Yeey! :D Where exactly is Okazaki? I'm not familiar with it...

**1 377,070 GReeeeN
**2 315,373 絢香
**3 261,510 ケツメイシ
**4 153,212 B'z
**5 *42,043 ジェロ
**6 *41,369 コールドプレイ
**7 *32,682 BUMP OF CHICKEN
**8 *24,832 『DJ KAORI'S RAGGA MIX』
**9 *24,587 オフスプリング
*10 *21,009 MINMI
*11 *19,765 氷室京介
*12 *19,104 Chara
*13 *18,759 the pillows
*14 *15,819 林原めぐみ
*15 *14,026 MISIA
*16 *13,926 Superfly
*17 *12,707 ジューダス・プリースト
*18 *11,911 デスティニーズ・チャイルド
*19 *11,115 菅野こう子
*20 *10,645 鈴木雅之
*21 *10,496 マドンナ
*22 *10,194 松たか子
*23 **9,784 DJ PMX
*24 **9,429 宇多田ヒカル
*25 **9,236 『PIANO COLLECTIONS FINAL FANTASY XI』
*26 **8,707 DOUBLE
*27 **7,402 LOVE PSYCHEDELICO
*28 **7,334 アッシャー
*29 **7,117 フォックスボロ・ホットタブス
*30 **6,836 松本人志，高須光聖

well done ayaka , you put up a great fight against GReeeeN

You beat me to it Karen lol
But GREAT job ayaka!!! I'm proud of her :)

:roflmao

sorry about that Kevin

STOS's 1st week sales is about 35K + less than FT's but it's pretty cool considering that FT was put out 2 years ago & now at this day & age , CD sales have been decreasing

to be able to pull off 300K + it's pretty good

FT = FM [First Message]? lol
Yep, 300K is an excellent first week so I hope she can pull off an 100K second week :)

oops sorry I mean FM :laugh

it's quite something that STOS managed to sell 300K + in the 1st week :yes

that's okay haha
STOS = STTS [Singing to the Sky]? lol again

But good sales for her!!!! Celebration!
I still wanna get my copy...

-_-

aw man something's not right with me today

Sing To The Sky = STTS

First Message = FM

ok I get it now

:laugh

It's in Aichi, near Nagoya.

I actually haven't listened to Sing to the Sky yet, since I didn't bring my CD player to Japan. LOL...

AYaka's week

*49 **2,492 絢香 okaeri
*53 **4,290 絢香『First Message』
**2 315,373 絢香 STTS

yey she's a number one in the dailies *.*

oh really?????!!!!!
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY
wow, it was really close between ayaka and GReeeeN today

oh wow that's great to know

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO..
they're very close...

http://i25.tinypic.com/11hcebs.jpg

difference between both of their sales's 400 copies only O_O

wow looks like ayaka's fans are fighting back against GReeeeeN

^ 400 multiply with 1,7 equal to 680 copies
LOL

hehehe

Ayaka's fan will beat GreeeeN

Keep fighting ayaka!!
I hope this means she ranks higher for this week :)

Haha.. I think she can beat GReeeeN for this week

I would say soo, usually people have been dropping like crazy over the week with a small rise on Saturday; I would say these are good numbers 4 their respective weeks :)

BTW, on iTunes Japan, ayaka's album is listed as having "Explicit content" hahahahaha

huh parental advisory? what the...? O_o

looks like 今夜も星に抱かれて... is most popular so far, that's not a surprise for me, because I love this song sooo much *.*

:roflmao

oh my god are you serious on that Kevin ? :roflmao

why ?

I have no idea why it says that hahaha
I doubt ayaka is swearing or anything lol

@apple-pi: I agree about it being a favorite among people. It's just soooo beautiful. I LOVE POWER OF MUSIC as well!!! I don't know why others don't like it either 0_0

Also, I'm the only person I think on this thread so far who has expressed interest in Ai mo Uso mo Shinjitsu (my fav track on the album) hahaha.

:roflmao

I don't think so man

that will be funny

hahaha, she's just not the type of person i can see doing that XD
The only swearing that comes to mind in J-Pop is from Kumi songs [but the swearing is in English]

LOL

come to think about it , I can't think of any possible reason why ayaka's STTS (yes I got it right finally) is being singled out for the wrong reasons

http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000041356
ayaka x Kobukuro 2nd collab, "あなたと" set to be used for a Nissan Cube CM begins airing July 4th, single will be released in autumn 2008.

!!!

