Tohoshinki – Stand By U [28th Single]
Tohoshinki’s 28th single, entitled Stand By U, was released on 07.01.09. The title track was used in the HTB program Ichioshi while Tea For Two was used as the ending theme for Miyaneya.
Stand By U is a sweet love ballad that will touch the listener’s heart. Opening up the song is a beautiful piano instrumental that immediately introduces the emotions of the song for the listener to feel. There are some vocalizations here and there before the first verse begins. The vocals are on the deeper side and they really suit the music perfectly because there is a relaxing feeling to them that stands out nicely. As always, Jaejong shines on the chorus and brings those emotions out even more strongly. It’s a very sweet ballad and it carries that natural flavor that everyone can relate to.
Tea For Two is a gorgeous slow song that gives the image of spending time with the one you love. The song starts off with an intimate and sweet instrumental that will definitely catch the attention of the listener. Those first few words make it seem like the listener is being spoken to. Then comes the first verse and while the vocals are nice, it’s really the music that demands the attention and draws the listener in. There is such a whimsical and calming feeling about the chorus, complimented by Jaejong’s angelic vocals that it can’t help but stand out proudly.
Available only on the CD + DVD version of the single is the second B-side, Sky. Unlike the other two songs, Sky is an upbeat pop number perfect for summer. Fortunately, it’s the weakest song on the single and just doesn’t strike the listener. It just doesn’t have that magic like their other upbeat numbers.
In order to promote the single, a PV for Stand By U was made. The video consists of clips from the drama and although this type of video can really seem disappointing, this one was done very well. The drama perfectly fits the emotions of the song and it compliments the overall atmosphere of the song. There was also a “Tohoshinki version” of the PV done. This version of the video features the different boys in singing in different locations. It’s pretty much like any of their other ballad videos and it would have been nice to see a storyline involving them or something but at least it fits with the softness of the song.
Single Ranking: A
Stand By U and Tea For Two are both excellent ballads. While the A-side is a beautiful love song, Tea For Two is a sweet and natural track that will give the listener some vivid imagery to feel while listening. Although Sky isn’t particularly memorable, the other two songs more than make up for it.
Tohoshinki – The Secret Code [4th Japanese Studio Album]
Tohoshinki’s 4th Japanese studio album, entitled The Secret Code, was released on 03.25.09. The singles released before the album are as follows: 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?, 呪文 -Mirotic,- Bolero / Kiss The Baby Sky / 忘れないで and Survivor.
Secret Game opens up the album on a very strong note. The song begins with a jazzy instrumental that immediately catches the listener’s ear, taking them into the world of the song before the first verse starts. That first little rap section has a certain sexiness to it because the vocals just sound so slick and deep that you can’t not love it. What’s interesting is the combination of the lower vocals of some members and the higher vocals of others because it really provides a song with a range that stands out. Proabably the most addictive part of the song is when they repeat “we get it baby if you wanna trap in the…” just because those vocals sound so great. It’s such a shame this isn’t a full song because it is absolutely fantastic and the boys bring this song to life.
Moving onto the second track, the boys step up for FORCE. Opening the song is a cool instrumental with sort of a marching beat that is addictive and then the boys move into the first verse. Those first vocals are wonderful and carry a certain dark tone that matches the instrumentation perfectly, particularly the ominous sound in the background, contributing to very intense atmosphere. The hook features a repeating “coming up” and it serves the purpose of building up the listener for the chorus. What makes the chorus stand out is the dark instrumentation and the higher vocals so the contrast just works together so well. Like the previous track, there is a lot of English used and they stand out to the listener like “Do you have faith in yourself?” and “I know you’re a destroyer without a gun.” FORCE keeps the energy of the listener perfectly and commands attention and addiction.
The boys slow thing down for the painful love ballad, どうして君を好きになってしまったんだろう? A very gentle and sweet instrumental begins the song, instantly bringing out the emotions for the listener to hear. Then Jaejong comes in for the chorus and shows his connection with the song as his vocals portray the emotions of the song perfectly. The verses are strong as well as the other boys prove that they can connect with the song and although some parts sound a little too high, the vocals are pretty good. The one point that could have improved the song is the chorus is repeated a few too many times so they could have taken one or two out. Nonetheless, it’s a good way to slow things down and provide some diversity.
