MS'Top 50 idols... a.k.a. my Golden Age's idols mini pimp-post
Hello! I think this is a great opportunity for me to show who my favourite idols are. Although i already mentioned them at my 1st post, I found this list to be a great chance to do so.
Recently, I read at aramatheydidnt that Music Station revealed the Top 50 Idols of all the time. And I just found my favourite idols there so I'll mark them linked to one of my favourites songs to them so you can opine :p
This is the list!
50. Yu Hayami (早見優) - 2,850,000 sold copies
49. Yui Asaka (浅香唯) - 2,970,000
48. OTOKOGUMI (男闘呼組) - 3,000,000 ♥
They were the 1st johnny's rock band, which was very different to the Johnny's idols concept. Their debut single was "DAYBREAK" and was a hit in the late 80's.
To be honest, I just have a few songs of them, but this one is my favourite: 秋 (Aki, autumn)
47. Megumi Asaoka (麻丘めぐみ) - 3,020,000
46. Chiemi Hori (堀ちえみ) - 3,210,000
45. Finger Five (フィンガー5) - 3,600,000
44. W-inds - 3,700,000
43. Ryoko Shinohara - 4,050,000
42. Momoko Kikuchi - 4,110,000 ♥ <<< I like a few songs of her heh heh
41. AKB48 - 4,310,000
40. Yoshie Kashiwabara (柏原芳恵) - 4,400,000 ♥♥
Yoshie was one of the artists "graduated" from idol-maker TV program "Star Tanjou". She debuted on 1982 along with tons of idols. She has indeed a very beautiful voice but she was underrated and her career decayed in the middle 80's.
Her debut song was "No.1" and her hit song was "春なのに" (Haru na noni, despite spring). But this song is my favourite: Lonely Canary. Both songs were composed by Miyuki Nakajima.
39. NEWS - 4,490,000
38. Hiromi Ohta (太田裕美) - 4,560,000
37. Kanjani8 (関ジャニ∞) - 4,570,000
36. Minami Saori (南沙織) - 4,750,000
35. Agnes Chan - 4,900,000
34. Yoko Oginome (荻野目洋子) - 5,380,000 ♥♥♥
She was one of the first 80's idols who started singing with italo-disco / eurobeat rythms. She started her career as a seiyuu, but then after she started singing. Her debut single is called 未来航海-Sailing- (Mirai koukai -Sailing-, Future sailing), which was released on 1984, but her super hit single which rose her to fame was ダンシング・ヒーロー（Eat You Up） (Dancing hero) which is a cover song from Angie Gold. She sang this piece at 1985 Kouhaku Utagassen.
She has many other hits like 六本木純情派 (Roppongi Junjouha, Roppongi innocence trend) and 湾岸太陽族 (Coastal sun tribe), which I love as well :p
This is Dancing Hero.
33. Shibugakitai (シブがき隊) - 5,430,000
32. Candies (キャンディーズ) - 5,450,000
31. Shonentai (少年隊) - 5,480,000 ♥♥♥♥♥♥
If you don't know who they are, get outta here and go study some japanese story!!, it's never late to know!! Shonentai are one of Japan's legends that the lovely 80's brought us. They're one of Johnny's and Japan's treasures heh heh. They started as backdancers (like all Johnny's do) and then they released their debut single on 1985, 仮面舞踏会 (Kamen butoukai, masquerade ball). They sing and dance really well and they act also. They performed the yearly theater presentation "PLAYZONE" until 2008. This is just a super ultra tiny bit of super basic info you gotta know about them.
This is just one of my favourites out of lots: ABC
30. Yoko Minamino (南野陽子) - 5,653,000
29. Hiroko Yakushimaru (薬師丸ひろ子) - 5,850,000
28. Mari Amachi (天地真理) - 5,960,000
27. Naoko Kawai (河合奈保子) - 6,530,000 ♥♥♥
She's also one of the awesome voices of the 80's whose popularity also decayed within the decade. Her debut was with the song 大きな森の小さなお家 (Ookina mori no chiisana ouchi, A little house in a big forest), but her rise to fame was thanks to "Smile for me", song which presented her at Kouhaku Utagassen 1981 (and her counterpart in the show was Matchy :D).