YAY another collab :D

I hope it will be as good as WINDING ROAD

man it's about time Kobukuro comes back with new material

I don't particularly care for their songs butttt this definitely could help boost sales with this new CM!
I wonder when exactly the single will be released cause autumn seems so far away...

yey new single *.*

lol

Kevin , Kobukuro has some pretty good songs & I believe both Kobukruo & ayaka helped each other out sales wise when WINDING ROAD was put out

you should try their stuff although it's quite different from the usual mainstream Jpop stuff

oh yeah WINDING ROAD's fantastic , can see why it's ayaka's highest selling single to date , 2nd's Mikazuki of course

well, the sales hasnt mulitplied with 1,7 for total sales.

eww included me person who doesnt like POWER OF MUSIC LOL

I don't think POWER OF MUSIC should have been the 1st track

maybe something like Okaeri to start the album off

^ I think kimi ga iru must be the opener

lol

it's a really strong track on the album that should be the opening no. !

@Karen: maybe I should check them out. I'll see what I think :)
I like POWER OF MUSIC as an opener!!! Okaeri I don't think would be a good opener...but that's just me
@riozz: haha, I don't think Kimi ga Iru should be the opener...POWER OF MUSIC just has that atmosphere that makes it a good opener

Kevin I recommend that you check out their singles only because 1 bad thing about Kobukuro's that their songs tend to be 5 - 6 mins long :S since they play folk music

Listen their 11th single Koko ni Shika Sakanai Hana onwards because that's their breakthough hit

Tsubomi's highly recommended too , it's their 1st no.1 single & it won the Grand Prix award at the 49th Japan Record Awards

haha.. at least her decision is the best... i wont complain anymore about STTS coz it's perfect album

okk, I'll check that out!!!
I watched the 49th Japan Record Awards but didn't listen to their performance lol
Just Kuu and C-ute and someone else I can't remember lol

details on the new collboration !

http://wiki.theppn.org/Anata_to_%28ayaka_x_Kobukuro%29

oh wow that's really exciting !

haha :laugh

honestly they have great melodies going on in their songs they're really something

^ is that right?
I'm not sure..
but the pict can make me sure.. hoho

???

er what are you trying to say Ryo ?

I mean about the collaboration with kobukuro again..

hahaha, that pic looks soooo similar to the other one with Kobukoro.

hehe.. so I wont believe it.. hehe

oh

what about it ?

I think he's questioning the vaildity of the single like if it's really happening or not

it's judging from the validity of it

I hope it's bcos Kobukuro has not released anything new since last Nov :S

& just so you know , ayaka's good friends with the duo so yup

Yeah, I think it's real too. Hope it helps her sales :)

yeah.. that's i mean.thanks for clearing up

http://www.ken-on.co.jp/ayaka/sky/gallery/index.html

Guys, someone has the scans, please?

^ you can find here,Jess
http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75951

BTW, iTunes changed the whole album from being "Explicit". Now it's just the following tracks which have that label...

Good Night Baby
Why
Mahoutsukai no Shiwaza
Te wo Tsunagou
Ai mo Uso mo Shinjitsu
CLAP & LOVE

XD

:roflmao

it's still bad as to why ayaka's STTS's being blacklisted on iTunes

Ayaka and Kobukuro teams up once again!

Source: jpopasia
================================================== ==========================

I hope this song is better than WINDING ROAD. I did not like WR at all. @_@

i liked WINDING ROAD, but it's not amazing to me or anything. but i'm happy for another collab song!

^This might be a top 10 yearly hit for them. I just hope Kobu's power isn't fading fast. They have been quite for a while.

too right

they haven't released anything since last Nov

I'm dying for some new material from them

They make everyone feel bad XD
They sell like hotcakes!!! Yeesh lol
Maybe they have great music though...still...she beat out Ayu though for the number 1 spot -bitter-

Anywayyy, I can't wait to see more ayaka sales :)

well personally to me from the singles that I have heard from Kobukuro , I must say that they have some great melodies & songs going on in their music

their music's folk rock but it's not those boring type of music which will put you to sleep but rather some of their songs are very uplifting & soaring no.s & of course their ballads are great as well

anyway I think once the 2nd collbo with ayaka drops , it's interesting to see how well the song fare since it has been too long since Kobukuro dropped another song

EDIT --

ANYWAY , back to ayaka , she covered Tsuyoku Naritai (Ken Hirai's song only included as a B-side in his "Love Love Love" single released back in 1998 at her first concert in Nihon Budokan last year . The concert was broadcasted some months ago through TV, but unfortunately that perfomance was cut .

