10 Week : Future

I write about VICALOID at the forefront of music technology in Japan last week.

VOCALOID is a speech synthesis technology developed by Yamaha. It is a general term applied products. It can be synthesized human voice is sampled by entering a melody and lyrics. Synthesized as an audio library voice of the person who actually recorded. Therefore, in addition to be able to synthesize more natural singing voice, you can specify the required voice intonation and pitch change, such as vibrato or fist, easily create expressive music. Without actually recording the human voice, it has become a vocal part of the creation of human voice alone PC. The name of VOCALOID is a coined word made ​​by combining the "-oid" suffix to, "vocal". Suffix meaning "-oid" is "something like". The combination of "human (human)" and "humanoid (humanoid)", when combined with "andr" meaning man in Greek and meaning, such as "android (android)", and "like a vocal" about VOCALOID.

 

By December 2012, as well as Yamaha, ZERO-G (UK), Crypton Future Media, PowerFX (Sweden), the Internet, AHS, Bee Platts, Kuhn record, SBS Artech (South Korea) and so on corespond for the PC. It has been commercialized from 12 companies outside of Japan.

It had been the beginning of development, such as the usage of backing chorus will be the main purpose for the use of VOCALOID. But it became popular after the release is also available to the main vocal. Music since 2007 "Hatsune Miku" was adopted has been released "VOCALOID2" In Japan in particular, has been appointed as the main vocal VOCALOID around on the net are now numerous publications. It is also the cultural aspects of the show as one song, such as those that appear on the market from major labels from popular music backdrop. In 2010 and 2011, album a collection of vocal music that was used in the VOCALOID "EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Vocalogenesis feat. Hatsune Miku", "EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Vocalonexus feat. Hatsune Miku" and has won first place in the Oricon weekly charts.

Crypton Future Media Japanese companies that sell products VOCALOID. Products are sold using the character illustrations from the package aim to broaden the customer base. Consists of three products Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin and Len, and Megurine Luka especially on the "Character Vocal Series" is made ​​on the concept of product and produced a virtual idol singer pushed to the front of the image of the character singing. Recently, the character set is attached to VOCALOID are selling from other companies.

Name / Sex / Voice providers / Favorite thing

Hatsune miku / ♀ / Huji Saki (voice actor) / welsh onion

Kagamine Rin・Len / ♀・♂ / Shimoda Asami (voice actor) / orange, banana 

Megurine Luka / ♀ / Asakawa Yu (voice actor) / tuna

KAITO / ♂ / Huga Naoto (stadio musician) / ice cream

MEIKO / ♀ / Haigo Meiko (singer-songwriter) / beer

Megpoid (GUMI) / ♀ / Nakajima Megumi (voice actor) / carrot

Gakupoid (Kamui Gakupo) / ♂ / GACKT (singer-songwriter, actor) / eggplant

IA / ♀ / Lia (singer) / scallop (?)

MAYU / ♀ / - / -

Newest Album "EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Vocalosensation feat. Hatsune Miku"

 

Singing like human "FREELY TOMORROW" Hatsune Miku

 

"Bad ∞ End ∞ Night" singing eight VOCALOIDs

This song is in narrative form.

 

Continuation…

"Crazy∞nighT"

 

"Twilight ∞ nighT"

9 Week : A profound Remark

I write about the artist recently popular voice actors this time.
I am going to write about Nana Mizuki most famous among them.

Nana Mizuki is the Japanese female voice actor, narrator, singer and radio personality. Because the parents had opened a singing school, singing in the classroom to learn from a young age, learn piano or Electone to feed the pitch and so as not to bother to learn calligraphy also be asked to sign in when you become a singer. She was called "vandalism singing contest" in the local.

 

She has become an enka singer originally was a dream. However world of Enka was very tough. Initially, it was supposed to have been recruited as a singer, it was asked, "Are you interested in voice actor" from the person who recruited Mizuki. The debut was the protagonist of the game that was released in 1998. She volunteered because it was aware of the existence of a work like the original game. She got the role and auditioned for the first time. She became a voice actor from here. She play a wide range of voice and the adult female from the little girl, who plays the voice of the boy sometimes. As the role "Women timid and quiet" "Active and daring woman" "Cool woman" "Character with duality" "The same characters with different personality itself" such as a variety of voices.

he's a singer began in earnest in 2000. She moved to King Records, the label belongs to the major department. The trigger is music department of the game company that had been addressed at the time the voice, provide music to Mizuki bud does not come out as a singer while having a high singing ability, that was carried out in a situation similar to their own "live alone" to determine whether she is living as a singer. She was recognized due to the fact that the current producer of Mishima that were on the spot by accident.

