[Official Message] 45th Single: Rule/Sparkle 2009.2.25 IN STORES

[Ayumiko]

^eww! no thanks! maybe a poster?

[Melrose]

Originally Posted by Akutenshi

That's just a little sad.

No it's not~

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by prussian blue

^or a model of mini goku

LOL

maybe an AyuPan version of it ? that will be funny

[majrakun]

More like Goku x Hello Kitty

I want this single. Somebody buy it for me. Say, a 11-months-in-advance birthday gift? XD

[ayu-marco]

i won't order the single in HMV JP this time
because i ask my sister to help me buy in JP when she goes travelling in JP in early of march

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by KarenPang

they're very popular with both female & male fans even after so many years being together

Yeah, I think thats what a lot of people underestimate. Everyone assumes that Johnny's are just for fan girls, but that really isn't true. For the younger groups, yes, most of their stuff is supported by totally female audiences, but for the older groups like SMAP, Kinki, TOKIO etc, they are universally loved and pretty respected in Japan by both men and women alike for various reasons, either their music, live shows, personalities, dramas, variety shows etc. They really have a wide "everyday person" type of appeal. Arashi has also in the last 2 years begun to join that group of universal popularity as well I feel.

I also don't think its fair to label them as untalented. Sure JE has its fair share of untalented pretty boys, but many of them are actually really talented in certain fields and no one could accuse them of not working hard. Their schedules are absolutely insane. So are Ayu's schedules too, but once you've followed a JE groups schedule, its impossible to compare the two.

So yeah, in short, its good that Ayu isn't going up against Arashi. It would be a very depressing day for Ayu fans.

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Yeah, I think thats what a lot of people underestimate. Everyone assumes that Johnny's are just for fan girls, but that really isn't true. For the younger groups, yes, most of their stuff is supported by totally female audiences, but for the older groups like SMAP, Kinki, TOKIO etc, they are universally loved and pretty respected in Japan by both men and women alike for various reasons, either their music, live shows, personalities, dramas, variety shows etc. They really have a wide "everyday person" type of appeal. Arashi has also in the last 2 years begun to join that group of universal popularity as well I feel.

I also don't think its fair to label them as untalented. Sure JE has its fair share of untalented pretty boys, but many of them are actually really talented in certain fields and no one could accuse them of not working hard. Their schedules are absolutely insane. So are Ayu's schedules too, but once you've followed a JE groups schedule, its impossible to compare the two.

So yeah, in short, its good that Ayu isn't going up against Arashi. It would be a very depressing day for Ayu fans.

*clap clap* & coming from someone who support both artistes at the other ends of the spectrum , it's pretty much sumed up on what you have said

[jbrat2219]

Yeah I agree with Sunshine! I know many of the JE guys from their other works, mostly from their acting. I love them in that aspect, but I'm musically ignorant to them at the same time.

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

Yeah I agree with Sunshine! I know many of the JE guys from their other works, mostly from their acting. I love them in that aspect, but I'm musically ignorant to them at the same time.

lol you're the same like my younger sister except she also knows their music works too

in fact I practically listen to all the Johnny's except for the 2 senpai's SMAP & TOKIO

[Emperatriz Ayumi]

I want to see the covers right now!!!!! It seems that time is not passing by!!!!!

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by KarenPang

lol you're the same like my younger sister except she also knows their music works too

in fact I practically listen to all the Johnny's except for the 2 senpai's SMAP & TOKIO

Yeah I'm not too familiar with their music... but it's not bad from what I've heard

Originally Posted by Emperatriz Ayumi

I want to see the covers right now!!!!! It seems that time is not passing by!!!!!

I want covers, too T_T.... I hope that trip to Hawaii wasn't for the covers to be honest... Island Paradise doesn't seem to fit the theme ^^;

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

Yeah I'm not too familiar with their music... but it's not bad from what I've heard

1 of SMAP's singles became Japan's best selling single 6 years ago with over 2 million units

I forgot the title but it's a SMAP classic

I want covers, too T_T.... I hope that trip to Hawaii wasn't for the covers to be honest... Island Paradise doesn't seem to fit the theme ^^;

T_T

I wouldn't be surprised if it's true man

[kawaii otaku]

Sekai no Hitotsu Dake Hana .. something ... with all those words ... and different particles ..

just not in that order i fear. XD

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by KarenPang

1 of SMAP's singles became Japan's best selling single 6 years ago with over 2 million units

I forgot the title but it's a SMAP classic

Wow that's intense! I'm not surprised though.

You know I've always wondered, how high would Japanese sales be if worldwide sales were factored in? I mean American worldwide sales are! And they're huge because of it :O

I've seen people tally up Ayu's sales and coming short of the 50 million record sales Wiki expressed. But really if you factor in worldwide sales, I'm sure many of her recent singles aren't selling too bad at all... But that's what that RIAJ is for right? (I hope I got that right). I hope this single's worldwide sales are factored in since it's an international theme song... Hmm now I think this post belongs in another thread xD;

[cloud♥honey]

Maybe the Hawaii photoshoot was for a new and summery album, because it wouldn't fit with the theme of the single, like, at all. D: Only if "Rule" is a summerish rock song, but I doubt it is.

