VAMP
中森明菜 ❤ akinanakamori.com
Posted in June 2006 …
Promo Video
okay managed to grab the codes and embed the video Hamu just linked to. enjoy!
明菜姫 is working hard!
Got the info from this BBS:
明菜姫 has been invited to a regional TV programe, "今日感テレビ" & a radio talk show @ 福岡.
「デビュー25周年 歌手・中森明菜さん生出演」, TV appearance
Must be promoting her new album and single, as well as her concert.
Radio programme, "TT Lounge". The DJ commented that Akina hasn’t changed a bit. Akina revealed that she love 焼肉 and loves to patronise a particular eatery at 宮若市. Of course she also promoted her new album and her concert.
And…. yes there are more ^^
Akina did a short message for e+, a online concert ticket distributor. I managed to get the link to view her message on bigger screen, tho not as sharp…
She talked about her new album "Destination", and promoted her 横浜 concert towards the end of the movie.
Destination makes it to Top 20
With its debut at No. 20 this week, 「DESTINATION」 makes its gallant entry on the yet to be released (due later today) Oricon Weekly Album chart with sales of 6,664枚 (according to this site)
The expensive 「AKINA BOX（18枚組）」 also makes an impressive entry in the Top 100, at No. 97, though the actual number of sales is unknown at this point and will be updated later.
In comparison with her recent debuts, this is her first Top 20 hit since 「I Hope So」 . Akina Fun Site has also listed the debut positions and first week sales for her albums since 2000.
ZERO album～歌姫Ⅱ(10) – 47,280 (229,744 total)
Resonancia (15) – 18,970 (31,030)
歌姫 Double Decade (8) – 31,239 (83,046)
I Hope So (15) - 9,756 (17,964)
歌姫3～終幕 (25) – 14,257 (31,311)
BEST FINGER (29) – 6,630 (13,557)
So, it sold slightly better than 「BEST FINGER」, but as the author pointed as well, 「BEST FINGER」 did have 5 different variations in cover.
To add some interesting trivia, here is quiz time:
(a) Which 3 Akina albums debut at No. 2 on Oricon LP/CD chart and then climbed up to no. 1 eventually?
(b) Which Akina album scored a No. 1 in LP sales but only No. 2 in cassette and No. 3 on CD , and therefore its total first week sales rounded up the album at No. 2?
(c) Which Akina album scored No.2 in all categories but No. 1 in total sales for the first week?
(d) What was Akina’s most impressive first week album (LP/CD) sales?
Fantastic News!! Another Theme Song
This is fantastic news that has just been posted on サンケイスポーツ!!! The full comeback of Akina!!!
中森明菜が１０・７公開の映画「旅の贈りもの」で初主題歌
明菜の歌声で百恵さんの名曲が甦る－。デビュー２５周年を迎えた歌手、中森明菜（４０）が、山口百恵さん（４７）の昭和５３年の大ヒット曲「いい日旅立ち」をカバーすることが２６日、分かった。１０月７日公開の映画「旅の贈りもの／０：００発」（原田昌樹監督）の主題歌として歌うもので、明菜が映画の主題歌を務めるのは今回が初めてだ。
音楽関係者は、「百恵さんも、明菜さんに１度歌ってほしいと思っていたようで、明菜さんで甦るなら最高にうれしいと喜んでいるようです」という。同曲をプロデュースした酒井政利氏も「歌い継がれてこそ新しい生命が宿るもの。明菜さんはアイドル発の歌手の中でも抜群のボーカリスト」と“明菜バージョン”に大きな期待を寄せている。
昭和の名曲を歌い継ぐことになった明菜は大喜びで、「百恵さんの曲は子供の頃から大好きでよく聴いていました。あの歌唱力とテクニックは子供が歌うには難しすぎてうまく歌えなかった思い出があります。そんな百恵さんの曲を歌うことは、私にとっては大きなチャレンジです」と意欲満々だ。
映画は歌手の徳永英明（４５）の初出演映画で、さまざまな悩みを持った人々が不思議な列車に連れて行かれた見知らぬ町で、心を癒していくハートフルロードムービー。多岐川裕美（５５）の愛娘、多岐川華子（１７）が同作で銀幕デビューすることでも話題だ。
現在、明菜は全国ツアーの真っ最中。７月３日に映画の舞台となった大阪の心斎橋ＨＭＶで映画ＰＲと主題歌の報告を兼ねたスペシャルトークライブを開催する。
（サンケイスポーツ）
Akina is to sing her first theme song for a movie starring 徳永英明 (Tokugawa Hideaki) in his first starring role and she will be covering her idol Momoe Yamaguchi’s best known hit 「いい日旅立ち」(No. 3 highest, Oricon sales: 530,000 copies but another magazine rates it as Momoe’s only million seller) , which if you remember, pipped Akina’s 「Desire」to the No. 10 position on last years "Kohaku SukiUta Poll".
