. After the controversy, Kumi went for a more conservative approach with MOON. However there’s something magical about Kumi when she does the sexy thing. She exutes confidence and it really makes for an enjoyable time when you can get up and move with Kuu. TABOO is the sexy anthem of 2008 as Kumi provides smooth vocals that lay over the hot instrumental. The verses are what make this song so addictive, particularly the last lines when she sings “drive away.” Kumi uses a certain cleverness with these lyrics using various metaphors to describe secret love and they come across to the listener perfectly. Plus I’m sure this single has given many others faith that Kumi will always have that sexiness in her because people have been worried that it’s been declining. Always is a nice compliment to the A-side even though it’s pretty forgettable. TABOO is the hot dance track that Kumi delivered and is just too good to pass up. Even the PV for the song was perfect. They really made sure this would be a strong single from all angles. This song single-handedly has me assured that TRICK will not be an album to forget.
Third place was also really close to nabbing that top spot. The moment I heard the title track, I was instantly addicted and I knew the album that would soon follow would be amazing. That is why third place goes to Suzuki Ami with can’t stop the DISCO. It’s no secret that Ami and Nakata make a dream team because every single they release together just shines. I loved ONE but the moment I heard can’t stop the DISCO, I fell in love with the team. I first heard the chorus when it was used for the Mister Donuts CM and couldn’t get enough of it. But then when I heard the verses…I was blown away. Ami really pulls off the cool vibe here and she’s given me one of the most addictive lines of 2008: me to me no kakehiki (love tactics). I can’t get enough of this song and it’s definitely one of the highlights of Supreme Show. Even the B-sides were amazing: climb up to the top and SUPER MUSIC MAKER (SA’08S/A Mix) were extremely strong numbers that helpe make this one cohesive single from start to finish (and that includes having each song have perfect transition into the next).
In case it wasn’t clear already, Hey! Say! JUMP has put out some fantastic music this year. So does it really come as a 
surprise that they have two singles in the top 5 best singles of 2008? I didn’t think so. Hey! Say! JUMP takes fourth place as well for their 3rd single, Your Seed / 冒険ライダー. It was with this single that I officially became a fan of these guys. Your Seed is the first time they really brought a mature song and the difference from Dreams come true shocked me. Everyone sounded great on this song and the rap section is absolutely infectious. I still haven’t found out who is doing that but the first person that came to mind was Nakajima. Was it actually him? Probably not but ya never know. It’s hard to really put my love for this song into words so let’s just say everything about this song was perfect. Not one thing could have made it any better. 冒険ライダー also had a kind of mature sound while having that fun-loving breezy atmosphere that just makes you wanna smile. I particularly like the chorus when all the boys come together and harmonize so perfectly. Also Yabu shines on his few solo lines before the final chorus so good job to him. So it’s the single that made me a Hey! Say! JUMP fan and one of the best releases of the entire year! The boys are on fire!!!
Johnny’s Entertainment was definitely on a roll at the beginning of the year. NEWS’s first single of the year, 太陽のナミダ, comes in fifth place of Single of the Year. The title track uses Spanish and Arabian influences to really make the instrumentation addictive. Everybody sounded great on the song and personally, Massu’s voice stood out a little more than everyone else’s. Nonetheless, everyone sounded fantastic and their vocals really were smooth over the instrumental. バンビーナ and Lady Spider were also amazing, really catching my ear. It was actually Lady Spider that made me a real fan of NEWS because it just really sparkled in my eyes. It’s so catchy and one that could have been an A-side. バンビーナ really shows the sexy side of the boys. The lyrics have that dirty edge to them and they might even make you blush. Tegoshi can friggin sing and if you had any doubts about it, listen to バンビーナ. They did a magnificent job on this single and it’s certainly not one to pass up. As an overall package, it’s their strongest single to date so give it a listen if you haven’t already and fall in love with these boys like I did.
Suzuki Ami and Nakata really are the dream team. can’t stop the DISCO was amazing as was this year’s 6th best single, 
ONE. The moment I heard ONE, I was addicted and I began following Ami thereafter. The song features a more aggressive instrumental with some perfect vocals from Ami to give it that extra flavor. When the song first opens, we are treated to the best part of the entire song: キラキラの the one. This one line makes the song fantastic but the rest of the song nicely follows this section. The chorus also stands out with the English phrases like “I love music and this world” and “I love your smile.” It’s absolutely perfect in every way so it’s the perfect way to introduce the formal come together of Ami and Nakata. Originally the B-side, A token of love, did not really impress me but after giving it some time, I fell in love with it. A token of love also features that aggressive sound that supports Ami so perfectly. I really like that last line of the chorus, the title of the song, because she says it with such edge and sleekness that it sticks in your head. Plus that ending instrumental sequence is fantastic, really standing out to the listener. Overall, this is definitely one of the strongest singles of the year, without question. It shows Ami’s cool side and is the perfect product of the dream team.
