Mandopop: Hebe Tien / Zhang Xiaoqi - Useless (無用)

The first image above and below is of Zhang Xiaoqi, the other two of Hebe Tien.

Earlier this year, Taiwanese singer Hebe Tien (from S.H.E) released the song "Useless", which was kind of nice. This autumn she went on to participate in the TV-show "Sound of my Dream"(梦想的声音) as one of the judges/teachers. The show is novel for a music show in the sense that it isn't quite a competition as more of an "open" arena where singers are invited. The high point of the first months came last week when Zhang Xiaoqi (张小七) sang "Useless" in a fantastic interpretation that surpassed the original. Not much is known about her, but it is rumored that she works with accounting in her family business, and sings on her free time at the local bar. Anyway, I do hope this is one voice I expect to hear much more of.

• Hebe Tien - Useless (無用)
• Zhang Xiaoqi - Useless (無用)

Jpop: Yoko Hamasaki (浜崎容子)

Instead of another Urbangarde song, we get to see Yoko Hamasaki performing a cover of Gazebo's 1983 hit "I like Chopin" in a nice enough version.

• Yoko Hamasaki - I Like Chopin (雨音はショパンの調べ)
• Gazebo - I Like Chopin

Jpop: FAKY

Usually, some groups just don't do it for you until you get some kind of odd angle on them. Dance jpop group Faky is like that. It wasn't until this new japanese version of "No Boyfriend" that I get some feel for them. Even though they've done their best to feel updated this cover was still more interesting.

• Faky & FEMM - Japanese version of No Boyfriend
• Faky - Afterglow
• Faky - Better Without You
• Faky - Girl Digger
• Faky - The One

Jpop: Osaka Syunkasyuto (大阪☆春夏秋冬)

This funny group with singer Maina in the front has done some rather enjoyable covers of artists like Justin Bieber, Spice Girls, Queens and Jackson Five, but my favorite is Kill the King (by Rainbow). Therefore I am very happy that they decided to do a parody version (as if it wasn't fun enough before) which is called "Furo (Bathe) the King" and which ofc takes place at one of the very popular public baths in Japan.

• Osaka Syunkasyuto - Furo the King (風呂・ザ・キング)
• Osaka Syunkasyuto - Furo the King (original cover)
• Osaka Syunkasyuto - Wannabe (Spice Girls)
• Osaka Syunkasyuto - Baby (Justin Bieber)
• Osaka Syunkasyuto - We will rock you (Queen)

Jpop: Asakura Saya (朝倉さや)

Asakura Saya is an incredibly charming 22 year old japanese girl doing her personal takes on Japanese and international songs by singing in her local Yamagata dialect. For me personally, this makes them all sound a little "Enka" ie traditional, and its great. Listen for example on her versions of of Norah Jones "Don't Know Why" with her own Japanese lyrics or versions on old anime themes.

• Asakura Saya - Miso boiled mackarel (さばの味噌煮)
• Asakura Saya ft Gomess - River Boat Song (民謡日本一)
• Asakura Saya - Don't Know Why 
• Asakura Saya - Shinjo Melody (新庄節)
• Asakura Saya - Touch (I'm not quite sure here but I think it's a cover of the anime theme for "Touch" that Iwasaki Yoshimi sung back in 1985)
• Asakura Saya - Azusa No 2 (parody cover)
• Asakura Saya - Tokyo (東京)
• Asakura Saya - Robinson (ロビンソン)
• Asakura Saya - Aqua Timez

Jpop: Wagakki band - Fireworks (華火)

Before, Wagakki band from Japan has made brilliant, but still, covers of songs in versions where they play them with traditional instruments in historical dresses (kind of - fantasy versions more like). Now they release their first original song, Fireworks (Hanabi).

• Wagakki band - Fireworks (華火)