adamstan Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 On 23.04.2020 at 4:53 PM, adamstan said: The girl who made this song, Youko Matsuura, seems to be rather unknown, she doesn't have any records released, I looked a bit more at her page, and it turns out she has some CDs, but it looks like they're self-published, and she sells/sold them only at her live shows, and a few shops/places she's friends with. So for me they're impossible to get Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstan Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 (edited) The same day I heard Yoko Matsuura, I've also heard this: Guess kind of humble beginnings of eurobeat This song is a funny case. It's a cover of italo disco song. Actually, UK made one. So, I guess, euro-disco then? Nevertheless, original was this: And it's interesting, because lyrics are completely different (it isn't the translation of Angie Gold's version), making them effectively different songs sharing the same melody. English song is angry, breakup/revenge song, while Japanese version is very lighthearted, with girl hunting at the disco for her "cinderella boy" What's more, Yoko Oginome release also english version, which is the translation of JP one. I have to say - I prefer both covers than the original (for some reasons the embedding seems to be temporarily broken...) Edited April 25, 2020 by adamstan fixed embedding Plk_Lesiak 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inorin Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Been listening to these 2 songs almost everyday ever since I finished Baldr Sky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plk_Lesiak Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 7 hours ago, adamstan said: I looked a bit more at her page, and it turns out she has some CDs, but it looks like they're self-published, and she sells/sold them only at her live shows, and a few shops/places she's friends with. So for me they're impossible to get Maybe she'll make a big label debut one day and get this stuff made in mass, let's have hope. I won't comment on your multi-instrumentalist cover cause that makes me aware of my lack of musical talent too much. In other news, I'm recently getting more and more enamoured with the Japanese alt. rock scene. There's such an awesome chill factor to this music, they really work well as ambient music when I'm working of doing random stuff on the net. I kind of feel that Western rock rarely goes for this kind of harmonious feel. adamstan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDruidd Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 I have listening Spyair list and Harutya Cover today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstan Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 1 hour ago, Plk_Lesiak said: There's such an awesome chill factor to this music, they really work well as ambient music Yeah, really. Very nice, chilled feel indeed. 1 hour ago, Plk_Lesiak said: I kind of feel that Western rock rarely goes for this kind of harmonious feel. Yeah. Maybe it's because often they try too hard to be... how to say... edgy? Not sure if it's the right word, but what I mean is, that I feel like when it comes to the current (and by "current" I mean last 20 or 30 years ) Western popular music, anything that sounds nice and harmonious is easily being labelled as cheesy, fake etc etc - basically unworthy of attention. Or to put it in other words - Western musicians and listeners seem to value different things in music than Japanese. Plk_Lesiak 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plk_Lesiak Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 5 hours ago, adamstan said: Yeah. Maybe it's because often they try too hard to be... how to say... edgy? Not sure if it's the right word, but what I mean is, that I feel like when it comes to the current (and by "current" I mean last 20 or 30 years ) Western popular music, anything that sounds nice and harmonious is easily being labelled as cheesy, fake etc etc - basically unworthy of attention. Or to put it in other words - Western musicians and listeners seem to value different things in music than Japanese. Right, I guess I also see that with Western fans of Japanese artists, to some degree? Particularly with Daoko, who started with these pretty weird electronic sounds and then released a much more "mainstream-sounding" Thank You Blue album (it's excellent BTW), which English speaking fans apparently see as selling out for money. God, how I hate those snobbish attitudes. Bonus pleasantness (in the melody at least, the lyrics this band do seem to be a lot more sombre than the sound would suggest): adamstan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamysyu Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstan Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 (edited) On 25.04.2020 at 2:33 PM, Plk_Lesiak said: Maybe she'll make a big label debut one day and get this stuff made in mass, let's have hope. Update on this - I got in contact with Youko-san on FB. She does weekly live streams there, performing a few songs each time. I asked in comments for CDs, and she messaged me back with a link to an online store with her records. While it isn't possible to make international orders there (the ordering form accepts Japanese address only), that's where the cdjapan's proxy service comes in Let's keep fingers crossed that they can get it for me. Edited May 10, 2020 by adamstan Plk_Lesiak 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plk_Lesiak Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 The search for the chillest Japanese music continues. I think we're getting close. adamstan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jardic47 Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Good action music I listened to for my writing so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstan Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) This just came up on the radio While I'm not a big Akina Nakamori's fan, I might check out the album this song is from - it sounds great On 10.05.2020 at 3:02 PM, Plk_Lesiak said: The search for the chillest Japanese music continues. I think we're getting close. I'm really liking the arrangement of this song. Edited May 13, 2020 by