alan has had a smash year with her Element Project. Each single repesented one of the 5 Godai elements and the best one to emerge of the five: 空唄. The title track is a beautiful upbeat song in which alan claims she can fly away. I think because this is the real upbeat number chosen to be an A-side, it stands out from all the other singles she has released. It really portrays the element of the sky well and lets the listener believe what she is singing. If you want even more amazingness, then turn to the B-side, My Stage. This is definitely alan’s most cheery and infectious song because the instrumentation is so light and heavenly, prompting the listener to just smile while listening. Honestly, I think I would have preferred My Stage to be the A-side since it’s a real standout in alan’s discography. I hope that she’ll be doing a similar song to this on her album…whenever that will be coming out. It shows the versatility of alan as an artist and proves that she can do music closer to mainstream music while still having that special touch that only alan can bring.
Perfume also had a strong year, releasing various singles that showed Perfume’s quirky and fun nature. However they 
really stood out when they released Baby cruising love / マカロニ. They’re really the best examples of electrpop ballads as the instrumentation is strong and the girls’ voices suit them perfectly. Baby cruising love was nice because it still had traces of that unforgettable Nakata aggressiveness. However the real star of the single and the reason it placed so high on this chart was because of マカロニ. It is the prime example of how to slow down an electropop song and still maintain the quality. There is such a relaxing and natural atmosphere about this song that when I listen to it, I can just smile and drift off into another world. And having an emotional connection with a song just makes it all the better, which is why this is Perume’s best song to date. It was released at the end of the winter and I can see that there are some wintery traces hidden in the instrumentation. I’m hoping that the girls will bring another strong song like this for their next album, which looks to be strong looking at the singles released thus far. Good lucks girls and I hope the future brings you luck!
If you want the best winter song released this year then you definitely have to look at 24 Xmas Time by Kuraki Mai. I was blown away when I first heard the song because there is something so natural and fun about this song that I can’t help but love. The song kind of goes back to her older style with songs like Love, Day After Tomorrow, which is always a good thing because I adore that song. Okay, let’s be truthful, the song isn’t that wintery or Christmas-like but that’s okay because it’s just a fantastic song. The verses are what make it so addictive and those moments where the instrumentation changes to set up Mai for a strong line (such as my favorite line in the whole song which translates to “kyou mo, watashi wa sekushii.” The B-side was nice, although a little generic but it compliments the whole wintery theme of the single nicely. I can’t believe Mai put out such a great single after a few that were questionable. I’m already anticipating her new album, touch Me!, because of this one song.
I love Tanimura Nana. She’s talented; she’s fun and she’s ready to go! Her 10th single, If I’m not the one / SEXY 
SENORITA, featured two different songs that show off two different sides to her. If I’m not the one is a very beautiful ballad with Nana lamenting that she needs to know if she can’t be her admired’s one and only. She really portrays her emotions strongly and it keeps the listener focused and sympathetic towards her. However the star song on this single is SEXY SENORITA, a fun song that shows off Nana’s sexy and playful side. Her vocals here are strong and the chorus stands out proudly. She portrays attitude and sass, which is perfect for making the listener believe her. I really like the English phrases such as “call me, call me” and “crazy crazy.” I’m still waiting for an album to be released from her since I know I’m going to love it but she’s going to school (she’s attending one of the most prestigious law schools in Japan so go Nana!) so I can’t blame her. I just want any piece of news of a new release soon and it better be an album. Congratulations Nana for being such a threat with your fourth single, If I’m not the one / SEXY SENORITA, which rounds out our top 10.
