Jpop: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Mottai Night Land (もったいないとらんど)

The 7th single from Harajuku pop wonder Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, "Mottai(Wasteland) Night Land" is another show of her distinct trademark style. The name is actually a play on the word "mottainai" which means regretful waste and somehow is meant to loosely tie into both the songs use as a telephone ad song and the Halloween spirit...

• Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Mottai Night Land (もったいないとらんど)

Mandopop: Jolin Tsai - Fantasy (迷幻)

With songs as Fantasy and Dr Jolin, Jolin Tsai was praised by (especially asian) homosexual communities for her support. This may not seem much in most parts of the west, but it in Asia it is a more bold step to be this open and supportive. She is my favorite Mandopop singer and this only adds more to my appreciation of her.

• Jolin Tsai - Fantasy (迷幻)

Mandopop: Cyndi Wang - Sticky (黏黏黏黏)

One of the four "queens" of Taiwanese pop, and therefore mandopop in general, Cyndi Wang is maybe the most playful in her style. "Sticky" is another good example of this.

• Cyndi Wang - Sticky (黏黏黏黏)

Kpop: W&JAS

I cant honestly say I find W's change of singer from Whale to JAS is that dramatic, so instead the sound is continued even though some may argue the change in music style is important but the attitude is still the same and that's what matters the most in this case, I think. My opinion is that I personally liked their old "Whale" sound but that the new "JAS" sound may be more commercially viable. This is the reason why "The Best For You" also is my favorite from the EP "New Kid In Town"

• W&JAS - Star Chaser (별을 쫓는 아이)
• W&JAS - Green
• W&JAS - The Best For You (Audio only)

thx, Last.fm

Mandopop: Jeannie Hsieh (謝金燕)

Daughter of Taiwanese comedian Chu Ke-liang and known for her beautiful legs, Jeannie Tsieh keeps on going strong at 40 years of age. I really find her electropop video "Sister" enjoying in its own manner. Reminds me of some of the videos from the late 80s. Semi-kitchy but nice to watch at the same time.

• Jeannie Hsieh - Sister
• Jeannie Hsieh - To Be Mature (要發達)
• Jeannie Hsieh - Boom Boom Par (蹦X趴)

Russian pop: Nikita (Никита)

Russian syntpop:er Nikita gives us super-slick synthpop that is both Pet Shop Boys in approach but still very much of the russian kind of electronica.

• Nikita - Lose control (Теряю контроль)
• Nikita - Dance in the Dark (Танец в темноте)
• Nikita - Comets (Кометы)
• Nikita - Words like bullets (Слова как пули)
• Nikita - Moon (Луна)