She had more hits like "Control" or "Escalation". She also plays the piano and we saw her do so with "Half-moon serenade". She started arranging some of the songs she sang.
This song is my big favourite: 十六夜物語 (Izayoi monogatari, the tale of Izayoi)
26. Wink - 7,490,000 ♥♥
Wink was a duet comprised by Sachiko Suzuki and Shoko Aida. They debuted on 1988 with the song "Sugar Baby Love" which was in fact a cover of a foreign song (most of their songs were covers). They also were very famous because the rythm of their sounds was very similar to italo-disco / eurobeat, their looks and that they never smiled XD.
Their most famous songs were 愛が止まらない 〜Turn It Into Love〜 (Ai ga tomaranai, love won't stop) which was a cover to a Kylie Minogue's song, and 淋しい熱帯魚 (Samishii nettaigyo, Lonely tropical fish), which was covered by the duet W.
25. KAT-TUN - 7,660,000
24. TOKIO - 8,190,000 ♥♥♥♥
Please refer to this post XD
BUT!! VIDEO IN THIS POST!!! :D AMBITIOUS JAPAN!
23. Ami Suzuki (鈴木亜美) - 8,830,000
22. Goro Noguchi (野口五郎) - 9,500,000
21. V6 - 12.120.000
20. Tomomi Kahara (華原朋美) - 12.190.000
19. Hikaru Genji (光ＧＥＮＪＩ) - 12,220,000 ♥
I'm not really a Hikaru Genji fan, it's like I like some of their songs, and listen to them kinda often, but not everyday. You may already had listened about them: the group of the boys in rollerskates. They were also one of Johnny's prodigies. They debuted on 1987 with "STAR LIGHT" which was a complete hit. In 1988, they became the 2nd artist in history to occupy the top three spots on the Oricon yearly singles chart and the third artist in history to dominate the top two spots on the charts. They also won the Japan Record Award with the song パラダイス銀河 (Paradise Ginga, Paradise galaxy) that same year making them the second Johnny's artist to win the award after Matchy. They lasted 7 years as group until 2 members left and they became Hikaru Genji Super 5, which lasted until 1995. They are also the original performers of 勇気100% (Yuuki 100%, bravery 100%) opening from anime series "Nintama Rantarou" and was covered by NYC last year.
Paradise Ginga is indeed a great song, composed by 70's duo Chage and Aska and was covered by TOKIO in their anniversary album "TOK10".
18. Masahiko Kondo (近藤真彦) - 12,670,000 ♥♥♥♥♥
Please refer to this post *0*
BUT ALSO VIDEOOOOOOO!!! ケジメなさい (Kejimenasai)
17. Toshihiko Tahara (田原俊彦) - 12,700,000 ♥♥
Toshi was in Matchy's group "Tanokin Trio" before he debuted with his single 哀愁でいと ~New York City lights~ (Aisuu date) which is a cover from an american song. He released also a lot of singles and was very successful. He left the JE in the 90's and he was banned from the company, that's why he has never appeared in any programs involving Johnny's, but yet they still sing his hits ?_?. Personally I don't like that much his vocals but his songs have good rythm.
His biggest hit was from 1987: the super famous 抱きしめてTONIGHT (Dakishimete Tonight, Embrace me tonight).
16. Hideki Saijo (西城秀樹) - 13,290,000
15. Pink Lady - 13,330,000 ♥♥♥
This wonderful duet was one of the pioneers of the idol movement in the mid-70's and one of the pioneers of the popularization of occidental music in Japan.
They also appeared on TV Program "Star Tanjou" Their debut single ペッパー警部 (Pepper Keibu, Inspector Pepper) was a total hit and they biggest hit was UFO, song which awarded them the Japan Record Award in 1977.
They were also the first idols to impose selling records and the first to have consecutive singles in #1.
This is UFO
14. Kyoko Koizumi （小泉今日子） - 14,260,000 ♥♥♥♥
Kyoko Koizumi, aka Kyon2, Kyon-kyon, or kyon-chan is also one of the most influyent idols of the 80's. She might not have the greatest voice ever, but she charms us with that beautiful smile, sings and feels the songs, her eyes tell us the feeling of the lyric and she seems to enjoy it. She is one of the very few idols whose popularity survived through time, maybe not as a singer, but as an actress. She's starred in lots of movies and has appeared in doramas.