11. Misia – Catch The Rainbow [Digital Release]
12. Morning Musume – ペッパー警部
13. Leah Dizon – Love Paradox
14. C-ute – 江戸の手毬唄 II
15. alan – 風の手紙
16. Perfume – Dream Fighter
17. Tohoshinki – 呪文 -Mirotic-
18. Arashi – One Love
19. Morning Musume – リゾナント ブルー
20. Ito Yuna – miss you
21. Koda Kumi – anytime
22. Perfume – love the world
23. Tanimura Nana – JUNGLE DANCE
24. V6 – 蝶
25. Kinki Kids – Secret Code
26. NEWS – SUMMER TIME
27. Leah Dizon – Vanilla
28. Aira Mitsuki – チャイナ・ディスコティカ
29. Berryz Koubou – 行け 行け モンキーダンス
30. alan – 懐かしい未来 ~longing future~
31. MEG – HEART
32. AAA – MIRAGE
33. Ishida Yuko – Changes
34. Hey! Say! JUMP – Dreams come true
35. Tohoshinki – Runaway / My Girlfriend
36. Tohoshinki – If…?! / Rainy Night
37. Tohoshinki – Purple Line
38. Utada Hikaru – HEART STATION / Stay Gold
39. Tegomass – アイアイ傘
40. Takasugi Satomi – ありがとう
41. Ito Yuna – 恋は groovy x2
42. BONNIE PINK – Ring A Bell
43. Shiraishi Kikyo – again
44. Shiraishi Kikyo – BLACK
45. Shimatani Hitomi – 泣きたいなら
46. Hamasaki Ayumi – Mirrorcle World
47. ayaka x Kobukuro – あなたと
48. alan – RED CLIFF ~心・戦~
49. Amuro Namie – 60s70s80s
50. Berryz Koubou – MADAYADE
51. Nakashima Mika – ORION
52. Crystal Kay – 涙のさきに
53. Jyongri – Winter Love Story
54. C-ute – 涙の色
55. Kuraki Mai – 夢が咲く春 / You and Music and Dream
56. Arashi – Step and Go
57. Arashi – Beautiful days
58. V6 – LIGHT IN YOUR HEART / Swing!
59. AAA – MUSIC!!! / ZERO
60. Aoyama Thelma – 守りたいもの
61. Koda Kumi – MOON
62. NEWS – Happy Birthday
63. Kitahara Aiko – その笑顔よ 永遠に
64. Shibasaki Kou – よくある話～喪服の女編～
65. Milky Way – タンタンターン!
66. Kuraki Mai – 一秒ごとに Love for you
67. C-ute – FOREVER LOVE
68. Otsuka Ai – クラゲ, 流れ星
69. Aira Mitsuki – ロボットハニー
70. ayaka – おかえり
71. Utada Hikaru – Prisoner of Love
72. Shimatani Hitomi – WAKE YOU UP / 雨の日には 雨の中を 風の日には 風の中を / Marvelous
73. Hirahara Ayaka – 孤独の向こう
74. Milky Way – アナタボシ
75. alan – 恵みの雨
76. BoA – be with you.
77. BoA – VIVID
78. Fukui Mai – アイのうた
79. V6 – VIBES
80. Hirahara Ayaka – さよなら 私の夏
81. EXILE – LAST CHRISTMAS
82. Tohoshinki – Close to you / Crazy Life
83. Nishino Kana – Style
84. Arashi – truth / 風の向こうへ
85. KAT-TUN – White Xmas
86. GIRL NEXT DOOR – Drive away / 幸福の条件
87. GIRL NEXT DOOR – 偶然の確率
88. TOKIO – 雨傘 / あきれるくらい 僕らは願おう
89. Tohoshinki – Beautiful you / 千年恋歌
90. SMAP – そのまま / White Message
91. Angela Aki – 手紙 ~拝啓 十五の君へ
92.Tackey & Tsubasa – 恋詩-コイウタ / PROGRESS
93. AAA – BEYOND~カラダノカナタ
94. Kawashima Ai – カケラ / Flag
95. SMAP – この瞬間, きっと夢じゃない
96. EXILE – The Birthday ~Ti Amo~
97. Buono! – ガチンコでいこう!
98. Berryz Koubou – ジンギスカン
99. Buono! – Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
100. Buono! – ロッタラ ロッタラ
[Part Three] Artist Profiles
There have been so many artists this year that should be proud for putting out some fantastic music. From the boys to the girls, from the new artists to the veterans, they have made this Oricon Year one of strong music. Today, we’ll explore artists that have released this year (exluding those from Hello Project and Johnny’s Entertainment, who have already been covered).
Let’s start things off by covering one of my favorite genres, Japanese electropop. From Perfume to Aira Mitsuki to SAWA, there have been many different styles from electropop that stood out. But there is one producer who is the head of this genre: Nakata Yasutaka. And there is one person who reigns queen of J-Electropop 2008: Suzuki Ami. Nobody brought the heat like Ami. DOLCE was released at the beginning of the year and even though, it didn’t feature Nakata’s touch all over the album, FREE FREE and SUPER MUSIC MAKER were integral parts of that album. Then to commemorate her 10th anniversary, she continued to release. Both singles, ONE and can’t stop the DISCO, got me hooked on her. Even the B-sides, A token of love and climb up to the top, were extremely impressive and it made me really anticipate Supreme Show. I was definitely not disappointed because tracks like TEN, Mysterious and TRUE are twinkling jewels of the Nakata and Ami team. She brought something new to the electropop scene: sexiness. Let’s face it, electropop is more on the cute and quriky side but it’s nice to see something new and that’s what Ami is. She has her own style that makes her stand out against the other girls of electropop. She did a fantastic job this year and definitely deserves high praise. Perfume, also produced by Nakata, impressed me this year. After releasing a fantastic single, Baby cruising love / マカロニ (マカロニ still holding the title as best electropop slow song), the girls came with GAME. It was a strong album featuring many impressive numbers such as Butterfly and シークレットシークレット which made me really take notice of them. However it was the following singles, which cemented me in fandom. Love the world and Dream Fighter were two excellent singles that really have me anticipating another album from them. They 
definitely bring that electropop flavor well. Aira Mitsuki also had some memorable tracks come through to make me a fan of hers. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. (Cherryboy Function Version), Beep Count Fantastic (featuring Terukado), チャイナ・ディスコティカ and Rock n’ Roll Is Dead are all addictive tracks and she has a habit of getting the best tracks with a focus on instrumentation rather than vocals. With these kind of tracks, it’s no wonder that she stands out in the electropop crowd. I know MEG isn’t the most popular product of Nakata’s work but she has gotten some standout songs like SUPERSONIC, MAKE LOVE and the amazingly fantastic NATALIE <FM 16 MIX.> That last song is one of my favorite electropop songs ever so it’s clear she can bring the magic. Although Nakata is the king producer of electropop, his group capsule wasn’t as strong as I was hoping for. There were some standout numbers on their new album, More! More! More! such as Phantom and e.d.i.t. but overall, they were definitely not the strongest electropop members. Electropop certainly stood out this year and with the growing popularity of Nakata, I look forward to seeing what he brings us in 2009 (particularly for Ami and Perfume).
