Please introduce me to J-pop

[neptunemoon]

Browsing through the forum I came across J-pop. I have heard some songs but I really don't know any artists. The only one I know is Ayumi Hamasaki. I noticed there was talk of Gackt and I was wondering who that is. I'm looking for some good artists and links so I can sample there music. If you have any favorites post em so I can check it out. Post pics of them too if you like. Thanks

 

[Carolgirl00]

ooh!! A new recruit!! Welcome! ^_^ Jpop/rock is a beautiful thing. My two fave artists bands are L'Arc~en~Ciel + Gackt. Gackt is definately one of the most popular artists in Japan and for various reasons. I personally really enjoy his music. It's often argued on whether Gackt is pop or rock. Listen to some and you be the judge! I don't care what the heck it is- it's good music!!

Some other great bands/artists are:

Dir en grey
L'Arc~en~Ciel
Glay
Utada Hikaru
Malice Mizer
Pierrot
w-inds
hide
X-Japan
Do as Infinity
BoA
Luna Sea
(I'm sure some1 else can make a much better list. ^^;; )

Here is probably the best + most thorough Gackt fansite ever created: =D

http://dear.to/sawasdeegackt

This site is in Japanese, but it has some english instructions. It's a rotating download site where u can find songs and videos:

http://www.vr99.net/pv.htm

Feel free to ask if you gots any more questions!! What can I say I love my jpop!

 

[nikki_the_insane]

Utada Hikaru is a good artist. She did the song Simple and Clean off of Kingdom Hearts. I don't where to get any music downloads, forgot where I got all mine. XD

 

[neptunemoon]

Arigato I'll be sure to ask more questions after I explore the site for awhile.

 

[neptunemoon]

Originally posted by Carolgirl00
ooh!! A new recruit!! Welcome! ^_^ Jpop/rock is a beautiful thing. My two fave artists bands are L'Arc~en~Ciel + Gackt. Gackt is definately one of the most popular artists in Japan and for various reasons. I personally really enjoy his music. It's often argued on whether Gackt is pop or rock. Listen to some and you be the judge! I don't care what the heck it is- it's good music!!

Some other great bands/artists are:

Dir en grey
L'Arc~en~Ciel
Glay
Utada Hikaru
Malice Mizer
Pierrot
w-inds
hide
X-Japan
Do as Infinity
BoA
Luna Sea
(I'm sure some1 else can make a much better list. ^^;; )

Here is probably the best + most thorough Gackt fansite ever created: =D

dear.to

This site is in Japanese, but it has some english instructions. It's a rotating download site where u can find songs and videos:

宝马bm555线路检测|主頁(欢迎您)

Feel free to ask if you gots any more questions!! What can I say I love my jpop!

After downloading and trying to open the file it said a password is needed. Where do I get that?

 

[nocturnal]

Gackt is J-rock, he only becomes J-pop when improperly viewed by retarded teenyboppers

 

[den4]

"The password of the download zip file is vr99.yeah.net . once delete I will not upload them again.

The file for you to download is a zip file , please unzip them use the password vr99.yeah.net,play the file with Realplayer ,if it does not work, you should update the version of your RealPlayer."

according to the instructions on the site....it was written in English at the bottom of the page....

other links:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/superpchan/

http://www.jpopwind.com/index.htm (pretty slow refresh rates)

http://jpmp3.com/

 

[neptunemoon]

Hey it worked that's awesome. Thanks. And nocturnal sorry if I offended I don't know what artists are J-rock or J-pop since I have not heard of most of them.

 

[den4]

Originally posted by nocturnal
Gackt is J-rock, he only becomes J-pop when improperly viewed by retarded teenyboppers

or when he takes on the David Bowie persona...

 

[nocturnal]

Originally posted by den4
or when he takes on the David Bowie persona...

LMAO! Ha-ha-ha!

 

[den4]

you ever watch Gackt on the Hey Hey Hey show with Downtown? He cracks me up being the Ultra Cool guy that tries so hard not to smile

 

[nocturnal]

Yeah, I've seen him several times on Music Champ and he'll try not to laugh or smile (but smiles a little) cause' if he does, that'll be very uncharacteristic of him, I mean according to his fans

 

[neptunemoon]

So for him to be cool he's not supposed to smile?

 

[den4]

For him to be cool, he has to be unemotional...

 

[neptunemoon]

I think that's silly. Are most music artists like that? I think you can be cool and show emotions.

 

[den4]

Gackt is Gackt...
who else would name themselves with a name that sounds like a hacking choke?

of course, it is better than some other jpop/rock names out there...like Doggy Bag, Day After Tomorrow or some just plain weird name that would definitely come from watching too much engrish...

 

[den4]

for those with BitTorrent:
http://bunko.theppn.org/

 

[Arashi]

I really like Shiina Ringo (椎名林檎 ). She has more original work than most J-pop artists.

 

[neptunemoon]

Cool I'll add her to my list of people to look up. All you guys are being really helpful.

 

[Keiichi]

Listening to Jpop is a good way to kind of get used to Jpop. If you don't have any radio station in your area that plays Jpop, try listening to online radio stations (good if you have broadband internet). Try japanaradio.com, which plays some pretty good anime/jpop music. I pretty much got hooked on Jpop from listening to Jpop from a radio station here, and started looking at sites, downloading music, buying music, watching J-dramas, etc. It's pretty much what got me so interested in J-culture. ^^;

 

[neptunemoon]

Those radio stations that you mentiioned don't you have to pay for that. I dont have broadband does it cost xtra? I started liking j-pop from watching the soap operas and in the year 2000 when they showed new years all over the world they showed Ayumi in concert. That was soo cool cuz in the game Thousand Arms she sang a song I forgot the name though. That's how i got hooked.

 

[nocturnal]

There's lots of things about the great Gackt. Other than being unenthusiastic, he's supposed to had existed before in the 1500's during the medieval timelines of Japan. I don't really know what they're trying to say here; rebirth or reincarnation? Nonetheless, it doesn't appeal to me of how cool he is despite his eerie persona.

 

[audrey]

shiina ringo, w-inds and kotani kinya are those j-pop artists i like^^ or at least i think they're j-pop. i'm not sure x) utada hikaru is pretty good too of course, like her voice and lyrics.

gackt is gackt, yeah XD i have heard many weird things about him.. vampire stuff and so^^' and that his age thing. gackt is very nice anyway. and has a very very pretty voice. and all. thoo.

hey, i have heard somewhere [can't remeber where] that in japan all those musicians who do and play their music by themselves are doing jrock and j-pop is more techno or disco-style thing.. is that true?

 

[nocturnal]

Yes, despite his odd style, he is indeed a nice guy. Juunigatsuu no Love Song was dedicated for the people who lost their loved ones on the 9/11 incident. And I've seen him do these crazy things that you wouldn't normally think he'll ever do.

 

[Keiichi]

Originally posted by neptunemoon
Those radio stations that you mentiioned don't you have to pay for that. I dont have broadband does it cost xtra? I started liking j-pop from watching the soap operas and in the year 2000 when they showed new years all over the world they showed Ayumi in concert. That was soo cool cuz in the game Thousand Arms she sang a song I forgot the name though. That's how i got hooked.

It costs money to run, but it's a free service. They have links where you can give donations if you want so the service can keep going.
Though if you don't have broadband, it might not be as good. The 56k version has static sounds that kind of hurts your ears. ^^;