J-Pop/J-Rock/J-Hop in the Playground

[Psyren]

So I recently discovered Grooveshark, which has possibly the hugest music library I've ever laid eyes on. I've so far found every song and remix I've ever thought of looking up, yes even that one.

Which brings my focus to japanese music. Having exhausted my limited selection of anime intros/outros/AMVs, I'm turning to the playground to find more music that I might like, but am unaware of.

Examples of music I like:

J-Pop
Life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta0jOZkEsHk) by YUI
Destiny (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGmMwlRdR_U) by m.o.v.e.
THE WORLD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2_tztYOSY0) by Nightmare
Resonance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_GzDWbt-vU) by TM Revolution

J-Rock
Ichirin no Hana (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns6tepHN5R0) by High and Mighty Color
Brightdown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8ybeiHK_cE) by Nami Tamaki
Fukai Mori (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHg9AzBI2QM) by Do As Infinity

J-Hop
Bomb-a-head (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TOwP--G5YU), by m.c.a.t.
Galaxy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIcX_lK6NFw) by Rip Slyme

(I admit that the lines between the genres are blurry.)

Anyway, any suggestions? Bands I should look up? And don't be afraid to suggest anime or game themes, I doubt I've heard them all :smallsmile:

[Joran]

I'd highly recommend the brilliant green.

I'm also a huge fan of Angela Aki, but she does mostly acoustic, pop songs with a piano.

[A Rainy Knight]

Um... I'm not sure that I can tailor my suggestions all that well to your tastes, but here are some that I recommend:

Galneryus is a sort of power-metal band that's done some openings, endings, and plenty of other stuff:
Alsatia (best part at 1:13 IMO) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jacNu9RQcLw)
Cause Disarray (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltSIBcqOJD0)
The Nightcraver (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCT1iZ0bB98)

Couldn't find this one on Grooveshark, surprisingly: Kakoimiku, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u95yEqvPR5Y) a laid-back piano/acoustic/so forth artist.

Sachi Tainaka (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er2uL2b-8p0), at least the only song by her that I've heard.

Miho Fukuhara? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HxqHhEmCuM)

Kanon Wakeshima, although more because I like her than because I think it's similar to the things you linked to. I think she's done anime tunes, but I've never seen what shows they're for.
Kajitsu no Keikoku (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzfh2EYHXeM)
Renai no Susume (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41a5WB_Xtuw)
Kuroneko to Pianist no Tango (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b__uc-caG-A)

For poppy-rocky-hip-hoppy (:smalltongue:) game music, Persona 3 has some of my favorites:
P3FES (Opening theme) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu_9_MUzDnA)
Mass Destruction (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9E3VR8Fnj0)
Mass Destruction (P3FES version) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKy--iCDUNM)
Wiping All Out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnVLO25tknA)


Hopefully some of those will catch your fancy. :smallsmile:

[Elder Tsofu]

Perfect, I'll watch this thread. :smallsmile:
I'm no expert nor have good taste, but I'm quite fond of Supercell's latest album "Today is a beautiful day".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys1w7vjpvUY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwFRFxk3oUo&feature=related

[A Rainy Knight]

Perfect, I'll watch this thread. :smallsmile:
I'm no expert nor have good taste, but I'm quite fond of Supercell's latest album "Today is a beautiful day".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys1w7vjpvUY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwFRFxk3oUo&feature=related

Good heavens, I forgot Supercell while using an avatar based on one of their songs. :smalltongue: But yes, Supercell is fantastic. Probably tied for my favorite Japanese artist alongside Superfly, which I also inexplicably forgot to mention.

More by Supercell:
Oshiete Ageru (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH01J4oqKpI)
Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari (duh) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsQEPPQa2Xo)
Melt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0NIIZWrpmc)

And by Superfly:
Beep!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izOOizwXfnY&ob=av2e)
Tamashii Revolution (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2tedgbqJJs)
Ai wo Komete Hanataba wo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU5oN0KVofU)
Yasashii Kimochi de (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn0fGgU5k4I)
Alright!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_MsZ5giB0M)

...okay, I'll give you a little time to digest all that before I go on another linking frenzy. :smallredface:

[Psyren]

Um... I'm not sure that I can tailor my suggestions all that well to your tastes, but here are some that I recommend:

*snip*

Hopefully some of those will catch your fancy. :smallsmile:

:-O
Holy crap, I loved everything in that post. And I wasn't expecting to.

MOAR

Superfly and Supercell are awesome too! *plays Beep again*

[A Rainy Knight]

:-O
Holy crap, I loved everything in that post. And I wasn't expecting to.

