READ THIS BEFORE POSTING
If you wish to post a link on this thread please get permission from either Zellanna or myself. We do this to make sure the content is appropriate for SS.
This thread has links to videos of famous Japanese songs and artists. If you've never heard Japanese music before, now's your chance.

L'Arc en Ciel (rock band)
"Ready, Steady, Go!"

YouTube - L'Arc~en~Ciel - Ready, Steady Go!


Next: Soul'd Out (Hip-Hop/Rap/Pop (they fall under quite a few catagories))

Soul'd Out (Hip-Hop/Rap/Pop (they fall under quite a few catagories))

"To All Tha Dreamers"

* In case you can't tell, the green lights are the dreams

YouTube - Soul'd Out To All Tha Dreamers

"1,000,000 Monsters Attack"

YouTube - Soul'd Out 1000000 monsters attack

They're a good music group, but their lyrics aren't always clean or I'd put "Dream Drive" on here.

Next: Orange Range (Pop/rock)

Ahh! Japanese music is amazing! And OMG, L'arc~en~Ciel made the theme to Full Metal Alchemist!!!

Zell: Yup. I believe they're also doing a song for Devil May Cry 4 (goes to check that reference)

I have some Orange Range already! Velocity 3000 and Viva Rock.

Orange Range (Pop/rock)

This has to be my favorite Japanese band: they were the first Japanese band I ever saw, and "Viva Rock" was the first song I ever heard in Japanese, and this was what got me into J-Pop.

"Viva Rock"

YouTube - Orange Range-Viva Rock[PV] subs

The members of Orange Range live in Okinawa, Japan, which probably explains the lyrics in "Viva Rock".

"Hana" (Flower)

YouTube - Orange Range - 花

"Asterisk"

YouTube - Orange range- Asterisk

Next: ZONE (Pop/rock)

Guys, you should check out a really good band called The Pillows. They made a lot of songs for this hit anime called Furi Kuri.

Haha. I'm listening to Asterisk by Orange Range right now! Their songs are on Bleach alot! Woot!

I love Orange Range. I've never heard of Furi Kuri.

Ooh! I've got a band.


UVERworld! They're really good too! (They also have songs on Bleach. )



^^ I couldn't find their actual music video so I used the 2nd Opening from the anime Bleach.

Undead_Sadako_Sasaki Edit: Minor character violence is in the video

Okay I need to jump in because I LOVE J rock! Or Japanese music in general. ^^

I've heard of them from way back in high school but it's just actually now that I've paid closer attention to their tracks. Hyde is my kame-sama. =) I can't get Stay Away outta my head and the mv rocks!

Evergreen - one of Hyde's solo efforts.

Ikenai Taiyou's got to be my favorite Orange Range song

I also listen to Plastic Tree, Miyavi, and Spitz^^

Hm. Ready, Steady, Go and Asterisk music videos are a little weird. But I love Viva Rock now!


There's also a band called Rolling Star and Shiro Sagisu

QTF. They own.

Stuff I also listen to:
Mucc. Usually not really my kind of music, but it's nice every now and then.
YouTube - MUCC- Gekkou


[Ninja-edit]
Lol, YouTube automatically adds the titles now when copy/pasting. Sweet.

Oh, and genre-wise, Mucc is kind of metal-ly rock, The Back Horn are indie.

I have a song by Asian Kung-Fu Generation called After Dark. It's pretty nice.

MOD Edit: a bit too violent so I'm replacing it with the original.

YouTube - Asian Kung-Fu Generation - After Dark (PV)

I've just seen Moonchild with Hyde & Gackt and I loved it. Especially loved the song Orenji no taiyou by both guys. ^^

Gackt's Storm = <3

I now am obsessed with Asian Kung-Fu Generation.

does anyone know any other J-Rock bands?


OH! What about Do As Infinity?

Oh, I've been just getting into Asian Kung-Fu Generation. A group I like from time to time is Black Acid Cherry, but they've been a little harder to find.

First off, I know that I haven't been on in a while because my computer shuts down periodically (it loves doing that when I'm doing homework), but hopefully when August comes, that won't happen since my laptop is new.

