Music in my mind

YouTube once again ensnared my attention. This time, it led me to this amazing clip (fyi, it’s non-anime). My to-do list for tomorrow includes dropping by the music store and find a ‘Dreamgirls’ soundtrack.

I was planning on listening to some Chihiro Onitsuka tracks later tonight. However, after watching the clip, even Chihiro Onitsuka sounds slightly dissatisfying to my ears. Mind you, she’s one of the better voices I’ve heard in this J-music. Then again, it’s unfair to compare her to Ms. Holliday. ;p

The Jpop scene has a whole lot of purty voices, decent but nothing special. I can be fond of a melody very easily. In fact, I enjoy a whole lot of cheesy ballads and anime OP/EDs. But with voices, it’s a different ball game. Let’s just say, I’m can be very critical. It’s hard to come by singers with depth.

Sometimes I cannot understand the fascination to the generic voices of some seiyuu/singer. When I hear uber-praises for Horie Yui or recently for Aya Hirano, it makes me want to poke my eyeballs. Don’t get me wrong, I like Horie Yui and to some extent Aya Hirano, but to exalt them as uber-voices. Erm, no way. Don’t even get me started with Ayumi Hamasaki (see: #4).

I am no music guru. But I know what I like in voices. I like them strong and clear. If you hear a singer pouring his or her heart out, you can almost understand the unspoken words. It could be classically trained or simply raw talent. It doesn’t matter.

This random post is brought to you by a bizarre urge to belt out “And I’m telling you”. Fortunately for you, dear reader, you cannot hear me. My neighbors aren’t so lucky. Ask them when I was trying to memorize Saiunkoku Monogatari’s OP and ED themes…

Hah. Maybe I should brave the anime blogging world and join Omo and Jeff’s courageous karaoke act. ;p