The Swinging Popsicle - I just wanna kiss you baby mp3

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Argh…the scorching heat, the oil price hikes, food price hikes, earthquakes, italy losing 3-0 to netherlands, detergent suicides….what’s the world becoming to? Luckily in the midst of all these ‘catastrophes’, we still have our ears…and when we have our ears…we have music and sometimes i guess is comforting to know that we still have that.
I’m featuring 2 other songs from the indie band The Swinging Popsicle. This time around is from their album In Transit which was released back in 2004. This is their 3rd album before the release of Go On which i have featured the song by the same name previously. This album is one of their most popular one to date, and one that i have enjoyed very much as well. The first song is ‘I just wanna kiss you’, a nice pop and sing-along song. Of course this is very different from the song Go On, but it depicts their genre more accurately. Therefore, this song would suit most to the common listener’s ear buds. So if you are tired of R&B and modern pop music, give this a spin, you might just like it.
The next song, is Shinemani (シネマニ), a heavier song in terms of guitars and bass. Now this is somewhere along the lines of Go On, where her voice trails behind the music. Kinda like Cranberries you know? So if you are in the mood for some rock, this might just be your cup of tea.
Now back to the heat….

• Fujishima Mineko (Vocals)
• Shimada Osamu (Guitar)
• Hirata Hironobu (Bass

download : I just wanna kiss you - the swinging popsicle mp3

download : Shinemani - the swinging popsicle mp3

The Brilliant Green - Ash Like Snow mp3

Their latest single featured as one of the theme song for Mobile Gundam Suit. Honestly, I didn’t know that, I just saw some Gundam pictures on the CD cover. But yeah i do know what is Gundam, and the other dude, Zaku or Zapu..or something like that…the green erm..fatter one. I beg your pardon, really, cause when it comes to anime and manga, i’m totally lost! I tried watching Blood+ though, cute vampire slaying Saya but after a while i began to lose the plot. Or maybe they dragged the story too long, I don’t know. All i know is that i didn’t finish the series. But who cares, cause some anime comes with really cool j-rock tunes like The Brilliant Green! And this one is cool and it certainly rocks! The guitar sounds at the beginning instantly prepares you for a great Brilliant Green song. Just months after releasing Enemy, they are back with a rock-worthy song. Unlike Enemy, this is fast-paced, yes it feels like you are riding on that thing she is on. So if you don’t have one, try it on a motorcycle and some cool intergalactic shades, i think it’ll do just fine. In this single, it includes a newer version of the english song Goodbye and Good Luck which was originally released in 1997. Well, enjoy!

For Lyrics : Click Here

Download : Ash Like Snow - The Brilliant Green mp3

Download : Ash Like Snow (Instrumental) - The Brilliant Green mp3

Download : Goodbye and Good Luck ~ Piano Arrange Version~ - The Brilliant Green mp3

More Brilliant Green ?

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Hikaru Utada - Prisoner of Love mp3

宇多田 ヒカル

Yes, more from me! I guess when i’m on a roll there’s no self control! (taken from the Green Day song, Hitchin’ a Ride) Afterall, recently i’ve been back to listening to some japanese songs and I must say some of them are pretty good and well, refreshing! One such is Miss Utada.
This is Utada ‘the chart topper’ Hikaru latest single, Prisoner of Love. This song is dedicated to Aiko, as she was the one who recommended this song to me. This song is also found in her latest album Heart Station. In this single however, it features a ‘quiet’ version, which basically translate to a slower beat. Yes, very much like what she did on Flavor of Life. Back then it was called ‘The Ballad Version’. Yes, the japanese marketing strategy. Hikki strikes gold again with this very catchy pop song, which i think sounds pretty similar to Beautiful World or a mix from her other songs. I don’t know, maybe all her songs sound alike that it makes one think that ‘where have i heard this before’. Well, can you blame the artist as this is her style, and one that she excels very much in. I like this song, kudos to one of japan’s most famous singer!

I’m a prisoner of love
Prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love
I’m just a prisoner of love
A prisoner of love

heiki na kao de uso wo tsuite
waratte iyake ga sashite
raku bakari shiyou to shite ita

naimononedari BURU-SU
mina yasuragi wo motomete iru
michitariteru noni ubaiau
ai no kage wo otte iru

taikutsu na mainichi ga kyuu ni kagayakidashita
anata ga arawareta ano hi kara
kodoku demo tsurakutemo heiki da to omoeta
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Prisoner of love
Prisoner of love
I’m a prisoner of love

yameru toki mo sukoyaka naru toki mo
arashi no hi mo hare no hi mo tomo ni ayumou

I’m gonna tell you the truth
hitoshirezu tsurai michi wo erabu
watashi wo ouen shite kureru
anata dake wo tomo to yobu

tsuyogari ya yokubari ga muimi ni narimashita
anata ni ai sareta ano hi kara
jiyuu demo yoyuu demo hitori ja munashii wa
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Oh mou sukoshi da yo
Don’t you give up
Oh misutenai zettai ni

zankoku na genjitsu ga futari wo hikisakeba
yori issou tsuyoku hikareau
ikura demo ikura demo ganbareru ki ga shita
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

arifureta nichijou ga kyuu ni kagayakidashita
kokoro wo ubawareta ano hi kara
kodoku demo tsurakutemo heiki da to omoeta
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

