Introducing: Charisma.com

Charisma.com is an electronic rap duo consisting of two office ladies. Feeling it yet?

Introducing: GI

GI, or Global Icon, was a South Korean girl group with a boyish concept. And yeah, was. They debuted in 2013 and released a few real badass songs. After that followed a couple of years of silence and major member changes. It's really a pity there are no more songs from the old GI, but here they are and you should totally listen to them.

GI did come back earlier this year with a digital single called Echo. (The video I had linked got removed, sorry!) It's not particularly a bad song, but shows how yet another unique girl group was ruined along member changes. (Forever bitter about groups such as Fiestar and Hello Venus. And now GI. Maybe I should do a post about that?)

Introducing: Dempagumi.inc

I guess Dempagumi.inc really needs no introduction as a group, but if someone hasn't listened to them, now's the time.  I've been jamming to W.W.D like crazy for a few weeks now.

So Dempagumi.inc is a denpa idol group, consisting of six otakus: Mirin, Risa, Nemu, Eimi, Moga and Ayane (Pinky!). They're great. That's what you need to know, and to listen to their songs. They have a very distinctive style, all of the members are presented greatly as individuals and their music videos are a great big party!

(My lovely friends just bought me a Dempa glowstick from Paris, can't wait to get it!)

Otsukaresummer~

Introducing: Kavka Shishido

Kavka Shishido, real name Yuna Shishido, is a Japanese singer & drummer. Formerly part of a rock band The News, she still plays the drums by herself in all her promotions. She has also worked as a runway model, and no wonder. She's badass. Love her.

As long as I have love, passion and friendship, Miss. Miss Me
Goodbye to instincts, kleshas, emotions and lovesickness, Miss. Miss Me
I’m a woman that can’t shed tears

Introducing: SPICA

SPICA is one of the most vocally talented k-pop groups. On performances you can really see they concentrate on singing above anything else, so they sound awesome even MR removed.

Even though they're not completely unknown, I think they're still way too underrated. SPICA sounds and looks perfect and their music videos, especially You Don't Love Me and Tonight, which are my favourites, are beautifully executed.

Last fall they also made their US debut with an English song "I did it" in KCON.

Introducing: ST.319

ST.319 is a Vietnamese dance group & production tem. Originally a dance crew founded and produced by member Aiden, these guys film the most awesome k-pop dance covers. They also have two recording artists, MIN and MR.A.

Do check them out!

Makes you want to dance too, right?

Introducing: EXILE TRIBE

EXILE TRIBE is another Japanese mess of brother- and sistergroups, units, collective units and subunits. But they're awesome. Their basic idea is that they have vocalists & performers separated - some members of the group are purely dancers. Here's a chart for you to understand the parts of EXILE TRIBE:

Simply: HIRO created J Soul Brothers, which became EXILE. Later, second (Nindaime) and third (Sandaime) generations of J Soul Brothers existed. THE SECOND from EXILE is basically the same group as Nindaime J Soul Brothers. There's also a unit called Generations (from EXILE TRIBE) and some other minor units. Many of these artists above are also part of the main group EXILE. E-Girls is short for EXILE Girls unit, and it consists of units Dream, Flower and Happiness as well as some original members.
EXILE TRIBE is a collective name for these units.
There was nothing simple about that.

What is simple is that their music is great. And that their "Short Versions"
of songs usually last for 5 minutes. It's heaven.

Introducing: FEMM

Betterly known as FEMM, Far East Mention Mannequins is a group everyone should know about. I, as well as many other fans of theirs, believe these girls will go viral at some point. It would not be a surprise, because everything about them is unique.

FEMM's concept is that they're plastic mannequins fighting for their rights, managed by their personal agents. They sing most songs completely in English. Decent English. Their songs are daring. I'm pretty certain their dances would have me taken to the hospital. They even have this gorgeous website built for interaction with fans.

Having debuted last april with the EP Astroboy, FEMM now has 13 music videos, if I understood right, for each of their songs. They released a full album, FEMM-ISATION in October.  It rocks.

One thing I love about FEMM is their funny and daring lyrics, like in Wannabe above, or Fxxk boys get money: "Gimme your number, Imma give that shit right back."

FEMM has also started a campaign called "DANCE IS NOT A CRIME."
and it's important.

Japan, until this day, has a law that basically forbids dancing after midnight, because somehow it's still associated with prostitution. Many clubs are troubled by this law, obviously. The Japanese mostly acknowledge this law is way out of its time, but nothing is done to it. Damn, let the people dance!

Do you think FEMM is awesome?

Concerning the Chinese

Briefly about Cpop.

Cpop is as wide genre of music as Japanese or Korean or American or any pop. It can't be framed. Almost any music sung in Chinese can be called Cpop, and we must note that there are damn many different Chinese languages and dialects, spoken by over a billion people. Cpop is very popular in Asia, with good reasons, but that's it. Very few western people have heard a single Chinese song, which is such a shame. I admit, Chinese songs are hard to find from the internet, many of them seem really weird and the business is kind of suspicious, considering the idol life seems so luxurious and perfect, while China's actual state might not be as good.

But eventually it's very similar to for example kpop. Many artists are actually used by the companies, making 10 year contracts and so on, but of course the music only shows what is good. It's very western-influenced with its beautiful girls in tiny dresses, surrounded by western hot guys. A Chinese dream.

But it's great music.
Here are some songs I have enjoyed lately. Can't wait to get more familiar with these artists~

Jolin Tsai ~ Fantasy

I was and still am very impressed by this song and especially the video and I keep wondering how widely it's banned in Asia. (2016 Update: I don't wonder this at all, and I think I never did. I think disappointed would be a better description of my reaction.) It it absolutely gorgeous. The video shows different groups of people in such beautiful scenarios it makes my heart throb. Jolie is absolutely gorgeous and everything just keeps getting better and better. So gay! So sweet! Music to my eyes and sex to my ears!

"This world is the modern garden of Eden

There are many different groups

Their love is equal

They are born out of love."

BY2 ~ Isn't it

A pair of stunning twins representing very well the western influence in Asia. Miko and Yumi are from Taiwan, like surprisingly many famous Cpop artists, like Jolie above! (2016 Update: I've learnt that Taiwan is a place where a lot of celebrities settle. A lot of China's entertainment business is located there, so it's very likely these people have just moved there to pursue an entertainment career.)

Gosh, I love the video. It's even corny in its overperfectness, but I happen to like it.

JJ Lin ~ One Shot

This man is awesome ;A; Musically he's representing the bit more classic genre of pop music and is very popular in Asia. Just listen to his pronunciation, listen to his voice! No wonder he's won a huge bunch of all kinds of awards. I think he did most of the soundtrack for the movie that we can see clips from in the MV, maybe I should watch it?
Also, the lyrics. I can just... Feel every word so deep inside me it makes me cry.

One Two Free ~ ABC

This. This is totally my jam. This is the most genius, the most amusing and the catchiest song I've heard in a long while. I sense a great music parody targeting every song ever made right here. One Two Free are just perfect. This song makes me lose the tiny bits left of my sanity, and I'm not even complaining!

"Good morning baby!

Good morning, good morning!

What's your name baby?

My name is baby!"

Views on Cpop? Could you consider listening to it if you don't yet do so? Any good songs to recommend to me?