MOAR

Superfly and Supercell are awesome too! *plays Beep again*

Dang, can't say that I was expecting that either! Well, ask and ye shall receive. Since our tastes seem to coincide, I'll just list a bunch of stuff that I like. :smalltongue:

More Persona music, this time from both Persona 3 and Persona 4 (to be fair, a lot of this series' songs are in English):
Burn My Dread -Last Battle- (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSq_nfTs4Ko)
Kimi no Kioku/Memories of You (credits theme) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhXXJRRHKGw)
Reach Out to the Truth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzFl6sWHmXI)
Never More (credits theme) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pAb68IUR3E)
Sky's the Limit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR3_BKq8x3M)

Some assorted songs sung by Halyosy, one of the many people to cover Vocaloid songs on Youtube:
When I Get Home My Wife Always Pretends to be Dead (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB6QNI1bq5k)
Konbini (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9C_oLrt0ew)

Brief & Trunks, an amusing musical comedy duo:
Aonori (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL2qiAYLKc4) (seriously, use the subtitles on this one, I find it pretty funny)
Konbini (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6hXD5CL4tQ)

Some anime themes that I've enjoyed:
Hyadain no Kakakata☆Kataomoi-C (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCswvr8eRNk)
Hyadain no Joujou Yuujou (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB7kQN6uNok)
Highschool of the Dead (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaurWYl1nmQ)
Shissou (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfx8yOtwODw) by Last Alliance
Only My Railgun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqx8tAdID9w) by Fripside
Level5 - Judgelight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_B-hM8A4b0) also by Fripside
Tomorrow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJxh-YhwiTc) by Mikuni Shimokawa
Karenai Hana, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2zcxRf-ZKQ) Shimokawa again.

The Pillows, J-rock band of FLCL fame (even though I haven't watched it):
Youngster (Kent Arrow) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFzeHf63RQk)
Boat House (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdMIX96icng)
Scarecrow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fsoGIi-BmI)

Every Little Thing, a sort of synth-pop group:
Dear My Friend (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQVyjbRor6c)
Pray (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT_gkJnRow0)
YURA YURA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6nHg3n2MmY)

[Kindablue]

And by Superfly:
Beep!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izOOizwXfnY&ob=av2e)
Tamashii Revolution (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2tedgbqJJs)
Ai wo Komete Hanataba wo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU5oN0KVofU)
Yasashii Kimochi de (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn0fGgU5k4I)
Alright!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_MsZ5giB0M)

Thanks! I'd never heard of this band before.

[Mando Knight]

Wait. Stop. We're this far into a J-Rock/etc. music thread and no one's mentioned Crush 40? What's wrong with you people? (Alright, so it's technically a Japanese/American band due to pretty much all the songs being written and sung in English and the lead singer being American, but still.)

I mean, even if you fault the 3D Sonic games for whatever, that list most likely doesn't include Crush 40 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmacJ5cQ4AU).

Also, like anime songs? Look into JAM Project (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JAMProject). They're so awesome that their girls are more hot-blooded and manly than some entire groups. (In fact, one of the former members (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RicaMatsumoto) is also known for being the voice of a certain hot-blooded Pokémon Trainer (http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Ash_Ketchum)) Here's one of the members covering Sorairo Days (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNFm7-UgobE) (AKA The Gurren Lagann OP). They do anime openings. And make them awesome. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TestosteronePoisoning)

[Elder Tsofu]

Good heavens, I forgot Supercell while using an avatar based on one of their songs. :smalltongue: But yes, Supercell is fantastic. Probably tied for my favorite Japanese artist alongside Superfly, which I also inexplicably forgot to mention.

I thought it a bit odd yes, so I thought I'd let you do the honours with the particular song. :smalltongue:
To think I started listening to them because I got curious about the avatar.


And don't be afraid to suggest anime or game themes, I doubt I've heard them all :smallsmile:

I'll take you up on that and add some actual content to this post by posting music played in Ouendan. :smalltongue:
Melody - 175R (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBXVZKBERjM&playnext=1&list=PLB3A87C5F842D9E38)
Taisetsu na Mono - Road of Major (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am275wiYEb0)
リンダ リンダ - The Blue Hearts (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8e4oWTHw0w)
ループ&ループ - Asian kung-fu generation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5278W8cbYJI)

贈る言葉 - FLOW (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMXQ_PuIbj4)
Real Life Real Heart - Kaela Kimura (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJMEZB2S23g&feature=player_detailpage#t=71s)
ミュージック・アワ - Porno Graffiti (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-mvSsj9IDo&feature=player_detailpage#t=29s)
バンビーナ - Tomoyasu Hotei (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rpcuoM-5FM)

[Mercenary Pen]

I'd say to check out near enough anything by Yoko Kanno (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Kanno), because she does well in near enough everything of hers that I have heard (though I'll admit I haven't heard anything like all of her material).