She debuted along the big wave of idols of 1982 with her song 私の16才 (Watashi no 16 sai, my 16 years old), but her true fame came until 1984 with the single 渚のはいから人魚／風のマジカル (Nagisa no hai kara ningyo / Kaze o magical). The second song was used for the OST of a Doraemon movie of that year.
Another of her greatests hits are the songs ヤマトナデシコ七変化 (Yamato nadeshiko shichi henge), なんてったってアイドル (nantettatte idol) and 木枯しに抱かれて (Kogarashi ni dakarete). Enjoy the last one :D
13. Shizuka Kudo (工藤静香) - 14,870,000 ♥♥♥♥
Shizuka Kudo is also a legend of the late-80's until the mid-90's. She was part of the popular idol group "Onyanko Club". She claims herself being a huge fan of Miyuki Nakajima, who has composed her a lot of songs, including the popular MUGO・ん…色っぽい (Mugon... iroppoi), the 1st song she sang on Kouhaku Utagassen on 1988. Her biggest hit is 慟哭 (Doukoku, wailing). She sang the second Dragonball GT ending "Blue Velvet". She is also a very talented painter with a very interesting technique. Oh yeah. You read that news. She's Takuya Kimura's wife. They married on 2000.
Her vocals are very potent with a curious voice which can be powerful or sound cute despite her annoying talking voice XD. She also did an album of covers singing Miyuki Nakajima's songs. Included in that album comes also the very famous Sorafune, which was performed by TOKIO.
This is my most beloved song of hers: 激情 (Gekijou, passion)
12. Miho Nakayama (中山美穂) - 14,970,000 ♥♥♥
Honestly, I used to listen to her a lot. Until I started listening to Shizuka :p Miho Nakayama, a.k.a. Miporin, is also one of the 80's legends. She is a singer and an actress. She was part of the "Idol Shitennou" or the "4 generals of idols" which consisted of her, Shizuka Kudo, Yui Asaka and Yoko Minamino.
She debuted at 15yo with the single "C" which was the theme song of a drama Natsu Taiken monogatari. Her works are also very known because of being themes of doramas. Her most succesful songs are Catch Me (her 1st #1 single), You're my only shinnin' star, Witches (the 1st song that she performed at Kouhaku, on 1988), and the collaboration with rock group WANDS 世界中の誰よりきっと (Sekaijuu no dare yori kitto).
This is her debut song: "C"
11. THE CHECKERS (チェッカーズ) - 15,380,000
10. Kenji Sawada (沢田研二) - 15,700,000
9. Hiromi Go (郷ひろみ) - 17,780,000
8. Momoe Yamaguchi (山口百恵) - 16,220,000 ♥♥♥♥
Who doesn't know Momoe Yamaguchi, the living legend? That super artist who retired on top of her career to get married and pursue a new life as a wife/mother??
She possesses one of the best voices of Japan. She also defined a new style on interpretation for the decade. Talking about her would take me a lot of time, so I'll just write like the very basics here :p
She debuted on 1973 with single としごろ (Toshigoro) when she was on 3rd grade of secondary school. She impressed people with her powerful vocal technique. Later she started some controversy because her single ひと夏の経験 (Hito natsu no keiken, a summer experience) contained adult suggestive lyrics for her age.
Also she changed her style as time was passing by. She started singing songs which were like all japanese songs of the age, but then she started experimenting new styles, including rock, which was the most common style she started using in her late years as an idol.
She married actor Tomokazu Miura, his co-star in several series and movies and has 2 sons.
She has a lot of hit songs like 夢先案内人 (Yumesaki annainin, the guide of the dreams), イミテイション・ゴールド (imitation gold), 秋桜 (Cosmos), 乙女座 宮 (Otomeza kyu, house of virgo), プレイバックPart2 (Playback Part2), いい日旅立ち (Ii hi tabidachi, A good day to depart) which can be heard in some Shinkansen stations, ロックンロール・ウィドウ (Rock'n'roll widow) and さよならの向う側 (Sayonara no mukougawa, the other side of good-bye).
