The Fave Songs Of 2008 list as suggested , comprises of songs that were released in the year of 2008 .
The differences between the Fave Singles Of 2008 list & with this one is that the Fave Songs Of 2008 list mainly focus on the A-side songs & that I did not listen to the B-side/s which served alongside with the A-side/s .
avex trax
1) Namie Amuro
- Do Me More - Sexy Girl
The only 2 new songs available in Namie's million selling best compliation album BEST FICTION , Sexy Girl & Do Me More presented on what Namie did best , mixing great R&B melodies with infectious catchy beats . Namie had a great 2008 , let's hope this will keep up for her in 2009 .
2) OLIVIA
- Bleeding Heart
This song is only available in the FLOWER FESTIVAL～VISION FACTORY compilation album in which the songs have a spring theme . Bleeding Heart is found as track 8 in the album .
Too bad the song didn't made the cut in OLIVIA's Trinka Trinka EP as I think it will make a great addition to the mini album .
3) Anna Tsuchiya
- GUILTY
Used as the outer theme song to promote the movie Resident Evil : Degeneration (Biohazard Degeneration) , GUILTY presents what Anna does best & that she returned back to her rock roots in fine form .
Hopefully this will mean that GUILTY will be available in her future 4th album as she should have included the song in her NUDY SHOW ! album which I enjoyed tremendously .
4) ai otsuka
- Kurage , Nagareboshi
otsuka released 2 singles this year namely Rocket Sneaker / One × Time & Kurage , Nagareboshi . Unfortunately I only find Kurage , Nagareboshi to be an amazing song as all along , her B-sides are always in the case of miss & not hit for me .
In the case for Kurage , Nagareboshi , it's like the love child of her previous beautiful songs Kingyo Hanabi & Planetarium . otsuka had a pretty rough year with both singles selling poorly & that her 5th album LOVE LETTER being leaked out a month before the official release date (next Wed) . Let's hope she will have a much better run in with luck in 2009 .
Johnny & Associates
1) V6
- Chou
The guys released Chou , the 1st DVD single VIBES & also LIGHT IN YOUR HEART / SWING ! .
There's just something about Chou that grabs me . I just like how Spanish influenced it sounds & it's nice to see the guys incorporating & exploring other music genres & incorporating them into their music which's great .
Others
1) YUI
- I'll be
This has to be 1 of the catchiest YUI songs I ever came across . The only new song found in her 1st B-side compliation album MY SHORT STORIES , this brings to what she does best , in that producing such a fun catchy up beat pop/rock no.
2) T.M.Revolution
- resonance
The only new song that Takanori has put out this year , this brings back to what he does best although I frankly find it less catchy than his other classic songs such as BOARDING & INVOKE .
Still reasonance's worth a listen & speaking of Takanori , his sideline band abingdon boys school's going to release their 5th single STRENGTH next Feb & I really cannot wait for that to happen .
3) BAReeeeeeeeeeN
- Ashiato
GReeeeN & BACK-ON joined forces with the older brother GReeeeN's lead singer JIN in the production front & formed BAReeeeeeeeeeN & this's the group's debut single .
I found the B-side colorful unfortunately un-memorable but thankfully Ashiato's good as it managed to fuse together's GReeeeN's distinct music style & BACK-ON's rapping to create such a cool song .
I don't know if BAReeeeeeeeeeN will be a temporary or permanent group , it reminds to be seen whether will BAReeeeeeeeeeN be releasing anymore singles in due time or not .
4) GReeeeN
- BE FREE / Namidazora - Tabidachi - Kiseki
The quartet released 4 singles this year , namely BE FREE / Namidazora , Tabidachi , Kiseki & their latest single Tobira . Tobira's the only single that I listened to thoughtout & I enjoyed it .
The other 3 singles that they have put out aren't 1/2 bad themselves & of course enough's being said about the guys's best selling single to date , the wonderful Kiseki . After their breakthough hit Ai Uta , they managed to top things even further with the greatness that's of Kiseki .
2008 has been great for this quartet & I can't wait to see what other things they have up their sleeves in 2009 .
5) Aoyama Thelma
- Soba ni Iru ne Feat SoulJa - Nando Mo
This lady released 4 singles within a year , namely Soba ni Iru ne Feat SoulJa , Nando Mo , Mamoritai Mono & her latest single Daikkirai Demo Arigatou . Only Sobra ni Iru ne & Nando Mo are the 2 songs that I have singled out in this context .
No 1 expected Aoyama's 2nd single Soba ni Iru ne Feat SoulJa to become a sleeper hit when it was released on 23rd Jan & that it became her 1st no.1 single & eventually becoming the highest selling female solo single of the year .
So much so that in Sept , the Guinness World Records certified the song as the best-selling digital download single in Japan with over two million "full-track" downloads . Including non full-track downloads , it sold over 8.7 million downloads by November .
6) Kobukuro
- Toki no Ashioto
The only new material the award winning folk/rock duo has put out this year , this's classic Kobukuro & I just like how sincere Kobuchi & Kuroda sound in this no. & that they're able to harmonise their voices together extremely well in this heartwarming folk/rock ballad .
7) L'Arc~en~Ciel
- DRINK IT DOWN
L'Arc~en~Ciel released DRINK IT DOWN & their latest NEXUS 4 / SHINE in which I find the latter to be a great double A-side single . Recently they re-released their 33rd single Hurry Xmas as Christmas's around the corner .
It's funny that at 1st , I dismissed DRINK IT DOWN saying that it was too creepy for my liking but now I absolutely adore it . I just like how the song sounds & that it's extremely fitting & perfect to serve as the theme song for the Devil May Cry 4 video game .
KISS is a really enjoyable album & I hope the guys can come back with something good & new in 2009 .
8) GLAY
- VERB
GLAY released VERB & Aka to Kuro no MATADORA / I LOVE YOU wo Sagashiteru this year in which the latter's a really cool double a-side single .
VERB's the one that was responsible for keeping Koda Kumi's MOON single away from the top spot & it's easy to see why that's so . The way that the guitar riffs sounded distorted in an unusual manner , makes this song unique in its own right .
9) Utada Hikaru
- Eternally - Drama Mix-
Released only as a digital single , Eternally - Drama Mix- was used to promote the drama Innocent Love . The original version of Eternally was found in Utada's 2nd Japanese album DISTANCE which was released 7 years ago & it's still nice to hear this song as it never fails to sound fresh & unique be it the original or the -Drama Mix- of the song .
Utada had a pretty good 2008 with her 5th Japanese album HEART STATION becoming the highest selling female solo album of the year after being certified Million by RIAJ . Let's hope that she's able to deliver the goods in 2009 .
Blog Personnel
Karen Pang
# 10th Jan
# #1 BREAKERZ fan in Singapore since 2008 debut single ♥
# My music blog consists of JPop/Rock singles & albums reviews that I put my heart , efforts & soul into writing them as I'm disgusted with the way that JPop/Rock music is being treated/written/reviewed in Singapore so to the local media (yes you TEENS , Teenage Magazine & The Strait Times) , screw you all . I basically can write better JPop/Rock reviews , period
