Asian Kung-Fu Genration, Toyko Jihen, YUKI, Sowelu, HY, Jay Chou, nobodyknows+, SAYAKA
My first update for J~melody, hope you'll enjoy the songs =)
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Asian Kung-Fu Genration - Kimi no Machi Made ~ SNATCH
Single - Kimi no Machi Made
Style - Rock
Language - Japanese
Release - 2004.09.23
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★★☆
Official Website
The band was formed in 1996 by Masafumi, Kensuke and Takahiro. Ichiji, their drummer, joined later. Their first works were sold exclusivley online and their debut album released in the year 2000 was entirely in English.
In 2001 the band began self promoting by sending tapes to radio stations which finally led them onto some success, 'Konayuki' was Asian Kung's first aired song. In the same year they released their second album with Japanese lyrics.
In 2002 mini album 'Houkai Amplifier' was released ranking no. 1 on the 'High Line Record Sales'. During the same year the song 'Haruka Kanata' became the opening theme tune for anime NARUTO. Their success and popularity steadily began to rise along with increasing record sells.
Their last single 'Rewrite' [2004.08.04] is the opening for the anime 'Full Metal Alchemist'.
It took me a while before I got into this single, though good nevertheless, just don't expect more than their previous hit 'Rewrite' -Which was a pretty awesome track! A slight dissapointment with this one.
New album due 20th October, title (romaji) 'Sol-Fa.'
Sowelu ~ I WILL ~ SNATCH
Single - I WILL
Style - R&B/Ballad
Language - Japanese
Release - 2004.09.01
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★★☆
Official Website
Sowelu, born in 1982 bought up in Tokyo with some Irish blood, her songs are a mix of ballads and urban. She made her debut in 2003.
'I WILL' is Sowelu's latest 7th single.
HY ~ AM 11:00 ~ SNATCH
Album - Street Story
Style - Folk/Acoustic Ballad/hint of rock and rap
Language - Japanese
Release - 2003.4.16
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★★★
Official Website
HY [pronounced as the letters: ‘H’ , ‘Y’ not ‘hi’] is a band consisting of 5 members, 4 guys and one female originating from Okinawa, Yonashiro Town, the name HY deriving from Higashiyakena, a district of Yonashiro.
HY are an indie band that does Rock, Folk, some Punk and a little Rap as well as ballad.
The group joined after the graduation of high school in 2000 and had since been performing street lives together at Chatan carnival park.
In September 2001 debut album " Departure " had its limited release in Okinawa, despite the limitations the copies sold out amazingly quick! 10,000 copies were gone in a flash! The following year, April 2002 Departure went nationwide and whilst continuing its massive sell of over 300,000 copies the second album Street Story released [2003] making a further record breaking achievement! They became the first J-Indie band in history to gain first position in sells for a consecutive number of four weeks as praised by the sub-editor at Oricon.
Their current album 'TRUNK' released this year July was also a success.
AM 11:00 was one of their major hits that expanded their popularity.
Jay Chou ~ Qi Li Xang ~ SNATCH
Album - Qi Li Xang
Style - Mid-tempo/Ballad
Language - Mandarin
Release - 2004.08.11
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★★☆
Official Website
The musically talented, from the age of 3 Jay started to learn the piano and further became to mastering a number of other instruments including the guitar, cello, and jazz drum.
1998 was when it all started, his musical talents impressed a host of a singing contest, Jay was playing the piano for his friend who had signed up for the contest. There after Jay began song writing in the music industry. In 2000 his hard work and skills paid off and landed him in an offer to become a singer. In November 1st 2000 Jay made his debut with the self-titled album Jay, his infectious tunes and soulful voice were well-received by listeners.
Jay's popularity has continued to grow ever since along with his creativity and talents in music composition.
This is one of my favourite tracks from his current album, 'Qi Li Xang' which unfortunatley wasn't a very impressive album compared to his past releases.
YUKI ~ Home Sweet Home ~ SNATCH
Single - Home Sweet Home
Style - Ballad
Language - Japanese
Release - 2004.8.18
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★★★
Official Website
Yuki a true music lover from the heart has been a member of many bands since 1988, in 1991 she met Onda Yoshihito and formed Judy and Mary together in 1992, Yuki was only 20 at the time. Kotha their drummer later joined but things only started to happen when Asanuma Takuyu left his band 'Robots' to join Judy and Mary in 1993. Slowly but surely they soon made their success and signed onto a major record label.
In 2001 Judy and Mary disbanded. Yuki released her solo debut single in February 2002.
'Home Sweet Home' is her 7th single, also the theme song for anime NARUTO the movie.
YUKI's 8th single is due out on November 10th!
Nobodyknows+ ~ Kokoro Odoru ~ SNATCH
Album - Do You Know?
Style - Hip Hop
Language - Japanese
Release - 2004.06.30
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★★★
Official Website
Formed in October 1st 1999 starting with just 3 members, they released albums under a private label at first concentrating in Nagoya of Japan.
As popularity bloomed and record sells rose they signed a contract with SONYMUSIC in February 2002. In the following year their debut EP with Sony 'nobody knows 3' was released.
On June 1st 2003 new members joined the group making it the new formation of 5 MCs + 1 DJ, hence the name 'nobody knows' became 'nobodyknows+'.
Their first album with Sony titled 'Do You Know?' released in Summer this year at the end of June, it proved to be a massive hit with the sell of 500,000 albums!!
'Kokoro Odoru' was one of their recent hit singles released in May this year, also featured in the album 'Do You Know?' A funky hip-hop track.
Tokyo Jihen [東京事変] ~ Gunjo Biyori [群青日和] ~ SNATCH
Single - Gunjo Biyori
Style - Rock
Language - Japanese
Release - 2004.09.08
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★★★
Official Website
Shiina Ringo is back with her newly formed band Tokyo Jihen [Tokyo Incidents]
A truly rockin' debut track with the ever unique sound of Shiina Ringo, currently ranked high on Oricon.
Their 2nd single 'Sonan' [Accident] is due to release on October 20th with an album to follow on November 25th!
SAYAKA ~ Mizu Iro ~ SNATCH
Single - Mizu Iro
Style - Pop/ Ballad
Language - Japanese
Release - 2004.09.29
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★★☆
Official Website
Daughter of Jpop Legend Seiko Matsuda.
Sayaka made her debut 'ever since' in May 2002 written by herself and composed by Shunsaku Okuda -member of the band 'the brilliant green', highest ranked position on Oricon was 5th place.
In August 2003 after being occupied in her actress career Sayaka came back with her second single 'Garden' entirely self composed, though unfortunately the single as a whole did not achieve the same level of success as her debut, though 'Garden' was still a popular track nevertheless.
Sayaka still in her actress career is back with her 3rd single written by Masato Kitano of 'day after tomorrow', yet another pleasant sounding, mid-tempo pop/ballad track.