US radio friendly Non-English songs

[TeslaGuy]

(edit-The mentions of Cocco prior to my post occurred while I was slowly constructing mine. Decided to just leave things as I originally wrote them.)

Cornelius and Pizzicato Five both have long histories of College/Alternative airplay.

Cocco, probably my favorite Japanese singer/songwriter these days, has plenty of good material to choose from. One of my YouTube posts has a few of her PVs, and her official site has streaming samples of all of her songs. My favorite albums are Rapunzel and Zan-Cyan.

Hitomi Yaida is also really good, and her music is quite accessible. Koduka no Cowboy is a personal favorite, though the YouTube video is just a short segment of the song. On a tangential note, Hitomi's Wikipedia page mentions Ringo in one paragraph.
"Yaida Hitomi was blamed from some Shiina Ringo's fan by being considered to resemble her at the debut. The surface reason was that she resembles Shiina Ringo in her singing and in her low voice for a Japanese songstress. (Even if Shiina Ringo sings in rolling her R's and doesn't sing in the falsetto and changes singing every song, and Yaida Hitomi is opposite to that) However, the true reason is because the rumor got about that Toshiba EMI got angry at Shiina Ringo who didn't obey them and was going to promote a new face singer who resembled Shiina instead of her. And it accelerated the rumor that Susumu Nishikawa who was the former tour & studio guitarist of Shiina Ringo became the session guitarist and one of the producer group of Yaida Hitomi. Then, the blame was settled as the difference among both clarified."

Kahimi Karie has made some infectious Shibuka-kei pop. Candyman is a good example. She sings mostly in English and French, but rather indecipherably.

And of course there is Halcali. I've previously posted a few PVs.

As for Ringo, some non-fan friends have liked Kuroi Orufe.

[Inaudible-Whisper]

Ah yes, Hitomi Yaida. I used to really like her. Still do, just haven't listened to her in a while.

Hitomi Yaida - Andante might go down well. Hitori Jenga was one of my favourites too!

Just remembered too, the cult UK TV show Adam and Joe (popular with college kids) had a season called Adam and Joe Go Tokyo! which introduced me to a few artists which might me suitable. Hoover's Ooover - Collection and PLUS-TECH SQUEEZE BOX - early RISER being two particular stand-outs for me.

[jigenbakuda]

I actually got about 15 songs lined up for you until I realized that you only wanted indies rock... At least I learned I listen to far more music than I give myself credit for. Any ways my list has been reduced to one... oh the hour I just lost....



Of course I must suggest tsushimamire, punk trio... They are breath taking in my opinon. Here is their latest PV mikara detasabi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxxfMideyJY

Here is a youtube list of some of their songs.
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...%8C&search=tag

[Maou]

Originally Posted by cjhobbies00

Try Asobi Seksu's Strings instead of New Years. I feel it's more dramatic and most of it is in Japanese (I think...hard to tell what she's saying in most songs).

I disagree with this song choice. While Strings might be a better song, New Years and Mizu Asobi are more radio-friendly. Strings has too much subtlety that gets lost during radio play.

[cjhobbies00]

I know New Years is more in your face and bright and shiny, but I think that Strings is more memorable.
I understand where your coming from though, I see how New Years and Mizu jumps out and grabs the listener immediately, but I think Strings will stay with an attentive listener longer.

[digdad]

Got any Brilliant Green or Pillows in your collection, Jihad? For the Brilliant Green I would suggest "Sono Speed de" or "Nagai Tameiki no Youni", both off of Terra 2001. For the Pillows, you might go with "Swanky Street" (from Please Mr. Lostman), "Hybrid Rainbow" (from Little Busters), or the very Pixies-like "Back Seat Dog" (from Happy Bivouac).

[Tokyo Jihad]

For the last week+ I've been bringing in "Rock n' Roll" by Brilliant Green, "Iggy Pop Fan Club" by Number Girl, and "Happiness" by Kaela Kimura. I haven't seized an opportunity to play any of them tho. The "goal" has been to find songs that don't "sound" japanese/foreign. (You may argue Happiness is totally jpop, but back in my day a song like that could have easily been heard on american radio.)

[TeslaGuy]

Originally Posted by Tokyo Jihad

For the last week+ I've been bringing in "Rock n' Roll" by Brilliant Green, "Iggy Pop Fan Club" by Number Girl, and "Happiness" by Kaela Kimura. I haven't seized an opportunity to play any of them tho. The "goal" has been to find songs that don't "sound" japanese/foreign. (You may argue Happiness is totally jpop, but back in my day a song like that could have easily been heard on american radio.)

Back in your day? Good lord, my man, you're 22!

And how about this song?

Cornelius(コーネリアス) - Moon Walk

[Tokyo Jihad]

"my day" was 94-99