Akina has previously covered Momoe’s songs twice (though this article states only once probably because only 「秋桜」created news, not 「愛染橋」, which was a minor hit for Momoe. There are high expectations for Akina’s version because she was specially selected from other idols for her vocal prowess. Akina says that she is very happy because she has loved Momoe’s songs since she was a child and she remembers that she had difficulty singing the song then due to the difficulty of the song and its technique. She also added that it is always a challenge to sing Momoe’s songs.
Lastly, Akina will also be holding a special talk live at Osaka HMV (as reported earlier) to promote the movie, song and also album (which is not mentioned in the article). All in all, I think this is very healthy promotion, and if I didn’t still harbour angry thoughts about NHK for shunning her last year, I would say that she is a shoo in for this year’s Kohaku. Now … I just don’t care that much. I think Akina should hold a special countdown concert for her fans instead.
More Updates:
中森明菜が百恵「いい日旅立ち」カバー 山口百恵が７８年に歌った代表曲「いい日旅立ち」をデビュー２５周年の中森明菜（４０）がカバーする。１０月７日公開の徳永英明主演の映画「旅の贈りもの／０・００発」の主題歌として制作される。関係者から今回の企画を伝え聞いた現三浦百恵さんは「１度、明菜さんに歌って欲しいと思っていた。明菜さんでよみがえるなら最高にうれしい」と喜んだという。明菜も百恵さんと面識こそないが「子供が歌うには難しすぎてうまく歌えなかった思い出があります。大きなチャレンジです」と、意気込んでいる。伝説の歌姫は引退から２６年を経ても、後輩たちからあこがれられ、目標とされている。 （日刊スポーツ）
Don’t know if it is true, but the underlined sentence seems to reflect Momoe’s desire (from authorised personnel) for Akina to sing the song one more time. After all, it has been covered a few times and Akina has sung it live with other Ladies before in 1999. It is expressed here that if Akina manages to revive the song’s glory, it would bring most joy.
2006 THE LAST DESTINATION LIVE@ 広島スタート！
according to this BBS
the song list for 2006 THE LAST DESTINATION LIVE @ 広島 is as follow:
1.花よ踊れ
2.The Heat
MC
3.月華
4.落花流水
5.赤い花
コシュチュームチェンジ (Costume change)
メンバー紹介 (Intro of band members)
6.LOVE GATE
MC
7.紅夜
8.嘘つき
9.眠れぬ森の蝶
MC
10.Grace Rain
コシュチュームチェンジ (Costume change)
***必殺12曲メドレー*** (MEDLEY)
11.Heartbreak
12.MOONLIGHT SHADOW
13.APPETITE
14.愛撫
15.原始、女は太陽だった
16.TATTOO
17.飾りじゃないのよ涙は
18.1/2の神話
19.ミ・アモーレ
20.TANGO-NOIR
21.少女Ａ
22.DESIRE
アンコール(ENCORE)
23.花よ踊れ
uhmm…some personal comments on my part…
the surprises were THE HEAT, 赤い花 & HEARTBREAK(Femme Fatale). GAME was not performed??! why?!!
also, why was 花よ踊れ the encore song!? sang twice!?
on the safe side, Meu amore and Desire are there =) I am looking forward to 愛撫 and those surprises above & LOVE GATE!
well, since this is the first show, let’s see if things will get changed a bit on the way =)
黄昏のビギン (by ちあきなおみ)
While we wait for more news on Akina’s 2006 concert, “The Last Destination”, let take a listen to Chiaki Naomi’s “Tosogareno Begin” (1st number in Akina’s “Utahime 2 – Zero Album -”.
