Oricon Style

( Oricon Style Top 30 Singles [January 2007] [43/60] )

Oh, man. So much school I fail. Help me fill in the gaps, people? I love you all.

Believe it or not, this journal is not dead... It is just in a coma. Due to school it had been my intention to update this journal with the monthly top 30 only, however January has obviously been available for some time now and yet no post. The reason is this: The host for my domain, where I store all those cute little album art thumbnails, was down for a total of three weeks. During this time they let my domain name expire. They were a bad, bad host. Needless to say I canceled my service with them and now have a new domain name and account elsewhere. Thus, I hope to soon switch over all those pretty little thumbnails, reupload expired links, and post the January top 30 all in the next two weeks or so.

I apologize for the delay and hope to be pirating music with you all again soon.

( Oricon Style Top Singles of 2006 [192/200] )

( Missing )

( Expired links being reupped )

( Random Stats )

If you have anything from the missing list, please share? If you want something from the reup list, wait a day or so and it will be posted. Additonal links will be added over time. If you have additional information about any single on the list, feel free to bring it to everyone's attention in a comment. Also, feel free to share the link to this post as many places as you like.

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [December 25th, 2006] [52/60] )

The year's top 100 will be posted on New Year's Eve. Yay!

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [December 18th, 2006] [52/60] )

A day late because of uploading delays. I apologize.

The new KAT-TUN single for the drama “Tatta Hitotsu no Koi” is conspicuously missing its “A” – who is currently “studying English abroad”. Right. Does it measure up to their previous works? You decide. Meanwhile, Koda Kumi proves to be an unstoppable force for the millionth time this season. She has.. what? Five PVs this winter? I’ve lost track of how many she’s had this year. My favorite on the latest single is the song for the period film “Oh-Oku”: “Unmei”.

WaT’s “Bokura no Love Story” is a sequel of sorts to their previous winter hit, “Boku no Kimochi”. Watch the video for each back to back for a more complete story. abingdon boys school is the new T.M.Revolution group. Check the wiki for more info on that. Yuna Ito’s latest for the NANA 2 movie doesn’t seem to have done as well as Nakashima Mika’s contribution to the same film. How strange.

New also from hit makers Chemistry, AAA, and Tommmy heavenly6 – the latter of whom is REALLY showing her Christmas spirit. Enjoy.

As a heads up, I'll be compiling a list of the year's bestselling singles soon.

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [December 11th, 2006] [48/60] )

The Christmas season is in full swing (As is the finals season. Good luck everyone.) and this week’s Oricon list reflects that. #1, #2, #7, and #25 are all hardcore winter and Christmas themed. Be warned, however, a few are on the sad side. Don’t discount them all, either, if you aren’t in the seasonal mood. The latest single from Dreams Come True features an AKON edition of “Sweet Sweet Sweet” that I’ve slightly fallen in love with.

Besides Christmas music, a few other gems (or not) were snuck into the recent releases. Way down at #30 is something peculiar. Your eyes do not deceive you. That is Tsunku’s personal group back from hiatus doing a cover of the recent, successful song written by Tsunku for Morning Musume. It is a much different rendition than the girl’s. Perhaps worth a listen if you are a fan of the original.

Meanwhile at the top of the list is the beginning of the NANA 2 movie releases. By far not my favorite piece of music to be associated with the megahit series, but with some charm. Nakashima Mika’s Nana-associated album will drop in a few days and the soundtrack just before Christmas. Ito Yuna’s contribution to the latest NANA installment came out last week and will almost certainly climb high on this chart next week.

Oh, and there’s new from two old favorites: Asian Kung-Fu Generation and Van Tomiko.

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [December 4th, 2006] [47/60] )

Lots of good this week. What can I say? Download most of it, you all! Especially RIZE and Utada Hikaru's latest singles. MAO/d and HOME MADE KAZOKU also impressed me.

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [November 27th, 2006] [51/60] )

Short and sweet. Jrock vets Mr. Children proves thier skill once again. UVERworld's latest proves they have skill. Dir en Grey's latest gives me nightmares. Chatmonchy shows promise. Shimitani Hitomi tries on a magician's tux. Kimeru of Prince of Tennis shows up in the ranking. Balladeer Hirahara Ayaka does what she does best with "Christmas List".

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [November 20th, 2006] [49/60] )

I don't know how Morning Musume did it, but with the new "Aruiteru" at #1, this can be construed as a come back. Three cheers for Korean boy band Tohoshinki (sometimes called TVXQ or DBSK) for their Japanese success (making it at #3). Personally I prefer the Japanese version of "O" to the perhaps too musically innovative "miss you". If you like them, their latest Korean album just came out not too long ago. Bennie K's latest seems to channel the West... as in the Old West. I'm pleased to see the collaboration between m-flo and Bonnie Pink, all music makers that I love. The video leaves a little to be desired but the song doesn't. The song at #25 isn't exactly Japanese. It is seldom non-Japanese singles sell that well, ne? The video is a little heartbreaking.