[Prime32]

Nana Mizuki. (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nana+mizuki) Her songs have good instrumentation, and she's got a surprisingly powerful voice for someone who played Hinata Hyuuga. :smalltongue:

Also KOTOKO (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=KOTOKO), who's done OPs for things like BlazBlue and Shakugan no Shana.


And yes, JAM Project can make anything manly
Before: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJRoRt155mA
After: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls7oOxUBbYQ

Before: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WElNiiPJvUA
After: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYQxl4qFGp4

One of their members actually covered the Power Rangers theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXN5CQ_ZED0)!

[Tengu_temp]

Ah dangit, JAM Project and the Pillows were already mentioned. Hmm, how about the TWEWY soundtrack then? It's some of the best Japanese music (even if a lot of it is actually sang in English) I've heard. For example:
Calling (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0569Wt-cZ0)
Someday (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_qXcOjI9oI)
Transformation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSTdSscfgJ8)

[Haruki-kun]

Also KOTOKO (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=KOTOKO), who's done OPs for things like BlazBlue and Shakugan no Shana.

Kotoko is one of my favorites. I'd add Maaya Sakamoto, who did the endings for Tsubasa chronicle and the ending to Wolf's Rain:

Gravity. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doFZpE_nlg4)

[Akiosama]

Yes! Every Little Thing got mentioned. Good stuff.

While you might have to look out there for some stuff, if you want to go a little older school, check out Chemistry and L'Arc-en-Ciel. Most recently you might have come across L'Arc with "Daybreak's Bell" for the OP of Gundam 00. Other good tracks for L'Arc include "Driver's High" (Great Teacher Onizuka) and "Blurry Eyes" (DNA^2). I think Chemistry did something anime too, but that escapes me.

Also, TM Revolution, who did the Gundam SEED music was pretty good.

For other good J-Pop music, I'd recommend the soundtrack for Macross Frontier - with May'n and Nakajima Megumi and Sakamoto Maaya, too.

For even older stuff, I'd also go with the original Bubblegum Crisis soundtracks and some of the other Macross stuff (I personally enjoyed Macross Plus and Macross II's music).

And for more instrumental stuff, you can't really go wrong with Kanno Yoko.

Just my thoughts. Hope you find some good stuff.

My 2 yen,

Akiosama

[Morph Bark]

...J-... Hop? There is such a thing now?

[Psyren]

...J-... Hop? There is such a thing now?

Portmanteau I came up with on the spot for this thread. It seemed pithy and straightforward:smalltongue:

Speaking of which, I would like some more examples of said genre, the Pop and Rock are fantastic but I also love a good lyrical flow (even if I can't understand it!)

I'm busy programming all these suggestions into my Grooveshark playlist as I write this.

[unosarta]

Does that category include M-Flo (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=m-flo+&aq=0)? I mean, technically it's a rapper, a DJ, and a huge affiliation of female singers who just perform with him. Really, really fantastic, however.

One of his most famous works is Miss You. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD59LJX2r38)

[Psyren]

Does that category include M-Flo (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=m-flo+&aq=0)? I mean, technically it's a rapper, a DJ, and a huge affiliation of female singers who just perform with him. Really, really fantastic, however.

One of his most famous works is Miss You. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD59LJX2r38)

*listens*

It sure as hell does! :smallbiggrin:

[Brother Oni]

Portmanteau I came up with on the spot for this thread. It seemed pithy and straightforward:smalltongue:

Speaking of which, I would like some more examples of said genre, the Pop and Rock are fantastic but I also love a good lyrical flow (even if I can't understand it!).

Orange Range, who did the first Bleach opening and Home made Kazoku, who did the Bleach second ending are good examples of the J-hip hop sound.

On a slightly older note, there's also -J R'n'B, which you may have overlooked:

I'm quite fond of Utada Hikaru - her first album (First Love) is very R'n'B but her later ones are very J-pop (I listened to Addicted to You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_In-3UlkEk) so much, I know it phonetically). Best known for the Kingdom Heart main themes in the west.
Her English language stuff is a bit of a mixed bag and not as good as her Japanese albums in my opinion.

Crystal Kay is another artist who crosses over into the pop/hip hop genre.

Ayaka is another suggestion for J-pop, most famous in the west for Why (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKlyivcA9DI).
Excuse me, I need to go watch the Crisis Core ending again...

[Mistral]

I rather love J-Pop myself, but I think my tastes might be a bit...old-fashioned compared to most of the other songs posted here. And, to be honest, probably a bit sappy. ^_^

Matsu Takako: Yume no Shizuku (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n27h9b8DZHU) (though the video quality's pretty low) and Sakura no Ame, Itsuka (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLjsghgm_k4) are probably my favorites. She also did some fairly decent renditions of Ami folk music on her latest album as well (like 500 Miles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq8xPlazXVg)), which was really surprising to me.