I've seen that whoever listens to her songs, immediately likes her and starts downloading her stuff :p
This is a segment with two great songs: ロックンロール・ウィドウ (Rock'n'roll widow) and 不死鳥伝説 (Phoenix densetsu, phoenix legend)
7. Morning Musume (モーニング娘。) - 16,700,000
6. Arashi (嵐) - 19,140,000 ♥♥
Seriously, if you don't know who they are is because you definitely are not into japanese music. I mean, you can be fan of other groups, but you still will know who they are. C'mon they're the actual best selling group in Japan, and you can see them everywhere everytime! You can visit this link to know who they are in case you don't know heh heh :p
Also!! Will leave video here before going on!!! My beloved "My Girl" :'D
5. SPEED - 19.530,000
4. Kinki Kids - 24,670,000
3. Akina Nakamori (中森明菜) - 25,340,000 ♥♥♥♥♥
Not for nothing she's known as "the empress" or "utahime" (princess of song). SHE IS THE BEST SINGER IN JAPAN *0*
She has very beautiful and moving ballads and very catchy tunes.
Same case as Momoe Yamaguchi, talking about her will take a long long post (I promise I'll dedicate a post to her) so will write her basics heh heh.
Akina had participated twice on TV Program "Star Tanjou" but they didn't chose her as winner because of her mature looks. She finally won the third time singing a piece of her idol Momoe Yamaguchi. She finally debuted on 1982 along with tons of other singers. Her debut song was スローモーション (Slow Motion) and didn't have that much impact until she released her 3rd single: セカンド・ラブ (Second Love) That is a very beautiful song which moved people. Then she started harvesting successful singles.
She also caused controversy because of her mature looks and mature lyrics, compared to her counterpart, Seiko Matsuda, which portrayed a more "innocent" image.
She appeared on Kouhaku for the 1st time on 1983 with hit song 禁区 (Kinku, prohibition).
On 1985 she was awarded with Japan Record Award with song ミ・アモーレ〔Meu amor é･･･〕, which is arranged as a samba, and talks about love at the Brazil carnaval. Next year Akina won again JRA with song DESIRE -情熱- which is one of her biggest hits.
1987 she released a very heartbreaking song: 難破船 (Nanpasen, wrecked ship) and it was associated with problems in her relationship with Matchy :x She continued winning #1 singles until 1989 when she tried to commit suicide because it's said Matchy was photographed along with Seiko Matsuda at NY. Fortunately she was found on time and she was saved. Coincidentaly, before incident she released a single called LIAR which it's said it expresses her feelings about Matchy. That was the only single she released that year.
Then she came back on 1990 with a more happy song: Dear Friend / CARIBBEAN. It still debuted #1 but then her popularity started to go down. On 1993 she released a new album called "UNBALANCE+BALANCE" which put her again in the entertaining world thanks to the included song 愛撫 (Aibu, caress) which was very successful.
Akina continued releasing singles but were not as successful as in the 80's. She better dedicated to release hundreds of thousands of BEST albums and started doing covers of old songs, which she continued doing until now.
This is my favourite song: 1985 JRA winner ミ・アモーレ
2. Seiko Matsuda (松田聖子) - 29,500,000 ♥♥
As stated above she was Akina's counterpart. She debuted on 1980 with song 裸足の季節 (Hadashi no kisetsu, barefoots season) but the boom hit came right away: 青い珊瑚礁 (Aoi sangoshou, blue lagoon) which sold millions of copies and positioned her as the biggest idol of the year. Her hairstyle and fashion was imitated by teenagers and her songs were heard in all places. Her lyrics were more cutey and happy and released a lot of singles. She got pregnant in 1985 and gave birth to her only daughter Sayaka. She came back to music and continued releasing very succesful singles.
She was the one who broke Pink Lady's record of most singles which debuted #1 and that record was broken by Ayumi Hamasaki.
She wanted to change her image in the 90's to a more mature style, and sometimes it was said she wanted to imitate Madonna. Actually she still releases singles once on a while; not as successful like in the past, but she'll remain as the queen idol of all times.
This is one of my favourite songs: 風立ちぬ (Kaze Tachinu, the wind won't stop).
1. SMAP - 32,310,000
OMG I'm finally doneeeeeeeeeeeeeee I swear I spent all day long writing this! So you'd better like it and comment!!! LOL
Obviously this was based on sales records; still missing more artists which even more popularity, but I loved this list as it counts past idols.
