Better than Hikki...

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by andre2907

I also strongly disagree. I think it's crazy to put Utada Hikaru and B'Z under Ayumi Hamasaki and Seiko Matsuda. Maybe in the same position, but not under, because Utada Hikaru will leave a legacy as big or bigger than Ayu (three of her four studio albums are in the Top 10 bestseller albums of Japan history after all, one in #1).

Eh. Hikki's not that interesting of a person despite her sales :/

[andre2907]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Eh. Hikki's not that interesting of a person despite her sales :/

Japanese people obviously don't agree because she has by far the best sales in Jpop history. And we can say the same for Yumi Matsutoya. And for B'z and Southern All Stars.

[greggerz189]

Originally Posted by andre2907

Japanese people obviously don't agree because she has by far the best sales in Jpop history. And we can say the same for Yumi Matsutoya. And for B'z and Southern All Stars.

Yeah, maybe for having the best-selling album in Japanese history. But her total numbers aren't all that impressively high.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by andre2907

Japanese people obviously don't agree because she has by far the best sales in Jpop history. And we can say the same for Yumi Matsutoya. And for B'z and Southern All Stars.

>> I know she sells a lot (why exactly, I don't really know.. perhaps she sells to large age demographics?) but she's not really that.. flashy of a person. :/ Only the uniting of her and Kaz created the images that we now go 'Wow o_o!' at.

He's the reason her PVs have been interesting.. he's the reason why UTADA UNITED is not going to just be another *piano concert+boring*.

[ayu_fan929]

Originally Posted by greggerz189

Yeah, maybe for having the best-selling album in Japanese history. But her total numbers aren't all that impressively high.

~35 million for like ~20 singles, and 5 albums is honestly really impressive. She's has the highest selling average CD (she sells an average of ~1.5 million for each release) out of all Japanese artists.

Originally Posted by truehappiness

>> I know she sells a lot (why exactly, I don't really know.. perhaps she sells to large age demographics?) but she's not really that.. flashy of a person.

Yeah, I think it is because of the appeal to all age groups and she didn't have much similarities to the stereotypical Jpop idol singer. And yes, I don't think she likes to be in the public eye so much, hence the lack of tours and lack of appearances on music TV shows.

[andre2907]

As ayu_fan929 said, her sales are extremely impressive.

For what I read, she had a intelligent marketing strategy. The only image of her was her AUTOMATIC PV. The music was very popular and everybody wanted to know more about the girl that talked perfect english and wrote and produced her own songs (that wasn't common at the time). All TV shows were desperate to have more info. of her and her first image on TV was from a TV show that waited her in front of her school. The fact she was bilingual and cosmopolitan also made japanese people more interested in her persona.

Mai Kuraki had a identical strategy at the beginning of her carreer.

Oh, and so what she isn't eyecatching? Southern All Stars aren't eyecatching or B'z or Miyuki Nakajima...

And she did have a larger demographic, but her main target public was teenagers and kids like any other jpop singer (info. from the NHK popularity poll that I read awhile ago).

[elepop]

^^ Hikki was the very first Japanese singer I heard ("First Love"), yet I never even bothered to get to know her better. For me, she's not eyecatching at all.

[andre2907]

Originally Posted by asongforXX

^^ Hikki was the very first Japanese singer I heard ("First Love"), yet I never even bothered to get to know her better. For me, she's not eyecatching at all.

Many people think Ayu isn't eyecatching too, but lots and lots of people around the world disagree, just look at her sales (and 7 million for an album isn't only because of the music, I think). But that's a personal opinion post, so I guess saying she isn't eyecatching to you is a valid point.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by andre2907

Many people think Ayu isn't eyecatching too, but lots and lots of people around the world disagree, just look at her sales (and 7 million for an album isn't only because of the music, I think). But that's a personal opinion post, so I guess saying she isn't eyecatching to you is a valid point.

Who on earth doesn't think Ayu is eyecatching?

[Kikaru]

Originally Posted by asongforXX

^^ Hikki was the very first Japanese singer I heard ("First Love"), yet I never even bothered to get to know her better. For me, she's not eyecatching at all.

Same here. Although I like her music (until exodus), something about her just fails to go "huh" the way Ayu, Gackt, or even Ai done.

Maybe I'm just not japanese, but bilingual asians doesn't really sound interesting. But then again, maybe that's because I'm surrounded by them...

[JimmyKoria]

Originally Posted by hallelujah_united

Well it depends on whether you'll be using sales as a major factor in deciding who's "better". But I'll still be standing on my case that it's waaay too hard to place a "better" tag on anybody who does music. It's a very subjective thing that really depends on the preferences of each individual listener. It's like how you prefer Kyoiku while I actually liked Adult more.


More people need to realise that too. There is no either/or choice involved here.

I agree, sorry if I came off as "MY OPINION ME ME ME."

I never really gave Adult a chance though. And when you get into Ringo you have to give things a chance. Adults slowly growing on me, I go back and watch the videos for the singles and the lives.

