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MiChi
Here’s an awesome song…
“PROMiSE” by MiChi (single released October 22nd):
Check out her official website or Myspace.
The Back Horn
The Back Horn is a Japanese rock band I recently discovered.
The band got started around April in 1998, when the original members all came to Tokyo from the countryside where they all lived, all for different reasons. They met, and decided to start a band. First called Gyorai, they soon changed their name to The Back Horn.
Some of their songs start out pretty weird, but most I end up thinking are OK. They remind me a bit of Asian Kung-Fu Generation though.
Here are a couple of noteworthy songs I like so far:
Kiseki
Black Hole Birthday
UPDATE: Updated the post with Youtube links instead of the files I had embedded from my own server. They were using too much bandwith for my liking.
Orange - Our Star
Despite the fact that these Korean girls aren’t that old, they actually did a pretty good job with this song… I like it. I like the name as well. ;-)
I also think it’s cool that there’s some stuff in there inspired by the awesome anime Cowboy Bebop.
Orange Range’s New PVs
On May 10 Orange Range is gonna release their next single. The main song will be “Champione”, which is the theme song for NHK TV Japan broadcast of the World Cup, Germany 2006 and it will also include a b-side “Walk On”, which is both the ending theme song for the Japanese film, “Chekeraccho!!”, which currently plays in theaters in Japan, and is the current CM song for T&C Surf Designs. And so, both songs have a PV, which is pretty rare I think. Orange Range’s music is VERY often used for something. I think I read that their last album (not counting the bad remix album “Squeeze”) Natural had 9 songs or something that were used in an anime, TV drama or a movie… insane.
I like Champione more, it’s more upbeat, but Walk On is growing on me. I was a bit disappointed after watching the live performance at HeyHeyHey, but it’s getting better. Champione just worked for me during my first listen though.
More Final Fantasy XII
As I mentioned today Final Fantasy XII finally launched today and here are some pictures. About 60 people were waiting in line waiting to make sure they got a copy and some even arrived at 6pm the night before.
… sigh… so jealous, so jealous.
Also the PV for the beautiful theme song “Kiss Me Good-bye” by Angela Aki, has been released and contains clips from the game:
UPDATE: A bunch of new videos from the game have emerged:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NscE_D7OqZ0
http://www.playsyde.com/leech_2279_en.html
http://www.playsyde.com/leech_2283_en.html
http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=02EOK9E9DYGV809X26OETDSKBJ
http://www.playsyde.com/leech_2284_en.html
http://www.playsyde.com/leech_2280_en.html
http://www.playsyde.com/leech_2277_en.html
http://www.playsyde.com/leech_2278_en.html
Utada Hikaru - Keep Tryin [PV]
I find myself listening to Keep Tryin by Utada Hikaru, her newest song, more and more these past few days. I don’t know what it is about her, but I really like her songs. Can’t wait for her 2006 album. Anyway I think this song totally rocks, so if this and “Passion” are any indication of what her album is gonna be like, then… bring it on!
It’s a very weird, but cool cartoon-ish video: