Official Seiko Matsuda Thread

[Kaiouforever]

Originally Posted by iyrocks05

^ I feel kinda sad thinking that Ayumi will one day be like Seiko, where her popularity will be less, and there will be another J-pop Queen.

Guess we should cherish and hold onto the moments now as much as we can! Ayumi won't be Queen forever. T__T

Even though it's true that other people will eventually start to sell more and she will sell less, it doesn't mean that her fans love her any less or that her music isn't enjoyable. I still enjoy Seiko's releases, and she doesn't sell 200k singles anymore. Yes, we should enjoy the popularity, but true fans will be around no matter what. =]

[rookies]

Originally Posted by Kaiouforever

Even though it's true that other people will eventually start to sell more and she will sell less, it doesn't mean that her fans love her any less or that her music isn't enjoyable. I still enjoy Seiko's releases, and she doesn't sell 200k singles anymore. Yes, we should enjoy the popularity, but true fans will be around no matter what. =]

That's true. I will still support Ayumi even when she is older and less popular.

[Kaiouforever]

Originally Posted by iyrocks05

That's true. I will still support Ayumi even when she is older and less popular.

Maybe she will be like Seiko and start to look YOUNGER every year xD I swear, every time i see her on TV, I'm like "WTF I need some Japanese creams"

[rookies]

Originally Posted by Kaiouforever

Maybe she will be like Seiko and start to look YOUNGER every year xD I swear, every time i see her on TV, I'm like "WTF I need some Japanese creams"

Maybe. I hope so! Hehe.

I just know Ayumi Hamasaki is so special, and her legacy will be remembered in future generations. The impact she made on the Japanese culture and music industry.

[Zemus]

I, too believe that her fanbase is quite strong. If it wasn't then I don't understand how she managed to pull off 17 days of Xmas Dinner Show events last year. Price is insane for this event too:


￥48,000

Mind you that she has been doing these every year since 1992, and price has always been high.

I am really obsessed with songs like Marrakech～マラケッシュ～ and 抱いて・・・ (Daite...) right now. Both from her 1988 album called "Citron". Amazing stuff. I keep watching the performances I have of them over and over again. Seiko Matsuda is a special woman (#1 artist for me), she is pushing the age of 50 soon, and it doesn't look like she will retire anytime soon. Can't wait for her 30th Anniversary in 2010.

Did you guys know that Seiko has had the more media/news coverage than any other Japanese person (including Royalty, politicans and sport stars)? These stats were taken in February 2007 and showed in a documentary on the NHK channel:

[Kaiouforever]

I'm not surprised. She's has quite a few "scandals" (well not really scandals but a lot of things that people were interested in) and she has been popular for so long. And wow, 500 bucks a ticket?! JEEZ.

[rookies]

The ticket price is so expensive. o_O...

[Zemus]

Yeah, well. It's not exactly like a normal concert. Seiko has usually had the most expensive Xmas Dinner Shows. However, that record was broken by Akina Nakamori the other year. One of Akina's had a ticket price of ￥50,000. The reason for it to be this expensive once was because it was held on 2007/12/31, i.e. a new year countdown. The price range is usually ￥35,000-40,000 for her.

For Seiko regular concert tour tickets are about the same price as for Ayumi, ￥7,000-9,000.

The price has evolved a bit. I once saw a picture of a ticket to her Spring Concert 1981 tour and it was "only" ~￥2,000.

[Kaiouforever]

2,000 yen is pretty cheap for a concert if you ask me. But I don't know, comparatively, how expensive that is for 1981.

[rookies]

I'm just curious, but which of her songs are considered her signature or big hit songs?

I think I've only heard one or two of her songs. I remember seeing her discography on her site a couple of years ago, and it had so many singles/albums/compilations listed, it was really interesting and shocking to see. ^^

[Zemus]

That question is difficult to answer for me because I like too many songs of hers. Anyway, here is a list that they had in a Music Station SP episode back in 1996. Seiko Matsuda BEST 10:

01 赤いスイートピー (Akai Sweet Pea)
02 青い珊瑚礁 (Aoi Sangoshou)
03 大切なあなた (Taisetsu na Anata)
04 抱いて・・・ (Daite...)
05 SWEET MEMORIES
06 輝いた季節へ旅立とう (Kagayaita Kisetsu he Tabidatou)
07 渚のバルコニー (Nagisa no Balcony)
08 あなたに逢いたくて～Missing You～ (Anata ni Aitakute ~Missing You~)
09 素敵にOnce Again (Suteki ni, Once Again)
10 風は秋色 (Kaze wa Aki Iro)

I only partially agree with that list myself, because there are so many others that deserve to be there. Basically most of the singles that were #1 in the 80s (however, that means that a top 10 list wouldn't be enough).

夏の扉 (Natsu no Tobira), チェリーブラッサム (Cherry Blossom), ガラスの林檎 (Glass no Ringo), 瞳はダイアモンド (Hitomi wa Diamond), Rock'n Rouge, 天国のキッス (Tengoku no Kiss), 白いパラソル (Shiroi Parasol), 小麦色のマーメイド (Komugi Iro no Mermaid) and many many more...

