Favorite Japanese Music (For immersion)

EasyJapanezy Member

From: Worcester MA Registered: 2011-10-05 Posts: 67

I'm trying to take immersion to the max so i figured a topic where people post recommendations about their favorite Japanese bands would be really helpful.
I listen to J-music while I'm doing other things through the day just to always have some Japanese exposure.

The best stuff is the low beat songs where you can really hear the words and follow along/repeat(sometimes).

Here is what I've got so far:

Sakanaction: really relaxed chill music i love how i can completely hear every word they are singing.

School Food Punishment: This was recommended to me in another thread and I REALLY like it. The music is much better then the name sounds you have to try it.

Rip slyme: Another recommendation, I'm not really into this one because it is difficult to hear the words and follow along.

I'm really into the laid back, chill type of songs, kind of like the closing to anime most of the time

So post the name of the group and what style of music they play. Hopefully everyone will find something that they like
Also post what type of music you like so there can be better recommendations

louischa Member

From: montreal Registered: 2010-09-06 Posts: 132

Last edited by louischa (2011 October 08, 7:07 pm)

chamcham Member

Registered: 2005-11-11 Posts: 1444

How about Enka?

It's very slow and the words are easy to hear.
It makes for good listening practice.

I like Moriyama Aiko (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxcxJj6phZ0)
and カレン (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE8bu_P7MuQ).

Both are young, beautiful and have great voices.

Last edited by chamcham (2011 October 08, 6:24 pm)

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howtwosavealif3 Member

From: USA Registered: 2008-02-09 Posts: 889 Website

this amazing live performance of yami n furu ame by shiina ringo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxoWmMW6YiE

and I love the song that ayumi hamasaki sings in this cm lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyBD2Mmq78s

Last edited by howtwosavealif3 (2011 October 08, 7:27 pm)

keikei Member

Registered: 2010-12-08 Posts: 63

Last edited by keikei (2011 October 08, 8:54 pm)

SomeCallMeChris Member

From: Massachusetts USA Registered: 2011-08-01 Posts: 787

I've got an account on last.fm which is kinda like a certain more popular site that I forget the name of, but it's, you know, 'personalized radio', matching new song suggestions based on other people's preferences, etc. Anyways, last.fm has a -lot- of Jpop (and some Enka, which I've mostly allowed to stay in my playlist). So basically I just listen to that, although it sort of fails at being complete immersion because I just can't bring myself to delete some of the Shonen Knife and BoA songs that are in English... but mostly it's my own Japanese music channel.

(That other site may also work now, it was several years ago that I found they didn't have any noticeable amount of Japanese music.)

Oh, and you can also actually listen to the radio from Japan:
http://www.simulradio.jp/

A lot of stations have a fair bit of English lyric music in the mix, both what you'd hear in America as well as Japanese artists singing in English.

Last edited by SomeCallMeChris (2011 October 08, 9:42 pm)

Rina Member

From: Kyoto Registered: 2008-11-24 Posts: 557 Website

Hamasaki Ayumi
Perfume
Every little thing
AKB48

TheSlyPig Member

From: WA USA Registered: 2011-09-28 Posts: 39

Best ones in some sort of descending order, after much searching.

ミスチル (Mr. Children)
サリュ (Salyu)
Radwimps
Bank Band
Ellegarden
Greeeen
月子天野 (Amano Tsukiko)

dtcamero Member

From: new york Registered: 2010-05-15 Posts: 653

I'm sorry i have such an issue with most j-music. they are really reluctant to just jam, and always come back to either some version of happy music, which I can't stand, or else pithy sentimental stuff. it's like japan is having their 80's moment now, and there's all this product out there, (which means people are buying it) that is exaggeratedly sentimental and really ripping off a lot of 80s rock tropes that we would groan at over here. (even sakanaktion is super guilty of this and I love them regardless).

anyways I just wanted to say thanks for the heavenstamp, lynch and FLiP recs, they are pretty sweet. cheers...

