Carousel tune: Inspire – 滨崎步

Ayumi Hamasaki – The Deserving J-pop Princess


Finally decided to fork out my $18.50 to get a genuine copy of Ayumi’s latest CD offering – My Story from the cheap CD shop at Chinatown. I was surprised at first to hear it actually cost $18.50, coz most of the CDs at the shop would normally not be priced over $17. However, since it came with a MTV DVD, I guessed it would most probably have cost even more in those conventional CD stores. It came in 4 different covers, which had Ayumi in 4 different poses, and I had to admit I was stumped as to which to choose. All so gorgeous and dazzling!

I’ve been a Jpop fan since the late 90s, where Channel 8 was still showing Music Station late at night. Though I don’t really understand what the artistes are singing, I still follow all the latest developments in the Jpop industry with great enthusiasm and passion coz all along, I’m more of a tune than a lyrics person…meaning to me, a good melody is more important than good lyrics. It doesn’t matter what language the song is in, its always melody first, lyrics a distant second. Hence, the fact that I don’t understand the Japanese lyrics is not a problem to me at all, since melody is universal and anyone can appreciate a good tune. To me, the Japanese artistes are some of the most daring and unconventional musicians I’ve encountered and I’ve always marveled at how the Japanese audience are equally so! I’ve seen how the Jap fans can go crazy over some of the Jap bands that look, to me, like anything but normal. But I guess each person has his/her own taste in music.

Jpop has introduced me to so many genres of music which I though I would never have been able to appreciate. I never knew I like rock until I heard TM Revolution, childish teenage pop until I met Morning Musume, acappella until I heard Gospellers and Ragfair. And of course, a true singing sensation until I heard Ayumi Hamasaki. Much as I would like to say she’s over-rated, the truth is, she really deserves the title. If you’ve not heard her in her previous albums, do try out her new CD. The MTVs were so good, I couldn’t stop being impressed! Ok, her singing is not like Msia type lah, but its not that bad either. I don’t know why, but I just can feel her soulfulness when she sings those slow songs, and her magnetic personality when she attempts the fast numbers. You can’t help but wanna hear them again and again. V.addictive. I’ve not really heard the entire album, but the DVD has already made my $18.50 worth it. Aaaahhh…if only Avex would release her compilation album soon……

I know that they say Ayumi and Utada Hikaru are taking turns to be the best-selling artiste in Japan, and that both of them are always competing to be the one true Jpop princess. But I would say Ayumi makes a slightly better choice, given her versatility, dance movements, MTVs, and not to mention, her countless 造型. Who could ever forget her slinky catwoman lookalike image years ago?????????