Who's Your Favorite J-Pop Artist?

[otakudes]

Mine is Mika Nakashima. I just started collecting j-pop last year. Mika's Music album was my first.

Love Addict (video) (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1qcwc_mika-nakashima-love-addict_music)

This video was from her 2nd album Love which hit #1 on Oricon charts. She has a great singing voice and would be an excellent choice for anyone starting a collection.

*By j-pop I mean anything (jazz, R&B, rock...)

[hiei_kurama27]

That would be B'z. I love the sound & style of their songs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%27z

Koigokoro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-hUYWbHdUI)
ZERO (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VPsDwBXTqk)
Don't Leave Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qla0kIHdg0)
Be There (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3MHtILjh1Q)
Easy Come, Easy Go - PV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jOnu8THvlg) / Concert (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx2NSRLEJGA)

I'd better stop there or I might just end up posting their entire discography. :P

[ryushe]

CHEMISTRY and to some lesser extent, Crystal Kay.

[Tidusauron12]

CHEMISTRY and to some lesser extent, Crystal Kay.

I like Crystal Kay.

By far, may favorite is the pillows. But I think that's obvious, so I'm out.

[ryushe]

Mine is Mika Nakashima. I just started collecting j-pop last year. Mika's Music album was my first.
[/SIZE]
I think "Will" (http://www.esnips.com/doc/34a84891-fd77-4ace-88a3-358a9d5b3242/Mika-Nakashima---Will) is not only one of Mika's best songs, I think one of the greatest J-Pop songs I've ever heard.

Boys II Men actually did a cover to it. It's great.
Will Cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixKScvlNWvo&feature=related)

She was also great in her Nana faze. She was born to play her role if you ask me :P

[Haro!]

I think "Will" (http://www.esnips.com/doc/34a84891-fd77-4ace-88a3-358a9d5b3242/Mika-Nakashima---Will) is not only one of Mika's best songs, I think one of the greatest J-Pop songs I've ever heard.

Boys II Men actually did a cover to it. It's great.
Will Cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixKScvlNWvo&feature=related)

She was also great in her Nana faze. She was born to play her role if you ask me :P
100% Agreed.

My favorite j-pop artist? CHEMISTRY (more precisely I'm a big Dochin fan, as a guy, I myself find it disturbing). Without a doubt. Crystal Kay is also up there, but my second favorite is Toshinobu Kubota (although I prefer his English albums).

[otakudes]

I think "Will" (http://www.esnips.com/doc/34a84891-fd77-4ace-88a3-358a9d5b3242/Mika-Nakashima---Will) is not only one of Mika's best songs, I think one of the greatest J-Pop songs I've ever heard.

Boys II Men actually did a cover to it. It's great.
Will Cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixKScvlNWvo&feature=related)

She was also great in her Nana faze. She was born to play her role if you ask me :P

She's great for ballads. I never know it was covered. I haven't seen Nana yet but plan to squeeze it in between anime. :)

[Tomoe]

I'd say Hironobu Kageyama, but he's not J-pop, he's Anison.
Then I'd say some of the veterans like Miyuki Nakajima or Tooru Suzuki, but does that count as J-pop?... Not sure.
From the young ones, I think Mika Nakashima is the best.

[magicalgirlj]

Masami Okui
Yousei Teikoku
Denkare
Sakura Nogawa
Fripside

[Dr. Ezra]

I don't do J-Pop, but as far as Japanese music goes...the GazettE and Buck-Tick are my faves.

[Gibb]

Rurutia

Rurutia has a very unique voice, one that might offput some people due to how unusual it is. To me, her voice is almost haunting, and her songs (which she writes the music and lyrics for) are incredible. I own every one of her albums, and they're some of the most well rounded and put together albums of any Jpop artist I know.

Here are some youtube samples: Selenite (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBGRnvsQGcw) Opus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGCj8uX8hn8) Suzaku no Sora (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDAQLFHPVU8) Aoi bara (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho-WHre8KTY)

[tenshi_a]

Probably ALI Project, at the moment. ^_^

I'd say Hironobu Kageyama, but he's not J-pop, he's Anison.

