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I find that most mainstream J-pop has become something generic. I couldn't enjoy Ayu as much as a year ago, where I found her materials are really amazing. But over-appreaciating her leads into a new addition to my music folder, which means, I'm listening to them in more frequency than Ayu.
However, my judgment wasn't merely because of the matter of taste, coz you should have known (or not) that I enjoy Ayumi Hamasaki, Koda Kumi, Utada Hikaru, Mika Nakashima, Namie Amuro, Crystal Kay, Ai Otsuka, BoA, Ashlee Simpson, Nana Kitade, misono, K, MAI, Yuna Ito, hitomi, SOULHEAD, TiA, Angela Aki, Maaya Sakamoto, Ken Hirai, Toshinori Yonekura, m-flo, Shiina Ringo, Diana Krall, Suga Shikao, Bi, Do As Infinity, Nami Tamaki, and the list goes on, but the fact is I enjoy a lot of genres.
For me, on top of everything I think it's, BoA & Shiina Ringo.
I'm not really a fan of BoA, yet I've never show my love to her on my sets, but I'd like to say that her latest albums, like My Name, Girls On Top, and OUTGROW, has been played over and over on my iTunes. And my posts on BoA discussion thread is really countable with fingers. Her music is not what I'd call mainstream (if it is, well prolly because I've not heard enough K-Pop to compare Boa's Korean albums with other K-artist)
I really enjoy MOTO, One Wings, I Got You, My Prayer, I Kiss, My Name, DO THE MOTION, Kimi no Tonari de and when it comes to BoA's music, I've never skip it (unless for Spark. I hate that one song)
Compared to Ayu's BLUE BIRD. Honestly, I've only listened to that song twice. Plus one, if you count video clips. Beautiful Fighters listened two times, song & PV. That's all. Except for Ladies Night ~another night~ that I enjoy as much as the gone-nowhere Ayu Trance.
Yet for Ringo, I enjoy her music is because she can show characteristic in each of her music. I found lots of her songs are unique, instead of being repetitive and mainstream. I've no idea for Tokyo Jihen, but I like Adult album.
Koda Kumi is another great singer and artist. But my love to her music has started to fade. Not because of her over-sexiness, but prolly because she's not 100% enjoying her career right now. At least, not as much as how 1000 Words touched me. But I'd defend her if there any bashing. It's not because I want to participate in the debate, but I won't let a girl that has been giving all of her efforts to be badmouthed. That's cruel, it's like mocking a nerd because her crappy looks.
Bottomline, I'm tired of saying my opinions about my favorite artist, because my fingers have really exhausted making sets and my homework hasn't done yet.
Anyway, to the rankings...
1. Shiina Ringo & Bo.....hmm, lemme think...okay. BoA.
2. Koda Kumi & Utada Hikaru.
4. Namie Amuro and her SUITE CHIC project
5. Clazziquai Project. Their music is somewhat under-rated due to low of promotions.
6. Nakashima Mika. For being brave to cross over another genre and fall down.
7. Ayumi Hamasaki, because I used to love her music.
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