 

Then she accomplished the feat so many. Because she was aspiring to enka singer, she originally had been having a dream of "song show held at the Shinjuku Koma Theater." October 11, 2008, that dream has been realized as a single released a commemorative concert Chair person. In July 2009, held a concert Seibu Dome concert dome and voice actor first. In December 2011, as a voice actor held a concert in Tokyo Dome to be the first-ever eighth history, as well as a solo singer Japanese women. She is a voice actor played the contestants ("60th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen") NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen will be the first in 2009.

 

Album "ULTIMATE DIAMOND" of seven of her, which was launched on June 3, 2009, won first place in the weekly Oricon weekly album chart dated 15 June. This updates the record highest album chart for her own, won first place for the first time as a voice actor. In addition, the same work to win the annual Oricon album chart at # 85, achieving the first TOP100 filled years on the album chart. Single "PHANTOM MINDS" of 21 of her, which was launched on January 13, 2010, won first place in the Oricon weekly singles chart dated 25 January. She won first place in the weekly singles chart for the first time as a voice actor. Oricon weekly singles chart top spot for the first time by the voice actor. In total sales has updated his best.

 

 

Implementation of a special collaboration with Nana Mizuki T.M.Revolution!
To sing the opening theme (Preserved Roses) of the TV anime "Valvrave the Liberator" which started in April has been decided!

 

Alpha

8 Week : Present

I am going to write about three sets impressive artist who first appeared in last year's NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen this time.


Momoiro Clover Z

Momoiro Clover Z is a female idol group belonging to Stardust Promotion. Nicknamed 'Momokuro', 'Momokuro-chan'. It was formed on May 17, 2008, as Momoiro Clover. Meaning "pure girl wants to carry happiness" that is muffled. Of the sub-leader Akari Hayami has withdrawed on April 10, 2011. They have been working turn over a new 'Momoiro Clover Z' from the next day.
It has not been officially announced in the meaning of Z, have been left to their own interpretation. Also, used a pose shove a finger in the air to write letters Z.

For students is the main, members are referred to as the "weekend heroine" working mainly on weekends. "Now, seeing idle" under the slogan, he has worked as a live idle focus on the closeness of the sense of distance with fans. Live on the street of it to deal with the number of guests, sell hand of CD, such as the national tour while you nights vehicle, they have gone through the early years. They spent about two years before their major debut with a leading firm belongs. In live, the scene represented by a long bow deeply thanks to the fan is still commonplace.

Member image is assigned to each color, costumes and decorations, and the color scheme is a majority.


Red : Kanako Momota / Cinderella tea plantation (From Shizuoka prefecture, Center of immobility)
 
Yellow : hiori Tamai / Everybody's sister  (Crybaby, Wheedling child, Gluttonous)

Pink : Ayaka Sasaki / idle of  Momokuro (Orthodox sexy and playful)

Green : Momoka Ariyasu / Little Big Man (and most small in stature, presence in the song and dance)

Purple : Reni Takagi / girl shock (Strange child a passion of dance)

Blue : Akari Hayami (former member) / cool beauty (Sub-leader good looking gallant)

Kyarypamyupamyu

Born 29 January 1993, Japanese women fashion model, and singer. Active in the "HR" and "Zipper", "KERA" fashion magazine primarily, character-based model to represent the blue. Her real name is undisclosed. The full name is Caroline Charonplop Kyarypamyupamyu.


In January 2012, the "Taukma tsukeru(put false eyelashes)" 1st CD single was released. Preceding delivery will start in 73 countries record number of Japanese music artists, this song has reached # 7 on the Oricon weekly charts first appearance. According to the announcement of the ranking of video views that end of the year, was posted to the year 2012 YouTube, the music video of "CANDY CANDY" is as an artist Japanese music was ranked second in the world to be the most significant. December 20, announced net song "Breaking version TOP50 ranking year comprehensive view lyrics 2012", "Taukma tsukeru" was ranked number 1. According to the "Survey on the epidemic of 2012" Internet research company, it resulted to suggest that in first place to win the votes of 39% in the category "person was hit in 2012" on the survey that targets the 1,000, was the same year, "the person who breaks the most."

Golden Bomber

Japanese air visual band, group performance. "*Kimbaku" abbreviation in the media.

