Posts
本日、偶然発見した"iPhone"アプリから、
I was originally going to migrate all my personal and music talk over to tumblr since I usally don't have much to say here anyway, but I like the interface and media features here at Vox. Who knows? Maybe that Dreamwidth everyone's clamoring over will prove to be a perfect fit?
A lot has happened since the last posts, namely the release of BoA and Utada's aforementioned US albums. My friend and I decided to officially break up with Utada after the Epic Failure that was This is The One. Bitch led us on with promises of good 90s pop (Distance?) and a return to the quirky attitude of her other English work (Exodus?) but no. It was just a garbled mess of thin vocals, Stargate beats, and forced pop culture allusions. Stop trying so hard.
On the other hand, BoA's album is just one summer dance song after another ("Girls on Top" notwithstanding. I never understood the appeal of the Korean version, and the English one is just silly). "Energetic" and "Hypnotic Dancefloor" are hot. Go check them out on Amazon or iTunes.
Kuu also finally released her remix and collaboration collections that were originally listed by HMV HK right on the eve of her controversy last year. I don't have much interest in the remix CD, but I was anxious to get my hands on Out Works & Collaboration Best. It didn't disappoint, though I was somewhat surprised that her collaboration with her sister wasn't on it. I suppose it would be more fair and maximize profit for both artists if it wasn't put on the Kuu album? It doesn't really matter to me, what with my having zero interest in misono.
If Ayu's newest album NEXT LEVEL has one weak point, it's that -- like GUILTY -- its evident upon first listen that the direction of the album changed (or rather, was conceived) after the release of the first single. I suppose that's a hazard inherent of an industry that pushes for the constant release of singles. Too many times, albums after thrown together as afterthought with little rhyme or reason in regard to flow or concept. Fortunately, although "GREEN" and "Days" sound a little out of place, the rest of NEXT LEVEL flows wonderfully and is probably one of the most cohesive J-pop releases to come out in awhile. It shows great discretion in the use of interludes to keep the energy going, and the new album-only tracks are fantastic. I love "LOVE 'n' HATE" with its "Candy Shop"-esque beat. I'm so glad to be having fun with Ayu again after GUILTY.
However, it's a little perplexing that such a fun, western-friendly (what with its strong beats and frequent use of English) comes right when all of her music is removed from international iTunes. Perhaps perplexing isn't the right word for that... what was perplexing about all of this was that Rule/Sparkle -- the last single before NEXT LEVEL -- got a simultaneous international release on the eve of Avex's withdrawal from international iTunes. I hope more people get a chance to hear Ayu's new music soon...
On the non-J-pop front, there's of course the recent release of Advent Children Complete that I enjoyed very much. I already posted some prileminary thoughts about the changes on my LJ, though it was a friends-only entry, so I might post those here later... This post is already a whole lot of nothing.
I will say that the packaging was very nice. I hope the US version is remotely as nice. No more of that cheap-looking blue plastic? No?
I sign in to Vox for the first time in a month or so to find I have 3 messages (we have messages?), all of which were from accounts that were already deleted. This comes after I declined a friend request on Last.fm from an up-and-coming "gothic" and "dark alternative" band. Meanwhile, my recently played tracks are "2 Hearts" by Kylie Minogue, "VACATION" by Hoshimura Mai, and "Never Stop" by Hilary Duff. Strong work.
The release of Ayumi Hamasaki's latest boxset -- her first since the COMPLETE LIVE and COMPLETE CLIPS boxes in 2003 -- is nigh. This is an excellent -- hopefully -- release to celebrate her 10th Anniversary, though its announcement has put a glaring spotlight the rigid dichotomy between Japanese/East Asian and the western fans.
The western fans that make up an overwhelming majority of her English-speaking online following seem to forget -- or just not understand -- that she is a real-live Japanese artist; she is a household name in her native Japan and much of the neighboring Asia. It's her target audience. The reason the announcement seemed so sudden to fans like us isn't because she was being "lazy" for her 10th Anniversary; it was because she spent her entire anniversary personally bringing her music to her core fans in the form of an enormous, nation-wide tour (one that will expand into Asia later next month).
A new boxset acts as a nice bookend for the promotional blitz that kicked off in Japan in April. And let us not forget that just because she has elbowed her way onto the public conscious doesn't mean everyone rushes out to buy every album she releases--or, in the case of many overseas "fans", pirating everything. By releasing a 3CD set for a mere 3800 yen (one out of her 10 studio albums would cost 2800 yen), Avex is giving the casual listener a chance to find out what Ayu's really all about (and make a quick buck in the process).
And for those of us that do buy everything, there's the DVD of unreleased footage and photobook of unreleased cover artwork, which -- judging by this post at AHS -- is truly unreleased artwork; even the covers of older singles are different from the one's featured in the COUNTDOWN LIVE 2000-2001 book.