Let’s move onto J-Urban. The J-Urban scene has been pretty quiet this year with certain acts like EMYLI and m-flo not releasing anything but we did have some nice new songs. Newcomer, Shiraishi Kikyo, made waves with me. Both BLACK and again really hooked me because a new talented girl who was doing something upbeat with that sexy vibe was coming through. I thought she did a very good job and she should certainly be proud. Her third single was a little on the bland side but her fourth is already a step up. I’m not exactly sure why she’s changed to Nori Shiraishi but honestly, I think it’s kind of funny. I guess we’ll see what that does for her. Somehow, I still haven’t heard the full version of again and I don’t think a full PV was ever released (that’s nice guys…). I look foward to seeing what she’ll do in the future. DOUBLE stood out to me because she collaborated with superstar Amuro Namie for the sleek and catchy, BLACK DIAMOND. These two girls brought the heat on this new track and definitely set me up to see what she is going to do next. We also saw the Aoyama Thelma achieve massive success with second single, そばにいるね featuring Soulja (to my surprise and confusion). However it was her 4th single 守りたいもの (plus amazing B-side, MADONNA), which caught my attention. I know Thelma can make some very good songs but I’m hoping that her music will be more diverse in 2009 (how about some more upbeat numbers Thelma?). Crystal Kay had some enjoyable songs too as she released another album (Color Change!) and two singles (涙のさきに and ONE). 涙のさきに was pretty catchy and some of the songs on Color Change! were nice but I’m hoping next year, the music will be even better.
Now let’s talk about the boys of J-Pop (not including JE boys). It was obvious from the start that Tohoshinki would be 
the real standout guys of the year. They’ve released so much material that it’s ridiculous. They’ve released a total of 9 singles and an album (also a Korean album) so they’ve been really busy. How did they reach such a high number of singles? The TRICK project. The song TRICK from their album T wsa a mashup of five different songs and so the group released those five seperate songs as singles and added their own solo number as well. Some went very well (If…?! / Rainy Night [Junsu] and Runaway / My Girlfriend [Yuchun]) while some fell flat (Two hearts / WILD SOUL [Changmin]). Overall though it was an enjoyable project. In addition to those 5 singles, four others were released: Purple Line, Beautiful you /千年恋歌, どうして君を好きになってしまったんだろう? and 呪文 -Mirotic.- That last single was amazing as was Purple Line so the boys should be very proud. The other two were okay and could have been stronger but hey, they can’t all be hits. Their 3rd Japanese album, T, also featured some great songs like CLAP! and LAST ANGEL -Tohoshinki Version.- These boys did a fantastic job this year and I can only anticipate what they’ll pull next year. Their next single, Bolero, has already been announced for a January release. Jaejong and Yuhno also really caught my eye because they were absolutely sexy during the Mirotic promotional time. It was…wow. Just look at the Mirotic and Wrong Number PVs. Another group of guys who stood out this year was EXILE, who released quite a bit themselves: three singles, three BEST albums and one studio album (released at the very end of 2007 but believe it is counted in Oricon Year 2008). The singles weren’t as great as I hoped for but the album material was enjoyable from EXILE LOVE. The one amazing 
standout track was Make Love, a hot and sexy number that really shows the boys’ mature side strongly. Atsushi has some wonderful vocals so I’m happy that he’s been given the chance to shine. Newcomer Shimizu Shota also made waves with me as he was a fresh new face with some great vocals (i.e. HOME). He released an album and even though I haven’t gotten a chance to listen to it, I will do so soon. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s good looking. BIG BANG was quite active this year, releasing in both Korea and Japan. G-Dragon has become one of my favorites because there’s something about his voice that really catches my ear. WaT released two singles this year and they were okay, nothing that really made me go wow but I still think they have some nice voices and hopefully the music will be stronger in the future. Although Kobukuro have not been very active this year, they did release the single あなたと with ayaka, which really stood out to me. I look forward to seeing more material from these guys in the future. In the world of J-Rock, Miyavi and Gackt did some releasing although Gackt wasn’t particularly impressive this year in terms of music (but he did look hot). Miyavi was a little better, releasing his album This Iz The Japanese Kabuki Rock. His voice is nice though so maybe he’ll do something stronger in the future. Seamo also caught my eye even though his singles were a little bit iffy. Again, he released an album that I haven’t listened to yet but I do want to hear it soon. So overall, the boys had some nice music (particularly Tohoshinki) and I hope next year it will be even better (because let’s face it, Johnny’s Entertainment music was a lot better than the other guys’ music).
