皆さん、今日は！ 안녕하세요 여러분! 你好众人!
Hello everyone!
My name is Aranka, but call me Ank. :) From now on, I'll be the co-host of Fashion Scans Rotation. Haruhi and I will alternate weeks in updating our rotation, but as I'll be busy all week and the weekend too I thought you should profit from my rotation double as long!
To kick my career as a rotation hostess, I thought I'd list some of my all time favourites for you.
Please also give a shout out to Haruhi, for doing such a wonderful job on the new layout!
18 songs this time around, enjoy! Comment or rate please, if you decide to download.
A*Ra*Shi - Arashi
Japanese/Pop
This is the debut single of this now almost 10 year old boyband! It's a song that just oozes energy and happiness, giving you the perfect excuse to bob your head in public! This is definitly one of my favourite songs by Arashi, even though it sounds humongously poppy and you can hear all the members have just started their full on musical career.
WISH - Arashi
Japanese/Pop
The theme song to the first season of Hana Yori Dango, this song is lighthearted and sweet. I would almost say it makes you feel fuzzy on the inside, but I think that would be taking it too far. None the less, if you know HYD, you know this song is the embodiment of the plot. Sweet, lighthearted, a little comical and an unrelenting faith in love.
CLAP&LOVE - ayaka
Japanese/Pop&Rock
I don't know why everyone isn't all over this singer, because she has an amazing voice! Her voice is the best compliment to the instrumentals of the song, giving it even more power. The musical harmony of this song is perfect and leaves you feeling empowered, able to conquer the world and able to face your music.
Love me, I love you - B'z
Japanese/Rock
This duo, that has been in business for nearly 21 years, is one of the best bands I know. While staying in the genre of rock, they have a enormous variation in musical style, keeping us all intrigued and waiting for their next release. This is a somewhat slower song, yet it remains upbeat, that's centered around love. Can you hear Tak-san beg?
Kimi ga Oikaketa Yume - Gackt
Japanese/Poprock
Probably the most famous artist in Japan right now, Gackt was my first introduction to Japanese music. I'm always amazed at how he is able to combine two things that seem incompatible - like this song clearly shows. While the lyrics are actually rather sad, the instrumentals sound upbeat and happy af if to say that what's expressed by the lyrics is not the end.
Vanilla (night version) - Gackt
Japanese/Pop+Latin
Now this was my very first Jmusic. Well, not this particular version of Vanilla, but Vanilla nonetheless. This song is actually a slower version of the original, put to a salsa rhythm. Even though Gackt has not a single salsa step in his system, it sounds great, giving the song the sensual feel that matches with its lyrics.
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy - K
English/Pop
The original is by Rod Steward, but I much prefer this version of the song. Perhaps that has to do with my slight preference for Asian men, but I just feel that K sings it way more sexy than Rod. While his English is not exactly perfect, you can easily understand him, while he gives you an idea of his vocal range at the same time.
Bonnie Butterfly - Kinki Kids
Japanese/Pop
I actually heard a snippet of this song from a KAT-TUN concert and fell in love with it instantly. Therefore, I decided to download the original. While I prefer the voices of Akanishi Jin and Kamenashi Kazuya, this song brings me a kind of inner peace and leaves me content and ease. It's a perfect song to relax to.
SIGNAL - KAT-TUN
Japanese/Pop
Now this song has the potential to make it to my all time favourite #1. It's my ringtone and I've learnt it by heart by listening to this over and over and over and over again. The song is cheerful, both instrumental and vocal and I'm just in love love love with the guitar arrangements. Highly, highly recommended.
Real Face - KAT-TUN
Japanese/Poprock
Actually, I lied a little about Vanilla. This song - in PV form - was my absolute very first introduction to Jmusic. Enticed by the voices and faces of this boyband, I started the hunt for Japanese music online, becoming more and more addicted to Japan, its music and its culture. This song is not the album version, which is terrible in my opinion, but the PV version. A rock song that profiles each band member.
Love me after 12AM - M-Flo ft. Alex (Clazziquai)
Japanese+English/Hiphop
I'm a big fan of the M-Flo ft. songs. This one features Alex, from the Korean band Clazziquai. It's a relaxed song, almost bordering on lounge music I think. Alex' voice and his impeccible English match perfectly with the instrumentals of this Japanese hip hop duo. While I haven't quite figured out what's up with the 'after 12Am', I certainly wouldn't mind complying =3
Vanessa - M-Flo ft. Bloodest Saxophone
Japanese+English/Hiphop+swing
I can't stop listening to this song! It's from the ASTROMANTIC album and it combines that '50s swing with 21st century hiphop, leading to a unique and addicting combination. If you've liked the SOIL & PIMP Sessions songs Haruhi has uploaded, you'll probably like this song aswell. It comes highly recommended.
Asterisk (full version) - Orange Range
Japanese/Hiphop
I still have no clue why you'd name a song after a kind of punctuation mark, but hey. These froods are so cool it doesn't matter. I'm always amazed by the speed of the chori. I can't see how they get it all done and NOT drop any syllables. It's the opening song of the first season of Bleach, which I think it suits perfectly.
Venus - Tackey&Tsubasa
Japanese/Pop
While I'm sure we shouldn't read too much into their names, this song is tacky. It's so wrong it has become genius XD Download the song, listen to it, find the video on Youtube or something and emerge yourself in one of the tackiest, yet funniest, song out there.
Sora Fune - TOKIO
Japanese/Rock
Theme song of My Boss My Hero, I never realised that the main star of the series was also the vocalist of this song. Tomoya Nagase has a very powerful and masculine voice, excellent for the music genre TOKIO produces (hard rock). I love the electric guitar that has a center feature in the song, powerful and skillfully played.
Darling - V6
Japanese+English/Pop
Theme song of the dorama Kimi wa Petto (You are my pet), this too is a sweet, soft song. It's a little contradictary with the plotline of the series, but it fits perfectly with Matsumoto Jun's adorkable character Momo. I think the song also has a kind of homey feel to it, which is probably why it was picked to be this series theme song.
Feel your Breeze - V6
Japanese+English/Pop
Theme song of the first Gokusen season, this song is all about empowerment. The instrumentals, the vocals, everything. I think this song could be Yankumi's personal theme song. I love how the refrain is sung mostly a capella by this boyband, without loosing the power of the message that the song tries to convey.
And yes, I do have a little obsession for Jdoramas. Now download D< ;D
Labels: Arashi, Ayaka, B'z, cohost: aranka, Gackt, K, KAT-TUN, m-flo, Orange Range, Tackey, TOKIO, Tsubasa, V6
