Kurahashi Yoeko

[kamikaze]

One of my favorite "Kayokyoku" artist is 倉橋ヨエコ (Kurahashi Yoeko).

Her videos are all pretty strange but very intriguing, here's one of my favorites:

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=7OBWzlBegUo

[Lena-chan]

I love her and her videos too
~3~

[RollOverHobo]

whoa...the vid was seriously awesome.....I'll look through some of the others.

[justriiingo]

What is Kayokyoku?
I have 2 Kurahashi Yoeko albums... they're delightful.

[kamikaze]

Originally Posted by justriiingo

What is Kayokyoku?
I have 2 Kurahashi Yoeko albums... they're delightful.

I guess the technical definition of "Kayokyoku" (歌謡曲) is Japanese music with lyrics, like a ballad. But the more precise definition, and in this case, would be Japanese music with a western influence outside of J-Pop or Enka.

and it's good to see Yoeko fans out there, she's very unique.

[Tokyo Jihad]

Originally Posted by kamikaze

I guess the technical definition of "Kayokyoku" (歌謡曲) is Japanese music with lyrics, like a ballad. But the more precise definition, and in this case, would be Japanese music with a western influence outside of J-Pop or Enka.

So like most of Shiina's catalog?

[kamikaze]

yeah most of my Japanese friends will refer to Shiina as a Kayokyoku artist, but some of the same people will say she's J-pop also. But they are usually using the open definition of the term, which is pretty much any music with lyrics.

[badtzmaru]

I was introduced to Yoeko's music through JR, and I'm warming up to her voice. Her songs are really catchy, and I can see the similarities between Ringo and her.

Has anyone listened to her latest single featuring nobodyknows+ members? "Tomodachi no Uta" is the song that finally made me realize that I like her. The "sabadaba sabadaba" parts are soo catchy!

[Jonny]

On the topic of 歌謡曲

• 歌謡曲はさらに演歌とその他の日本的ムード歌曲に分けられる。 Kayokyoku is further divided into enka and a miscellany of other songs with a Japanese flair.
• このクッキーには、「ラブ・イズ・オーバー」や「ダンシング・オールナイト」など、1960年代から1980年代にかけて流行した歌謡曲を収録したシングルCDが付いてきます。 The cookies come with a single CD, which contains a popular hit song from the 60s to the 80s such as "Love is over," and "Dancing all night."
• 現在の日本のポピュラーソングを大まかに分けると、歌謡曲 、J-POP、ニューミュージックなどがある。 The main Japanese popular song genres today arekayokyoku and J-pop (formerly and sometimes still callednyu-myujikku (new music)).

This is taken from the dictionary at http://www.alc.co.jp

And Edict just says "popular song". I think the meaning of the term seems to be quite varied depending on source. With one saying enka is a kind of kayoukyoku.

[ShinjiPG]

It's not like J-Pop is not influenced by western music...