But , the live performance of it was included in the DVD of STTS

ayaka - Tsuyoku Naritai (Ken Hirai cover - LIVE Nihon Budokan 2007.12.20)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/2...2181948xw8.jpg

Video: MPEG4 Video 716x480 (53:30) 29.97fps
Audio: MPEG Audio Layer 3 48000Hz stereo

Video (avi) - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NKVDHSF5

Mirror link - http://rapidshare.com/files/126589812/ay_tsu.zip.html

Audio rip (MP3) - http://sharebee.com/5753b7ce

Password for all files: LNany

Credits to LNany from the Ken Hirai forum

Finally had time to listen to STTS: it's a very good album! Not sure if I like it better than FM though.

hmm personally I say that the non singles songs on STTS are not as strong as the non singles songs on FM

but at least the singles on STTS which made the cut are really good

^ I wish Meiro would replace Ai wo Utaou or even one of the weaker album tracks...
However Sing to the Sky is soooo much stronger than First Message

soooo apparently there is a PV for one of my fav songs off Sing to the Sky!!!!
Kon'ya mo Hoshi ni Dakarete!!!!
I can't wait to see it :)

eh

Ai wo Utaou's an A side single by right , ayaka should not separate it since Te wo Tsunagou / Ai wo Utaou's a double A side

I don't like it when you break up a double A side & not putting it in an album provided if you have a valid reason for doing so

I rather 1 of the non singles songs be replaced with Meiro , it's just too bad it's not included in STTS :weep

like for YUI , My Generation / Understand was her 10th single but only My Generation made the cut in I LOVED YESTERDAY bcos if Understand was to be included , it will sound like the odd 1 out (according to my younger sister)

Yeah, I just wish Meiro was the A-side of that single, thus leaving it a spot on the album :)
BTW, apparently Anata to will be released on September 24...long time away...

yeah bcos the style of Meiro is very different from her usual B side works

pity that was cut from STTS

I still wish that Peace loving people was included in FM bcos she loves performing that during live performances without fail

wuuhuuu..... New Single.. I hope it can stay in top 10 yearly even outsell thelma...

again #4 for today

good job ayaka!
I hope she can pull into 3 before the week is over...

^ i want at least she'll leave GReeeeN behind her for this week

:yes
Go ayaka!!
Had she released her album this week, she totally would have gotten number 1
I hope she can pass them too :)

47 -- -- 24 28 --↑42　絢香 「First Message｣

FM back to top 50 again..yuhhuu

*2 *2 *2 *2 *1 *4→*4　絢香 「Sing to the Sky｣

there's a PV out on JPS for "Konya mo Hoshi ni Dakarete... " but if you hated utada's kiss & cry/beautiful world PVs...you'll hate this one too. :laugh

lol

is that so Lisa ?

then again ayaka's PVs are nothing fantastic to begin with :no

that's why when comes to STTS , I don't mind to get the one which comes with the DVD containing concert footage of her Budokan performance

I can skip the DVD containing the PVs anytime

yea, since the song's used for an anime movie, it's an anime PV. :laugh

:laugh

oh ok

then I don't mind to give that a pass

hey I like Ai wo Utaou it's more upbeat/lively than Te wo Tsunagou

Luckily Ai wo Utaou didn't get axed from STTS

CM with Anata to
http://blog.nissan.co.jp/CUBE/2008/07/cube_cm.shtml

Ok my review on STTS . I might as well post it on here since I have feedback that people have problems viewing my music blog especially when they use firefox .

------------------------------------------------

Sing to the Sky is ayaka's 2nd studio album . It was released last Wed in Japan .

Prior to the release of Sing to the Sky , 7 songs were released in which 2 of them are double A sides singles . You might count it as 8 songs instead provided if you consider For today as a single .

Although Sing to the Sky was denied the top spot by the current IT pop/rock quartet GReeeeN's 2nd major label studio album A , Domo . Ohisashiburi Desu . (Oh , Hey. Long Time No See . ) , ayaka's latest offering still managed to shift 315,373 copies in the 1st week which's impressive considering that physical CD sales in Japan have been declining steadily as each year goes by .

Not to mention , the 1st week sales of Sing to the Sky is almost on par with ayaka's debut album First Message which cleared about 350,580 copies in the 1st week when First Message was put out 2 years back .

Sing to the Sky contains a massive & generous selection of 17 songs in which almost 1/2 the album was released prior to the announcement of ayaka's new album . So the question's , are the non singles/new songs able to stack up against the singles ?

