Channel-Ai Community Blog - JPop reviews, articles

Base Ball Bear promoting C, L-R: Yuasa Shohei, Koide Yusuke, Horinouchi Daisuke, Sekine Shiori

Artist: Base Ball Bear Product Code: TOCT-26149 Release Date: 2006.11.29 Label: EMI Music Japan

Base Ball Bear is a pop-rock band created by a group of high school students who originally created an OASIS cover band. Their stand-out trademark is their use of both male and female vocals with their female bassist, Sekine Shiori, who contributes to the main vocals of male guitarist and vocalist Koide Yusuke. Guitarist Yuasa Shohei and drummer Horinouchi Daisuke round out the band.

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Anyband Promo Poster

Artists: BoA, Junsu, Tablo, Jin Bora Release Date: 2007.11.08 Language: Korean Genre: Pop

BoA happens to be a household name for K-Pop and J-Pop fans. Although I’ve always felt that BoA’s current Japanese career isn’t particularly outstanding, I’ve always known that she had a lot of potential, drive and talent. To make matters worse her Korean career has almost been on hold since her 2005 album “Girls on Top”. Luckily for us fans, the rumors of her being part of the new Samsung AnyCall’s advertisement campaign was true, which meant new music with a Korean flavor.

Apart from BoA, three other famous artists were chosen to be the spokespersons of Anycall. BoA was decided to star alongside with Xiah Junsu of DBSK, Tablo of Epik High and Jin Bora, a young piano wonder. Apparently they were chosen to replace Lee Hyori. As well as being the new faces of Anycall, the artists were chosen to collaborate together and perform together as a pop group called “Anyband”.

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Hitomi Shimatani and Hiroshi Tamaki

Hitomi Shimatani’s personal life happens to be obscured from all of her fans. Most of her professional career is fairly common knowledge for everyone, but little is known about her family, friends and relationships. Unlike artists like Ayumi Hamasaki, most of her musical releases seem to be disconnected from her own inner feelings and life.

Although Hitomi is talkative and friendly, she is usually happy enough to speak about her career only. Apart from the rumored relationship with Koizumi Kotaro, Hitomi rarely was the target of tabloids and is free from any scandals.

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Promo Photo for Shinku

Artist: Hitomi Shimatani Product Code: AVCD-31285/6 Release Date: 2007.09.05 Debut Ranking: #6 First Press: A.C.E.3 Sticker Genre: Crossover, pop Label: avex trax

Hitomi Shimatani might no longer be one of the best sellers in the J-Pop industry but she still manages to stand out with her magnificent vocals and her enchanting aura. This has enabled Hitomi to get several interesting career opportunities. Approximately two years ago, Hitomi Shimatani released the powerful single, “Garnet Moon“, which managed to become a brilliant hit in Japan. Most of the credit is probably due to it’s tie in with the game “Another Century’s Episode” but it certainly did manage to attract the popularity of the younger audience with its’ fresh approach.

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Hamasaki on ViVi, November Issue

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki Product Code: AVCD-31332/3 Release Date: 2007.09.19 Debut Ranking: #1 Genre: Pop-rock Label: avex trax

Summer seems to be definitely over, especially since many artists have started departing from bubblegum pop and moving towards ballads and melancholic moods. This fall has been highlighted by several enticing releases and one of the singles which has garnered a lot of attention was Hamasaki’s post-breakup single “talkin’ 2 myself”. Taking charge like a true trendsetter, Hamasaki takes over fall with powerful rock music signaling another direction in her musical career.

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