[Request] Reintroduction to current Japanese music!

[Corybobory]

I've been a member of this forum for close to 6 years, and was an Ayu fan for many of them... but as time past I drifted away from Ayu's music and Japanese music in general.

Now I'm realising my iTunes is looking a bit stale and needing a bit of sparkle... so I'm asking a favour or you all... I'd like to know the best of the best in Japanese tunes of the last year or two! Give me a list of your absolute favourite top 10 songs by Japanese artists for example and I'll go off and try to find them

When I did listen to Japanese music, I was a fan of Ai Otsuka, The Brilliant Green, Utada Hikaru and Ayu of course. My favourite songs tend to be those that make you want to sing along!

So can you help me?

[MsMiyabi]

I can do that for you but Question. You want my list as in WHAT I THINK is best?

Or like a song recommendation list?

[stickyrice]

So far these are the songs I still play on a daily basis =)

Ami Suzuki - FREE FREE
melody. - Finding My Road
Hitomi Shimatani - Destiny -taiyou no hana-
Koda Kumi - feel
Maki Goto - SOME BOYS! TOUCH
JYONGRI - Possession
Angela Aki - Power of MUSIC
Nana Tanimura - JUNGLE DANCE
BoA - BAD DRIVE
Nana Mizuki - DISCOTHEQUE
Hayami Kishimoto - PEACH:LIME//SHAKE
sifow - Love Spell (forgot to clarify that Love Spell is the album title XD)
Namie Amuro - WHAT A FEELING
Rina Aiuchi - Mint
Perfume - Secret Secret
Genki Rockets - BREEZE

also

MiChi - PROMiSE

She's a new artist and her debut single is pretty amazing. Her single is in the download section I believe.

[hpg23]

From the artists you named and that I listen to:

The best new Utada Hikaru songs for me are:
-Flavor of Life -Ballad Version-
-Prisoner of Love
-Fight the Blues
-Stay Gold
-Take 5
the whole HEART STATION album, she hasn´t released anything new really apart from that. Oh, and
-Eternally -drama mix-, that´s new. Just different vocal from the original.

From Ayu:
-Talkin 2´ myself
-fated
-Mirrorcle World
-decision
-Life
-Who... (10th Anniversary version)
And from GUILTY album the most oustanding tracks in my opinion are:
-Together When... (DON´T MISS THIS!)
-Marionette
-(don´t) leave me alone
-GUILTY
And stay tunned for her new release "Days/GREEN"

Also, for other artists that are a must hear this year, I would recommend the following songs:

-Everything that Namie Amuro put out this year is amazing: especially the 60s70s80s singles (NEW LOOK, ROCK STEADY and WHAT A FEELING) and Do Me More. Sexy Girl is cool too. Her PLAY album is amazing, one of the best of 2007, and the best in her career, I think.
-Koda Kumi´s Kingdom is something you should hear, specially for BUT, FREAKY,etc. This year, her best material is the TABOO single, but in her recent MOON single there´s some good stuff too, specially Lady Go!
-GIRL NEXT DOOR is a new avex group that have a very different and techno-pop sound to it. They have only released two singles: drive away and Guuzen no Kakuritsu, and both managed to reach the 3rd position in Oricon and are amazing. I higly recommend.
-Anna Tsuchiya´s "Crazy World" is very good too,
-And so is MICA 3 CHU single "I DON´T KNOW"
-ayaka is full of blast lately. Her new album "Sing to the Sky" is amazing, and so are her latest singles: specially CLAP & LOVE/Why.
-Miliyah Kato has put out very interesting stuff this year: I would recommend "19 memories" and "SAYONARA Baby".
-BoA has put out cool things too, LOSE YOUR MIND is quite a good single (avoid Vivid if you don´t want sugar overdose) and you shouldn´t miss Eat You Up, her english debut.
-Crystal Kay has released very good singles and a new album: Color Change!. Her new singles are quite good, specially Namida No Saki Ni is amazing, and don´t miss Suki, the B-Side of her single ONE.
-And, this year is the year of collaborations: They have been quite outstanding and very well done; specially BLACK DIAMOND by Namie Amuro and DOUBLE, you should not miss that. Koda Kumi and Fergie made one in June, it is found in her MOON single and it´s called That Ain´t Cool, and it´s quite nice.

