ORICON ROUNDUP

Please note: The charts below are accumulative sales from the past 2 weeks as Oricon forgoes weekly ranks for the week over the new year.

CHARTS:

Singles:

01 stay with me Koda Kumi 58,108 NEW
02 Days / GREEN Hamasaki Ayumi 40,003
03 Aino Mamade... Akimoto Junko 37,591
04 Yowamushi SANTA Shuuchishin 28,231
05 Koyoi, Tsuki ga Miezutomo Porno Graffitti 23,537
06 Nocturne / Campanula no Koi Hirahara Ayaka 22,342
07 Sheryl no Uchu Kyoudaibune Nado Nome Sheryl 18,284 NEW
08 Ranka & Bobby no SMS Shoutai no Uta nado Nakajima Megumi 16,980 NEW
09 fairytale Kalafina 15,984 NEW
10 Nihon no Mikata -Nevada Kara Kimashita- Yazima Beauty Salon 15,532

Albums:

01 My song Your song Ikimoni Gakari 242,691 NEW
02 EXILE BALLAD BEST EXILE 190,213
03 GIRL NEXT DOOR GIRL NEXT DOOR 171,165 NEW
04 SUPERMARKET FANTASY Mr.Children 166,095
05 ai no Uta 2 Various Artists 55,048

Also, I forgot to post the Oricon charts for the last week of December -_-; (sorry) so here they are (12/21):

CHARTS:

Singles:

01 Days / GREEN Hamasaki Ayumi 127,650 NEW
02 Yowamushi SANTA Shuuchishin 33,249
03 Koyoi, Tsuki ga Miezutomo Porno Graffitti 20,905
04 Aino Mamade... Akimoto Junko 17,608
05 HEAVEN BUCK-TICK 14,724 NEW
06 Tomorrow Yukari Tamura 10,691 NEW
07 Nocturne / Campanula no Koi Ayaka Hirahara 10,332
08 Friend / Sugao no mama Rina Aiuchi 9,573 NEW
09 Sunao ni Naretara JUJU feat. Spontania / I can be free JUJU 9,182
10 White Xmas KAT-TUN 7,790

Albums:

01 SUPERMARKET FANTASY Mr.Children 177,581
02 EXILE BALLAD BEST EXILE 147,454
03 LOVE LETTER Otsuka Ai 104,232 NEW
04 BLEACH BEST TUNES Various Artists 52,835 NEW
05 ai no Uta 2 Various Artists 24,740

...my true love gave to me a celebration,
something a bit naughty,
a rise to fame,
10 years of bliss,
an anniversary trio,
a group of amazing vocalists,
a hit single,
a stunning voice,
the sweetest song,
a deliciously creepy new artist,
and a WINTER PARTY!

Ikimono Gakari had a big year, releasing 5 top10 singles and 2 albums (My Song Your Song was released just this week). All their singles did really well this year and were all very enjoyable, but the group ended on a high note with the delightfully playful Kimagure Romantic.

This song was released just a few weeks ago but it's definitely one that many people seem to love. It's such a fun, cute song and it totally makes me smile whenever I listen ^_^ I was hooked right from the first time I was introduced to it, with the chorus being the major selling point for me. Ahh~ It's so cute! ... and not sickeningly sweet/cute but adorably *aww* cute. The video is also really cool, I love the video game aspect of it, very creative :D Everyone MUST do the crazy dance when they listen ... DO IT!! ... ^^;;

So as I mentioned before Ikimono Gakari just released their 3rd studio album this week and it debuted at no.1 on the daily charts *yay* I'm hoping for a weekly no.1 - they've never managed one before I don't think, but it's long overdue!

I hope everyone has a great Christmas Eve, remember to not go to sleep TOO late - you gotta give Santa time to deliver all your presents ^_^; Peace and goodwill!

REVIEWS: I've been a bit MIA this past couple of weeks and as a result I didn't get the reviews done last week. I almost wasn't going to do them again but I decided I had to try and get my act in gear and dedicate some time to my blog! ^_^ I'm reviewing new singles from KAT-TUN, Ikimono Gakari and JYONGRI this week.

Kimagure Romantic Ikimono Gakari

I really enjoyed Ikimono Gakari's previous single Planetarium, it wasn't stellar but it grew on me a lot and was a song I did enjoy. Their new single, Kimagure Romantic is more of an upbeat, fun pop track and is a real winner in my eyes.
The track begins with this great, upbeat instrumental that is repeated throughout the chorus and it's just amazingly infectious! I really love the build in this track, the song gradually grows from the verses to the pre-chorus bridge and then the chorus really takes off. While the whole track is great it's really the chorus that makes this song, it's just so happy and fun - it really gets you feeling great! The PV is also a lot of fun for anyone who wants to check it out. The dancing at the end is just too cute ^_^
Kimagure Romantic is the type of song which just lifts your spirits, no matter what mood you are in. It's definitely one of my favourite tracks of the year.