adamstan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jardic47 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 I actually heard this one on my friends mixtape. He has the taste of a dead mouse. Good song though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plk_Lesiak Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 On 5/13/2020 at 10:36 AM, adamstan said: While I'm not a big Akina Nakamori's fan, I might check out the album this song is from - it sounds great Well, I challenge you to listen to my YouTube playlist of her songs and repeat that statement. I think she's pretty amazing, particularly where the more electronic/80s specific sounds kick in. Not even speaking of her voice. ^^ On the front of newer stuff, I've been charmed by a few Kanon Wakeshima's songs... There are few things that aren't made better by the chello, but the general vibe of these songs and her vocals also sum up to something very climatic... I still have to check out her earlier albums, but for the more mainstream J-pop, what I heard so far stands out in a very nice way. :3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstan Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 7 hours ago, Plk_Lesiak said: Well, I challenge you to listen to my YouTube playlist of her songs and repeat that statement. I think she's pretty amazing, particularly where the more electronic/80s specific sounds kick in. Yeah, I have listened to some of her albums from the 1984-88 period, and have to agree. She is great. I think that 2-3 years ago, while dipping my toes in Jpop for the first time I kind of brushed her off because at that moment I've been searching for something else, but it was clearly a mistake Plk_Lesiak 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plk_Lesiak Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 adamstan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstan Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 On 18.05.2020 at 11:13 AM, Plk_Lesiak said: Nice, very chilled out On 10.05.2020 at 6:22 AM, adamstan said: Update on this - I got in contact with Youko-san on FB. She does weekly live streams there, performing a few songs each time. I asked in comments for CDs, and she messaged me back with a link to an online store with her records. While it isn't possible to make international orders there (the ordering form accepts Japanese address only), that's where the cdjapan's proxy service comes in Let's keep fingers crossed that they can get it for me. And so today CDJapan sent them to me At first Youko offered to send me the discs directly, but it turned out to be nearly impossible, since international postal services are currently suspended, and DHL, who still operates, is really horribly expensive for individuals - they quoted her 9600円 for this So we decided to wait until postal services resume. But then, I got reply from CDJapan, saying they can get those discs for me. They also use DHL, but they have some kind of partnership, so DHL shipping at CDJ is just 2600円 . So even after adding their proxy service fee, it still was reasonable. Now let's just keep fingers crossed, that they arrive safely. Also, next saturday (30.05) Youko will be doing special live performance on YT - from the studio, with HQ sound etc Here's the announcement: And finally, let me spam with another one of my recordings Yesterday I uploaded my cover of Ai Kawashima's "Garasu no kokoro": Plk_Lesiak 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plk_Lesiak Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 adamstan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstan Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 @Plk_Lesiak - some really good stuff there Yesterday I heard Mariya Takeuchi's "Let's Get Married" again, and it reminded me about the thing we talked about earlier - how some of that '70s/'80s Jpop feels similar to our pop scene from that time. I mean, I instantly remembered this Anna Jantar's song: And well, just have a look at that music video - you could easily swap Anna with Seiko Matsuda there, and nobody would notice (if not for the language difference ) Plk_Lesiak 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstan Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 (edited) And today the package with Youko Matsuura's CDs (and live DVD) has arrived She even signed two of them for me (Maybe should have posted it in "JP things you have bought", but I actually am listening to them right now ) Edited May 25, 2020 by adamstan Plk_Lesiak 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstan Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 Yesterday instead of usual 30 minute facebook stream, Youko did full-fledged 90 minute concert - transmitted on YT from studio, with proper sound, lighting etc. It can be viewed as a video now, and I think it's really worth listening to. Plk_Lesiak 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plk_Lesiak Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 When I feel like shit the music I nearly always come back to lately is this generic anison-style pop... My brain somehow finds it really soothing, and this band is a prime example. :3 adamstan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstan Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 Nice Truly generic, but nevertheless nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plk_Lesiak Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 The album version of this song is actually pretty meh due to all the effects/mixing used in it, but this performance from The First Take is, in my opinion, absolutely brilliant. :3 adamstan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstan Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 (edited) Indeed It sounds very good with this natural-sounding singing. What was with the album version - did they overuse the vocal processing? (extreme tuning etc?) BTW recently I tried to do kind-of "live" cover of one of abovementioned Yoko Matsuura's songs. Here's the result - officially approved by the author herself, despite my terrible singing Also, this time I also put English translation of lyrics in the subtitles. Edited June 18, 2020 by adamstan Mr Poltroon and Plk_Lesiak 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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