Hope it helps, it was long xDDD

[sweetgirl]

my top 10 Japanese song are:
1- Gackt - last song
2- Moriyama Naotaro - toki no yukue ~jo - haru no sora~
3- kagrra - 雫

the rest are not in order(but just numbering the songs):
4- Glay - Way of Difference
5- GIRL NEXT DOOR - guuzen no kakuritsu
6- BRIGHT - One Summer Time
7- RURUTIA - Hallelujah
8- Utada Hikaru - Prisoner Of Love
9 - W-inds - devil
10- Amuro Namie - Full Moon

hope it would help u : )

[YuriChan]

Hmmm... I'm not good at giving reccomendations.. But let me name some artists that you can try.

alan-Ashita e no Sanka (Good song to start out with)
B'z-Eien no Tsubasa (Awesome ballad)
Koda Kumi-TABOO (she just released this! So it's all good! XDDD)
GIRL NEXT DOOR-Guuzen no Kakuritsu or Drive away (they're awesome!)
AAA-ZERO
Aya Kamiki-Summer Memories (Another awesome ballad)
Leah Dizon-Softly, Koi Shiyou, or Love Paradox
Rie fu-Tsukiakari

(Is this good? XDD)

[njanjayrp]

You should try BoA's BEST OF SOUL and THE FACE albums + Key of Heart and brand new beat singles.
Hitomi Shimatani - HEART & SYMPHONY and PRIMA ROSA albums + SHINKU and Neva Eva singles.
Namie's BEST FICTION.
Ami Suzuki's FREE FREE, ONE, Like a Love? singles.
OLIVIA's singles: a little pain, WISH singles and Cloudy Dreamer mini album.
Koda's BEST 2nd Session album and the following singles: TABOO, koi no tsubomi, 4 hot wave, Yume no uta/Futari de.
ayaka's Mikazuki, I believe, WHY singles.
Otuska's Rocket Sneaker and Kuroge, nagareboshi.
BONNIE PINK - Ring a Bell
melody. - Finding my road, Love story and Haruka singles.
ERIKA - Taiyou no uta, FREE and Destination Nowhere singles XD I could go on and on. + of course all the Ayu stuff you didn't listen to

[KarenPang]

These're some of my fave top10 songs at the mo :

1) BREAKERZ - SUMMER PARTY / LAST EMOTION
2) GReeeeN - Kiseki
3) ARASHI - Beautiful days
4) Koda Kumi - TABOO
5) GIRL NEXT DOOR - Jounetsu no Daishou
6) L'Arc~en~Ciel - DRINK IT DOWN
7) Kanjani∞ - Musekinin Hero
8) KAT-TUN - DON'T U EVER STOP
9) ayumi - Mirrorcle World
10) alan - Kaze no Tegami

there're many other acts that I adore so if you want somemore recommendations , just let me know

[MsMiyabi]

Ok then I guess im following everyone else

Koda Kumi - TABOO, KINGDOM (Album)
Namie Amuro - WHAT A FEELING, BEST FICTION (Album)
L'Arc~en~Ciel - DRINK IT DOWN, KISS(Album)
Ayumi Hamasaki - Talkin 2´ myself, Mirrorcle World
sifow - Love Spell
Utada Hikaru - Flavor of Life (Single)
Ami Suzuki - can't STOP THE DISCO, One, DOLCE (Album)
MINMI - MINMI BEST 2002-2008(Album)
FOXXI MISQ- GLOSS(ALBUM)
HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR - 10 SINGLES(Albums), Remember


I can also help upload if needed.

[Princess Sohee]

the brilliant greens recent singles R good
and kaela kimura!!!! ok?

[Beauty4123]

1. Arashi - truth
2. Koda Kumi - TABOO
3. MiChi - PROMiSE
4. GIRL NEXT DOOR - Drive away
5. UVERworld - Gekidou
6. L'Arc~en~Ciel - DRINK IT DOWN
7. NEWS - weeeek
8. Kanjani8 - Wahaha
9. YUI - Rolling Star
10. HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR - Ichirin no Hana

hope my reccomendations are good enough

[emi♡]

I can honestly really only recommend :

HEART STATION - Utada Hikaru Album
TABOO- Koda Kumi, even if you're not a fan...try it out. It's actually the best she's produced in a long time. Everything else she's released this year...is not that exceptional...and certainly not enough for someone who isn't a fan, so yeah.

And...Mai since I'm recommending her to everyone these days. MAISELF is the most awesome album.