Second, in my absence people on this site, in this thread, and on other websites I'm with have been doing strange and bizarre things. I didn't think I was going to have to do this, but since people don't seem to be able to behave, I'm going to have to set a new rule: Absolutely no links should be made to other sites without prior approval by either Zellanna, the Language Mod, or myself. I haven't looked at the links other people have posted yet nor am I accusing anyone of anything, but I'm simply doing this because I want to be sure the links are appropriate for all viewers on this site. As a warning, I will be checking all links to make sure they are appropriate, any that aren't will not only be deleted, but you will be reported to the Language Mod. I won't be checking the links for about a week since I've got a load of work to make up from being gone for AP testing this week, and the Navy Ball is Friday, but if I get it done sooner, more power to me. Now, if you have a request PM me, but don't take it upon yourself to do it without prior consent. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Also, please don't mention Furi Kuri on this site, I understand that it's main songs come from the artists I've presented, but not only is it inappropriate, but if you don't know the translation of Furi Kuri, I can PM you and tell you.

ZONE: (Pop/Rock)

If you want to see a band with four adorable Japanese female teenagers, then this is the band for you. True Blue is the only song I can remember that was huge about three or four years ago, but I know there was another that was big in late 2005.

"True Blue"

YouTube - Zone True Blue(MV)

Oh, I'm sorry about the link thing. I wont do it anymore.

Ooh. I like Zone's True Blue.


AND lol, I think I know what furi kuri means. XD

Okay, good. I can't check out the links yet--since I'm about to get off--but I just rememebered that I forgot to mention who the next artist is:

As in the words of Kim Sam-Soon, he a "moldy-oldy" but he's an "oldy but a goody". If you don't know his music and you're a native Japanese speaker, that's just...shameful. You should try to remember his name and the name of his most famous works, he's KYU SAKAMOTO!! If you read the Japanese person of the month, you'll know him. He's really famous, and he's one of my top favorites. I'll post various links of him possibly Saturday.

Kyu Sakamoto (Pop, or at least that's what my iPod belives)

This song did debut in America but the name was changed to Sukiyaki (a type of yummy food) because the real name was too long. I don't really like this version because it's too happy and the original recording of the song fits the lyrics better. The song is about him looking up while walking because he doesn't want the tears to fall from his eyes, this song was written after he was dumped by an actress who was his love.

"上を向いて歩こう" (Ue o mui te aruko) which basically translates as "I Look Up While Walking"

YouTube - ????????(SUKIYAKI)

Next time: Sayaka

Do not for get The Gazette
YouTube - the GazettE DISTRESS and COMA by MUSIC JAPAN
This is there new single.

Just on the note of long names: Todokanai Ai to Shitteiru no ni Osaekirezuni Aishitsuzuketa, by Gackt

EDIT: Just watched the video through and decided it wasn't good for SS. The lyrics are fine, though!

Here are two Japanese J-Pop bands that are rather good that I am listening to now:

Perfume:
YouTube - Perfume - Ceramic Girl ~LIVE~ (Game Tour)

And BoA:
YouTube - BoA - Eat You Up MV (Cha Ver.)

Perfume is very dance music-y, and BoA is very similar to some types of western music, but it's still good.

XD Not sure how active this forum is, but I have been a fan of Japanese (and asian, and music in general) music since um, forever, well not forever but a good *counts* two to three years now? Yup.

I am, of course, weak, and I like eye candy so you will find a lot of Johnny's Entertainment groups in my playlist but if I sway away from mainstream, one of my favorites bands are

GreeeeN, Radwimps, and of course ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION alongside BEAT CRUSADERS XD

MONKEY MAJIK is fantastic too. I simply love them. "Closer to You" from their TIME album has 23 plays in my iTunes X]

I like the pop-y stuff too. *nodnod*

New song I've been listening to. Ti Amo and Lovers Again by EXILE. The music video (one where they're in an old warehouse) is really sweet for Lovers Again.

I saw the video for Ti Amo on youtube. XD It's great. I haven't seen the vid for Lovers Again.

YouTube - Kosuke Atari - Tane wo Maku hibi

Tane wo Maku Hibi by Kosuke Atari, who is self taught in the "shima-uta" style of singing from his hometown. I love the melody of the song, and of course, that unique timbre in his voice. XD Everyone should give it a listen, at least once.