Asian Divas ~ BoA, Utada, Asuka, TiA, MISIA
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BoA (보아 ) ~ ID: Peace B ~ SNATCH
Album - ID: Peace B (debut album)
Style - Pop
Language - Korean
Release - 2000.08.26
Quality -High
Rating - ★★★★★
Official Website
Kwon BoA (보아 ) first made her Korean debut at the tender age of 13 back in 2000 with the release of the album 'ID:Peace B'. The marketing strategy of BoA's record company was to produce an artist who could represent the whole of Asia fitting the criteria of both singer and dancer. Showing unique talent for someone so young, BoA rose to become one of Asia's biggest stars as was intended.
BoA released her first Japanese album in 2002, which was followed up by several others, all to this day marking her high status in Japan as well as her home land, Korea. BoA has also released several songs in English and Mandarin and colaberated with stars from all over the world.
The single that fits the title of BoA's debut album truly conveys why BoA has become the successful idol she is today. Many people like to think BoA's older Korean stuff is better that her newer stuff. I personally love both, and 'ID:Peace B' is one of my favorite BoA songs. This is the original Korean version which I heard before the Japanese version, so I sort of prefer it. :P
BoA (보아 ) ~ My Name ~ SNATCH
Album - My Name
Style - Urban Dance/Pop
Language - Korean
Release - 2004.06.15
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★★★
In keeping with the BoA theme and in contrast with ID:Peace B, here is the latest Korean release from BoA. Yeah, it's a bit over played now, but if you somehow never got the chance to hear it, well here it is! And it did get a lot of insults - but I really love BoA's new style and I wouldn't mind if she kept on producing the same quality songs as those on 'My Name'. I've heard that album so many times now, and I still love it. There are a great range of tracks on it, so if you don't have some weird phobia of good music, give it a go. :)
UTADA ~ Easy Breezy ~ SNATCH
Album- EXODUS
Style - Pop
Language - English
Release - TBC
Quality - Medium
Rating - ★ ★★★☆
Official Website
Utada Hikaru became the biggest selling artist in Japanese music history when she made her debut in 1998 with the album 'First Love'. Hikki, as she is known to her fans, has released a total of three albums since her debut and today at the age of 21 she is one of the biggest names in jpop. Utada spent her childhood in both New York and Tokyo, experiencing an mixture of different cultural influences, which can be used to explain her unique and record breaking sound.
As most of you know, this is Utada's debut single for her American cross-over. The song is set to be released in September this year, but here we have a medium quality sample for you to enjoy.
At first I was a bit unsure about this song, especially the part that goes 'You're easy breezy and I'm Japanesey'. o_O but having listened to it for a long time non-stop, I actually really like it now!! A lot of people are insisting on flaming this and being snobs over all of Utada's America stuff, but y'know what? I love it!! And this is my blog so I can say whatever I want and you will listen to only me!! Hahahaha!!... ahem..anyways ^_^
Potential TRL chart topper? Who knows. I have high hopes!! 'She's got a new microphone!' :p
Asuka ~ me & my girlfriend ~ SNATCH
Single - me & my girlfriend
Style - R&B
Language - Japanese
Release - 2004.07.07
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★★☆
Official Website
Asuka first appeared on the Japanese music scene in August 2003 with the feisty single 'Brand New Aria!!'.
Although she is not given much exposure in the media, Asuka has certainly made an impression on the Jr&b scene with her soulful sound. Often compared to the style of Alicia Keys, Asuka is highly influenced by American hip-hop and supported Ashanti for her Japan Tour 2003.
I am quite liking Asuka and this is probably my second favorite song out of the three she has released, next to 'Brand New Aria!!' The chorus is very catchy, and the whole song has quite a jazzy beat to it. It reminds me somehow of Sunshine Anderson's 'Heard it all Before'.
All in all, its a pretty nice R&B song.
TiA ~ Every time ~ SNATCH
Single - Every time
Style - Pop
Language - Japanese
Release - 2004.06.09
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★☆☆
Official Website
TiA is a fairly new artist. Her style is pop and R&B, and her vocals sound somewhat like MISIA's. 'Every time' her first single, did not attract a lot of attention in the charts, but this 17 year old has clear potential to become a future star. Her second single 流星 (Ryusei) goes on sale next month, and a preview can be heard on her official site.
I like this song,although I wouldn't listen to it non-stop for a long period of time. It has a catchy melody and TiA definately has a great voice for someone so young. I would definately watch this space!!.
MISIA ~ 名前のない空を見上げて ~ Namae no nai sora wo miagete (looking up at a nameless sky) ~ SNATCH
Original Soundtrack - TENKA (drama)
Style - Ballad
Language - Japanese
Release - 2004.07.07
Quality - High
Rating - ★★★★☆
Official Website
MISIA first debuted in 1998 with the album 'Mother Father Brother Sister' and has released six albums to date as well as a handful of remixed and special edition cuts. She gradually gained recognition because of her deep and strong vocals, and has risen to become one of Asia's biggest stars. Little is known about MISIA's real character. The name MISIA comes from a combination of her real name, Misaki, and the word 'Asia'. The young artist varies in style from pop, urban and even sampes at rock. She is most noticed for her ballads, particularly the song 'Everything' from her 2001 album, 'Marvelous' which spent a record number of weeks at number 1 on the Oricon.
Another ballad by my favorite J-artist, MISIA.<3 This is definately a great song as these sorts of songs are what MISIA does best in my opinion. I don't feel it was a strong as some others, but it is a very beautiful song non-the-less, as are the lyrics.
If you have never checked MISIA out, I strongly recommend her. Despite her seeming lack of online exposure, she is truly one of the most original and talented J-artists out there at the moment.