They then pick up the pace again for the next song, Nobody Knows. That first “nobody knows” sounds great and definitely starts things off on the right foot. A little section of pure instrumentation follows and the standout part is the piano descending in tone, leading up to the chorus. There is a jazzy feeling established from the instrumentation and the boys’ vocals sound great in combination with the music. On the verses, it’s interesting to hear the different boys bring their own magic to the song and give the listener reason to just fall deep into the sound of the voices. The pure instrumental section sounds great and puts a spotlight on the hot jazzy instrumentation. Nobody Knows is a fantastic track and definitely one of the best songs on The Secret Code.
Beautiful You brings the tempo down for a love song. The guitar does a great job of opening up the song and bringing a very natural feel that the boys shine with. Then comes the first verse and the vocals are wonderful, portraying emotions that the listener immediately picks up on. The opening line of the chorus, “you’re such a beautiful woman,” is probably the part of the song that stands out the most and sets up the rest of the section. Beautiful You is a great song, particularly for the emotions that the boys bring to life. It was strong when it was released as a single and it maintains that strength.
Following is 忘れないで, keeping the low and gentle tempo of the last one. Beginning the song is the piano, starting off the song beautifully and giving the listener such a magical feeling that might bring out some tears. The first verse then comes and the vocals are fantastic, really shining against the gorgeous music. For the chorus, the instrumentation builds up a little so that the magic of the music comes beaming across and the boys give more wonderful vocals. This is one of the album’s best ballads and it keeps the streak of memorable tracks.
9095 is the next song, changing the atmosphere a little bit to cause the listener to be addicted. The song begins with an absolutely breath-taking instrumental that soon moves into a more clear and even slightly jazzy sound, capturing the listener’s attention. Then the boys’ vocals provide more magic for the listener to pick up on. The third verse is wonderful and stands out perfectly, particularly because of the numbers (9095 and the boys even count to three in French). The chorus might have sounded messy if it was done by somebody else but somehow the boys manage to make it sound smooth and wonderful. It’s one of the best songs on the album and definitely deserves a listen.
Sexiness oozes on the 呪文 -Mirotic,- a Japanese song adapted from their latest Korean album title track. The song starts off with Jaejong showing off those chops and managing to bring his sexiness for everyone to hear. His vocals are great and are a great way to start things off. The use of English in the song like “red ocean” and “chrome heart” are nice because they pop and shine in the surrounding Japanese lyrics. The chorus is filled with heat for everyone to drown in, particularly when they sing “I’ve got you under my skin.” The rap section is catchy and both boys carry their own perfectly. Following is a fantastic vocalization that will send shivers up the listener’s spine.
TAXI has an almost depressing feeling behind it so that the listener can really get into the story of the song. The song begins with the piano and the fragility of it combined with the boys vocals is a dangerous combination for the listener since the emotions are quickly awakened. That chorus definitely stands out and makes sure the listener feels the boys as the vocals shine very strongly. The pure instrumental section is gorgeous and really is one of the standout points of the song. TAXI is another great song from the boys and has an emotional context that is extremely memorable.
Stand Up! follows and the sexiness comes back for the crowd to enjoy. That beginning instrumental just has something very sexual about it and then they say “stand up,” continuing to reflect that strong sexual atmosphere for all to hear. They then move onto the first verse and sound great, really getting into the mood of the song and the listener can’t help but get into it as well. With a more aggressive instrumental, the boys shine on the chorus and the English phrases like “communication” and “vibration” really stand out. Stand Up! is a very enjoyable song and stands out on The Secret Code.
Get ready to dance on the next track, Survivor. The song starts with some clapping before the song’s true instrumentation comes in and shines. Junsu then starts things off with the first verse and he sounds great, particularly on those notes that he holds on “survivor” and “don’t give up.” Changmin takes a turn and again, the English lines like “let’s try” are the ones that stand out the most. It was a good idea to have Jaejong to sing the chorus because his voice is so distinctive and he shines on the “smile” parts. Survivor is definitely one of the best songs on the album and really deserves a place here.