黄昏のビギン (by ちあきなおみ)
While we wait for more news on Akina’s 2006 concert, “The Last Destination”, let take a listen to Chiaki Naomi’s “Tosogareno Begin” (1st number in Akina’s “Utahime 2 – Zero Album -”.
Destination Review
Ranbi, Kenji and myself had a Destination listening party earlier this evening. and i say we must do this more often!
i have a nagging suspicion my swanky new audio system has a part to play with it – WE LOVED THE ENTIRE ALBUM FROM THE GET GO! track after track, Akina dished out the very nice surprises. say Beniyo!
let’s count the ways i love this latest gem, a wondrous pot of gold at the end of over 3 years of waiting.
1) the flow of the album is excellent.
2) 12 tracks at a total running time of just slightly above 52 minutes, it leaves you panting for more. i couldn’t believe i’ve heard all 12 tracks when the last sassy note on Grace Rain lingered out… I WANT MORE!!! at least a good 3 tracks more!!
3) Akina sounds different on most of the tracks. there’s even a track which rings of tonal qualities circa Crimson era. Akina employs various singing styles on the various numbers. Grace Rain sees her marrying a new and her current style of belting.
4) It’s one of the most positive albums she’s done lately! apart from the sensous Grace Rain (picture the slithering off of lingerie straps… plush velvet cushions… ostentatious opulence), and 嘘つき, the rest are pretty upbeat! I wouldn’t even compare this to Shaker nor VAMP. it calls to mind an updated version of Femme Fatale (where she hailed “Take Up A New Fashion!!”). the songs are immediately accessible due to the attitude Akina infuses, appealing composition (but not overtly textbook melodious, which means endless replays without getting bored!) and you know… you can tell Akina had fun recording this! i particularly enjoy the assertive incorporation of the more modern musical elements and how that permeates the overall aural experience.
5) arrangements of the songs are exciting and offer much pleasant surprises at unexpected nooks and corners.
6) and yes! the diva finally understands the concept of “album versions”! there’s concerted efforts in embellishing GAME and her two latest singles. Hana yo Odore ends on sucha powerful punch, shaking my walls… leading into…
7) my FAVOURITE song (for now) – LOVE GATE!! super infectious track complete with hook, line and sinker. she delivers the instantly-likeable song with finesse – and a dollop of Akina Attitude with a Capital A. this song actually makes the other tracks sound “mild”. i love the way she opens the song! Lights, Camera, Action! so shiok!
8) the artwork for the album is commendable. and i haven’t spotted any typo errors, yet!
9) i love the 25th Anniversary motif! it’s going to look gr8 on the tees we’re printing to wear to the concert!
10) the album booklet carries a flowery, almondy scent!! could be the ink tho. haha.
words can’t describe the joy (and gratification) i have hearing Akina in top form again, making the type of music i’ve always hope she’ll make. this is truly a wonderful and timely gift for her fans. i’m just so glad it isn’t some sappy soppy ballady album that’s marking the 25th Anniversary. instead, this is an offering that explodes forth with so much indelible attitude, positive energy, and vocals.
the journey was as enjoyable as the destination. Akina has arrived, in style, once again.
21.6.2006 Oricon Daily Album Chart
And guess where our 歌姫 is ranked today on the actual day of release …
Up 2 spots to No. 11
Hooray!!!! If she keeps this up, she could enter the Top 10!! Start buying!!