[kirei_ayumi]

my favorite top ten would be:

01. alan - ashita e no sanka
02. koda kumi - TABOO
03. ayumi hamasaki - everywhere nowhere
04. ayumi hamasaki - Over
05. Rurutia - hyousa
06. mink - umare kodomotachi no tame ni
07. AZU - cherish
08. Utada hikaru - celebrate
09. ken hirai - Elegy
10. Rain - Love Story

[Kobayashiwoof]

sifow - Carat
sifow - Love Regrets
sifow - Tokyo Love Night
sifow - LOVE & PEACE
DOUBLE - Winter Love Song -sweet Suite-
EMYLI - Rain (Japanese Version) / (English Version)
Emi Hinouchi - GOODIE MEMORIES
Emi Hinouchi - I Love You
Emi Hinouchi - Kataomoi
Foxxi misQ - ULTIMATE GIRLS
Foxxi misQ - Last Christmas
Leah Dizon - Nothing To Lose
Leah Dizon - Love Paradox
Kato Miliyah - Kiss

[prussian blue]

you should try out hitomi!

here are the list of her must-listened song!

hitomi
fight for your run! (new song from the past 2 years)
japanese girl
GO MY WAY
flow
samurai drive
LOVE2000
and the rest goes on...

i highly recommend anna tsuchiya's new album - NUDY SHOW! the album sounds rock!

beside that, if you like to hear some techno-pop, there must be ami suzuki! here recent single sounds very cool! and suitable for party or even shake your butt in a room without anyone here are the list

ami suzuki
FREE FREE
ONE
can't stop the DISCO
fantastic
delightful

and maybe if you like to try out gothic style, kanon wakeshima is the best choice! she plays cello and she sings too! her recent 2 single:

kanon wakeshima
still doll
suna no oshiro

[waterballoon]

My recommendations are:

1. Ayu

I don't know where you stop with Ayu... but seeing that you are a HONEY protector, I guess that would be around the MY STORY - (miss)understood era? Well, then check out Secret and GUILTY, her two newest albums, really awesome. Also, YOU HAVE TO listen to Mirrorcle World, it's like a musical orgasm!

2. Ai Otsuka

I don't know where you stopped listening to Ai either... but her latest single, Kurage, Nagareboshii, is a damn good summer ballad.

3. Leah Dizon

US-Import model... her vocals may not be very fantastic, but she has some good songs. Her 2nd album, Communication!!! is really good, and I would recommend from there, Without a good-bye, Lost at Sea, Love Paradox, Vanilla, Under the same sky and BxKxRxxx. Her debut album, Destiny Line, is so-so, but the singles are from there are pretty decent. Check out Koi Shiyou.

4. Yuna Ito

You might have noticed her with ENDLESS STORY and her role in NANA. Her 2nd album, WISH was out last year, and she did a duet with Celine Dion! It's called, Anata ga iru kagari ~A WORLD TO BELIEVE IN~. Nice ballad. Also WISH has some fantastic songs like I'm Here, Urban Mermaid, and her cover of My Heart Will Go On. Her latest single miss you, is one of my favorite songs from her, so check it out too!

5. Koda Kumi

Kuu is amazing, period. For starters, listen to TABOO, her latest single. It's a song that I know you'll like! Take a listen to Kingdom, her latest album, as well. Nothing much to say cos she's so amazing! Perfect if you like R&B/pop songs.

6. alan

alan is a Tibetan... I think that's all I know about her. Her vocals are delicious, and you can hear that from her debut single, Ashita e no Sanka. Other singles (nope, no albums yet!) I would recommend are Kaze no Tegami and the Fire single... I can't remember the name =.=

Yup, so far these are the singers I listen to, so do check them out, because they are all amazing singers!

[Corybobory]

Thanks for all the recommendation, guys I'm downloading lots, especially the ones recommended a few times

[AyuHamasaki01]

You should really download Koda Kumi's TABOO single and Namie Amuro's BEST FICTION album

[MsMiyabi]

damn everyone likes Taboo lol.


But as I said I can help with the uploading if anything.

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by Akurei

damn everyone likes Taboo lol.

lol cos it's waay better than MOON in everything aspect be it song or video

I only watched That Ain't Cool once for that matter

I also recommend abingdon boys school as well , they're fantastic & a great jrock band , I really miss them now the mention of their name

Kobukuro's another great folk/rock duo too & of course YUI & many others