Hey guys,
Nice to meet you all! I'm new around here
I just recently discovered the Nippop webiste (yeah, it's been around for years. I'm lame that way.) and I was just wondering what your opinions were on a couple of excerpts from the site:
"Focusing on Hamasaki's music, which spans several subgenres within the J-Pop spectrum, but which is arguably unspectacular when separated from its creator, would be missing the point of what Hamasaki is all about."
"Despite starting out as just one in a long line of manufactured pop stars, Hamasaki has pulled off the trick of wresting back control her of her career - another reason that her army of fans adores her and her label indulges her."
"Utada’s music, although basically pop, has more of an R&B feel than most J-pop – she’s definitely funkier than Ayumi Hamasaki (which isn’t hard, admittedly!)."
What I think: well, when I started to like Ayu, it was mainly because of her music (around the time Duty came out). I wasn't even aware of her insane popularity at that time, so I don't think her music is unspectacular if it got me addicted to her
Also, I don't think she was ever a manufactured pop star, for the reason that when she began her music career she was already writing the lyrics to her songs. That, for me, means that there is much more to her than commercial success.
As for Hikki, well, I'm sorry to say this but the last time she was funky was when Traveling came out. Ever since then, I haven't liked her as much as when Wait and See came out. Sorry to all Hikki fans here! And it's hard to be as funky as Ayu these days, especially on the My Name's WOMEN video. Bondage is cool.
Just wanted to know what the rest of you guys think