Granted, there are definitely things I would change about this. I would have prefered if the cover were similar to the COMPLETE CLIP box with the single gold A on a black background; something classy and understated that would speak volumes about her pop culture legacy. Any starlet worth her salt can take a pretty picture, but how many have branded themselves so well that their logo is instantly recognizable?
I also have my doubts that the photobook will be nearly as nice as the the hardcover, glossy, COUNTDOWN LIVE 2000-2001 book, but I'm excited to give it a chance.
Other than that, I'm really looking forward to Angela Aki's new single. I've been holding off in getting Namie Amuro's BEST FICTION and ayaka's second album in hopes that they'll get a US release in the next few months, and any other entertainment purchases will be put on hold until Dissidia and all of its merchandising has been officiall unveiled.
Nothing from Nothing was the first album recorded by Ayumi Hamasaki. After the album failed to chart, her talent agency and record label, Nippon Columbia, dropped her. The album is now out of print. Due to her subsequent success, it is considered a collector's item. In 1995, at the age of eighteen, Ayumi sang cover songs on a Idol on Stage television program. She debuted in the music industry with her single and album, both titled "Nothing From Nothing". The two releases had more of a rap/hip-hop styled sound than any of her latter releases. Both releases were failures with the single ranking in at #200 and the album ranking in at #198 on the Oricon charts. Shortly afterwards, she left Nippon Columbia.
- Released
- 1995.12.01
- Tracklist
This video portrays the feeling of her song so well - lost innocence.
The PV's out, enjoy!
- Price
- ¥1,890 (CD+DVD)
- ¥1,050 (CD Only)
- CD "YOU ver." Tracklist
- Mirrorcle World
- Life
- YOU (10th Anniversary version)
- Mirrorcle World (Instrumental)
- Life (Instrumental)
- YOU (10th Anniversary version-Instrumental-)
- CD "Depend on you ver." Tracklist
- Mirrorcle World
- Life
- Depend on you (10th Anniversary version)
- Mirrorcle World (Instrumental)
- Life (Instrumental)
- Depend on you (10th Anniversary version-Instrumental-)
- DVD Tracklist
- Mirrorcle World (Music Video)
- Mirrorcle World (Making Clip)
- Information
"Mirrorcle World" is the 43rd single released by Hamasaki Ayumi. The song "Mirrorcle World" is actually a full-length version of the song "Mirror" which is the intro to her ninth studio album, "GUILTY". "Mirrorcle World" will be used in Panasonic FX-35 commercials while "Life" will be used in music.jp commercials as well.
The single was released exactly 10 years after her major label debut single, "poker face" and thus it features two new recordings of her second and fifth singles, both released in 1998: "YOU" and "Depend on you".
On the 7th of March, the full "Mirrorcle World" song leaked.
My frank resolution for this year (translation from HiruNoKaze of AHS - Credit)
The truth is, last year, I had an ear check-up, my diagnosis being that my left ear has completely lost all function and that there is no treatment.
Even so, I want to keep being a singer.
That's why I'll keep singing as long as this remaining right ear works, to its limit.
I won't quit.
I won't make excuses.
As a professional, I will sing the best songs for you*.
I don't really like the word "ganbaru," but...
I will ganbaru**!!!!! At all costs!!!!!!!!!
Until that day, someday...
*Here she uses the word for "everyone," but I think it is better translated as "you." Also, the literal meaning is "I will definitely deliver the best songs to you." for reference.
There are translations out, but it confirmed and understood that Ayu has lost complete hearing in one of her ears. If she uses the other good ear, she could lose or weaken hearing in that good ear.
In the picture below Ayu's is the message from TEAM-AYU, there are translations out that are rough but the message is the same that her hearing has gone bad.
- Released
- 2008.01.01 (Japan & Hong Kong)
- Catalog Number
- AVCD-23503/B (CD+DVD), AVCD-23504 (CD Only)
- Price
- ¥3,990 (CD+DVD), ¥3,150 (CD Only)
- CD Tracklist
- Mirror
- (don't) Leave me alone
- talkin' 2 myself
- decision
- GUILTY
- fated
- Together When...
- Marionette -prelude-
- Marionette
- The Judgement Day
- glitter
- MY ALL
- reBiRTH
- untitled ~for her~
Previews:
Preview of Guilty are right after "RAINBOW" finishes playing.
Opening & Overture
Step you
Unite
Surreal
Because of you
theme of a-nation'03 >>> honto ni mitai deshou!!!
Rainy day
Heaven
Trauma
Startin'
.........
หมายเหตุ อัพโหลดเกือบจะเป็นรอบที่ร้อยแล้วหง่ะ
