2010 Music Wrap up – Solo Endeavours, Comebacks and Good-byes

So much has happened in this year in the Music industry! Everything moves at a very fast pace in Asia. We saw a lot of group members go out and do there solo projects, many artists making their comeback after a few years absence and I mentioned earlier in the show many huge names are bidding permanent and temporary farewells to the business like Bao Han, Utada and Rain.

This year we saw huge Kpop artists return after a few years trying to break in to the American music scene. Yep! Boa and Se7en! Boa was absent for 5 years (I can’t believe it was that long) and she definitely made a spectacular comeback to KPOP releasing her new album ‘Hurricane Venus’. With her epic comeback she had a whole blonde look and a new sound. Se7en made a huge comeback as well, displaying a more mature look and showing up some new tattoos. Both of them didn’t quite get the response they were hoping for in America, but they are incredibly talented so I hope they can crack the market in the near future.

We saw a lot of popular band members go out and release their own solo singles like Taeyang from Big Bang, Ga In from Brown Eye Girls and heaps more. No, they didn’t leave the group! They have received a lot of success for their solo projects, with singles topping the charts. Taeyang’s MV for ‘I’ll be there’ was incredible; it has a bit of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ feel with slick dancing and zombies.

SMAP the ultimate boy band are still dominating the Oricon charts after nearly 2 decades in the business! Their single ‘This is love’ debut at number one and it goes to show they guys still got it!

CherriiPOP show 20/8/10 playlist

Thanks for listening to CherriiPOP this week!!!! Here is the playlist

SMAP - This is Love
Utada Hikaru - Keep Tryin
Rain - Slowly
Cecillia Cheung - The Stars Speak My Wishes 星語心愿
Son Dambi - Cry eye
Koda Kumi - Lollipop
Clazziquai - Come to me
2pm - I hate you
One meter - Jerry Yan
Fly to the sky - I want
Jang Nara - 나도 여자랍니다

SMAP!!!! The ultimate Boy Band

SMAP is THE ultimate Jpop boy band; they have been around nearly 2 decades. They made their debut in 1991 and since then have released over 40 singles and 20 albums. What incredible achievements! For staying together for a long time and producing hit after hit. For those of you who don't know, SMAP stands for Sports Music Assemble People. I'm not quite sure why Sport is in there, it is a bit odd.

My fave member is Takuya Kimura, I became a huge fan of his after watching him in romantic drama 'Beautiful Life'. It's a moving love story between a young man and a woman in a wheelchair. Check out Beautiful Life! They started out with 6 members, but now they have 5. They are huge in Japan! Each member have branched outside the music industry and gone in to acting. They have faced tough times in their career with decline in popularity and sales. Their agent decided that they should host a variety show so the fans can get to know the members better and build a stronger bond with them. This worked and their popularity was back on track. They've survived scandals. When Takuya got married in 2001, rumours of the group splitting up was swirling around.

In July this year, SMAP toured nationally and next month, September they will do their first overseas concert in China. I was surprised to hear that this was their first overseas concert, considering they have been together for 19 years. I am certain that the Shanghai concerts will be a HUGE hit! It's awesome to see that they are still going strong and still topping the charts! Their latest album 'We are SMAP' was released this year, Check it out and be SMAPified!!!!