Now we go to the four female artists who I call my Fabulous Four: Koda Kumi, Amuro Namie, Utada Hikaru and Hamasaki Ayumi. There is absolutely nobody like Kuu. She’s fun; she’s free and she’s one of a kind. Kingdom was a fantastic album, filled with everything from sorrow to cuteness to sexy and it really showed how strong of an artist she is. Unfortunately, she made a comment about women’s rotting amniotic fluids which caused an extreme backlash. Contracts were cancelled and promotion for Kingdom was cancelled. Personally, I think the public over-reacted to the comment and it was totally undeserved for Kumi to go through all of that. But she continued to release in June with MOON, then TABOO. TABOO was just the song that make the public go Kumi crazy because it’s a return to her fun sexy dance side that we all love. stay with me will be released in a couple weeks (which will be counted on Oricon Year 2009 so I will not talk about that). I think she’s done a great job this year and I think next year will be even better. TRICK will be amazing and I know that from the bottom of my heart. Amuro Namie has had one hell of a year and everyone knows it. BEST FICTION was a smash hit, managing to almost take the crown of best selling album of Oricon Year 2008. Sadly it did not reach it but it’s okay because it was a million seller and it managed to stay at the number 1 spot for various weeks. Sexy Girl and Do Me More were amazing new tracks that made BEST FICTION worth checking out. She also released the hit single 60s70s80s, which achieved great sales, managing to outsell a slew of her previous ones. WHAT A FEELING was the star track on that single and it’s another one of Namie’s awesome tracks. I hope we’ll be getting some new material in 2009 but Namie deserves a nice long break so I hope she gets it. Utada Hikaru also had an amazing year seeing as HEART STATION is nearing the million mark and has outsold her previous album, ULTRA BLUE. There were some amazing new tracks on there like 虹色バス and Fight The Blues. The singleswere strong as well, which made me one of the most cohesive albums of 2008. Hamasaki Ayumi had a pretty good year herself even though she didn’t get wonderful sales. In fact, GUILTY became 
her first album to not hit the number one spot…ever. Nonetheless, the album was good featuring tracks like (don’t)Leave me alone, Marionette and MY ALL. Well this was Ayu’s 10th anniversary so I was hoping she’d release a little more but what we got was Mirrorcle World and another BEST album. Her new single is set to be released very soon but it will count towards Oricon Year 2009. I wonder when we’ll be getting her new album but hopefully there will be a few more singles before that. Of course, she’s had her troubles during the year too. She officially announced that she is deaf in one ear; she broke up with her boyfriend who she has been seeing for a while and her friend passed away. You know, Ayu is a fighter and it’s one of the reasons why I respect her so much. I hope she has many years of happiness to look forward to.
So let’s move onto the female veterans of J-Pop. Well the term “veterans” can be disputed but I’m coining the girls that have been a while as “veterans.” Which veteran knocked it out of the park this year? Well that’s none other than aiko. 秘密 was one of the strongest albums of the year with many wonderful tracks that showed off aiko’s laidback and relaxing style. She also released KissHug, which was used as an insert song for the Hana Yori Dango movie. It didn’t 
get the sales it deserved but I’m hoping she’ll have even more success in the future because her music is that good. Her talent is undeniable and that’s why she is “Veteran of the Year.” Kuraki Mai is incredible and if you want proof of that, just look at 24 Xmas Time. That was a fantastic wintery song that reached back to her old style. She released ONE LIFE, an album with some standout tracks such as ONE LIFE and Born to be free. She also released the following singles: 夢が咲く春 / You and Music and Dream as well as 一秒ごとに Love for you. They may not have been the strongest singles she’s released but they were actually pretty catchy. Mai will be releasing yet another album, entitled touch Me! in January so I can’t wait to see what she brings. Misia was another veteran who stood out this year. EIGHTH WORLD was a pretty good songs like 以心伝心 and Hybrid Breaks -Interlude.- She released various singles but none so addictive as digital release, Catch The Rainbow. It’s an absolutely fantastic track that will be seeing a physical release soon. Misia, good job this year for your 10th anniversary and I can’t wait to see what awaits us in 2009! BoA is definitely a force to be reckoned with. THE FACE was released early in the year and featured some new standout tracks like Girl In The Mirror, Style and AGGRESSIVE. Although it wasn’t as strong as her previous albums. She then released VIVID, which also was not up to BoA’s usual standards. However what makes her so strong is that she always tries new things. She’s 
now started her American career with the release of the hot single, Eat You Up. Her new song, Look Who’s Talking is even better and it makes me highly anticipate her debut album. Otsuka Ai did some nice releases as well. Even though ロケット スニーカー / One × Time was very forgettable (it ended up being the lowest selling single of her career for a reason), クラゲ, 流れ星 was a step up and already she’s set to release her 5th studio album, LOVE LETTER. It looks to be better than LOVE PIECE but I guess we’ll see when hits stores very very soon. Even though BONNIE PINK was largely inactive this year, she did stand out with the digital release of Ring A Bell and then physical release of its Japanese counterpart 鐘を鳴らして. Both songs were good (the English being the stronger version) and BONNIE should be proud of her accomplishments. I’m hoping she’ll put out an album next year because it feels like forever since Thinking Out Loud was released. Finally we come to Shimatani Hitomi, who could’ve been better. Her new album Flare did not live up to the hotness of its name but I’m hoping that next year, she will pull out the stops for her 10th anniversary.
