So, anyone who's friends with me knows of my somewhat unsettling j-pop obsession, and I suppose I've thrust it into your faces in a rather odd way, making the whole think seem a lot more crazy than it really is. But, I really think that people should open themselves up to more music from all around the world! It started with latino pop with me, then moved to j-pop and j-rock. I have a "thing" for stuff that is a bit off, and, well, weird at times, so it never threw me off, but ti does that to a lot of people. So, here I am to introduce you to the tamest j-pop I listen to, and get you started into exploring the world of music out there.

1. Otsuka Ai
Only a recent obsession of mine, I can't believe how incredibly perky and innocent some of her singles are, I must say, I love it.
Her voice is high pitched, but on her ballads, you can tell she has a very strong voice, it's just hidden under quite a few layers of sugary, vomit inducing bubble gum pop (but that speaks for a lot of j-pop idols, really. . .) . . .
Anyway, she, like Hikaru Utada, composes and writes her music and lyrics.
Her first big hit was, you guessed it, Sakuranbo, a song about a first love. It's very upbeat and catchy, also my blogs current namesake.

"My smile blooms; I want us to hold each other forever
If we expect to be together in the far future,
We will be 2 people who love each other all the time
Side by side, you and me; cherries." - Sakuranbo, Otsuka Ai



2. Hikaru Utada
I've been a fan of her's since about 2004, when her first single in America from Exodus came out. She composes and writes most of her music, like Otsuka Ai (above). Interesting thing about Utada, is that she is technically American-Asian as she was raised mostly in New York, though she says that her parents took her back and forth so much that she can't really say which one she spent most time in (though, I do believe it is New York, from what I've read.)
Thus, her music has a very prominent American influence, and most of her earlier singles sound for R&B than j-pop.
I think her voice is a lot stronger than a lot of the other female j-pop artists, as it is a little deeper and lower. Her latest single, "Keep Tryin" I think sounds a lot more "j-pop" than her other stuff, but I definatley like it. The PV (music video/promostional video) is like a less spastic version of Traveling...

"I run a secret propaganda
Aren't we all hiding pieces of broken anger
I'm just trying to remember who I can call
Can I call
Born in a war of opposite attraction
It isn't, or is it a natural conception
Torn by the arms in opposite directions
It isn't, or is it a Modernist reaction" -Kremlin Dusk, Hikaru Utada

3. Morning Musume
Oh my, well isn't there a lot to cover here. . .
Morning Musume (or Momosu) has been around since I believe the late 90's. Starting out with Iida Kaori, Nakazawa Yuko, Ishiguro Aya, Abe Natsumi, and Fukuda Asuka (who have all "graduated" from the group, Kaori most recently.) Of course, with a group of girls that has expanded to be very, very large, you can't go without drama. Recently Yaguchi Mari quit for personal reasons (apparently she had gotten a boyfriend without alerting the head honcho's over at Hello!Project.) The girls are also on Hello Morning, where they do skits, performances, and games. The current leader is Yoshizawa Hitomi (or Yossie), Ogawa Makoto is set to graduate August this year. They also have had many sub-groups, Mini Moni, Ecomoni, Pucchi Moni, Salts, and many others.
For more info, I recommend http://morning-musume.ginas-anime.de/ and wiki.theppn.com

4. SweetS
I only became a SweetS fan 5 months ago, but I will say that musically I prefer them over other girl groups such as Momosu.
The girls released their first single in 2003, but, ironically, did not become very big until they released their farewell single Bitter Sweets, probably because in their early days they had a very racy, loli-complex kind of image. During 2005 leader Aki and lead singer Aya took time off to prepare for their highschool exams.
Sadly, this great group is scheduled to disband in July 7th, on the release of their 11th single. They have released 10 singles, 3 albums (1 mini), 2 DVD's (3rd coming soon), and two photobooks.
"There's someone I'm falling for,
I get this strange feeling
But I don't know what to do... I don't really understand it
If I find out what it really is, it'll melt
Like candyfloss, cotton candy
The sweet strands of my dreams will melt.."- Love Like Candy Floss, SweetS

PV's


Bitter Sweets - SweetS

Roman ~Ny Dear Boy~ - Morning Musume

Colors -Hikaru Utada

Kingyo Hanabi - Otsuka Ai

Recommended Listening:
Morning Musume: Mr. Moonlight, Roman ~ My Dear Boy~, Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari, Shabondama
Otsuka Ai: Happy Days, Kingyo Hanabi, Sakuranbo, Frienger, Momo no Hanabira
Hikaru Utada: Colors, Can You Keep A Secret, Sakura Drops, Traveling, First Love, Passion.
SweetS: Tear Lemon Drop, Love Like Candy Floss, Bitter Sweets, Lolita Strawberry In Summer.