Konnichi Wa/Nihau!

I came back from Singapore on last Wednedsay. What a trip! For Singapore is actually undergoing many changes. Hôtels and casinos are being built on the main island and the one of Sentosa, while other places have been totally refurbished, such as Food Courts and the such. I learnt also from my friend Susan than there are about a hundred of schools in Singapour, all communities combined.

Now, let's move on to the topic of this entry. As most of you are aware of it, whenever I'm having the chance to travel in Asia, I'm never missing the opportunity to renew my J-pop, to keep up at best with ongoing releases, when I can, of course. But this year, besides renewing my J-pop, I've been introduced to Chinese Pop for the first time, on my own, then by my friend Susan.

Normally, I'm not this much into girlsbands, but this one I discovered turned out to be a very nice surprise. First by its name, then when I listened to it. The girlsband is composed of four girls coming from all over China, and their band is called...JADE. Their first album, Flying With The Dragon, has been released in 2006, and they had toured across Germany during the same year. A pity they never made it to France, save maybe into Paris' Chinese Quarter in Ivry. For if at the beginning, their album sounds like a bit as the Spice Girls' first one, gradually you're realizing that it is not only even better, but also virtually different. To get a better idea, go there: http://www.jade-music.de

The second Chinese artist has been introduced to me by my friend Susan. She's born at Hong Kong, but sing both into English and Chinese. Her name's Coco Lee. According to Susan, it's the Chinese Shakira (which I can confirm after listening to a few tracks of her Best Collection), excepted than the Andean flutes have been replaced by traditional chinese instruments into the background to blend with the modern ones. Even though it is more obvious on JADE's album, I must say. Which I've have always loved about Chinese music: the traditional instruments are still being used with the modern ones, giving it its seal of authenticity. Dragon Shiryû's Fans should find their account in it as well, since he's the living incarnation of the spirit of Ancient China. For Coco Lee's official web-site, check here: http://www.cocolee.net

Back to the basics, now, with the J-Pop! First time ever to make a breakthrough into my musical library, there is Hamasaki Ayumi, with her new single, Mirrorcle World. I knew that she was popular in Japan, and to be known in my country too, but until then, Ayumi didn't appeal to me. Certainly because I wasn't ready yet. For as soon as I listened to Mirrorcle World, I went like: "How come did I manage to miss that?" For Ayumi's music is exactly the one that I like, smashing and rocking, without being aggressive. Not to mention than her albums' covers are always graphically correct and colorful. Mirrorcle World has been released with various covers, and the one which did bingo with me is the one where Ayumi is looking above her shoulder, here (http://avexnet.or.jp/ayu/en/news/080307.html). Her official web-site is available in English and Japanese: http://www.avexnet.or.jp/ayu/en

Second row is Ito Yuna, with her album entitled Wish. I've heard of it because of her duet with Celine Dion, one of our beloved French Canadians singers, and I was wondering how it sounded like beyond the name. What a wonderful surprise once more, for Yuna is singing both into Japanese and English, which is even more enjoyable if you're loving both languages and cultures. Her booklet would make look pallid Loreena McKennitt's Book Of Secrets's besides it. Born in Hawaii, Yuna had gone back to Japan. No wonder then that her English is so perfect, and that she can blend it accurately with the Japanese. Want to check? Go there: http://www.yunaweb.com/

At last, here's the compilation resuming it all: Tôkyô Love. It features not only Japanese artists (Ayumi appears twice), but as I mentioned above, from all over Asia. This is the cover: http://www.blippo.com/store/popup_image.php?pID=1959&image=0 and the tracks list: http://www.blippo.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1959

The point is, unlike many Fans creating their Original Soundtrack related to their favorite themes, by selecting songs and other pieces of music to other existing soundtracks, I don't have to. I've it with all those 90 songs. Shun and Jade have their soundtrack, and so do my Angel and I. The circle is full. The writing process may go back where it left off now, before I left for vacation.

With Love,

Sam.