Thank you.
Recently, I read at aramatheydidnt that Music Station revealed the Top 50 Idols of all the time. And I just found my favourite idols there so I'll mark them linked to one of my favourites songs to them so you can opine :p
This is the list!
50. Yu Hayami (早見優) - 2,850,000 sold copies
49. Yui Asaka (浅香唯) - 2,970,000
48. OTOKOGUMI (男闘呼組) - 3,000,000 ♥
They were the 1st johnny's rock band, which was very different to the Johnny's idols concept. Their debut single was "DAYBREAK" and was a hit in the late 80's.
To be honest, I just have a few songs of them, but this one is my favourite: 秋 (Aki, autumn)
Click to view47. Megumi Asaoka (麻丘めぐみ) - 3,020,000
46. Chiemi Hori (堀ちえみ) - 3,210,000
45. Finger Five (フィンガー5) - 3,600,000
44. W-inds - 3,700,000
43. Ryoko Shinohara - 4,050,000
42. Momoko Kikuchi - 4,110,000 ♥ <<< I like a few songs of her heh heh
41. AKB48 - 4,310,000
40. Yoshie Kashiwabara (柏原芳恵) - 4,400,000 ♥♥
Yoshie was one of the artists "graduated" from idol-maker TV program "Star Tanjou". She debuted on 1982 along with tons of idols. She has indeed a very beautiful voice but she was underrated and her career decayed in the middle 80's.
Her debut song was "No.1" and her hit song was "春なのに" (Haru na noni, despite spring). But this song is my favourite: Lonely Canary. Both songs were composed by Miyuki Nakajima.
39. NEWS - 4,490,000
38. Hiromi Ohta (太田裕美) - 4,560,000
37. Kanjani8 (関ジャニ∞) - 4,570,000
36. Minami Saori (南沙織) - 4,750,000
35. Agnes Chan - 4,900,000
34. Yoko Oginome (荻野目洋子) - 5,380,000 ♥♥♥
She was one of the first 80's idols who started singing with italo-disco / eurobeat rythms. She started her career as a seiyuu, but then after she started singing. Her debut single is called 未来航海-Sailing- (Mirai koukai -Sailing-, Future sailing), which was released on 1984, but her super hit single which rose her to fame was ダンシング・ヒーロー（Eat You Up） (Dancing hero) which is a cover song from Angie Gold. She sang this piece at 1985 Kouhaku Utagassen.
She has many other hits like 六本木純情派 (Roppongi Junjouha, Roppongi innocence trend) and 湾岸太陽族 (Coastal sun tribe), which I love as well :p
This is Dancing Hero.
33. Shibugakitai (シブがき隊) - 5,430,000
32. Candies (キャンディーズ) - 5,450,000
31. Shonentai (少年隊) - 5,480,000 ♥♥♥♥♥♥
If you don't know who they are, get outta here and go study some japanese story!!, it's never late to know!! Shonentai are one of Japan's legends that the lovely 80's brought us. They're one of Johnny's and Japan's treasures heh heh. They started as backdancers (like all Johnny's do) and then they released their debut single on 1985, 仮面舞踏会 (Kamen butoukai, masquerade ball). They sing and dance really well and they act also. They performed the yearly theater presentation "PLAYZONE" until 2008. This is just a super ultra tiny bit of super basic info you gotta know about them.
This is just one of my favourites out of lots: ABC
30. Yoko Minamino (南野陽子) - 5,653,000
29. Hiroko Yakushimaru (薬師丸ひろ子) - 5,850,000
28. Mari Amachi (天地真理) - 5,960,000
27. Naoko Kawai (河合奈保子) - 6,530,000 ♥♥♥
She's also one of the awesome voices of the 80's whose popularity also decayed within the decade. Her debut was with the song 大きな森の小さなお家 (Ookina mori no chiisana ouchi, A little house in a big forest), but her rise to fame was thanks to "Smile for me", song which presented her at Kouhaku Utagassen 1981 (and her counterpart in the show was Matchy :D).
She had more hits like "Control" or "Escalation". She also plays the piano and we saw her do so with "Half-moon serenade". She started arranging some of the songs she sang.
