Tunes Tuesday - "KO.A.KU.MA 2"

This the first "Tunes Tuesday" of the year and it's quite a find. While visiting NYC on a day trip, we found a quaint used book store that also sold CDs and DVDs. I was browsing the Japanese imports when I found a CD called "Lucy Love". The artist's name is Noa and I thought it was worth trying for $4. This item actually goes for 2000 yen in Japan, which is about 21.00 US dollars.

When I drove home from the train station I couldn't help but pop it in the cd player. These R&B tracks are pretty soft and sweet. It even comes with a bonus track "Peace of Life" that features another artist rapping. Actually, half the tracks feature other music artists.

My favorite is KO.A.KU.MA 2 which has MAICHI singing with her. I would consider it to be more pop that R&B. Most of the tracks sound like slow love songs, but this track in particular is more upbeat and cheery. I can't help but to bob my head every time it comes on. All the songs sound great even though I can't understand them. I'm still searching for more information on the artist or lyrics that aren't in Japanese. And why it's called "Lucy Love". There must be an interesting story behind it, right? I was able to find a video on Youtube (every thing's on Youtube) of KO.A.KU.MA 2. Some people believe she's the Japanese Mariah Carey; I disagree. The one with the short hair is Noa and the longer hair is NAICHI... enjoy.



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Now playing: Noa / KO.A.KU.MA II
via FoxyTunes

Love Songs: #3 & #2 "Daisuko Da Yo" & "You"

These songs really tug at your heartstrings.

#3: "You"
This song is from the anime show Samurai Champloo that played on Cartoon Network nite-time block for awhile. It’s the ending theme of episode 17 from the show. It's sung by Kazami and she has a cute video for the song. It's a sweet, soft, lilting tune that talks of how a person can make you feel when you're around them. You can feel their presence like you do a summer breeze and the sunlight.

Samurai Champloo is a show about a girl who meets these two samurai (polar opposites) and she swindles them into helping her search for the Sunflower Samurai. It's a cooky adventure and the music is pretty funky; it's a mix of hip-hop and R&B with Japanese lyrics.

#2: "Daisuko Da Yo"
This is a song by a Jpop (Japanese Pop) artist Ai Otsuka. It’s about reminiscing and thinking about someone who’s not with you anymore. Even though it’s sung in Japanese, you can still feel the love and tenderness in her voice. This multi-talented artist from Osaka, Japan has more than music going on. At age four she played the piano, she writes her own lyrics, acts, has a radio show called “Otsuka Ai ai-r Jack”, does graphic design work in her CD booklets and website, and has a column in two Japanese magazines ("Love Column" in Zipper and "Love World ~ Eye Love Pictures" in B-Pass).

Check out the English lyrics and some of her other CDs.

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Now playing: Ai Otsuka - 大塚愛 - Daisuki Da Yo - 大好きだよ
via FoxyTunes
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Now playing: Samurai Champloo - You
via FoxyTunes