#91 Koda Kumi, "Taboo"

I know it's our secret
Gotta keep it to yourself tonight

The first Asian song in two years to make my year end countdown. It won't be the last, but my knowledge of and appreciation for Asian music remains at embarrassingly low levels--I fully expect that once I find a few "gateway" songs and artists, I'll grow to appreciate others, much like what happened with, say, schlager. Still, an entire continent, one full of artists of all different types--I really should be paying more attention to and loving more music that comes out of Asia. What I need, I think, is a great blog focused on Asian music, something that can still appeal to beginners like me.

On to this song: "Taboo" is a dance-pop song from popular Japanese singer Koda Kumi. I can't understand a bit of Japanese, but the instrumental and lyrical parts are catchy enough to make that not matter (and, as with many J-pop songs, there are random English phrases and words scattered throughout). Catchy enough that, on nothing but sounds alone, it makes it onto the list.

Find it on: Trick (due out January 28)

Taboo

There's a shameful lack of music from Asia on this blog and, considering that I can usually manage to post songs from Sweden twice a week, having covered, what, one artist from that entire continent in several years is pretty ridiculous. I haven't properly "grown into" Asian music yet, I think, both in terms of finding artists I like and in growing accustomed to its own traits and quirks and, yes, languages. Japanese singer Namie Amuro's "What A Feeling"--the one song/artist just mentioned--is still my favorite song from Asia this year so far (which is really a pretty ridiculous kind of frame to establish--I mean, the entire continent? Choosing your favorite song from it for the year should be really difficult. I'll get there eventually).

The middle 8 on that is just too good. Really one of the best songs of the year.

I've enjoyed Ami Suzuki's "Free Free" (via Mike of PTA) as well.

Today's song more than earns its place on that list.

Taboo--I can't put this song's singer in any more of a context than one paraphrased from Wikipedia, so let's get to the song, which is basically just catchy dance-pop that's probably trying to be at least a little bit edgy (much like the video)--you know, that dance-pop with bite to it. The verses may have that to some degree, but they give way to a fairly smooth (though still uptempo and danceable) chorus. I don't speak the tiniest bit of Japanese, but the flow of the lyrics is catchy enough to keep my attention anyway.

To buy this single, go here (physical).

Next up: maybe that boy band. And hopefully posts with more words in them (or at least a better video-to-words ratio). Oh, and I need to write about a new song from my Spanish singer.