Please introduce me to J-pop

[EscaFlowne]

okay....I'm kinda a virgin to J-pop or J rock somebody introduce me but be kind.

 

[neptunemoon]

prepare to be divirginized, well there are alot of names mentioned her but so far from what i have checked out start with ayumi hamasaki, utada hikaru, and dir un grey, when your ready try gackt

 

[EscaFlowne]

oooooooooo whats gackt

*divirginized coming along good.*

 

[neptunemoon]

japanese guy who supposedly squall from FF8 was modeled after. He is considered Jrock and there are a whole bunch of stories that he is a vampire or lived long ago or something. Anyone who loves gackt dont kill me I'm giving the short of the long and I didnt study his bio.

 

[ninthsaphir]

*divirginized coming along good.*

gee. thanks for putting it that way...

Gackt - popular j-rock (yes, jrock, though i wouldn't worry too much about classification) artist. He has a very diverse style, from a piano solo (Blue), to a lovely orchestral piece (sekirei strings arr. version), to harder songs (death wish), to quiet acoustics (Last Song), to the more commercially successful songs (Another World, doesn't sit well with his more intimate fans). His music carries a lot of gravity, usually. Most people see him more in light of his former band, Malice Mizer, a rather visual heavy band with an almost over-the-top classical-gothiness (good, though). I like to see him in his own context, though.

here's a very basic rundown of his albums, since he is so diverse:

Mizerable: mini album, with 4 nice songs. has a rather classical feel to it, although the first track Mizerable is rather energetic with a brilliant bassline.

Mars: It has all kinds of different stuff, from rock to a full instrumentals track. Has a mystical/magical/ethereal feel to it, is my best approximation.

Rebirth: I personally didn't like this one, but for some, it worked, I guess. Seems more light-hearted.

Moon: Has a "heavier" feel than Mars. Some harder songs, more overdriven guitars...

Crescent: his upcoming album, which I'm looking forward to, though all his singles (Both A AND B sides) made it on there. It seems like it's going to be "quieter" (more acoustics & violins) and more mature than his previous works.

I think looking into Mars is your best bet as to an introduction to Gackt.

despite his diversity, though, he's not for everybody, apparently.

Hope that helped...

 

[EscaFlowne]

*Me learning and likey---i don't feel like a virgin anymore*

Now i must research more of gackt!!! Thank you all. unless theres more

*still educate me*

 

[Dream Time]

Originally posted by neptunemoon
Wow you know alot. I'm trying to find her song simple and clean but the slow version of it. I would have never have guessed she was born here oh well I live in NY

I've been listening to Japanese music since young age so I know some,


in fact Utada Hikaru is a student of Columbia University in New York.

 

[Jupernia]

The best way I found to get into the music is to just start finding the names of artist and dowloading them for a source like winMX. Newtype USA features new albums that come out and give little reviews of sorts. Other then that I good place to start looking up the names of bands that are out there is animelyrics.com, they have a section for Jpop/Jrock with lyrics and artist names.

I've been a fan for about a year now and so far this is my fav's list:

Jpop/Jrock -
B'z
Tokio
Kinki Kids
Hyde
Malice Mizer
Plastic Tree
Hamasaki Ayumi
V6
See Saw
Every Little Thing
D.A.I.
The Brillant Green
Bonnie Pink
Shiina Ringo
Janne Da Arc
Kotoko
Mai Kuraki
Misia
Triceratops
Mr. Childred
Kasumasa Oda
Hyde
Glay
Soulhead
Zard
Puffy (Puffy AmiYumi)
Judy and Mary
Bump of Chicken
Dragon Ash
Crystal Kay
Chemistry
Utada Hikaru
The Pillows
Yaida Hitomi
Zone
w-inds
Pierrot

And a small note to end: Tufo records is a company all for releasing Jpop/Jrock here in the states and has out to Cd. One is called Jpop which has various artists and the other is for T.M.Revolution, both CDs are very good and well done in terms of the songs on the album. This is the site if you want to check them out: http://www.tofurecords.com/index.php

(sorry for putting that there if I'm not supposed to)

 

[EscaFlowne]

this is helpful!

*I didn't see gackt name on there*

I 'm going this weekend to look for music!

 

[X-Japan-FanGrl]

everyone loves gackt..its like.....you have to...lmao

 

[EscaFlowne]

 

[den4]

Gackt, the sound one makes when trying to eat and inhale at the same time

Japanese David Bowie wannabe with the stoic stance when appearing in live talk shows, like Downtown's HeyHeyHey music show that can be seen on the International Channel, in the US, if you can get it. He tries so hard not to laugh when the two comedians keep trying to trump him up, but I have seen he's an excellent billiards player, and he used to wear weights under his suits, just to build up his stamina...

I don't really care for his music that much, but I will say that his interviews are a riot of laughter

 

[Carolgirl00]

*munch* *munch* *munch* ......GACKT!!

Oh my gackt- I just choked! Worship my cheesy joke, all of you!!

 

[DJ super gaijin]

Wow I had no idea that visual rock was so popular outside of Japan.
By the way since the decline of Judy and Mary, I have been searching desperately for another band that has that combination of edgyness and pop sensibilty (think 'Music Fighter' or 'Birthday Song'. I'd appreciate any tips for bands that might fit the bill!

 

[neptunemoon]

do you know the name of the show on fuji tv that shows these artists perform?

 

[X-Japan-FanGrl]

i love him i dont care what you say stupid hyde and his stupid wife are having a kid he crushed my dreamsssssss but not gackt lol

 

[nocturnal]

Originally posted by DJ super gaijin
Wow I had no idea that visual rock was so popular outside of Japan.
By the way since the decline of Judy and Mary, I have been searching desperately for another band that has that combination of edgyness and pop sensibilty (think 'Music Fighter' or 'Birthday Song'. I'd appreciate any tips for bands that might fit the bill!

Hysteric Blue is my best recommendation here if you like Judy and Mary

 

[perfect blue]

hehe im also a new yorker you can find lots of stores downtown.
try some L`Arc~en~Ciel for rock and Hamasaki ayumi for pop
if you want some shares talk with me in msn menssanger.
" [email protected] "

 

[X-Japan-FanGrl]

bah im all gettinmg into luna sea now wth argh @ my homeboy its all his fault