*kin=gold, baku=bakudan=bomb

Formed around the vocals sho kiryuin and guitar yutaka kyan in 2004. Because they take the form of air band, members are not playing basically live has made such a unique and pretend play, a variety of performance. We all refused once, has been approached to offer from the seven major companies. Slogan is "the ultimate air band attention high-quality music that creates  in the Sho Kiryuin-prodigy live performance of laughs and attack." One of the songs have a representative of Golden Bomber "(feminine) Memesikute". In a certain number of songs, this song is the only song performance of dance completely. For this song, the lyrics are written as the events experienced by Kiryuin.



Sho Kiryuin is directed configuration and live singing, songwriting,

Yutaka Kyan is video production, performance and props put the body,

Jun Utahiroba aftermath in charge of each song, choreography,

Kenji Darubisshu is responsible for dance and performance.

 

7 Week : Problem

I will write about the problem of the current J-pop industry this time.

Previously is a CD that has been sold, sales of singles begins to decrease and into 2000s. Single "sekai de hitotsu dalke no hana"  (SMAP) in 2003 to the last, recorded sales of more than 2 million copies certified by the Recording Industry Association of Japan has become not appear until 2012. In addition, the million-selling CD itself has come to decrease in the second half of the 2000s (There were no singles that became for two consecutive years in 2008 and 2009, a million-seller for three consecutive years from 2008 the aggregation of Oricon in certification of the Recording Industry Association of Japan).

The reason, on the other hand, there was an increase in sales music distribution (download). Shows that the decrease in sales was migrated in the 2000s music software, and is subject to the age of download sales only buy a sound source from age to buy a sound recording media, such as CD. It is a phenomenon into digital and high technology content of the entire industry has ever produced, not limited to the music industry.

It will also be reduced to become a million seller of CD single also not only album in 2010. (Only two pieces that broke through the million-selling album released in fiscal year 2010).

Further, oricon single annual ranking in 2010 dominated the TOP10 with only two sets AKB48 and Arashi, especially disparity in sales of singles between idol groups and other artists have been greatly expanded.

On the other hand, in *Chaku-Uta Full year chart of 2010 released by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, 12 of the highest priority of AKB48  music is "Heavy Rotation". Arashi (Johnny's) that did not deliver the Chaku-Uta Full is outside the scope chart. (Southern All Stars, Mr.Children and BUMP OF CHICKEN too.) As for the charts Chaku-Uta Full, not foam at the current state of the music industry for a reason, has been suspended aggregates from 24 July 2012.*Music services to a length of about 30 seconds, which is encoded in formats such as AAC or MP3, the mobile phone ringtone. Chakushin(phone call)-Uta(song).

Also one of the reason, idle songs to release another version of three or more types of per title come out on top.

High touch and shake hands with members and also be mentioned that by attaching rewards including entry ticket Fan Meeting called Fanmi, may also be mentioned that appeared the way the fans like buying many more sales the same item.In general this business method called AKB business method or K-POP business method.

01： 1.820  AKB48  「真夏のSounds good !」

02： 1.437  AKB48   「GIVE ME FIVE!」

03： 1.303  AKB48 「ギンガムチェック」　

04： 1.215 AKB48 「UZA」

05： 1.073 AKB48 「永遠プレッシャー」　

06： 0.649   嵐   「ワイルドアットハート」

07： 0.620   嵐     「Face Down」

08： 0.593 SKE48 「片想いFinally」

09： 0.588 SKE48 「キスだって左利き」

10：0.582  SKE48 「アイシテラブル!」 (unit millon)

 

J-POP Ranking Chart in 2012

 

 

 

AKB48 GIVE ME FIVE!

4 varieties

 

2012 TOP 9

6 Week : International reaction

 This time I'll write about music and popular J-POP artists abroad and international reaction.

There is a SNS(social networking service) for music that called Last.fm.
This is a excellent SNS for music that they played music and make library, introduced me to artists of recommendations from the taste.
It is a British-born SNS. So Western Europe people has more users than in Japan. Membership number of users has not been published in recent years, 240 countries around the world, more than 20 million people are using at the time in 2008. I know, not the sales, which artists music that you have listened to a lot of people actually. I can take close to the popularity of the actual statistics rather than the operation of the media.
The point is, it we can know that the popular artists in music geeks around the world now.
This time I will write this based on these results.

