2009 Japan Record Awards

[taskinillusion]

Wow, that little girl enka singer is amazing!! :O

[Crystal_Ageha]

Originally Posted by Uemarasan

I agree. I think SMAP should have won or been nominated that year at the very least (although that would mean Ayu might not have won for No Way to Say, a song I will stick up for). And I'm glad we see eye-to-eye on the enka nominees But, yeah, the pop nominees have been very lackluster the past few years. The last good batch was probably 2002. But at least they manage to sneak in a couple of deserving nominees. Last year they had Thelma Aoyama and, well, Exile (it was definitely their year). This year they have Ikimono Gakari and, well, DBSK.

The first thing they should do is stop nominating w-inds! Why? And, sorry fans, Koda Kumi every single year (she didn't deserve a nomination last year or this year). Where are Kobukuro and GReeeeN? And the Johnny's, for that matter.

I agree with everything you said, except for the Johnny's thing (well, and SMAP....but I won't even go there, lol! ). Why do you think they deserve it so much more than, say, Kumi? Not trying to start a fight, I'm just wondering... Because to me, at least 90% of everything that comes out of Johnny's is....well, crap, to be overly simple and blunt. :\ Not that Kumi Koda, to continue with the example, has had an amazing year or two, but I very much believe that everything from Johnny's was certainly no better, at least not what I've seen (maybe there was a hidden gem that wasn't well advertised?).

[Uemarasan]

Originally Posted by Crystal_Ageha

I agree with everything you said, except for the Johnny's thing (well, and SMAP....but I won't even go there, lol! ). Why do you think they deserve it so much more than, say, Kumi? Not trying to start a fight, I'm just wondering... Because to me, at least 90% of everything that comes out of Johnny's is....well, crap, to be overly simple and blunt. :\ Not that Kumi Koda, to continue with the example, has had an amazing year or two, but I very much believe that everything from Johnny's was certainly no better, at least not what I've seen (maybe there was a hidden gem that wasn't well advertised?).

Well, I'm not a fan of the Johnny's at all (I would never buy anything by them) and I prefer Koda Kumi's music, but I do think that there are some good Johnny's songs out there (by Arashi and SMAP). I do think they should have been nominated recently because they have been putting out some of their better stuff the past few years and, like it or not, their presence, influence, and importance in the J-pop scene can't be ignored. I've always seen the Japan Record Awards as an awarding of musical importance more than anything, with a recognition of true artistry once in a while.

Just trying to play devil's advocate and see it objectively If they had to nominate Koda Kumi this year, it should have been for Alive, at least. Or Ecstasy (they only nominate A-sides). Her presence is waning, so might as well nominate her for a song that is actually good.

Strobe Edge, I doubt Ayu would still be winning the award (she's won the most Grand Prizes in its 50-year history), but I do think she should have won again in either the singer, lyricist (she won for Seasons), or album (she won for Duty) categories.

[Crystal_Ageha]

Aa, it's just, you say their popularity and influence is reason enough, but you also say Kumi shouldn't have been nominated last year, either. Despite her scandal, Kumi was still up at the top last year with Kingdom, so that's what I don't agree on... But yeah, she certainly shouldn't have been nominated this year, as much as I hate to admit that. X_X

And no, I also don't think Ayu would be winning anything, at least not since (miss)understood... I believe she actually would have deserved it this year, because so many songs off of NEXT LEVEL are actually tons better than those listed, even if they aren't the best. But what with the domination of boy bands, I doubt she - or any of the other ladies, for that matter - would have a very good chance of winning.

[Uemarasan]

Well, Ai no Uta did get nominated two years ago, so I usually include that nomination when I take into account Kingdom The Johnny's can have the Golden Disc Awards, which is just based on sales, period.

[Crystal_Ageha]

Ugh, Ai no Uta sucks--that should not have been the song to get in. -____-

[Uemarasan]

I actually like Ai no Uta more than a lot of her ballads, especially Yume no Uta. But the song that should have been nominated was the deliriously silly and wonderful But.