There are also bunch of non singles that are amazing. Guess I should mention 制服 (Seifuku) at least because I believe that it is really popular.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GP93EgC5Lc

I am in a good mood today by the way, the reason is that I've finally managed to collect the last two missing annual concert tours of Seiko's. "It's Style '95" and "Zepp Tour 1999" concert tours that is. Now I have every annual concert tour from 1982-2008 on video that have footage available! 1980-1981 tours aren't available on video, sadly. My whole Seiko concert live collection is almost complete too, only missing three Count Down Live's.

[Zemus]

NEW DVD out 2009/03/18 "SEIKO MATSUDA COUNT DOWN LIVE PARTY 2008-2009".



A two disc release with footage from her New Year count down live. I want it really bad but the prices on these DVDs are so expensive nowadays, about US$70.
I'm considering ordering it though. Anyway here's the tracklist:

DISC 1

1. Overture
2. 白い恋人
3. 風は秋色
4. Rock'n'roll Good-bye
5. いちご畑でつかまえて
6. 白いパラソル
7. MC 1
8. 制服
9. ハートのイアリング
10. 秘密の花園
11. ガラスの林檎
12. MC 2
13. あの輝いた季節
14. Star
15. 真冬の恋人たち
16. Love is all
17. MC 3～Count Down～
18. 赤いスイートピー
19. MC 4～Request Corner～
20. 裸足の季節
21. 青い珊瑚礁
22. 渚のバルコニー
23. 天使のウィンク
24. チェリーブラッサム
25. Rock'n Rouge
26. 夏の扉

DISC 2

27. SQUALL
28. 20th Party
29. 白い恋人
30. Rock'n'roll Good-bye
31. 涙がただこぼれるだけ

・・・

Also, Japanese movie "火垂るの墓" (Hotaru no Haka / Grave of the Fireflies) will be released on 2009/03/29. Seiko will act in it, not sure yet how major her role will be...

http://hotarunohaka.jp/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1250968/

[Yoake]

70 X_X is very expensive for two dvd!!!

Nobody have some pics of her concert?

[Zemus]

@Yoake: No, unfortunately not. I will probably do a DVDrip of the concert if and when I do get a copy of it!

・・・

Today, there was a news entry posted at Seiko's official website. It says that it's an important announcement but you have to be member of the "Fanticlub" (= Seiko's fanclub, same thing as TeamAyu is for Ayumi) to be able to access it. Fortunately, there exists other sources. The news was that Concert Tour 2009 has been announced. Same as last year, this is a summer tour and will also end at home in Fukuoka.
Rumor has it that a new album might get released between April to June. Would make sense to have new songs for the tour after all... Maybe a single as well?

Anyway, as a fan I am extremely grateful that she is still being as active as she is... Excited for the tour, just too bad that I can't attend it really. If I were in Japan I defintely would. This was posted for the members:

夏のツアー

06月14日(日) 開場15:00／開演16:00　さいたまスーパーアリーナ
06月18日(木) 開場18:00／開演18:30　鹿児島市民文化ホール　第一　
06月19日(金) 開場18:00／開演18:30　鹿児島市民文化ホール　第一　
06月27日(土) 開場16:00／開演17:00　日本ガイシホール　
06月28日(日) 開場14:00／開演15:00　日本ガイシホール　
07月04日(土) 開場16:00／開演17:00　大阪城ホール　
07月05日(日) 開場14:00／開演15:00　大阪城ホール　
07月10日(金) 開場17:30／開演18:30　日本武道館　
07月11日(土) 開場16:00／開演17:00　日本武道館　
07月12日(日) 開場14:00／開演15:00　日本武道館　
07月19日(日) 開場17:15／開演18:00　仙台サンプラザホール　
08月01日(土) 開場16:00／開演17:00　マリンメッセ福岡　

１Ｆ席・最優良席・スペシャルプレゼント付

料金：通常8000円／スペシャルシート21000円
スペシャルシートは1人各会場2枚まで。
応募者多数の場合抽選。
2009年04月03日(金)必着
通常席の申し込みは次回会報に掲載。

スペシャルシート21000円 (Special seat 21,000yen). I wonder what this special thing is about, the price is almost three times the amount of the regular ticket. Probably guaranteed front row, but what else?

[Alessia_Tateno]

I'm also happy to see that she is very active and I want to go to her concert so bad but this year it's off limit for me T.T Last year I went to many concerts and spent a lot of money and this year I have a lot of courses to follow T.T

[Yoake]

Yeah! I want a new single or album!

Thanks Zemus you're an angel

[Zemus]

I'm sad to hear that, Alessia. Next year however, I hope you got the chance to go, it's Seiko's 30th Anniversary then after all!

Today a new Seiko CM will broadcast in Japan. You can watch it at the Paon Diosa website if you like: http://www.paon-diosa.jp/ -> TVCM

[Kaiouforever]

Yes!!! i'm excited for this ~ and maybe a new single soon would be nice...*wink wink*

[Alessia_Tateno]

Thank you for the link.

She is GORGEOUS *_*

[Kaiouforever]

I think it's about time for a new single or album Seiko! Let's get to it hehe.