 Japanese *visual music is popular abroad.
This is the category that is most listened artist in Japan. The reason is influence of Japanese anime culture.
For example the case of L'Arc~en~Ciel, "READY STEADY GO" is the theme song of "Fullmetal Alchemist (Hagane no renkinjutsushi)" by far the most popular. Below second place followed by "Driver's High" (GTO), "Blurry Eyes" (DNA), "DAYBREAK'S BELL" (Gundam 00), and "LOST HEAVEN" (Fullmetal Alchemist Theatre). All Top 5 is a theme song of popular anime. In Japan, the impression singing the theme song anime L'Arc~en~Ciel is thin. However overseas influence has come out clearly. In Japan, it is difficult to believe that this will come to the top five songs so much.
Also most foreigners answered the influence of anime and drama is what they knew J-POP. Indeed, anime *otaku are so many at foreigners.

*visual music=Source is slogan called "PSYCHEDELIC VIOLENCE CRIME OF VISUAL SHOCK" that was invented X JAPAN HIDE.

*otaku=Refers to a person who is immersed, absorbed in the field of something. Prefixes are used as the field.


Surprisingly little listener on the whole, such as a Arashi or AKB48 (idol group) popular in Japan.These often do not have regular overseas compared to other J-POP, and it might be not distribution do much in place. By the way, Asian countries have a high profile in order to perform the way, often live.

Also tie that anime songs, such as composer Yoko Kanno (Macross, Cowboy Bebop), Joe Hisaishi (Ghibli)  - The Artists such as voice actor Maaya Sakamoto and Nana Mizuki is so popular. The popularity of the artist and voice actor Maaya Sakamoto is outstanding. This is the influence of the popular anime "Macross series" in overseas markets. The popularity of anime in overseas suggests.

L'Arc~en~Ciel

Macross F Theatre

5 Week : Karaoke

Today, I will write about Karaoke.

"Kara" means "empty","Oke" stands for "Orchestra" refers to the fact that instead of the live music by the orchestra, substitute tape or record, have been used in the broadcast industry. That the words that came out of the chat from NHK(Nippon Housou Kyoukai, Japan Broadcasting Corporation) Symphony Members of the theory.

This has a great convinient that not have to pay a lot of attention and money to live accompaniment at the broadcast industry.  It is broadcasting industry term, meaning karaoke. This is still used today.

At present,"Karaoke"means a device for singing. And not only singing using that device, and even refers to store that provides a place to sing(Karaoke Box). This is also proof that karaoke is so much generalization in Japan. Karaoke has been classified as entertainment, it became the one to take the item in the White Paper on Leisure statistics.

This form born in Japan, "卡拉OK(kǎlā OK)"in Chinese, "Караоке" in Russian and "Karaoke" in English (and hear "Kyarioki"), pronunciation of the Japanese as well as in foreign countries are using.

Before the advent of the age of the 1950-60 karaoke current form, in some cafe, there was a live by dedicated band or shopkeeper to playing an instrument and guest was singing. It is called "utagoe-kissa (singing voice cafe)".

However, the influence of sucg as the social movements and climate of the time. It was not singing the popular song like the current karaoke. Karaoke device began to be installed in eateries, such as social movements in the 1970s by the downdraft, most of the "utagoe-kissa" has disappeared.

Karaoke, were often placed in such as snacks and the banquet hall of the hotel, because it was positioned as a sideshow Shuseki (drinking party) exclusively. Although the user is over the age of 20 to drink alcohol, it was a higher layer age group specifically. The reason is that many of the tracks have been recorded as karaoke was Enka.

The mid-1980s, business form that provides karaoke professional, "karaoke box" was born, rather than enjoy karaoke incidentally alcohol, it is the place to go to sing karaoke purely. It is a revolutionary business category knock the bottom out of the earlier concept.

There was a rejection for "to sing in public in a state that does not drink" in Japanese over a certain age. As the reason for the success karaoke box, because there was conscious that later generations will enjoy singing in a lighthearted manner.

If you do karaoke at a restaurant will be singing in some place other customers besides the acquaintance. But you can enjoy the pure in the private room karaoke box has only friends and acquaintances. There is no fear of being ridiculed by strangers even though in practice songs and bad songs. Karaoke boxes are often used as a venue for the after-party of social gathering, such as a party of students and salaried workers. I was one of the representatives of Japanese entertainment.Background as one of the million-selling single CD occurred frequently in Japan in the 1990s, there are opinions that include the spread such as communication karaoke and karaoke box.

 

karaoke box

developping Karaoke system (JOYSOUND f1)