Jpop: Happiness

With "Juicy Love" I think Happiness has finally taken the step from wannabe's to a group in their own right as the music finally has that quality that makes it stand out a little more. Yes, Happiness is still very much about dance moves and eye candy, but they move to a song that is actually catchy and listenable on its own.

• Happiness - Juicy Love
• Happiness - Sunshine Dream
• Happiness - Wish
• Happiness - Friends
• Happiness - Kiss Me

Mandopop: Popu Lady

Popu Lady is a Taiwanese quintet and label mates of S.H.E. but with an approach, visually and in sound, more akin to Korean pop than their veteran colleagues more traditional Mandopop. Love Bomb is the latest video, but I think that Kiss Me is the best.

• Popu Lady - Love Bomb (戀愛元氣彈)
• Popu Lady - Gossip Girls (花邊女孩)
• Popu Lady - Kiss Me
• Popu Lady - Lady First
• Popu Lady - Keep Keep Loving (一直一直愛)
• Popu Lady - Melted (融化了)
• Popu Lady - More (多多)
• Popu Lady - Different when with you (好好)
• Popu Lady - Just Say It (勇敢說出我愛你)

Jpop: °C-ute

As there is a dozen "teenage kawaii girls dances in formation" to every other kind of jpop group I hesitate to blog about them until something special comes along. As °C-ute has matured their music, produced by Tsunku, has also matured, and more importantly become something that makes it worthwhile to listen to. Their new videos "Kanashika Amefuri" and "Adam to Eve no dilemma" are a good example of this. My impression they have actually managed to create is some kind of genuine feeling in the song that is not that usual in this genre.

• °C-ute - Love takes it all
• °C-ute - Living alone in the city (都会の一人暮らし)
• °C-ute - Dreamlike Climax (夢幻クライマックス)
• ℃-ute - The Grieving Heaven (悲しきヘブン)
• ℃-ute - The Power
• °C-ute - Kanashika Amefuri (悲しき雨降り)
• °C-ute - Adam and Eve's dilemma (アダムとイブのジレンマ)
• °C-ute - Kiss me (愛してる)
• °C-ute - Crazy (完全な大人)
• °C-ute - Momoiro (=Pink) Sparkling (桃色スパークリング)