This song is my big favourite: 十六夜物語 (Izayoi monogatari, the tale of Izayoi)
26. Wink - 7,490,000 ♥♥
Wink was a duet comprised by Sachiko Suzuki and Shoko Aida. They debuted on 1988 with the song "Sugar Baby Love" which was in fact a cover of a foreign song (most of their songs were covers). They also were very famous because the rythm of their sounds was very similar to italo-disco / eurobeat, their looks and that they never smiled XD.
Their most famous songs were 愛が止まらない 〜Turn It Into Love〜 (Ai ga tomaranai, love won't stop) which was a cover to a Kylie Minogue's song, and 淋しい熱帯魚 (Samishii nettaigyo, Lonely tropical fish), which was covered by the duet W.
25. KAT-TUN - 7,660,000
24. TOKIO - 8,190,000 ♥♥♥♥
Please refer to this post XD
BUT!! VIDEO IN THIS POST!!! :D AMBITIOUS JAPAN!
23. Ami Suzuki (鈴木亜美) - 8,830,000
22. Goro Noguchi (野口五郎) - 9,500,000
21. V6 - 12.120.000
20. Tomomi Kahara (華原朋美) - 12.190.000
19. Hikaru Genji (光ＧＥＮＪＩ) - 12,220,000 ♥
I'm not really a Hikaru Genji fan, it's like I like some of their songs, and listen to them kinda often, but not everyday. You may already had listened about them: the group of the boys in rollerskates. They were also one of Johnny's prodigies. They debuted on 1987 with "STAR LIGHT" which was a complete hit. In 1988, they became the 2nd artist in history to occupy the top three spots on the Oricon yearly singles chart and the third artist in history to dominate the top two spots on the charts. They also won the Japan Record Award with the song パラダイス銀河 (Paradise Ginga, Paradise galaxy) that same year making them the second Johnny's artist to win the award after Matchy. They lasted 7 years as group until 2 members left and they became Hikaru Genji Super 5, which lasted until 1995. They are also the original performers of 勇気100% (Yuuki 100%, bravery 100%) opening from anime series "Nintama Rantarou" and was covered by NYC last year.
Paradise Ginga is indeed a great song, composed by 70's duo Chage and Aska and was covered by TOKIO in their anniversary album "TOK10".
18. Masahiko Kondo (近藤真彦) - 12,670,000 ♥♥♥♥♥
Please refer to this post *0*
BUT ALSO VIDEOOOOOOO!!! ケジメなさい (Kejimenasai)
17. Toshihiko Tahara (田原俊彦) - 12,700,000 ♥♥
Toshi was in Matchy's group "Tanokin Trio" before he debuted with his single 哀愁でいと ~New York City lights~ (Aisuu date) which is a cover from an american song. He released also a lot of singles and was very successful. He left the JE in the 90's and he was banned from the company, that's why he has never appeared in any programs involving Johnny's, but yet they still sing his hits ?_?. Personally I don't like that much his vocals but his songs have good rythm.
His biggest hit was from 1987: the super famous 抱きしめてTONIGHT (Dakishimete Tonight, Embrace me tonight).
16. Hideki Saijo (西城秀樹) - 13,290,000
15. Pink Lady - 13,330,000 ♥♥♥
This wonderful duet was one of the pioneers of the idol movement in the mid-70's and one of the pioneers of the popularization of occidental music in Japan.
They also appeared on TV Program "Star Tanjou" Their debut single ペッパー警部 (Pepper Keibu, Inspector Pepper) was a total hit and they biggest hit was UFO, song which awarded them the Japan Record Award in 1977.
They were also the first idols to impose selling records and the first to have consecutive singles in #1.
This is UFO
14. Kyoko Koizumi （小泉今日子） - 14,260,000 ♥♥♥♥
Kyoko Koizumi, aka Kyon2, Kyon-kyon, or kyon-chan is also one of the most influyent idols of the 80's. She might not have the greatest voice ever, but she charms us with that beautiful smile, sings and feels the songs, her eyes tell us the feeling of the lyric and she seems to enjoy it. She is one of the very few idols whose popularity survived through time, maybe not as a singer, but as an actress. She's starred in lots of movies and has appeared in doramas.