[*Petit*]

Originally Posted by andre2907

Have their places in Jpop history:

Extremely big:
- Yumi Matsutoya
- Southern All Stars
- B'z
- Utada Hikaru
- Ayumi Hamasaki
- Miyuki Nakajima
- Seiko Matsuda
- SMAP
- Tetsuya Komuro
- Dreams Come True
- GLAY
- Mr. Children

Silver (not as big but have an important legacy)
- Namie Amuro
- X Japan
- L'arc en Ciel
- Ken Hirai
- Morning Musume (seriously)
- Masaharu Fukuyama
- Misia

Bronze (very important artists)
- Mai Kuraki
- Ringo Shiina
- Kinki Kids
- Akina Nakamori
- globe
- TRF
- Chage and Aska
- BoA (first korean artist to hit it big in Japan)
- ZARD
- Judy & Mary

Only time will tell:
- Koda Kumi

I would have to agree with your list, except for perhaps Mai Kuraki? Coulden't rather aiko've been there? or both?I would also add ai otsuka to "only time will tell". The three biggest acts that people know/listen to abroad are probably Seiko Matsuda, AYumi Hamsaki and Morning musume. Morning Musume is a special case because they are unlike anything ever seen in the entire music industry, so, like johnny's they'll always attract the attention of foreigners. In Japan they deserve to be on the list because they were the biggest girl group ever.

[Psychotic_X]

Koda Kumi definately! To me she's better than Ayu, so Hikki has no chance.
Her music quality has dropped alot since her last few albums, I prefer her older stuff it's alot more catchy and addictive...

[truehappiness]

Technically though, many cannot be said to be 'better' than Hikki if they do not do the same things as her.

She composes / writes lyrics / semi-arranges songs to her own liking, something that many artists do NOT do. I think that an artist would have to create their own material in order for it to pass judgement to be 'better' than Hikki.. :/

[andre2907]

Originally Posted by *Petit*

I would have to agree with your list, except for perhaps Mai Kuraki? Coulden't rather aiko've been there? or both?I would also add ai otsuka to "only time will tell". The three biggest acts that people know/listen to abroad are probably Seiko Matsuda, AYumi Hamsaki and Morning musume. Morning Musume is a special case because they are unlike anything ever seen in the entire music industry, so, like johnny's they'll always attract the attention of foreigners. In Japan they deserve to be on the list because they were the biggest girl group ever.

True, aiko and Ai Otsuka should be there.

And I have the impression Akina Nakamori have more overseas fan than Seiko because is so much easier to find Akina info. in English. I would say the artists popular with overseas fans are Ayu, Morning Musume, Utada Hikaru and Namie Amuro.

[truehappiness]

Basically any artist affiliated with some sort of popular anime: i.e Inuyasha.. DX

[*Petit*]

Originally Posted by andre2907

True, aiko and Ai Otsuka should be there.

And I have the impression Akina Nakamori have more overseas fan than Seiko because is so much easier to find Akina info. in English. I would say the artists popular with overseas fans are Ayu, Morning Musume, Utada Hikaru and Namie Amuro.

Yeah, why I got the impression that Seiko is popular is because I've spoken to quite a few people that do not listen to japanese music at all/aren't interestedin japan and has no connection what so ever, but still enjoys Seiko's music (some of her jazzier stuff?? =7) Many of them are quite up in the ages too. And for those reasons above, they won't write any info on her etc. I don't really know though, and it's really hard to measure.

Another issue is that there are a LOT of pages in languages other than english that (most prominently french I think) that is more or less uaccessable to most that doesen't know that language.

Technically though, many cannot be said to be 'better' than Hikki if they do not do the same things as her.

Technically we're referring to the music produced by acts, not the talent of an individual person, so it won't apply.

[truehappiness]

D: I still don't think Koda is better than Hikki musically..

I mean.. yeah.. just read the lyrics.. o_o;

[Psychotic_X]

T_T"" please don't tell me you're only reading "JUICY" and "SHAKE IT"

[elepop]

Originally Posted by andre2907

Many people think Ayu isn't eyecatching too, but lots and lots of people around the world disagree, just look at her sales (and 7 million for an album isn't only because of the music, I think). But that's a personal opinion post, so I guess saying she isn't eyecatching to you is a valid point.

I personally don't care about her sales. Yeah, she does sales like hot cakes, but her music isn't even close to good, in my own opinion of course. And her personality doesn't spark at all. Seeing her makes me go "Boring!". She would be eyecatching if I could she a little more energy in her, but damn. This woman is so dull. But then again, that's just me...

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Technically though, many cannot be said to be 'better' than Hikki if they do not do the same things as her.

She composes / writes lyrics / semi-arranges songs to her own liking, something that many artists do NOT do. I think that an artist would have to create their own material in order for it to pass judgement to be 'better' than Hikki.. :/

In that case, Ayu, Ai-chan, aiko and hitomi are definitely better than Hikki. *But who isn't really? Mouahahah! Just kidding. Hikki fans, don't be offended...*