I would like to recognize more or less, the artists I love, and if you disagree, so be it.
None of these are in order.
Kokia
She has a beautiful voice. She puts most singers to shame, worldwide. I believe she is religious, but don't let that narrow thought of yours deter you. Just go check her out on youtube. If your one of those people who tear up easily, have tissue.
anime works: *Origin: Spirits of the Past Op&Ed, **Break Blade, Gunslinger Girl, Phantom~requiem, Furusato, Brain Powered,
Inoue Joe
He is a very talented artist. Inoue performs every aspect of his 'band'. He plays guitar, sings, and apparently does the sound mixing too. The only thing he can not do, is duplicate himself to perform live...maybe he hires others to play his music with him. Joe can also speak fluent English.
Did I mention he sings in 3 different languages in one of his songs? it's a fun song, for sure.
anime works: Naruto: Shippuuden.
Rie Fu
Rie has a pleasant voice. She has a natural, welcoming type of feel to her music, it is something you can listen to and not feel bad. She has no need to be stuck up, she is not rude, she too can sing/speak English. Rie Fu just overall seems like a nice person.
anime works: *Darker than Black, *D. Gray-man, Bleach, *Gundam SEED Destiny.
YUI
Yui is a respectable artist. I see footage of her playing guitar on the streets in train stations, and she sounds great. Like Kokia and Rie, Yui has a more reserved natural appeal awhile she does attempt rock sounds, hardcore rock would not suit her. She seems to have many fans, judging by all the fan covers(even guys) that have infiltrated my search results. I look up to this girl, she is great. She has also appeared in movies, I also think she is very pretty :).
anime works: Bleach, *Fullmetal Alchemist:Brotherhood.
Angela Aki
Aki is another very talented singer. She is easy to listen to, whatever mood you're in. Aki is actually Japanese/Italian, and she wears both well. Often, Aki plays the piano along with her well-carrying voice. She is one that is harder to describe, your best off listening to her for yourself.
anime works: Blood+.
Last but not least....is my favourite band. Well, they were one, anyway.
I have a soft spot for them. Something about them...
AciD
Acid was a band founded by a former singer/leader Hideki, who left the band to allow them to lead into their own direction. If you will, Acid is like Hideki's child....he had aspirations to see them get it big at Tokyo Dome I believe it was called. Acid's lead singer is Junpei, he has an awesome voice, I loved. Junpei's hair made him stand out a bit from the others, nothing crazy, but his own look...but the way he carried his voice, or sang rather stands out a bit. Perhaps Junpei wasn't the more amazing original voice in the world, no one is THAT original anymore for the best of reasons....however, I could usually recognize him. I found this band through my anime Tokyo Majin, which is a less known series, just like the band;both very good, but not recognized. I had them for every song in this anime, whether it be the op, inserts or ending. I think I loved that sound the more I heard it, I don't know really what to say. Acid could have done well with music awards, given the chance. I would have rooted for them, hands down.
Unfortunately, they did not last long. Lead singer Junpei, heart of the band's sound imo, actually had a lung illness. It was only a matter of time before he had to quit his career. I am to believe they are in their twenties still, just starting. I believe he might have pushed himself to that point, as well.
Sure, that seems like not a big deal to you.....because, it is not YOUR career. Imagine, having to stop doing something that you love, especially when it was given to you by someone respectable with expectations. What would you do? depressed, angry, I'm sure. What will he do for the rest of his life? I do not know...I only wish there was just a bit more publicity on that, but to me, it is probably equivalent to losing my ability to create art, because that is part of who I am, and what I'm known for (awhile not popular, or famous), to not even have begun a career.....I'd be depressed, frustrated.
Somehow, I feel for him beyond a stage title, as if he is just a regular person who suffers from a shitty irregular thing. That is one reason I love these asian artists...they aren't stage-whores who want magazine fame, they dress with self-respect, and sing with it.
anime work: Tokyo Majin.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are also some who stand out against that image, but for the ones I've met in music and photograph, I don't see that. I respect them as people. They inspire me to have faith in them as role models, something you cannot feel in America. I don't want my future kid's friends and own (maybe) child to listen to the shit on tv these days. I don't even watch music channels.
I honestly miss AciD...it was part of my goals in life to see them Live in Japan one day, I was excited about it. Those slower songs with some sort of depressing or meaningful lyrics feel utmost depressing, yet I listen to them anyway. For all the AciD fans, we miss you Junpei :( <3.
I hope the disbanded members whom are still together in their new reformed band do well in the future...but I have to say they need a new singer, because it sounds terrible without Junpei, as if they are improvising without him. Please save this band, one of you vocalists in Japan :) .
I also love the soundtrack works of Hideyuki Fukasawa.
His credits are in Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter 4 for some games.
Anime work was Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto (where I found his work, and loved it instantly. There is always credit to his music when I read BKI fans talking about this anime on blogs and fan groups Despite it being his first anime work, I think he did very well, beyond just good. His music really sets the mood, from feeling cold, depressed and that feeling like things arent working, to some upbeat festive music, and his probably more well-known darker themes. Most of the soundtrack has some feeling of darkness to it, whether it's still coming, already happened, or is gone away for awhile to leave a nicer feel. Than again, I feel it because I've seen it beside all the animation scenes and dilemmas that happeened.
To end my post, I think it's safe to say that foreign artists have something else to offer that other's don't.
I have tried out Finnish, Chinese and Spanish rock before too. Finland has some good music, don't deny them because of their small reputation in America.
Other Japaneses artists I enjoy:
Stereopony
Abingdon Boys School
Angela (name of band not artist)
Aluto (great duo)
Hideyuki Fukasawa
Chiaki Ishikawa
Kajiura Yuki
Origa (not quite Japanese, but her work in Ghost in the Shell is recognized)
I know there are other good artists, but these ones I've come to enjoy the most. I'm kind of happy Acid stayed Indie...I did my part in preserving that on my own fandom spree, sharing it with only 3 of my friends. I hate over-hype...I think they ended with dignity, and respect is due. I understand they arent actually deceased, so I don't want to treat them that way...I root for the new band that is rebirth of what's left :).
Anyways, I guess I'll close now.
G' night :).
-Aoikita aka Little shadow fox