Rating: 9.5/10

White Xmas KAT-TUN

White Xmas is KAT-TUN's first single in what seems like a while. DON'T YOU EVER STOP from memory was their last, earlier in the year? Damn theppn for being down! Either way it's nice to have something new from KAT-TUN. Christmas themed tracks are very popular at the moment and KAT-TUN give it a shot with their ballad White Xmas.
I gotta say, apart from the odd Christmas in the lyrics every now and then, this doesn't sound Christmassy at all. It's just a normal ballad, but still, it's a nice track. It sounds a bit melancholic so I'm sure it's about not being with someone for Christmas, something along those lines. The vocals are ok, some solo sections aren't strong but the chorus sounds reasonably good. Though White Xmas doesn't leave too much of an impression on me I will say that it's a nice change of pace though from their previous rock tracks.

Rating: 7/10

Winter Love Story JYONGRI

Winter Love Story is another winter themed track (I love winter ^_^) this time from Korean songstress JYONGRI, who I don't really listen to, but I'm willing to be won over (please please please!)
The track wasn't really what I was expecting - I was expecting a ballad but it's a nice mid-tempo track and it has quite a bit of English in it which always helps me decipher the meaning. The instrumental isn't the greatest, I mean I like the pace but it sounds a bit synth in parts, could have been better but not altogether horrible. JYONGRI's voice is really great; She has a deepish, unique sounding voice which I really enjoy. She's apparently fluent in English which explains her English sounding uncharacteristically decent. It's a really nice track and gets me interested in her other songs.

Rating: 8/10

REVIEWS: 4 songs up for review this week and 3 of them are 6 minutes or longer in length so it'll take some listening time if you wish to check them all out: Yui Aragaki's Akai Ito; TOHOSHINKI's Jumon -MIROTIC-; Planetarium from rock trio Ikimono Gakari; and finally alan's RED CLIFF ~Shin.Sen~.

Akai Ito Aragaki Yui

Akai Ito is Yui Aragaki’s second single and is a cover of an old Kobukuro tune. While Gakki’s first single, Make My Day, was pretty popular, I have to say it didn’t warm to me and this one isn’t much different. The song itself is pleasant but on the bland side. Gakki’s vocals are void of much emotion and let’s be honest, she isn’t a very good singer. All in all, it’s a pretty boring release that will likely sell well, purely because of Aragaki’s popularity.

Rating: 6/10

Jumon -Mirotic- TOHOSHINKI

Jumon -Mirotic- is the Japanese version of TOHOSHINKI's title track off their newest Korean album Vol.4 – MIROTIC so I’m pretty familiar with the track already. I’m really used to the Korean vocals so this Japanese version sounds a bit odd to me. The Korean vocals provide more punch to the song imo, which is something missing in the Japanese edition. The chorus in particular loses the edge of the Korean version. I’m not sure if my opinion would of changed had I not heard the song earlier, but I guess now we’ll never know >.< Mirotic, I’ll stick with their album ver.

Rating: 7.5/10

Planetarium Ikimono Gakari

Planetarium is a charming, yet typical pop/light rock song for me. It really is quite a sweet, little tune with a nice instrumental and is uplifting. Kiyoe’s vocals fit nicely with the style and the whole thing is very pleasing to listen to. It’s a style of song you can just play in the background as you go about your daily activities, a nice easy listen. That being said it is very typical, you hear a lot of this style. Fortunately Ikimo Gakari do it well but they don’t offer much of anything new to the table. This doesn’t seem to matter much though when the song is as enjoyable as it is.

Rating: 8/10

RED CLIFF ~Shin.Sen~ alan

I was so ready to just give up on alan; She’s obviously not very popular, Avex is churning out singles for her like there is no tomorrow and the last song did nothing at all for me … then she brings out RED CLIFF. RED CLIFF is another Japanese remake, with the Chinese version of the song released earlier this year in conjunction with the Chinese and Japanese releases of the film, Red Cliff. I hadn’t heard the other version so this song is very new to me and I absolutely love it. The pre-chorus gives me chills up my spine, like seriously, alan is an incredible vocalist. alan’s characteristic wailing makes an appearance and all round it’s just a beautiful song.

Rating: 9/10