I’m a prisoner of love
Prisoner of love
Prisoner of love
I’m just a prisoner of love
I’m a prisoner of love

Stay with me, stay with me
My baby, say you love me
Stay with me, stay with me
hitori ni sasenai

Download : Prisoner of Love - Utada Hikaru mp3

Download : Prisoner of Love (Quiet Version) - Utada Hikaru mp3

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Miho Fukuhara - Change mp3

A debut single for Miho Fukuhara, and what a debut it is. Just 20 years of age, she is hear to rock your world with her powerful vocals. Her first single, Change is a mix of rock and pop. What vocals! She kind of reminded me of Ai, with her gospel-like style of singing. She is fresh and energetic, and will appeal to most. Well, she was featured in the album, Tribute to Celine Dion along side many japanese famous female vocalist. Frankly, the album is a torture. Those who don’t agree with me, I apoligize. Please don’t come with spears and fork knifes at me. I guess I’m comparing their vocals to Celine Dion’s which is not really fair to them. Anyways, i will feature her song from that album too, it’s Because You Loved Me. One of Celine Dion’s hit song from the Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer movie, Up Close and Personal. Well, you be the judge.
I have also included, Believe My Way, from the same single. In fact i like this song best from her debut single. It really showcases her vocal ranges. In short, this is a really good debut and I will be looking forward to her future releases! and oh if it helps…she’s hot too.

As always please enjoy!

Download : Change - Miho Fukuhara mp3

Download : Koi wa Rhythm ~ Believe My Way ~ - Miho Fukuhara mp3

Download : Because You Loved Me - Miho Fukuhara mp3

Ayaka - Okaeri & te o tsunago mp3

Hi everybody. Another single for Ayaka fans. This time is, Okaeri (おかえりa song featured in Yuu Watase’s Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend). This single also features a live version of 手をつなごう (te o tsunago), her previous single. This comes just days before her release of her 2nd album, Sing to the Sky, which will probably feature all the songs you have heard here in my site. Okaeri is an upbeat ballad and will definitely please her fans and likes. She just keep on churning hits after hits. I guess probably her songs are melodious and she has strong vocals to give it that special charm. That said, i guess we have another winner here. I have also included an instrumental version of Okaeri and the second track, Meiro.

I guess Okaeri is for me! Cause i’m home, baby!

Okaeri Lyrics

Mata heiki na furi wo shite
Kanashimi no iro wo nuri tsubushite
Waratte shimaun desu

Shinjiru koto no taisetsu sa
Wakatteru noni iza to iu toki
Utagatte shimaun desu

Karappo no karada nagareru toki ni
Uite shimai sou ni naru kedo
Anata no koto dakishimetai
Kono kimochi ga tsuki ugokasu no

Okaeri I’m home hitokoto de mitasareru kokoro
Okaeri sweet home kaeru basho ai wo arigatou
Sweet home…

Jibun no koto bakari wo
Kangaeru otona wa zuruin dato
Omotte itan desu
Demo hisshi de kaeru koto wo
Sakenderu hito mo iru n dato
Yatto shittan desu

Atari mae no shiawase nanka
Kono sekai ni hitotsu mo nai
Anata no tame sou omoeta
Kono kimochi ga tsuki ugokasu no

Okaeri I’m home speed ga kasoku shiteku mainichi
Okaeri sweet home kawaranai zutto aru keshiki
Sweet home…

Sagashite nakushita kokoro no kizu ga tachimukau
Tsuyosa ni kawareta nowa okaeri ga atta kara

Okaeri I’m home hitokoto de mitasareru kokoro
Okaeri sweet home kaeru basho ai wo arigatou

Okaeri I’m home daijoubu anata ga iru kara
Okaeri sweet home mattete ne mou sugu tsuku kara
Sweet home…

Download : Okaeri - Ayaka mp3

Download : Okaeri (instrumental) - Ayaka mp3

Download : te o tsunago (手をつなごう) <2007/12/20 日本武道館 LIVE ver.> (at the Budokan)

Download : Meiro - Ayaka mp3

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Thelma Aoyama - Soba ni iru ne

Ok , this is late. I heard this song months back, but was too lazy to feature it. I decided to anyways because i featured the 1st version, which Soulja featured her in Koko ni iru yo. Both song sounds similar and i guess it depends on who you want to hear more, Souja or Thelma. I think this version is more popular though, as it spent a substantial amount of time on the charts. Lyrics ? Click Here. Thelma, as you may have already noticed is half black, therefore possessing a really soulful voice (not vocally powerful like Ayaka, but suitin her genre) which suits her in singing J-R&B. She can really move as well making her an all-round perfomer. Another reason for featuring this song is also because it’s in conjunction with her debut album release, Diary. I haven’t really had the chance to listen to the whole album, so as always i would listen to the album titled track, in this case, Diary. Diary is a R&B ballad, and it’s actually quite nice. It reminds me a little of some 90s black R&B song. There are probably other similar gems in this album, but again, will take time. Meanwhile, enjoy these 2 songs.