Imai Miki: Pride (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p4iGrJs2Zk) is probably my favourite by her, though Piece of My Wish (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mTcKx8GHBk) is rather good as well.

Maaya Sakamoto: Already mentioned, but she's probably my absolute favorite. For her, I think Yubiwa is my favorite (now in dual-language duet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzZ-1P4aEus) - Kim was the Korean singer). Kaze ga Fuku Hi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuwFliUDbLE) was my favorite all through high school, is Unison (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S9-_dDzX-c) is rather good as well. I haven't quite listened to her songs as much since she and Yoko Kanno split, but 30minutes night flight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpA5xgcFVGE) and Universe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa3o0yCwHto) (which should have a familiar animation style to anyone who watched PMMM), as well as Boku-tachi ga Koi wo Suru Riyuu (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R_9zS5_w2c) from the album of the same name (and length, though I'm pretty sure they just did the last track to make sure it hit 30 minutes on the dot) are rather good.

Lia - I think I found her after Air, since she's worked a lot with Key. Birthday Song, Requiem (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8jLCEtP8-Y), Chiisana Te no Hira (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzQ9ac7Iu3E) (and now you have Dango Daikazoku stuck in your head), and of course, Tori no Uta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtJnix-9niI).

Other notes: Maeda Ai (Beautiful World (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLjT89nANvU)); Shimokawa Mikuni (Sore ga, Ai Deshou (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoMpGbE_qK0)); Seiko Matsuda (Anata ni Aitakute (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JLfAfsDLDM)); Sasaki Yuko (Pure Snow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsK7hb-MYtk)); Yousei Teikoku (rebellion anthem (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ucQHz-8nfw))...err, wait...

[Elder Tsofu]

With a new month comes a reset in the internet traffic meter, so now I could listen to all suggestions in Mistrals post. I've promptly added quite a few to a list of calm music. :smallsmile:

[SDF]

I'm not a fan of contemporary Japanese pop. I think their idol music is pretty terrible. But, I LOVE their rock music. I picked up a Number Girl album in Tokyo back in '05 and haven't stopped looking for good Japanese music.

Number Girl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDoNX0lRL1g)

Rururu (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccEQq2Acyvs)

Ogre You ******* (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bp99mF6-Ow&feature=related)

MONO (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8Juilrg6oQ)

Mass of the Fermenting Dregs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUpacRemMCA)

AND MOST OF ALL
Boris (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeSwal4jqyk)

[Morph Bark]

I can see how some songs would qualify as J-Hop yeah, like the first Bleach intro. But that makes it unacceptable that you did not include something like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRPFs8M9FEs&feature=related)! J-Metal!

[Brother Oni]

I can see how some songs would qualify as J-Hop yeah, like the first Bleach intro. But that makes it unacceptable that you did not include something like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRPFs8M9FEs&feature=related)! J-Metal!

The OP did in his first post, under J-Rock.

That said if we're going down this vein, we should include stuff by X-Japan (apologies to Elder Tsofu's internet meter):

Silent Jealousy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jwLLud5Ims&feature=related)
Week End (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a014uOduLoo&feature=related)
X (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rLgddhWJL8&feature=related)
Kurenai (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6lKT8REALw)

[Teutonic Knight]

Finally finally finally!

I'll just go down my iTunes list and hope none of them have already been mentioned. Of course, a lot up there I already have too. I'll start with the good ones.

Secret Base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~ (10 Years After) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTrhHCuhsIE&feature=player_embedded)
Aoi Shiori (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5URuQbmgHJ4&feature=related)
Velonica (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIUrgeYlPhQ)
Sen no Yoru wo Koete (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zGVdm5d7HE)
Gravity O (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74xWT1ZQ2fg)
After Dark music video version though (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTdfJkpgAeM)
For You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu7oFlFS3ZE)
Wana (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPxvOpD6iD8)
Ring a Bell (japanese name has a swear in it) ring a bell is actually the name for the english version of the song sung by the same singer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR7AVEfMPLI)
Karma (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJJ6vW6J01E)
Life Goes On Side K (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYvlP3ItYiA&feature=related)
Wings of Words (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2X5-T-F6Pg)
This Night (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2ELraj9o90)
Thank You! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSi0DdaKgRA)
Style (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvMaWMt4_f0)
Orange (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD-6sRJ5SoI&feature=related)

Hmmm. I've only reached L, sorted by artist name. So that's enough for now; I'll be back later with more good songs, then I'm going to run through again and list the songs I would only recommend to longtime appreciators of Japanese pop/rock music. Happy listening.