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [November 13th, 2006] [49/60] )

WaT's volleyball promotion single hit number one. I'm... confused. BoA's video is as pretty as the song. I can't figure out if misono's latest has a real myth behind it (PV if not single) like her others. Cat chasing a bird? What? The casual elegance of Salyu took a while to grow on me, but with "Platform" I can safely call myself a fan.

Only a few more posts and we'll be all caught up!

Remember, when missing singles and PVs are found or contributed, they're only added to the archive post. Due to some computer problems today, there will be for sure a few added to this one tomorrow.

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [November 6th, 2006] [47/60] )

Real quick. The number one is a tie in for an ooooold drama. Otsuka Ai's latest is another ballad. The PV for Orange Range's ballad reminds me of the movie "Ghost". Is Koharu Kusumi the new Morning Musume golden child? Her latest seems Russian themed. Meanwhile, AKB48 is proving decent competition in the girl group market with the single "Aitakatta". Oh, and don't forget Rip Slyme!

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [October 30th, 2006] [46/60] )

My favorite new thing of this (backdated) week is without a doubt sitting at #1. Koda Kumi! Yay! With "Futari de../Yume no Uta" I'm reminded of the better ballads from last year's 12 weeks of song. Koda Kumi's single was a delight, but I was most excited about Tachibana Keita's solo debut. Keita is/was the lead singer for the boyband w-inds.. Sometimes when members of boybands and girl groups go solo they just embarrass themselves. I think everyone can plainly see that is not the case here. Keita is a talented, handsome man.

The B-side of the Ikimonogakari single is, I think, used for a movie? Kitagawa Keiko is in the PV. Same for the Sunset Swish PV featuring Sawajiri Erika from some movie I can't identify. I fail at Japanese pop culture trivia today! Oh noes!

Nightmare brings us the theme to the inevitable "Death Note" anime. Appropriate, eh? Still, they're not the most eye popping thing of the week. That award goes to GAM. Great Aya and Miki... Or, Japanese Tatu. Whatever. The song "Melodies" has a nice feel... The PV "Melodies" is practically soft porn. If the mood you're wanting to get into is more winter themed, try An Cafe's single "Snow Scene". Lots of good music to go around.

The title says it all. Thanks to school, I'll be on hiatus until the week of Thanksgiving. Please forgive me!

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [October 23th, 2006] [47/60] )

SMAP, those interesting looking and awkward sounding gods of Jpop, stormed the charts yet again this week. I've lost track of how many #1 singles in a row this makes for them. Though the song is... normal Jpop, the video is special. Lego people special. Watch and laugh. Goto Maki proves that her four best friends in the world are her breasts, hair, and Tsunku with a song and accompanying video that will make you think you're watching porn. Meanwhile, OLIVIA contributes again to the ubber popular NANA series with another single for the anime. And, Tommy heavenly6 keeps it real with a Halloween song and video. Give it a watch/listen and get in the holiday spirit!

...and can somebody please explain to me how Junrenka jumped 52 spots this week? Was it on TV or something?

Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [October 16th, 2006]

Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [October 9th, 2006]

For some reason, downloading and uploading are slow going this week. These might not be posted to any uploading communities due to the added delay. Most new PVs have been added to these previously made posts. Singles will be added slowly over the next few days.

For the record, I got a B on my big midterm. Yay!

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [October 16th, 2006] [45/60] )

New from Porno Graffitti, CHEMISTRY, Abe Natsumi, Monkey Majik, Kimeru (still looking for this one), and some great people you've never heard of. Check it out.

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [October 9th, 2006] [43/60] )

Ayaka keeps it real by releasing a single of a hit from her more indie days. Was it really less than a year ago she debuted in the big time? That unknown at #3, AcQuA-E.P., appears to be a new boyband. I know nothing about them - except that I like them. Anyone have the single? DJ Ozma chanels Saturday Night Fever among other things for "One Night". The PV to second a-side "Silk" by SHAKALABBITS reminds me of the movie Ladyhawk. And, old and new favorites like Tomiko Van, Cornelius, DA PUMP, Kato Milliyah, and Dragon Ash keep it real. Represent!

Due to my midterms, this week's list will be delayed for one week. Sorry for yet another inconvenience!

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [October 2nd, 2006] [44/60] )

Short and sweet: Kaoru Amane is back on top! Never doubt the selling power of a good drama. New from YUI. Same appeal as her other hits. Gorie has something new. Scary, isn't it? Park Yong-Ha's PV for "Kimi ga Saiko!" tells an entertaining love story. Puffy's collaboration with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra is a catchy tune. And, I've never heard of GRAPEVINE before, but I rather like them now.

( Oricon Style Weekly Top 30 Singles [September 25th, 2006] [49/60] )


Short and sweet. New GLAY! Yay! New Morning Musume group. "Great Aya & Miki" or GAM for short. "Sex appeal" abound. Nothing like a hot Korean singing in Japanese! Last week was a new Rain single, this week one from SE7EN. The new video for the fan aclaimed "GO! GO! 7188" is cleaver and cute. Yes, that is another Prince of Tennis single at #30. And, there are plenty of others I don't have the time to talk about. Download them and form your own opinions!