She debuted along the big wave of idols of 1982 with her song 私の16才 (Watashi no 16 sai, my 16 years old), but her true fame came until 1984 with the single 渚のはいから人魚／風のマジカル (Nagisa no hai kara ningyo / Kaze o magical). The second song was used for the OST of a Doraemon movie of that year.
Another of her greatests hits are the songs ヤマトナデシコ七変化 (Yamato nadeshiko shichi henge), なんてったってアイドル (nantettatte idol) and 木枯しに抱かれて (Kogarashi ni dakarete). Enjoy the last one :D
13. Shizuka Kudo (工藤静香) - 14,870,000 ♥♥♥♥
Shizuka Kudo is also a legend of the late-80's until the mid-90's. She was part of the popular idol group "Onyanko Club". She claims herself being a huge fan of Miyuki Nakajima, who has composed her a lot of songs, including the popular MUGO・ん…色っぽい (Mugon... iroppoi), the 1st song she sang on Kouhaku Utagassen on 1988. Her biggest hit is 慟哭 (Doukoku, wailing). She sang the second Dragonball GT ending "Blue Velvet". She is also a very talented painter with a very interesting technique. Oh yeah. You read that news. She's Takuya Kimura's wife. They married on 2000.
Her vocals are very potent with a curious voice which can be powerful or sound cute despite her annoying talking voice XD. She also did an album of covers singing Miyuki Nakajima's songs. Included in that album comes also the very famous Sorafune, which was performed by TOKIO.
This is my most beloved song of hers: 激情 (Gekijou, passion)
12. Miho Nakayama (中山美穂) - 14,970,000 ♥♥♥
Honestly, I used to listen to her a lot. Until I started listening to Shizuka :p Miho Nakayama, a.k.a. Miporin, is also one of the 80's legends. She is a singer and an actress. She was part of the "Idol Shitennou" or the "4 generals of idols" which consisted of her, Shizuka Kudo, Yui Asaka and Yoko Minamino.
She debuted at 15yo with the single "C" which was the theme song of a drama Natsu Taiken monogatari. Her works are also very known because of being themes of doramas. Her most succesful songs are Catch Me (her 1st #1 single), You're my only shinnin' star, Witches (the 1st song that she performed at Kouhaku, on 1988), and the collaboration with rock group WANDS 世界中の誰よりきっと (Sekaijuu no dare yori kitto).
This is her debut song: "C"
11. THE CHECKERS (チェッカーズ) - 15,380,000
10. Kenji Sawada (沢田研二) - 15,700,000
9. Hiromi Go (郷ひろみ) - 17,780,000
8. Momoe Yamaguchi (山口百恵) - 16,220,000 ♥♥♥♥
Who doesn't know Momoe Yamaguchi, the living legend? That super artist who retired on top of her career to get married and pursue a new life as a wife/mother??
She possesses one of the best voices of Japan. She also defined a new style on interpretation for the decade. Talking about her would take me a lot of time, so I'll just write like the very basics here :p
She debuted on 1973 with single としごろ (Toshigoro) when she was on 3rd grade of secondary school. She impressed people with her powerful vocal technique. Later she started some controversy because her single ひと夏の経験 (Hito natsu no keiken, a summer experience) contained adult suggestive lyrics for her age.
Also she changed her style as time was passing by. She started singing songs which were like all japanese songs of the age, but then she started experimenting new styles, including rock, which was the most common style she started using in her late years as an idol.
She married actor Tomokazu Miura, his co-star in several series and movies and has 2 sons.
She has a lot of hit songs like 夢先案内人 (Yumesaki annainin, the guide of the dreams), イミテイション・ゴールド (imitation gold), 秋桜 (Cosmos), 乙女座 宮 (Otomeza kyu, house of virgo), プレイバックPart2 (Playback Part2), いい日旅立ち (Ii hi tabidachi, A good day to depart) which can be heard in some Shinkansen stations, ロックンロール・ウィドウ (Rock'n'roll widow) and さよならの向う側 (Sayonara no mukougawa, the other side of good-bye).