I've got a CD reprint of an old early 1980s album of his, before he was singing anime songs. He had a totally different sound. I think he was more of a singer, less of a musician, and had less control over his work, but that's just the impression I got from listening. I think the album is called "Broken Heart". I like him a lot more singing anime songs. :)

[Tomoe]

I have lots of his old albums. He doesn't have even two albums which are similar. Lazy era has nothing to do with his Tokuma Records period, later Airblanca album was so different, and not to mention the transition from "I"m in You" acoustic project through "Cold Rain" until the self-made "30years3ounce". JAM is another case as well.
Kageyama is so versatile!

[MixterTreix]

Ohmori Kinuko
Eiko Shimamiya
hitomi
Yuiko Tsubokura
Nana Mizuki
Shoko Nakagawa

[ryushe]

My favorite j-pop artist? CHEMISTRY (more precisely I'm a big Dochin fan, as a guy, I myself find it disturbing). Without a doubt.Interesting, I'm such a big Kawabata fan that sometimes I have to wonder about it myself... :uhh:

And I don't know if you heard this, but Boys II Men also did a cover for Kimi wo Sagashiteta ~New Jersey United~ (http://www.esnips.com/doc/55f81c33-9d29-4bbd-b6d1-894754e8141c/Ive-Been-Searchin---Boyz-II-Men)

[loplop]

The 5.6.7.8's & for one a little older, Shounen Knife.

I saw The 5.6.7.8's in Seattle a few years ago and they put on a good show. They kind of remind me of another favorite US band, Man or Astro-Man in some ways.

[Illusions-chan]

I have to admit: I'm a huge Sowelu fan.

I absolutely love Rainbow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJXctsLROcw), Glisten (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAnVeptSJEc&feature=related), and Part of Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PXp1pzcCJY&feature=related).

I do also like some of Mika's stuff, but I haven't listened to J-pop in a long while.

[pepin]

I don't listen to a lot of J-pop, but I do have a weakness for Miss Monday <3

[Haro!]

Interesting, I'm such a big Kawabata fan that sometimes I have to wonder about it myself... :uhh:

And I don't know if you heard this, but Boys II Men also did a cover for Kimi wo Sagashiteta ~New Jersey United~ (http://www.esnips.com/doc/55f81c33-9d29-4bbd-b6d1-894754e8141c/Ive-Been-Searchin---Boyz-II-Men)
Whoa. I'm glad I looked at this thread again, I would never have seen that reply. That song is good. I was a huge Boyz II Men fan back in the day, so that's like, extremely awesome to me.

I have to admit: I'm a huge Sowelu fan.

I absolutely love Rainbow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJXctsLROcw), Glisten (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAnVeptSJEc&feature=related), and Part of Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PXp1pzcCJY&feature=related).

I like a few of Sowelu's songs as well. On a bit of a side note. She has a big head, but I find her attractive.

[Azai392]

Well... that would have to be The Pillows.. but there are bands that are really close.

This is how I would have to divide my top bands. XD

1st: The Pillows
2nd: Chatmonchy, Polysics, The Predators
3rd: Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Miki Furukawa

[Yukarichan]

My top 5 artists and current favorite song from each

1. Ayumi Hamasaki (current favorite song - Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~)
2. Koda Kumi (current favorite song - TABOO)
3. Buono! (current favorite song - Rottara Rottara)
4. AKB48 (current favorite songs - RIVER, AKB Sanjou!)
5. PUFFY (current favorite song - Asia no Junshin)

[MixterTreix]

Buono rules, that's a new one for my list! I really like both their albums.

[xyxablink]

I love......Natsumi Abe
and Ayumi Hamasaki... for their songs were
really cool to hear....

[Thousand Eyes]

Saori Atsumi.

She's the only J-Pop artist I listen to. Her voice alone does enough for me.

[MixterTreix]

I currently have:

http://myfavrankings.com/luckiebear/rankings/Jpop_Female_Vocalists
1. Momoko Tsunaga
2. Ohmori Kinuko (old skool)
3. Hitomi Furuya
4. Eiko Shimamiya
5. Yuiko Tsubokura

[mooseegg1982]

The Pillows!

[Danju]

J-Pop is gay.

...But I find myself strangely attracted to a number of artists. I must be bicurious.

Anyway, uh...Yuki Saito. Love her.

[doom&jellybeans]

Ushirogami Hikaretai and the solo stuff from Akiko Ikuina.:wub: