Posted in December 2007 …

Dec 27 2007
11 Comments
Albums, New Releases

90 Best

90best.png

Following the success of her “Best Collections” of late, but preferring to ride on the success of her レコード大賞企画賞 win for 「艶華～Enka～」, Universal is releasing two versions of Akina’s Best Hits in the 90′s. This is the first time they will be collating all her single songs in her 90s (not many songs that fans like us wouldn’t have) but cleverly creating two formats – a regular and deluxe – to be released on the 27th February next year.

The regular series would contain only one disc with 17 songs from her MCA/Victor and Gauss years but this detail is subject to change (?) from the CDJapan site. If we include all the single songs, it will come up to:

(1) Everlasting Love

(2) Not Crazy To Me (Double A-side)

(3) 片想い

(4) 愛撫 (Double A-side)

(5) 夜のどこかで～night shift～

(6) 月華

(7) 原始、女は太陽だった

(8) Tokyo Rose

(9) Moonlight Shadow -月に吠えろ-

(10) Appetite

(11) 帰省～Never Forget～

(12) 今夜、流れ星

(13) とまどい

(14) オフェリア

(15) Trust Me

So, she has two more songs that she can slot in from there. The Regular series retails at 2800円. For die hard fans and others who do not own the CD singles and previous Best albums only!

The “Deluxe Edition” retails at a whopping 6800円, but contains four discs (three CDs + one DVD). The first CD will contain all the songs from her MCA/Victor years, second her GAUSS years (OMG, they are going to have difficulty in selling me this disc if it was separately retailed, and the final, her coupling songs (11 songs from above) and according to the Japanese Neowing site , previously unreleased material that did not make it to the albums. I am highly skpetical of the latter claim because it sounds so flippant, and I guess it must be from her MCA years because GAUSS probably used all of it on 「WILL」. I hope it is not some remix version of songs that were already included in the album. We have DJ Suzy for that, we don’t need more wonky remixed versions.

If this is indeed true, then I can see the “Deluxe Edition” being a true “must-have”. Notice that I totally discounted the DVD? It contains what they call “live footage and music videos from the 1990s”. Music Videos? Ewwww. Live footage? As long as they don’t remove this like they did for 「艶華～Enka～」, then I think this will be something to look forward to. Even if it is from her 95 Concert series that was never officially released, but bootleg footage that we keep seeing, it would be wonderful to have it nice and clear. But, I think that is too much to ask.

This is certainly a clever tactic. Knowing that Akina fans have saved up money over the past half year of zilch releases and no concerts, her fans are hungry for anything to hang out for. On that note, is anyone just as annoyed that 「艶華～Enka～」 did not sell better considering how that irriating 「Vocalist」 series is selling like hot cakes. Makes me wanna just chuck burning hot cakes at all those deaf customers who love that series. Arrghhhh!

On that note, I will also wish everyone (including Akina) a very happy 2008. May we be blessed with quality works from Akina. Note: No more best collections after this please!!! If they want to rehash material, then please release release full versions of the concerts like Bitter and Sweet, Femme Fatale and a Hundred Days!!

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Dec 25 2007
3 Comments
Concerts, Others, Rants

BERRY MERRY X’MAS!

BERRY MERRY X’MAS to all Akina Fans from a very cold Tokyo! I’ll be wishing Akina that in person later. hee hee. Jerry and Anthony would have already seen her by now, and Kenji, myself and together with my best pal Shaz will be catching her in Yokohama in a few hours. Kenji is preening himself in the bathroom now and i’m just clearing my emails and doing my rounds.

as an Akina crusader, i entertained a table of Japanese pals with Akina’s DESIRE over X’mas eve dinner (they were very impressed, hahahaha cos basically i was so thick-skinned and into my belief that Akina is nothing but the best in whole wide Japan!). and then we met up with another group of young mates, and they were asking why i love her so much. i launched into a tirade of impassioned delivery needless to say. so yes, i’m spreading Akina’s wonderful music around!!

oh i also caught Seiko’s X’mas CD + DVD. ew. i didn’t wanna pick it up. if i see it again i might change my mind. hahaha.

MERRY X’MAS to all Vamp readers. here’s wishing you a sweet closure of 2007, and to new beginnings in a fresh 2008. i’ll be back with a report tonight!

Dec 19 2007
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Major News

Tears and Joy

Look at our poor Akina. Crying and cheering over her lover’s win, inspite of his onscreen nonchalance towards her. Well, at least, her tears here are for joy. A clip of Matchy winning the 日本テレビ音楽大賞 and Akina singing along to the winning song. There is a precious moment of 小林幸子 lending her finger to wipe her tears. If you read the comments on the video on the HK youtube, you will see many reviewers commenting on the degree of love Akina had for Matchy, and I’m not entirely sure if they are Matchy fans. How would they feel about Akina’s deep love? We know how we feel. Helpless and anger, at least for my part. The funniest comment someone posted was the last, where they said “why does he sound like a duck??”. No comments but sweet “revenge”. Ha! Ha!

Continue reading →

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Dec 19 2007
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Major News

N.G. – Akina and Matchy Show

Not an entirely interesting clip but rare footage of Akina acting like one of those young crazy Japanese girls that we seldom see her slip into. Worth watching for those ear screeching scene.

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Dec 19 2007
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Major News

Slow Motion

Interesting clip which showed her short rehearsal (probably) and then the actual performance. This was probably before the single was released. Beautiful.

[wp_youtube]Ju63jQYz0qM[/wp_youtube]

Dec 18 2007
6 Comments
Major News

懐かしいね。。。

This video has been disallowed from embedding but it is a "Must See". It is from the beginning of "Yoru Hit Studio" where singers sing a segment of the following singer’s songs. Seiko is ultra irritating at the beginning, but it’s good to see her singing along when Akina closes with 北ウイング. Kyon2, Miho and Momoko sing along too. It seems to be a special one because the singers sing a relatively longer segment and there are more singers than usual. Usually my favourite segment of the show, this is a fun one!

http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=qKB5WboLpfI 

Dec 18 2007
6 Comments
Flashback, TV, Video

Slow Motion

shojoarhs1.pngInteresting clip which showed her short rehearsal (probably) and then the actual performance. This was probably before the single was released. Beautiful.
Continue reading →

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Dec 18 2007
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Video

N.G. – Akina and Matchy Show

Not an entirely interesting clip but rare footage of Akina acting like one of those young crazy Japanese girls that we seldom see her slip into. Worth watching for those ear screeching scene.

Dec 18 2007
7 Comments
Major News

Tears and Joy

Look at our poor Akina. Crying and cheering over her lover’s win, inspite of his onscreen nonchalance towards her. Well, at least, her tears here are for joy. A clip of Matchy winning the 日本テレビ音楽大賞 and Akina singing along to the winning song. There is a precious moment of 小林幸子 lending her finger to wipe her tears. If you read the comments on the video on the HK youtube, you will see many reviewers commenting on the degree of love Akina had for Matchy, and I’m not entirely sure if they are Matchy fans. How would they feel about Akina’s deep love? We know how we feel. Helpless and anger, at least for my part. The funniest comment someone posted was the last, where they said "why does he sound like a duck??". No comments but sweet "revenge". Ha! Ha!

Dec 11 2007
3 Comments
Concerts, Links

Most Expensive Dinner Show

明菜、聖子超え…飾りじゃない５万円ディナーショー

今年デビュー２５周年を迎えた歌手の中森明菜（４１）が大みそか、千葉・浦安市のホテルオークラ東京ベイで、初のディナーショー形式のカウントダウン・コ ンサートを行う。そのチケット価格は、これまで国内アーティスト最高額だった松田聖子（４５）の４万８０００円を２０００円上回る５万円に設定されてい る。女王の交代だ。 　カウントダウンは「応援し続けてくれたファンとともに節目の年越しを過ごしたい」という明菜の提案で実現。チケットは、ファンクラブを対象に先行発売して、すでに即日完売している。明菜人気の底力を改めて証明した格好だ。

当日は、午後８時半からディナーが供され、１０時半から明菜のステージがスタート。ともに２００８年のカウントダウンを行い、歌以外の「スペシャルな企画も準備している」（主催者）という。

それにしても、気になるのが、１人５万円というお値段。

これまで国内のディナーショーの最高額というと、今年３月に開かれ物議をかもしたマイケル・ジャクソンの来日イベントで、プラチナ席が４０万円だった。 これは別格としても、国内アーティストでは、４万８０００円の聖子が人気、価格とも長らくディナーショー女王に君臨してきた。

明菜のコンサート関係者は「別に価格を競っているわけではない。ファンの方、一人ひとりが満足してもらうショーを構成するためにこの価格になった」と説明する。

このカウントダウンに先立ち、明菜のクリスマス・ディナーショーが先週末９日、那覇市のパシフィックホテル沖縄を皮切りに始まった。明菜の沖縄でのス テージは４年ぶり。ステージは２回で、こちらは４万円。「沖縄では相当高いチケット代だが、７００枚のチケットは即日完売だった」（地元スタッフ）。

全国１０都市で１７公演を行う。「歌姫伝説　Ｂｅｓｔ　Ｓｅｌｅｃｔｉｏｎ」と題したショーは、「原始女は太陽だった」で幕を開け、「北ウィング」「十 戒」「飾りじゃないのよ涙は」まで、ヒット曲を惜しみなく披露。また、日本レコード大賞の企画賞を受賞した異色の演歌カバー・アルバム「艶華」から「天城 越え」や「無言坂」、そして「越冬つばめ」にも挑戦している。

This report basically confirms what we already know about the first Countdown Live that Akina is holding, and how her 50000 yen per person entry fee makes her the “Queen”, taking over the “crown” from Seiko, who’s previous highest ticket price was 2000 yen cheaper. This Countdown Live will be a special project from the dinner show (we shall see how special that is – as special as her “Best Concert Pamphlet ever”?) and they will ensure that it is planned to satisfy all fans. Tickets for the show has sold out to all fanclub fans on the same day of release, which I guess is good news, but this can only be confirmed when we see how many seats there are in the venue.

Akina started her series of 17 dinner shows at 10 venues this year at Okinawa yesterday, which marks her first time in four years she has performed there. With ticket prices set at a high 40000 yen, it is very encouraging to know that tickets also sold out on the same day of release (Leally?)

The theme of the dinner show was 「歌姫伝説 Best Selection」 and she started off the show with 「原始、女は太陽だった」, followed by　「北ウィング」、「十戒」、「飾りじゃないのよ涙は」 and many other hit songs. She also picked up the challenge by covering the songs 「天城 越え」, 「無言坂」、and then 「越冬つばめ」 from her long awaited “Record Taisho Special Project” award winner 「艶歌 -Enka-」 .

A positive report in all, and I must say a morale booster for the VAMPires and our friends who are catching her dinner show this year.

P.S. I read all the comments under the Record Taisho post, and I believe if I had not remembered wrongly that Akina actually made the comment in 1988 when she last won for 「Tattoo」 that she would withdraw from all award ceremonies onwards in 1989. This explains why she wasn’t featured anymore after that. There were also rumors that she insisted on singing 「I Missed “The Shock”」 on that night, which angered TBS, but I am skeptical of this rumour. I strongly believe that she didn’t perform during the night because she was sick. If anyone watched “The Best Ten” leadup, they will see what a sore throat she had then.

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