[IYFreak]

Lick me? are you serious.......I can't even listen to that song, it seems like such a waste of space. (why is Kuu's music goin down the drain, and where is she getting these crappy titles from)

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by Uemarasan

Well, I'm not a fan of the Johnny's at all (I would never buy anything by them) and I prefer Koda Kumi's music, but I do think that there are some good Johnny's songs out there (by Arashi and SMAP). I do think they should have been nominated recently because they have been putting out some of their better stuff the past few years and, like it or not, their presence, influence, and importance in the J-pop scene can't be ignored. I've always seen the Japan Record Awards as an awarding of musical importance more than anything, with a recognition of true artistry once in a while.

Exactly. Exactly. Which means that at least one Johnny's group a year should be getting nominated. Some of the most timeless and well loved songs in Japanese music history are from Johnny's groups; whether haters like it or not.

Originally Posted by Crystal_Ageha

Aa, it's just, you say their popularity and influence is reason enough, but you also say Kumi shouldn't have been nominated last year, either. Despite her scandal, Kumi was still up at the top last year with Kingdom, so that's what I don't agree on... But yeah, she certainly shouldn't have been nominated this year, as much as I hate to admit that. X_X

I have no problem whatsoever with Koda - I like many of her songs. But even at the height of her popularity she isn't even close to reaching the amount of influence and popularity in Japan in general that many Johnny's groups do. (very few artists do that actually)

But anways, I can't take any awards show seriously that nominates stuff like Lick Me and Infinity. I like Lick Me, but best of the year?

[Beauty4123]

"Infinity" - GIRL NEXT DOOR

call me crazy, but i LOVE this song and i'm glad it's nominated and although i've come to love kumi's Lick me", i also don't think it's her best hit of the year. maybe "ECSTASY" or "Physical thing" would have been better

[do it again]

i'm a huge KUMI fan and i was surprised to see Lick me nominated. it's a shame Alive was such a flop, but i suppose it doesn't follow the trend of the "powerful", often oversang ballads that the Japanese public seems to adore from her so much. the song would have been a lot better with a more powerful arrangement and a stronger climax, the song just coasts for ~4 minutes. i wish ECSTASY was the leading a-side of 3 SPLASH, i love that one! it's funny to see her perfoming Lick me in December, since it's about ice cream, etc.

[Crystal_Ageha]

Um, does everybody here like Alive or something? Because I've seen quite a few people mention it for awards and stuff.... Really, I think that's definitely one of her most boring ballades, and her ballades usually aren't very exciting to begin with. D:

[love in music]

Originally Posted by IYFreak

Lick me? are you serious.......I can't even listen to that song, it seems like such a waste of space. (why is Kuu's music goin down the drain, and where is she getting these crappy titles from)

this.

it being nominated is like a joke.

Infinity by GIRL NEXT DOOR isn't bad though.

[do it again]

ballads hardly ever equal excitement for me, but i think it's a beautiful song. i think she did a really good job with it considering her voice isn't really suited for classical music. the lyrics are beautiful and she performed it very well live.

[KarenPang]

I'm losing my interest in Johnny's bands & it's quite felt significantly in recent times whether I like it or not

but still , at least 1 or 2 should have been nominated this year . From a songs persepective , I say at most ARASHI's Believe should have been slotted in as it's a really good song & it's already more or less in the top running for single of the year (again)

non Johnny's wise , where's Fukuyama Masaharu-san ?! Keshin was totally kick ass & so's Kobukuro , GReeeeN & maybe even GLAY

[Uemarasan]

I like the simplicity of Alive. Sure, there aren't any whizz-bang, oh my God she died in a car accident, oh my God I am crying into the cold unforgiving snow, grand emotional singing. It's a quiet little heartfelt ballad that sounds lovely. It's so quiet it's almost forgettable, but if you pay attention there is something to be discovered. It's like the almost fleeting beauty of transience in a song.

Masaharu Fukuyama and GReeeeN would have been better choices, I agree. At least GReeeeN won for best album!

[maze]

Yay @ my queen nominated!

Lick me<3 is my favorite song from that list and of course my kuuchan deserves it every year because she is one of the top artists in Japan >3<

[asmAyumi1992]

Originally Posted by Uemarasan

In case you're wondering, Ayu removed herself from consideration after she won her third Grand Prize.

Oh my, I wish Ayu could perform there at least.

[gothicayu]

i hope dbsk will win !!

[waterballoon]

I hope TVXQ wins... Stand by U is so amazing *_*