Kiss The Baby Sky is just a sweet song that sounded stronger in its single release. It has a certain cuteness to it that seems somewhat out of place with the style that the rest of the album portrays. Nonetheless, it’s kind of a nice change of pace but it doesn’t really fit with the overall atmosphere of The secret Code. One good point about the song is that the opening part does sound very sexy.
Bolero is a grand magical ballad and definitely one of the more emotional numbers on the album. All the boys sound great and it really draws the listener into the emotions of the song. It’s a very good song and a great part to the album.
The album’s actual closing number is the secret track, 9096. It’s basically an instrumental track and it’s on the short side but wow. The music is beautiful and it’s one of the best instrumental parts of the whole album. Without a doubt, 9096 stands out and is a great way to finish off the album.
Album Ranking: A +
Tohoshinki really brought their A-game with The Secret Code. There are the sexy songs (FORCE, Stand Up! and 呪文 -Mirotic-), the gorgeous ballads (忘れないで, Taxi, Bolero) and the rest of the album is filled with interesting songs that prove irresistible to the listener. The boys show no signs of slowing down and if they can keep this quality music then they will be set.
Most Memorable 6 Tracks: Secret Game / FORCE / Nobody Knows / 9095 / 呪文 -Mirotic- / Survivor
Tohoshinki – Share the World! / ウィーアー [27th Single]
Tohoshinki’s 27th single, entitled Share the World! / ウィーアー was released on 04.22.09. Share the World! was used as the 11th opening theme to the anime series One Piece. ウィーアー was used as 10th remake opening theme for One Piece and 明日は来るから was used as the 17th ending theme for One Piece. ウィーアー was previously released on the group’s latest album, The Secret Code.
Share the World! is a hopeful upbeat number that shows what these boys can do. Opening the song is a very pretty instrumental although Jaejong’s starting vocals do sound a little too powerful for it. Although he sounds perfect on the hook as the boys repeat “come on let’s go…share the…,” each time singing something new to share. There’s such a darkness and deepness to their voices that the listener can help but be sucked in. Everyone sounds great on the first verse as that darkness continues and they all provide that coolness that they’re so good at giving. When the chorus back in, it has a light feeling that actually sounds pretty good and Jaejong shows off those great vocals. The dance break sounds awesome and is certainly a standout part of the song. Share the World! is a fantastic song and one that will get stuck in the listener’s head with ease.
The second A-side is the poppy and catchy track, ウィーアー. The song begins a fun and summery instrumental, which sounds great and then the boys come in for the chorus. They all sound great but Jaejong stands out the most. It’s a nice and cute kind of moment when they sing “one piece” (reference to tie-up). On the verses, there is a more relaxed feeling and everyone sounds good. It’s good how the vocals sound more laid-back and cool so that there is a contrast between the verses and the chorus. The pure instrumental section is a very cool and has a sleekness to it that cannot be forgotten. Even though the song is short, it’s extremely catchy and will make the listener want to get up and dance.
明日は来るから is the B-side of the single. As expected, this song is a ballad but the boys do such a good job of bringing this song to life. It’s a magnificent song with a lot of emotions coming through, which makes the song all the more magical. Throughout the song, the piano sort of stays as the central instrument and the whole atmosphere of the song is just addictive. It’s a great song and this could have been another A-side since it would have made a much better triple A-side than their last one.
In order to promote the single, a PV for Share the World! was made. It starts off with Jaejong opening up the book that reveals the rest of the story. Scenes from the video include the boys drifting in the sea and in the sky, the group in a white room (they are all dressed in white, which gives them a sort of angelic look), as well as the first scene after the book in which the boys walk forward in what appears to be a desolate land. They all look great and the video is just a lot of fun, while still having a sort of darkness to it, much like the song.
