Ayaya, more Kamei-Chan and a dash of Nacchi
There were some issues and observations I wanted to discuss with you last week, but a lack of writing vitality saw me revert to a rather personal story of me, cafes and Eri Kamei. I’ll admit that I felt a little guilty, but at the same time thankful that Café Kamei was received warmly by the few comments it managed to get. Sadly I still feel a little under the weather, so expect a filler entry this time round. Rest assured that normal blogging will resume as of next week.
Ayaya, Superb Soloist
Currently I have been listening to everything Aya Matsuura as I was able to get my hands on her music collection last week. All her classics have been on repeat for quite some time (not including a lot of her ballads); sorry I just don’t like them. I know I’m a little late on catching the Ayaya boat but I have to say, I’m glad I did. It would seem Tsunku has given her solo career a lot of love and care in the quality department over the years. Though many of her songs are for better, or for worse, rather camp… isn’t J-pop at its best this way? We’re not talking western camp here either. If there is one thing I have told myself, it’s that J-pop in general has a well crafted pop sensibility. Although the industry doesn’t always get the balance right, I believe Ayaya’s back catalogue reads well, very well. Her material can sometimes feel like it’s going nowhere, but the bridge or chorus will usually have a –killer hook’ to steer everything into focus.
An example would be the very catchy –Yeah! Meccha Holiday’, a song which always manages to place my thoughts onto the infamous Taka-san of the equally notorious yet delightfully funny Utaban show. If you’re a fan of MiniMoni then I think you’ll know what I mean. At first –Ne~e?’ played like something used by Christmas elves to seduce the opposite sex, it still does. But Ayaya’s voice is so cheeky and down right sexy it wont really matter, unless your Santa wondering where his band of little men have got to. –Dokki Doki! Love Mail’ is another favourite of mine and I’m sure Matuura loyalists out there would hunt me down if I thought any differently, though I did enjoy Nono’s version at a concert this year just that little bit more.
Other songs worth mentioning are –I know’, –Egao ni Namida ~THANK YOU! DEAR MY FRIENDS~’ and –LOVE Namida Iro’ all of which play a little more grassroots, something which is slowly becoming more of a rarity these days. Of course I’ll listen to a variety of well-loved Morning Musume songs, a recent surprise liking to Biyuuden –Naishin Kyaa Kyaa da wa!’ a B-side for –Kurenai no Kisetsu’ single is probably the best thing I’ve heard for a long time in H!P, its totally unlike Biyuuden and if you love Older Morning Musume songs, I suggest you give it a listen. Couple that with some J-pop/rock that aren’t H!P related and you have my current playlist.
Don’t overlook Nacchi
Wait! I almost forgot to mention Nacchi, there’s always room for her work on my MP3 player. –Koi no Hana’ and the lovely –Yume Naraba’ will have my feet tapping every time without fail. Working her image well, she is a perfect ensemble of beautiful looks, graceful voice and of course that killer smile. I’d certainly never be embarrassed to sing her songs at karaoke. Ok, that was a blatant lie, and anyone who has heard me sing will back me up on that. Give me a few drinks and a microphone however, and expect some rather odd renditions of all her best works, and even more odd renditions of the Japanese language.
Kamei-Chan you’re such a turtle, a cute one to ^_^
She has no solo career as of yet, though many people will agree that if she was removed from Morning Musume, her best move would be in Entertainment television hosting or co-hosting. I’m thinking maybe another talk show, a market that is utterly saturated nonetheless. Stick her with Taka-san of Utaban fame (good luck Kamei) and include a range of famous guests and on-location spots. It sounds eerily familiar and overly generic but it’s a combination of qualities that will always work. And I for one would love to see the relationship between these two unlikely heroes evolve as each week passes. Maybe dress Kamei-chan up as a turtle, though the play on words is less than Shakespearian and a cheap gimmick at best. Still, a jokes corner for Eri to let loose her latest discoveries, and a row or guards to hold Taka-san back after hearing them, I think you could have an entertaining partnership.