Now we’ll talk about the newbies. These girls are still relatively new to the music scene but some of them have definitely taken no time in standing out from the crowd. Tanimura Nana has given us some fantastic music. Who could forget the incredibly addictive SEXY SENORITA or the smooth and sultry Ooh… or the catchy upbeat number 
Place of Love? She’s taking on the sexy image just right and with each release, she gets better and better. I’m really looking forward to her debut album and I hope that it will be coming soon because I can’t wait any longer. Actually any new release from her will be welcome. It’s been a while. ayaka released her sophomore album, Sing to the Sky, early in the year and it was a huge step up from First Message. Songs like 愛も嘘も真実, ゴールドスター and POWER OF MUSIC really made a fan of hers. Her voice is incredible so it’s no wonder that the album shined like it did. ayaka definitely has the power to make it big so I wish her all the success in the world. In addition to an awesome album, she collaborated with Kobukuro again for あなたと, a beautiful ballad that blows their last single out of the water. She’s had a great year and definitely will be shining even more brightly in 2009. Leah Dizon certainly had an eventful year. She released two singles, her sophomore album, got married and is expecting a child in 2009. Love Paradox was her strongest single to date and Vanilla (LOVE SWEET CANDY included) was another memorable single from her. Communication!!! was also a pretty good album with great album tracks like Nothin’ to Lose, Step into my World and BxKxRxxx. I was very surprised to see that she was pregnant but I’m happy that she has found somebody and I wish them all the happiness together. I also wish they have a happy and healthy baby and she will be back better than ever next year, ready to show Japan just how strong of an artist she is. Ito Yuna has really impressed me this year, particularly with miss you and 恋は groovy x2. BREEEEEZIN!!!!!!! (the B-side of miss you) is her best song to date and one that definitely cemented my fandom. WISH wasn’t a bad album either, featuring some memorable songs like Power of Love. Hopefully her next album will be even better, shining strongly for all the fans. Even Jyongri had her time to shine with Winter Love Story, her newest single. All the songs on the single convinced me of Jyongri’s power. Her album may have been pretty weak but it looks like she’ll be on the path for strength. One other newcomer that caught my eye was Ishida Yuko with her wonderful new single Changes, which featured an addictive title track, I’ll be sure to look out for her in the future. She has a cool image and a great voice, worthy of celebration. AZU has had her time to shine as well with standout numbers like VIOLIN. She has the voice and talent to make it far so I hope she has more succes in 2009. Other newcomers like Tiana Xiao, Nishino Kana and Takasugi Satomi have had some nice releases and even though they were not particularly engaging, I look forward to what they will do next year. Even Stephanie had some songs here and there.
Let’s go onto the girls who are neither veterans nor newbies. melody. has also done some nice work this year with the release of the beautiful and
calming Lei Aloha. The songs on that album really formed a cohesive one that emerged as one of the standouts of the year. I’m very sad to have heard the news that she will be retiring to focus on the fashion industry. I guess if she had to leave, I’m glad she left with a bang. Arashiro Beni has experienced some popularity this year with her collaboration with Dohzi-T. She also released three new songs for her BEST album, switched labels and starrred in a movie so she’s been quite busy. Mellow Parade was fantastic and hopefully she’ll do another song like this in the future. She has recently changed her name to BENI so I guess we’ll see how that goes for her. Other girls like Angela Aki, Nakashima Mika and misono have had their releases this year and it’s Mika who really impressed me with her most recent single, ORION. The B-side, FOCUS, stood out to me strongly and I have really got to listen to her new album.