The album starts off with POWER OF MUSIC which's a new song . Although POWER OF MUSIC can't match up to the catchy Start to 0 (Love) on ayaka's debut album , I think POWER OF MUSIC's a neat song .

Ai wo Utaou (Let's Sing Love) is track 2 & it's 2nd 1/2 of ayaka's 8th single Te wo Tsunagou / Ai wo Utaou . I like Ai wo Utaou (Let's Sing Love) as it presents a more upbeat & cheery side coming from ayaka . It kinda make sense to put Ai wo Utaou after POWER OF MUSIC since both of them are upbeat songs .

Another non single track is up next . Called Sky , it's quite a soaring uplifting no. . Even though it's somewhat broaderline on the filler side , I still like this song & it might be better if POWER MUSIC was slotted in as track 3 instead of track 1 if you compared both songs side by side together .

At this time , the pace of the album has changed to a slower pace in the form of ayaka's 6th single Jewelry day . I know the song received criticisms when the single was released at that time but I honestly think Jewelry day is a beautiful ballad & it's almost on par with 1 of ayaka's signature ballad/song Mikazuki .

Up next's a non single song titled Good Night Baby which's the shortest track on the album clocking in at 3:08 mins . It follows in the same vein as Jewelry day in which both songs are ballads/slow no.s . As much as I like Good Night Baby , I can't help but feel a bit short changed in that the track sounded like a 1/2 finished no. . If ayaka were to extend the song by a few secs or so , it will be perfect .

Track 6's For today which's ayaka's 1st digital single . When I 1st saw the tracklisting of Sing to the Sky , I was so relived that For today made the cut because it's such a catchy song coming from ayaka & probably 1 of the best upbeat single/s that she has put out in recent time .

Why's the 2nd 1/2 of ayaka's 7th single CLAP & LOVE / Why . The song was used as the theme song to the Square Enix game CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- . When CLAP & LOVE / Why was released , I lean towards Why more than CLAP & LOVE because I feel it's an earnest & sincere ballad that ayaka has put out . It slightly lacks the brillance of Mizakuzi but I still enjoy Why .

Gold Star follows after Sky & it's 1 of the more aggressive/edgy songs on the album . I like the way ayaka's vocals are being wrapped around the melody & it shows in this song & this's 1 of the more stronger non single songs on the record .

Track 9's a song that has an interesting title . Called Mahoutsukai no Shiwaza (The Magician's Deeds) , it's a ballad & I remember when I 1st heard this no. , I was drawn immediately to it as ayaka croons the song without going over the top .

Besides I think the transition is there as soon as Mahoutsukai no Shiwaza (The Magician's Deeds) is done , up next's Te wo Tsunagou (Let's Hold Hands) which's the 1st 1/2 of ayaka's 8th single Te wo Tsunagou / Ai wo Utaou & just like Mahoutsukai no Shiwaza , Te wo Tsunagou follows in the same vein as the latter in which it's a smart move to put both songs side by side together .

As soon as Te wo Tsunagou is done , in comes another new song titled Ai mo Uso mo Shinjitsu (Love , Lies and Truth) . The melody for Ai mo Uso mo Shinjitsu is interesting to say the least as it presents a slightly more poppy sound from ayaka . Reminds me of a less poppy Blue Days .

CLAP & LOVE is track 12 & it's the 1st 1/2 of ayaka's 7th single CLAP & LOVE / Why . I remembered when I 1st heard CLAP & LOVE , I was extremely surprised as this's possibly her most poppy single that she has put out to date . I didn't like CLAP & LOVE at 1st because I was very used to her pop/rock no.s but being 1 of the most unique & unusual songs on the record , CLAP & LOVE is a keeper alongside with Ai mo Uso mo Shinjitsu .

Kimi ga Iru Kara (Because I Have You) is up next & this's 1 of my fave songs on the album , non single wise simply because it's such a great catchy pop/rock no. which showcases what ayaka's good at - creating fantastic & catchy pop/rock songs & it's evident in Kimi ga Iru Kara .

Track 14's Okaeri (Welcome Home) which's ayaka's 9th/most recent single that she put out , a month prior to the release of Sing to the Sky . I have a soft spot for Okaeri the 1st time I heard it as the melody of the song charmed me instantly & it's refreshing that ayaka used bagpipes in the melody of Okaeri which's really cool .

Kon'ya mo Hoshi ni Dakarete (Wrapped in the Stars Tonight) is the last new song on the album & yes the title's really interesting & cool but how does the song stack up ? I adore Kon'ya mo Hoshi ni Dakarete as there's just something about ayaka's ballads in which she doesn't make 1 song that sounds like a fellow carbon copycat of another .