And I'm glad Arashi is not releasing a single in the same day of her. I will sound a little stupid saying this but I would really feel depressed to see her losing her #1 strike now. It happened to GUILTY and it wasn't that comfortable imo. At the same time, I unfortunately know one day it will happen, soon or not.

[jbrat2219]

Hopefully not until she beats Seiko >:3

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

Hopefully not until she beats Seiko >:3

just 7 or is it 8 more to go before she's tied with Seiko

Originally Posted by cloud♥honey

And I'm glad Arashi is not releasing a single in the same day of her. I will sound a little stupid saying this but I would really feel depressed to see her losing her #1 strike now. It happened to GUILTY and it wasn't that comfortable imo. At the same time, I unfortunately know one day it will happen, soon or not.

in a way yes , because from what I have checked on my music blog , 18th & 25th Feb are the only 2 weeks next month that're Johnny's free since the latest new temporary unit The SHIGOTONIN will be releasing their debut single Kyoka Suigetsu on 4th , followed by KAT-TUN's ONE DROP

& of course the week after Rule / Sparkle , ARASHI will take centrestage

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

Yeah I'm not too familiar with their music... but it's not bad from what I've heard

Sorry that this turned sort of JE oriented in an Ayu thread. But I was totally the same way. In fact I used to be completely against Johnny's groups. "eww yuck boybands, they are so untalented I don't understand why they are popular in Japan." I think that attitude comes from growing up in America where boybands are something to be laughed at and ridiculed. I really didn't look into JE at all beyond that until I got into watching a bunch of Japanese doramas and SMAP, Arashi, and Kinki Kids etc were all over them that I really started to give them more attention. Then I got into SMAP's tv show Bistro SMAP because they have a lot of foreign guests on so its interesting and from there, everything just snow balled and now I totally get why Japan is so in love with some of these groups. I think for a lot of fans, its not actually the music that grabs them because the music is indeed a bit of an acquired taste, but the other things like the doramas and variety shows and then the interest in the music comes later (usually brought about by being a theme song of a dorama that a member is in.) I find that now after a couple of years I can appreciate almost every JE groups music in some way or another. Although I do think that SMAPs golden era hits from the mid 90s to early 00s are easily accessible for any listener to get into.

Originally Posted by KarenPang

1 of SMAP's singles became Japan's best selling single 6 years ago with over 2 million units

I forgot the title but it's a SMAP classic

It may have even been 3 million +, I can't remember exactly and it is the 2nd highest selling single of all time after Tsunami. It's called Sekai ni hitotsu dake no hana (The only flower in the world). I prefer the live performances of it to the studio version though.

And now, back to Ayu. haha. Any confirmation on whether there will or won't be a SPARKLE PV?

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Sorry that this turned sort of JE oriented in an Ayu thread. But I was totally the same way. In fact I used to be completely against Johnny's groups. "eww yuck boybands, they are so untalented I don't understand why they are popular in Japan." I think that attitude comes from growing up in America where boybands are something to be laughed at and ridiculed. I really didn't look into JE at all beyond that until I got into watching a bunch of Japanese doramas and SMAP, Arashi, and Kinki Kids etc were all over them that I really started to give them more attention. Then I got into SMAP's tv show Bistro SMAP because they have a lot of foreign guests on so its interesting and from there, everything just snow balled and now I totally get why Japan is so in love with some of these groups. I think for a lot of fans, its not actually the music that grabs them because the music is indeed a bit of an acquired taste, but the other things like the doramas and variety shows and then the interest in the music comes later (usually brought about by being a theme song of a dorama that a member is in.) I find that now after a couple of years I can appreciate almost every JE groups music in some way or another. Although I do think that SMAPs golden era hits from the mid 90s to early 00s are easily accessible for any listener to get into.

And now, back to Ayu. haha. Any confirmation on whether there will or won't be a SPARKLE PV?

That's pretty much why I like JE guys, from their shows and movies! xD; Jun Matsumoto is probably my favorite! I'm not sure if my affection for them will snowball into liking their music (since I've been into some of them for years and haven't liked it thus far)! But I can certainly understand why they're so popular and loved by Japan.

And no word on a Sparkle PV yet, but I have high hopes ><;;;
There's no way a song this cool won't have a PV eventually....

[Yum!Fruit_Salad!]

Pretty sure if worldwide sales were factored in, I'd hate EXILE more than I already do. Also, we would be celebratig sales of millions instead of thousands.

What RIAJ really needs to do is add legal downloads to their charts. Seeing how people are going towards digital more than physical, it would be a smart and modern move on their part and can help show the popularity of a certain song(s).