Finally, we come to the groups which feature members of both sexes. To be honest, they haven’t been very impressive with the exception of one group: AAA. MIRAGE was absolutely addictive, featuring some Arabian sounds to push the track over the edge. Everyone sounded great on the track and it was really one to remember. Following a very unforgettable single, they released MUSIC!!! / ZERO. ZERO was wonderful, showing a dark atmosphere that the group really shined with. Other groups mihimaru GT, Aladdin and Every Little Thing failed to impress but hopefully they’ll step it up next year.
This year, some artists stepped up and some artists took a step back. But there are a lot of artists who should be proud for releasing such quality music. There is still one artist left though, an artist who will be crowned “Artist of the Year.” He/She will be announced in part 7 (the final part) of the Oricon Year 2008 Countdown.
Jyongri – Winter Love Story [6th Single]
Jyongri’s 6th single, entitled Winter Love Story, was released on 12.03.08.
Winter Love Story is an enjoyable upbeat wintery number. The song starts off with an upbeat and interesting instrumental that immediately catches the listener’s attention. Following is the chorus and Jyongri’s vocals go very well with this instrumentation, which twinkles and sparkles the sounds of winter beautifully. She finishes off by singing “winter love story,” which sets up the listener nicely for the first verse. On the verses, Jyongri’s vocals reamin strong as they continue to be smooth and she reaches a little higher at some points, hitting the notes with ease. Somewhat strangely, the rest of the song is sung in English (even the chorus, which is translated into English) but it actually makes the song pop even more. The pure instrumental section is very enjoyable as it spotlights the quirkiness and cuteness of the song. Overall, Winter Love Story is a very strong song and certainly one of Jyongri’s best numbers to date.
Tender Touch, which was already released on her latest album, appears as the first B-side on this single. I’m not very clear as to why it’s being released again but I suppose it is because they thought it fit with the theme of the single. Opening the song is the piano, which instantly draws the listener into another world and prepares them for the first verse. Jyongri’s vocals are very pretty here, portraying the emotions of the lyrics perfectly while the instrumentation sits back and supports her. The chorus stands out particularly for the first line, “It only takes that tender touch” while the rest follows nicely as Jyongri gives more strong vocals. Tender Touch was a good song when it was released and it actually sounds better in the context of the single so I suppose releasing it again was actually a smart idea.
The second and last B-side is Blue Destiny. Much like the previous song, the piano begins the song but that clear magic doesn’t come forth. However once Jyongri comes to sing on the first verse, the listener feels goosebumps since the combination of her voice and the piano just brings the emotions to the forward. What makes the chorus stand out is that small moment at the beginning of the chorus that sounds so grand and diverse, setting up the rest of the chorus to be strong. Jyongri’s vocals are wonderful and keep the listener truly engaged with her words. Blue Destiny is a fantastic way to end the song and although it might not really catch you at the first few moments, it definitely will as the song goes on.
In order to promote the single, a PV for Winter Love Story was made. The video begins with Jyongri in a library as her crush passes her. She leaves and accidentally drops a paper on the ground, which he picks up. The rest of the video features the boy searching for her to return it and he finally does at the end. What’s enjoyable about this video is that it’s relatable and it tells a cute story that shines in the viewer’s eyes.
Single Ranking: A
After the disappointing album that was Love Forever, Jyongri gets back in control with Winter Love Story. The title track is a fabulous upbeat track that really portrays the sounds of winter well while keeping that uptempo magic. Both B-sides take on the ballad route strongly as Jyongri emotes wonderfully and is accompanied by the piano. This single proves Jyongri can make magic happen so I hope it continues onto her next singles.
Jyongri – Love Forever [2nd Studio Album]
Jyongri’s second album, entitled Love Forever, was released on 07.02.08. Three singles were released prior to the album: Lullaby For You, Kissing Me and Unchanging Love ~君がいれば.~
The album’s introductory track is also the album’s title track, Love Forever. She begins the track singing in complete English acapella and her vocals sound very nice and calm here. Soon there are some backing vocals that vocalize while she continues to sing in English. Then the song picks up as Jyongri’s backing vocals create a sort of backing beat on their own and it’s a very interesting way to make the song pop. Love Forever is an excellent introductory track and is a very cool sounding song.
Tender Touch is the album’s first full track. The song starts off with a sweet piano opening that begins to pick up slowly before the first verse. Her vocals, which hold a certain deepness, work with the music well and there is a small emotional presence that slowly builds up. The chorus begins with the English line “it only takes that tender touch,” which is a nice start for the chorus. It’s the chorus that really stands out and although it does feel a little longer than needed, it definitely is the high point of the song. The song finishes with the chorus and a little piano ending to bring the song to a nice finish. Tender Touch may not be fantastic but it’s a good song after the introduction.