In Sing to the Sky , you get 2 bonus tracks . I start with WINDING ROAD which's credited as ayaka x Kobukuro . WINDING ROAD's ayaka's 5th single & her 1st collaborative single that she did with fellow label mate , the folk rock duo Kobukuro .

I'm so glad that WINDING ROAD is included as a bonus track because it's 1 of the best collaboration that I have heard in recent times . Also I personally feel that ayaka & Kobukuro's vocals compliment each other extremely well .

& speaking of collaborations , it's rumored that both artistes will reunite for another round of a collaborative single which's titled Anata to (With You) . If the rumors are true , Anata to is scheduled to be released in Japan on 24th Sept & this will be the 1st single that Kobukuro will released this year with the last one that they put out was way back last Nov which's Aoku Yasashiku (Bluer, Kindly) .

Last but definitely not least , an Eng version of ayaka's debut single I believe . I admit , my 1st reaction when I found out that there will be an Eng take of her debut single , I was worried as ayaka might butchered an already masterpiece soaring uplifting ballad when she sings the song in full Eng but all my doubts were cast aside when I finally heard it .

Unlike the original , I believe (English ver.) is shorter clocking in at 3:17 mins while the original stands at 4:57 mins so basically I believe (English ver.) has some parts being cut out from the original .

I have to give credit for delivering a decent Eng take on her debut single as it takes guts for her to do such a thing considering that Eng's by right not her 1st language . At least I can understand her Eng dictation & she managed to sing it pretty well although there were some parts that she went a bit off key but still it's a commending effort .

Unlike First Message , Sing to the Sky presents a more mature & grown up musical approach from ayaka . I can definitely tell that ayaka has grown stronger musically & then some after I listened to Sing to the Sky as it has been 2 years since First Message was put out .

That's not to say that the album doesn't have flaws . Some of the non singles songs are quite weak & un-memorable on 1st listen & I realised that's the case when comes to the 1st 1/2 of the album where the new songs were laid . But at least in the latter part of the album , the remaining new songs were good especially Kimi ga Iru Kara (Because I Have You) .

It's good to know that the sound consistency of Sing to the Sky is there which's great . I guess you need to listen to Sing to the Sky a few more times in order to appericate the music efforts coming from 1 of Japan's talented female singer/songwriter .

If you're looking for some good pop/rock music with a few surprises thrown in for good measures , then Sing to the Sky might just be the album for you .

------------------------------------------------------

sorry it's terribly long & lengthy

Karen, I agree with your review about kimi ga iru

thanks for the CM,Kev

btw STTS back to #2.. yuuhuuu

thanks Ryo :)

is that only me think kimi ga iru reminds to sk8ter boy by Avril?

btw first message back to #34 daily?? hohoh

come to think about it , it does

the melody sounds a bit like Sk8ter Boi , now that you have pointed it out

HA COOL..but i think this is better than sk8ter boy

The music is beautiful!!! I prefer this one than Winding Road! Very Good ballad!

me too

in fact I can say that kimi ga iru's 1 of my fave songs on STTS , non single wise

WHAT!? First Message is back on the charts in the Top 50!? That's surprising.

GUYS CD Japan is doing a clearance sale again!
- Clap & Love / Why [Limited Edition] is 20% off!
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=WPCL-10428

i hope that's first message... >.<

yeah.. even last week it sold 4K

it's her best track on STTS IMO

hmm i think it's better than WINDING ROAD

1 of the strongest & most fun upbeat songs on the record :yes

http://www4.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php...25f06dc63g.jpghttp://www4.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php...4ca1dfd53g.jpg
credit : glacial

ayaka's page from exile's magazine

I HAVE AN ISSUE HERE )):

Should i pick up the Japan Version of STTS CD only in the local HMV tomorrow or save up for the CD+DVD version(s)? (Provided they would still be available by then)

^ i think you should buy CD+DVD because you got double..hho

btw ayaka got #5 for taiwan chart
http://www.g-music.com.tw/GMusicBillboard3.aspx

well you have to ask yourself whether do you really need the DVD of STTS ?

if not then just get the CD only ver of STTS lah

for me I'm waiting to see whether Warner will be printing/bringing in OS presses or not

I hope they will bring in the CD + DVD in which the DVD's content's ayaka's concert performance that she did at the Budokan

would be great if they bring in both CD + DVD editions though

http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/8611/ayaka1mg8.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9590/ayakank0.jpg
credit : budonkadon