Single Ranking: A +
This is a fantastic single, with both A-sides being extremely addictive. Share The World! kind of has a dark element to it that makes it stand out while ウィーアー has more of the sweet and summery feeling to catch the listener’s attention. Even 明日は来るから is wonderful, letting the emotions come out smoothly and for all to hear. This proves the boys haven’t let the quality slip since The Secret Code and I await their next move.
Tohoshinki – Survivor [26th Single]
Tohoshinki’s 26th single, entitled Survivor, was released on 03.11.09.
Survivor is a nice opportunity for the boys to take on some new sounds. The song begins with some clapping before the sleek instrumentation comes in, really taking on an interesting sound for the boys. That first line “every time, every day” really stands out as the vocals compliment the music perfectly. Jaejong’s voice does seem to be a little too high at times for the certain darkness of the chorus but it’s another great section that maekes the song memorable. The pure instrumental section is quite interesting and offers a good chance for a dance break before re-introducing the chorus. Closing the song is the same clapping that opens the song to tie the whole thing together. Surivor is a fantastic song, one that shows the boys can handle all types of different music with ease. It’s a strong signal for their upcoming album, The Secret Code.
The single’s B-side is the catchy dance number, Take Your Hands. Much like the A-side, the song is an upbeat number that has an edge to it that makes it memorable. There is a little instrumental introduction to the chorus that has a decending volume and it sounds great alongside the boys saying “so take your hands now.” The boys show a little more vocal power on the chorus and it sounds great.
In order to promoe the single, a PV for Survivor was made. There are two primary scenes in this video: the black and the white. The darker room features Tohoshinki dressed in all black in a seemingly partly destroyed room. Their dancing is absolutely hot and definitely has that Tohoshinki magic. In sharp color contrast to the black room, the white room features the boys in a cold room wearing all white. The dancing in this room is less impressive but still enjoyable. Some people have read the video centering around the idea of power. The dark Tohoshinki takes power from the light ones and it’s a revolution of sorts that unites the people.
Single Ranking: A
Tohoshinki brought another strong single, the perfect introduction to The Secret Code. Both Survivor and Take Your Hands are addictive dance tracks that will have you moving. Survivor is the star of the single with its interesting and slightly dark atmosphere. Judging from the singles, The Secret Code is going to be one heck of an album.
Tohoshinki – Bolero / Kiss the Baby Sky / 忘れないで [25th Single]
Tohoshinkis 25th single, entitled Bolero / Kiss the Baby Sky / 忘れないで, was released on 01.29.09. Bolero was used as the theme song to the movie Subaru.
Bolero is a dark love song. The song starts off with the first verse, supported by a midtempo instrumental that has a sort of dark carnival-like atmosphere to it that stands out to the listener as the vocals smoothly cover the music. Although there is a clear atmosphere, the vocals here are not very strong and leave the listener wanting more. On the chorus, the vocals are stronger and truly augment the song’s emotional presence. Luckily, the boys’ vocals become stronger as the song continues and it makes the listener get into the song more. The third verse features some excellent vocalizations as well as some English lines, which stand out among all the Japanese ones. Closing the song is more excellent instrumentation, keeping the emotional presence alive. Although Bolero does start off a little on the slow side, it definitely comes to life as the boys’ vocals become really strong and emotionally charged to suit the music.
Picking up the energy is the second A-side, Kiss the Baby Sky. Opening the song is a little speaking introduction and although it’s supposed to come off as cool, it sounds kind of awkward. Then the song’s true sound comes in and the boys provide vocals over a pretty instrumental with a constant ringing bell. On the chorus, there is a very natural and relaxing feeling that evokes the image of a sky perfectly. Having that speaking come again really does get annoying and it just doesn’t belong with the overall feeling of the song. This song is pretty upbeat and sweet so having this type of rap section in it probably wasn’t a good idea. It sounds too cool and not fun and spirited enough. Overall the song is very pretty and enjoyable; it would have been even better though if the talking parts and the rapping section were removed.