Last edited by dtcamero (2011 November 02, 8:03 pm)

Shinichirou Member

Registered: 2011-03-13 Posts: 98

http://www.simulradio.jp/ is priceless. Thanks.

Music I can recommend: X-Japan, Do as infinity, Every Little Thing, Hide, The BAck Horn, B'z, Boowie, Aikawa Nanase, The Brilliant Green, Kiyoharu, Globe, Ozaki Yutaka, Yuzu, Shiina Ringo, Glay, Kana, Luna Sea, Bump of Chicken, The Pillows, The Blue Hearts to be continued endlessly... Immersion staato.

Thiel New member

From: New York Registered: 2011-01-31 Posts: 6

Prefacing this by saying I probably have terrible taste in Japanese music. I wouldn't know, but I have a feeling it would be comparable to some random Japanese kid thinking Britney Spears is great music lol.

I mostly like faster songs with some cool guitar, drums, and bass. Not so much a fan of slower music.

Scandal:

Doll - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQGiSwXm-0U
Anata ga Mawaru- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh79W4-7FP0
Shojo S - billions of videos due to being a Bleach OP.

Heavenstamp:

keikei recommended them already and I wanted to second that recommendation. Not too many lyrics for some of their songs though.

Hype (remix) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAAsaJUqYVY

Kyary pamyu pamyu:

Ponponpon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzC4hFK5P3g&ob=av3e

I can not explain why anyone likes this song, but it freaking grows on you. It's so... bubbly happy.

Theatre Brook:

Uragiri no yuuyake - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH4wUeLNg7o

Durarara fans would recognize this. If anyone knows other bands with a similar sound to Theatre Brook, let me know cause they rock.

Bokusenou Member

From: America Registered: 2007-01-12 Posts: 820 Website

I just thought I'd post a link to this site I found, which is really good for finding music videos from obscure groups: http://sparkplugged.net/

headphone_child Member

Registered: 2011-09-18 Posts: 65

The Back Horn's 夢の花 (Yume no Hana) -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahnfy9A3irs
Acidman's 赤橙 (Sekitou) -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrkrtkuOZnc

They play rock mostly but have some chill songs like these as well.

Last edited by headphone_child (2012 January 02, 10:39 am)

howtwosavealif3 Member

From: USA Registered: 2008-02-09 Posts: 889 Website

the new sdn48 new single is hilarious
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl … WxRSbiIPvQ

aobouzu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl … yNipSMEmyI

tokyo jihen singin a cover of the song c'mon let's go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl … 8DmHjPDszs

cover of this catchy dorlis song cause dorlis's version ain' ton youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl … Hhgfl1XnJA

Last edited by howtwosavealif3 (2012 January 02, 12:00 pm)

chillimuffin Member

Registered: 2011-11-21 Posts: 72 Website

I absolutely love Tokyo Jihen. Not really chill or downtempo, but still I think they're worth checking out. The lyrics are usually relatively easy to catch, although sometimes the text itself is rather difficult.

Here's possibly my favourite song, "Sounan"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_WJhpzZEpk

"Yume no ato" is softer and slower and you'll probably like it more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvQiiCvEvN8

chamcham Member

Registered: 2005-11-11 Posts: 1444

Have you heard of "Mouse on the Keys"?
They tend to play in a style known as "math rock".
It is instrumental music (no singing).

It is music for random breaks, stops, and changes.
Almost like a computer if it played random beats.

Here's the best example of their style IMHO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUIiR5VxgvE

The title is Saigo no Bansan which translated to "The Last Supper" (yes, that Last Supper).

Last edited by chamcham (2012 January 02, 2:47 pm)

tuckingfypo New member

From: Sydney Australia Registered: 2012-01-04 Posts: 1

Rin Toshite Sigureare by far my favourite band right now, the bands that follow close behind are: WEAVER, flumpool and One ok rock. Honorable mentions go to the telephones, the WORLD (those deathnote intro guys), Genki Sudo, Kyu Sakamoto, Scandal and The Pillows.

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