I've seen that whoever listens to her songs, immediately likes her and starts downloading her stuff :p
This is a segment with two great songs: ロックンロール・ウィドウ (Rock'n'roll widow) and 不死鳥伝説 (Phoenix densetsu, phoenix legend)
7. Morning Musume (モーニング娘。) - 16,700,000
6. Arashi (嵐) - 19,140,000 ♥♥
Seriously, if you don't know who they are is because you definitely are not into japanese music. I mean, you can be fan of other groups, but you still will know who they are. C'mon they're the actual best selling group in Japan, and you can see them everywhere everytime! You can visit this link to know who they are in case you don't know heh heh :p
Also!! Will leave video here before going on!!! My beloved "My Girl" :'D
5. SPEED - 19.530,000
4. Kinki Kids - 24,670,000
3. Akina Nakamori (中森明菜) - 25,340,000 ♥♥♥♥♥
Not for nothing she's known as "the empress" or "utahime" (princess of song). SHE IS THE BEST SINGER IN JAPAN *0*
She has very beautiful and moving ballads and very catchy tunes.
Same case as Momoe Yamaguchi, talking about her will take a long long post (I promise I'll dedicate a post to her) so will write her basics heh heh.
Akina had participated twice on TV Program "Star Tanjou" but they didn't chose her as winner because of her mature looks. She finally won the third time singing a piece of her idol Momoe Yamaguchi. She finally debuted on 1982 along with tons of other singers. Her debut song was スローモーション (Slow Motion) and didn't have that much impact until she released her 3rd single: セカンド・ラブ (Second Love) That is a very beautiful song which moved people. Then she started harvesting successful singles.
She also caused controversy because of her mature looks and mature lyrics, compared to her counterpart, Seiko Matsuda, which portrayed a more "innocent" image.
She appeared on Kouhaku for the 1st time on 1983 with hit song 禁区 (Kinku, prohibition).
On 1985 she was awarded with Japan Record Award with song ミ・アモーレ〔Meu amor é･･･〕, which is arranged as a samba, and talks about love at the Brazil carnaval. Next year Akina won again JRA with song DESIRE -情熱- which is one of her biggest hits.
1987 she released a very heartbreaking song: 難破船 (Nanpasen, wrecked ship) and it was associated with problems in her relationship with Matchy :x She continued winning #1 singles until 1989 when she tried to commit suicide because it's said Matchy was photographed along with Seiko Matsuda at NY. Fortunately she was found on time and she was saved. Coincidentaly, before incident she released a single called LIAR which it's said it expresses her feelings about Matchy. That was the only single she released that year.
Then she came back on 1990 with a more happy song: Dear Friend / CARIBBEAN. It still debuted #1 but then her popularity started to go down. On 1993 she released a new album called "UNBALANCE+BALANCE" which put her again in the entertaining world thanks to the included song 愛撫 (Aibu, caress) which was very successful.
Akina continued releasing singles but were not as successful as in the 80's. She better dedicated to release hundreds of thousands of BEST albums and started doing covers of old songs, which she continued doing until now.
This is my favourite song: 1985 JRA winner ミ・アモーレ
2. Seiko Matsuda (松田聖子) - 29,500,000 ♥♥
As stated above she was Akina's counterpart. She debuted on 1980 with song 裸足の季節 (Hadashi no kisetsu, barefoots season) but the boom hit came right away: 青い珊瑚礁 (Aoi sangoshou, blue lagoon) which sold millions of copies and positioned her as the biggest idol of the year. Her hairstyle and fashion was imitated by teenagers and her songs were heard in all places. Her lyrics were more cutey and happy and released a lot of singles. She got pregnant in 1985 and gave birth to her only daughter Sayaka. She came back to music and continued releasing very succesful singles.
She was the one who broke Pink Lady's record of most singles which debuted #1 and that record was broken by Ayumi Hamasaki.
She wanted to change her image in the 90's to a more mature style, and sometimes it was said she wanted to imitate Madonna. Actually she still releases singles once on a while; not as successful like in the past, but she'll remain as the queen idol of all times.
This is one of my favourite songs: 風立ちぬ (Kaze Tachinu, the wind won't stop).
1. SMAP - 32,310,000
OMG I'm finally doneeeeeeeeeeeeeee I swear I spent all day long writing this! So you'd better like it and comment!!! LOL
Obviously this was based on sales records; still missing more artists which even more popularity, but I loved this list as it counts past idols.
Thank you.