The final A-side is the pretty love ballad, 忘れないで. The song begins with the sweet sounds of the piano, which immediately signal an emotional presence that will carry throughout the song. The string instruments provide a grandiose and magical feeling as well. Then the first verse comes in and the vocals really support the atmosphere established by the music. The chorus really stands out with that slight music change and it sounds more of what the boys usually sing and so they come off as sounding extremely comfortable, which reaches the listener’s ears. On the third verse, the boys get the chance to show off those great vocals before coming into the soft chorus. Although the song is pretty simple, it definitely gets its message across and actually emerges as the single’s strongest A-side.
In order to promote the single, a PV for Bolero was made. The video is similar to most of their other PVs for slow songs, featuring the boys dressed in one color (this time black) as they sit aronud and sing the lyrics. The setting of this PV is a church and they look very sharp here (Jaejong and Yuhno in particular) and it features scenes of them standing and sitting. There are also scenes from the movie (Meisa dancing in a ballerina outfit) included. Even though not much happens in this video, it’s very eye-catching just for the fact that the boys look so handsome and that the dark atmosphere of the song is excellently reflected in the PV.
Single Ranking: B +
Tohoshinki certainly started off their year on a good note with single. Bolero is an emotional dark midtempo number that will have the listener falling into the depths of the instrumentation. Kiss the Baby Sky takes a lighter tone to make the listener appreciate it. Without a doubt, the best A-side is 忘れないで, a beautiful love ballad that will have the listener crying. My only complaint with the single is that it was all very ballady. It would have been nice to have an upbeat number just to balance everything out.
[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.
Tohoshinki – Wrong Number [PV Review]
Following the release of their latest Korean album, Mirotic, the boys of Tohoshinki have recently released a new PV for a song on the album, Wrong Number.
There is a mysterious sexual atmosphere about the song and the PV brings that atmosphere to life. The boys are seen dancing in a darkly lit parking garage and each member is dressed in black. They look very stylish here and definitely continue the sexy dancing from the last video for Mirotic. In addition to the dancing scenes, each member has an individual scene. Of course with their sexy image, somebody had to show their chest (Jaejong did in the Mirotic PV) and now it was Yunho’s turn. Seeing as how Yuhno is extremely hot, it was definitely a smart move to have him sitting in the bathtub so the viewers can rest their eyes on his hotness. Jaejong also brings the sexy as his scene features him writhing on the floor next to a glass of wine. His rapping section also presents his sexiness and makes the viewer want to see more. The other three members also have their share of sexy although it doesn’t come close to these two. It’s a highly enjoyable PV and one worth checking out.
PV Ranking: A +
Tohoshinki – 呪文 -Mirotic- [24th Single]
Tohoshinki’s 24th single, entitled 呪文 -Mirotic,- was released 10.15.08. The title track comes as the Japanese version of the title track of their fourth Korean album, Mirotic.
呪文 -Mirotic- opens with an addictive dance beat that soon moves slickly into the first verse. The vocals are still strong, capturing that element of sexiness that the boys are going for. English phrases like “red ocean” and “I’m breaking my rules again” really stand out to the listener and catch their attention. One thing about this song is that the Korean version is much smoother (no surprise there) and that’s most apparent in the chorus. It’s not that it sounds bad but it sounds so much better in Korean because ths syllables are smoother. The rap section is another spot where it stands out from the Korean version but not in a good way. It actually sounds more awkward here for some reason, perhaps it’s the syllable distribution with the music again. Luckily the powerful vocal remains a jewel in this song, really sounding fantastic. The song is definitely memorable, with a hot beat and great vocals but it sounds so much better in Korean.
In order to promote the single, a PV for 呪文 -Mirotic- technically wasn’t made. The Korean music video was just dubbed with the Japanese lyrics. There really aren’t any changes, which was a bit lazy. However there are hot shirtless guys dancing so I guess there’s no need for complaining.
Single Ranking: A –
The Korean version of this song was just so hot that a Japanese version had to be made and released as a single. The decision was a good one but the execution was a little poor because the syllables in the Japanese lyrics make the song a little awkward at parts. Overall though it’s an enjoyable package and an addictive song, despite not being as strong as its Korean counterpart.
Amai Wana 