Up next is Kissing Me, the first single released before the album. The song begins with the sounds of the piano over a cool and somewhat mysterious upbeat instrumentation. The first verse begins nicely with some great vocals as well as the instrumentation, which maintains its coolness. After a nice buildup to the chorus, the full potential isn’t achieved. The English phrases during the chorus “kissing me” and “loving you” are a nice pop but overall the chorus sounds a little bland. While the verses capture the listener’s ear, especially the last phrase of the verses, the chorus is a little boring. The rapidity that she delivers her lyrics is interesting but doesn’t stand out that strongly. The third verse features some very nice vocals and the song ends with some great vocalizing. The ending then becomes very strong and the verses are strong too, unfortunately the chorus is somewhat lacking. Overall Kissing Me is a nice song that really does stand out at the end.
Another single, Unchanging Love ~君がいれば~ appears next. The song starts off with a nice instrumental before the first verse starts. The vocals are nice but the overall sound and atmosphere of the song is somewhat boring here. The chorus doesn’t stand out as much as it should but she definitely holds the ending note very nicely. The third verse is nothing special either but she does hit a higher note very nicely. Overall the song is pretty boring and definitely not single material. The song fits with the vibe the album gives off but does it in an uninteresting way.
Catch me begins with an interesting uptempo instrumentation that really catches the listener’s ear. The opening vocals possess a certain coolness and slickness that stands out. The first verse features some deep vocals that go very well with the music. The instrumentation right before the chorus sounds great and is a great introduction to the chorus. Her vocals sound great, particularly on the English lines. The ending isn’t as strong as hoped as Jyongri sings in the background and it becomes slightly annoying. Catch me is a great track that is a nice fit on the album and stands out, instrumentally.
Up next is Lullaby For You. The song starts off with a nice piano interlude before entering the first verse. Her vocals sound nice and have a certain deepness to them that really works with the music to capture the song’s atmosphere. Once again, the chorus is pretty bland and although her vocals are nice, it’s just lacking that magical element to make it stand out. Released as a single, Lullaby For You doesn’t stand out any more than it did when it was previously released.
私の太陽 is the seventh song on the album. Opening up is a more interesting instrumental that has a certain relaxing feel to it. Jyongri’s vocals are pretty deep as she sings the verses and it makes them very enjoyable. The English line “I can’t live without you” sung right before the chorus is strong as she hits the higher not fantastically. The chorus is pretty cool as the instrumentation is different from the sound of the other songs and her vocals sound great. The same relaxing instrumentation brings the song to great finish, much like the song began. 私の太陽 is one of the more stand-out tracks from the album and it is certainly worth the listen.
The same interest is kept with 泣いてもいいよ. After a cool and almost uplifting-sounding instrumentation, the first begins and Jyongri’s vocals sound so smooth and strong, that they work perfectly with the music. The chorus is a great uptempo sound, which shows off a definite variety from Jyongri that really captures the listener’s ear from the start. The following section of pure instrumentation sounds great as it puts a spotlight on how cool the instrumentation is. Following the previous track, this song maintains the listener’s interest with a cool instrumentation and great vocals.
You’re the one is the next song. Following a small instrumental section with Jyongri singing “you’re the one,” the first verse begins. Unfortunately, the song is pretty boring and although the rapidity of the chorus is a nice touch, the overall sound of the song sounds so lacking after so many tracks with the same sound. Her vocals don’t particularly make the song stand out any more. The song is pretty boring and it doesn’t capture the listener’s ear at all.
Lovers DRIVE, a B-side before the album, is the next song. After a cool and somewhat funky instrumental, the first verse comes in. Her vocals sound great and don’t have her usual deepness. It really does stand out to the listener very nicely. The chorus is nice and upbeat to make the listener follow the song from beginning to finish. One of the more fun numbers, Lovers DRIVE certainly stands out from the rest of the album very nicely.
Luckily interest continues on the next song, The Chills. The song stands out primarily for its instrumentation. Jyongri’s vocals sound consistently strong throughout the song and the whispering in the background even creates a certain sex appeal. The Chills is certainly a noteworthy song that catches the listener’s ear and is definitely worth the listen.
Still In Love is one of the album’s vocal standouts as the instrumentation remains pretty basic, sticking to just the piano as Jyongri sings from her heart. As nice as her vocals are, the instrumentation is just not very capturing and thus it doesn’t stand out as it should.
The finale of the album is STARS and the instrumentation does stand out a little more than usual. Her vocals sound nice throughout the song and as it stands out a little more than other songs, it’s definitely a nice closing song for the album.
Album Ranking: C +
Jyongri’s second album features a certain sound that infects certain tracks and makes them sound repetitive and dull. However the album does have its strong points: 私の太陽, 泣いてもいいよ, The Chills, Catch me and Lovers DRIVE. Overall the album feels somewhat bland and had the album taken more of a sound like the aforementioned songs, then the album would have showed off Jyongri’s artistic diversity and would have been much stronger.
Amai Wana 