|
Post by Sai on Feb 3, 2014 18:55:04 GMT -4
Thought I'd make a thread for her, since we've got a couple of fans here One of Nana's fellow seiyuu, and a notably prolific and talented one at that. Arguably most well-known for her breakthrough role as Naru Narusegawa from Love Hina, but has done a billion other anime and games at this point, as well as, like Nana, managed a fairly successful solo singing career. Currently causing a stir with her Vocaloid-inspired self-designed/self-voiced character Miss Monochrome, who has spawned her own anime series and live performances. Also, and I've probably mentioned this before, she was my first J-pop love, nearly a decade (!) ago now, before Ayu and before Nana, yet I still listen to her regularly and keep up with all the latest.
|
|
|
Post by sevenpetals on Feb 5, 2014 19:25:22 GMT -4
Her own anime thats cool!! I didnt know this, lol.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2014 14:59:50 GMT -4
she is also my first love, sai.
|
|
|
Post by Sai on Mar 23, 2014 20:37:29 GMT -4
I think she's amazingly talented, not just as a seiyuu, but as a singer as well! Her concerts are, not even exaggerating, some of my favourites in all of J-pop. She's not the most mindblowing singer (though her voice is incredibly strong and stable, she hardly ever falters), but she turns her concerts into mini-musicals, complete with little skits, fight scenes, a growing cast of reoccurring characters, and a lot of acting on her part. It's even become a bit of a tradition to have a "final battle" in her concerts now, which always ends up being epic
|
|
|
Post by stranger on Apr 11, 2014 23:08:26 GMT -4
I really like her newest single, The World's End. I'm really hoping she'll release a new album soon. It's been over 2 years since Himitsu.
|
|
|
Post by sevenpetals on Apr 11, 2014 23:44:21 GMT -4
Another fan!!!
I like World's End too, but the instrumentation is kind of in your face in the first minute haha xD!
|
|
|
Post by stranger on Apr 12, 2014 0:01:19 GMT -4
It's very in your face lol but that's why I like it! I really like the sorta dramatic instrumentation, the crazy melodies and especially the part where it's just her and the bells. It's very unique I think. I was reading her fan page and they said that Yui says there's a "secret" in the PV, but the PV didn't make much sense to me besides her trying to find a cat...it's still nice visually though!
The B-side was equally as good, in fact, it would've made a nice A-side to another single. It's basically a mix of "The World's End" and her past style that made her so famous, the very cute Yui. I think it was a really nice balance of both.
|
|
|
Post by Sai on Apr 17, 2014 23:45:32 GMT -4
I LOVE The World's End! It's magical, haha. Though did anyone else get CHILDISH LOVE WORLD vibes from it? It almost feels like a sequel to that song.
What I really like about the B-side, Han Eikyu Teki ni Ai shite, is that first verse, with just the piano. Her voice sounds so good! I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's definitely a different way of singing for her - she's kind of slurring the notes together and letting her voice resonate a bit. It's very pretty to listen to.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 15:14:39 GMT -4
just got this year's calender in. Yui in the snow dome is awesome.
|
|
|
Post by Sai on Oct 29, 2014 7:57:38 GMT -4
|
|
|
Post by stranger on Dec 11, 2014 20:11:08 GMT -4
Tracklist, covers and tokuten have been announced for her new album, World End no Niwa on her website: www.starchild.co.jp/artist/horie/news/#141211Wow, she looks better than ever! I love the naturally beautiful backgrounds, too. A+ job to all involved in the photography. Can you believe she is nearly 40? PS: I think I'm going to buy the Blue edition (can't decide since Red is really cute too)
|
|
|
Post by Sai on Dec 11, 2014 20:47:01 GMT -4
So nice! This is honestly one of the albums I'm most excited for in the near future. I need some new Hocchan in my life <3
I like how she's taken the aesthetic she uses for her DVDs and used them for the album covers this time - that kind of storybook-esque design. It's nice and classy looking. I'll probably also buy this album - I had considered it for Himitsu but didn't in the end, and regretted it since it then took forever for her to start working on a new album. Well, okay, it's only been like 2.5 years, but it feels like soooo much longer.
|
|
|
Post by stranger on Dec 13, 2014 6:37:10 GMT -4
Well you basically said everything I was thinking. lol. As someone who has been a fan of hers since the end of 2012 (after Himitsu came out), it has felt like eternity! The storybook design for all her covers, not just DVD's, should be a recurring theme (I guess it's a little late in her career, but it suits her type of photos well).
Sai, do you have any recommendations for songs and live DVD's to check out? I've listened to all of the best album, Himitsu, Honey Jet, and Darling, but pretty much nothing else. I put in the 2nd CD of the best album today, and was shocked how much I liked songs I never gave a full proper listen to before! お気に入りの自転車 I fell in love with, when I used to skip it before because I only listened to the first 30 seconds and thought it would be a filler track. Something about the chorus and that "Happy Day" part seems so nostalgic. I'm curious what a knowledgable Yui fan like yourself likes most from her!
|
|
|
Post by Sai on Jan 14, 2015 20:51:13 GMT -4
Whoo! My copy of World's End Garden just came in the mail, with a mousepad to boot! The packaging is honestly beautiful, very storybook-esque. The cover looks even better in person since the gold text is shiny! I got the limited BLUE version. I love when artists put just that extra bit of effort into the packaging - it really makes me want to actually buy physical copies of CDs, haha. Expect a review once I've listened to it~! To answer your question above, though... Oh man, for concerts I really just wanna say all of them! XD Which really isn't a bad idea, since her concerts all follow a kind of storyline and often refer back to older concerts or bring back characters from them. If I had to recommend one over all though, it'd have to be Budoukan no Budoukai, which has a great setlist and an adorable story. I've mentioned before that her concerts are essentially J-pop musicals, so each song plays into the story in one way or another. This is really great, because it often means no two performances of a song will be identical - they'll be performed in similar ways, of course, but they'll usually occupy completely different parts in whatever story the concert has, so it always feels fresh. Honestly, Yui's not a stellar performer - she's not going to belt out glory notes or do crazy elaborate dance numbers, but she plays to her strengths, which are acting, and she definitely knows how to make a concert fun. Her concerts are a must-see for the creative directing that goes into them. As for music, I definitely am a bit more partial to her later albums. I'd definitely give a try to Usotsuki Alice and Rakuen, but her earlier stuff is less consistently good. Don't get me wrong - there are still some great gems, but they're a bit more spread out. Some of her B-sides are also excellent! Though I think the best way to get into her music is to watch her concerts and fall in love with the songs that way
|
|
|
Post by stranger on Jan 15, 2015 17:13:56 GMT -4
I got my copy today too! I completely agree, they really give you your money's worth. 3000 yen for a really well-designed sleeve case, photobook, CD + booklet, and depending on if you order fast enough from the right store, a poster + another poster/clear file/mousepad!
I got mine from HMV, so it came with the limited BLUE version, a clear file (based on BLUE version), and poster (of RED version).
I listened to the album a bit. It's pretty much what I was expecting, so I'm happy. I like the promo song "Stand Up!" a lot. I'm sad プロローグ ~edge of the unknown~ was just an interlude/intro, because the first minute sounded so sweet and this would've made a nice song.
Thank you for your response, I'll check out that live and brute force my way through the rest of her discography. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've checked out many of the B-sides with exception to the last two singles (which are on the album, anyways).
|
|