Download : Soba ni iru ne - Thelma Aoyama featuring Soulja mp3

Download : Diary - Thelma Aoyama mp3

Monkey Majik - Together & あかり

Hi everybody. I guess i’m what they call, “back from the dead”. Well, not quite literally, I was just plain lazy. I went to Tokyo in February and that was a fantastic trip, my best holiday ever. I ate many delicious food, and one memorable meal was the black pork tonkatsu (Maisen) in Omotesando Hills. The most tender pork i’ve ever tasted. I checked out some jazz bars and clubs too while i was there. In short, it was fun, fun and fun. Work is fine, everything is fine. I thank you all for those who have personally written to me to ask, “what the hell happened to me.” Yes, thank you again. I still love music, but just haven’t been updating lately on the japanese music scene. However, a friend of mine has asked me to check out some new music and so i did. One of them is Monkey Majik’s new single Together. And yes, i thought and remembered that i have this website that i’ve not been updating for several months now. So i am back again…uploading songs ‘illegally’.

The single comes with several other tracks, a remix version and another noteworthy song Akari. There are another 2 but i’ve not really sat down to listen to it quite yet. Lets begin with this 3 i’m uploading first. If you like their previous work, melodious , a touch of R&B, a mix of english (than just ‘baby’, ‘give me your love’..erm..you know what i mean..just english fillers, you know?) and japanese and easy listening pop, you will like Together. Well, I did at least. Both songs are nice, I guess these white guys can sing. So my first offering after my long break…Please enjoy.

Download : Together - Monkey Majik mp3

Download : あかり - Monkey Majik mp3

Download : Together (night falls mix) - Monkey Majik mp3

More Monkey Majik?

Blonde Redhead - Silently

This is not a japanese song, however, it is sung by a japanese female vocalist. This Blonde Redhead and it is led by the cool Kazu Makino. So.. something japanese too if you like. This lady is one sexy singer (check out their homepage, there are nude photos of her there..not explicitly but hmmm..). They are actually an american based indie group that has been around for years. This song really got me hooked to them…It is actually quite a danceable track, if you wanna know how to move to it, check out their video clip where Kazu will strut it for you at a live performance.  This song, Silently is taken off their latest album 23. I love the chorus where it goes,

“I realize now you’re not to be blamed my love
You didn’t choose your name my love
You never crossed the seven seas”

Yes, i totally dig the ‘my love’ part. Give this song a shot…you might thank me for it and oh, it has great bass as well!

download : blonde redhead - silently mp3 

Go On - The Swinging Popsicle

Hear is another ‘indie’ band, or not so mainstream band from japan. They are the Swinging Popsicle, a band led by the vocals of Mineko Fujishima. What a name right? They released their latest album last year, Go On, a track which i am also featuring here. The track here however is different from the rest of the songs featured in the album. The album has a mix of mellow rock to pop songs that are quite listenable if you are into japanese music. Go on is more electronic, on a genre sense. I like the song ‘Go On’ in particular as it reminds me a little of Mint Royale (not the rapping part, but the female vocals) and the song is very dreamy. The song is long, and it breaks at the sounds of a carousel (like the album cover)..then it goes a little weird as it takes you to a techno world (i think it could have been better if the song would have stayed constant throughout). I guess, the song is about spinning slowly on this carousel, then it goes on faster, which explains the elevated sounds in the song at the end..

There are a couple of other commendable tracks from this album, which i will post at a later date.

Download : go on - swinging popsicle mp3

wonderline (ワンダーライン) - yuki

Here’s another song from the squeakiest female vocalist in Japan. I don’t know how i got so into her cause for a fact, i can’t stand those mousey vocals. Vocals like these were the reason why japanese music put me off years ago. However, i find myself liking artistes exactly how i hated them! This song got me quite addicted to it, as i realised i put this song on repeat mode for my whole jog today! I don’t how you guys will feel about the song, but i definitely like it. To me it’s jpop at its best! It’s authentically japanese, no elements of R&B and no western-like music arrangements. It’s a really fun song too. The video clip is equally as good. I like how she dances and floats on that tilted chair, doing ballet! She is 30 plus i think, but boy does she still have the energy of a teen! Those who have enjoyed her previous single hoshikuzu sunset and joy will surely enjoy this because it’s almost similar. Well, i think this is better though. This track is also used for the NEC handphone’s commercials, and featured as well in her ‘best of’ album, five-star. I have also another version of the song here, the night swimming mix. As the version title suggest, a more mellow and relaxed version of the song. I give you, Yuki.

download :Wonderline - yuki mp3

download : wonderline (night swimming mix) - yuki mp3