(Artist) Nakagawa Shoko

[daigong]

Loovvvvely cover! SHOKO TAKING OVER THE WORLD!!!!

I upped the album on JPHiP TRACKER 

Post yer reviews!!

[starry01482]

Loovvvvely cover! SHOKO TAKING OVER THE WORLD!!!!

I upped the album on JPHiP TRACKER 

Post yer reviews!!

I'll look at that now 

I think the idea of the cover is that she has taken over an alien planet and made it her own - Planet Shoko.  So you have the Planet Shoko mix of Brilliant Dream for instance.   

[starry01482]

One of the standouts among the new tracks seems to be Starry Pink, excellent arrangement overall although the break in the middle seems a bit loud.  Certain to be a favourite and used in concerts I think.  I like the cute expressiveness of her voice as always.

I like the melody of Memory of Love, it's beautiful, but I think something more could have done in the production to make the song a bit more special.  It reminds me a little of that song off the Snow Tears single that was very pop too.  Again I like the vocal. 

Pretty Pretty Please on Top is well arranged and performed.  Some of the character of her voice comes through (more than in Sorairo Days maybe).  Maybe the chorus isn't one of the very best on the album, but alot has been put into the arrangement here.

The Shoko Planet mix of Brilliant Dream has some good touches, like the pause and beep before the last words of the chorus.  But the character of her vocal is really flattened out (although the computerised twists to some notes helps a bit), the beautiful middle section where her voice floats over the lively rhythm has less magic now, the end is abrupt and not touching like before,  the little 'fanfare' at the start and end disappears, the sudden break where voice suddenly has less backing near the end has less effect.     

I don't know why Happily Ever After was included, it wasn't in my opinion one of the best songs off her singles.  It might be the weakest track on the album.  If a song off one of the singles was to be included I would have preferred Dear My Saint-Girl or Winter Wish. 

Sukashikashipan Is a Little Strange is a nice fun way to end the album.  The video for it i think is fun and far better than the one for Calling Location. 

We Can Do It, is a decent way to start the album, catchy chorus.  I prefer this to Calling Location, even though that has had a promo and this hasn't.

The video for Calling Location could have had her meeting aliens and all kinds of stuff, but it mainly just has old footage of her from concerts and videos.  The song is ok but maybe a bit formulaic.  Certainly wouldn't have been my choice as the one to do a promo for, and I assume potentially release as a single.

Fruit Punch is a decent track, catchy chorus.  Not bad at all.  This one has grown on me already.  Her cute voice comes through on this.

[Timewizard21]

the PV for calling location kind of sucked but i still like the song anyways 
here are the lyrics for "calling location" for people that like to karaoke along (like me )
i'll do the other songs and maybe the English lyrics when i get time ><

Kanji:

永遠という距離の意味なんて
あの日の僕に解る訳もなくて
ただこのまま二度と明日など
来なければいいとそう思った
その手　離したくなくて

僕の人生で初めて
あきらめなきゃいけないこと　

君が教えてくれた
その悲しみさえ　かけがえのない　僕らの証だから
忘れたくない瞬間を　いくつも重ねて
僕は明日へ向かう

何ひとつ変わってない
全てが変わった　今だって
話したいことだらけで
眩い光の真ん中でその瞳にも
ねぇ　同じ景色が見えてたのかな？

僕の人生で始めて
あきらめてはいけないこと

君が教えてくれた
その悲しみさえ　かけがえのない　僕らの証だから
忘れたくない瞬間を　いくつも重ねて
僕は明日へ向かう

いつか　あの日の君を追い越しえてしまった僕も
いつだって　そこにいて見守っていてね
いつも　ここにいるから

君が教えてくれた
その愛しさはね　かけがえのないい　僕らの証だから
君が教えてくれた
そのしあわせはね　かけがえのない　僕らの証だから
忘れたくない瞬間を　いくつも重ねて
僕は明日へ
君の明日へ向かう

Romaji:

eien toiu kyori no imi nante
ano hi no boku ni wakaru wakemo nakute
tada konomama ni nidoto ashita nado
ko nakere ba ii to sou negatta
sono te hanashi taku nakute

boku no jisei de hajimete akirame nakya ike naikoto

kimi ga oshiete kureta
sono kanashimi sae kakegae no nai bokura no akashi da kara
wasure takunai shunkan o ikutsu mo kasanete
boku wa ashita e mukau

nani hitotsu kawatte nai
subete ga kawatta ima datte
hanashi tai koto darake de
mabayui hikari no mannaka de sono hitomi ni mo
nee onaji keshiki ga mieteta no kana?

boku no jisei de hajimete akiramete wa ikenai koto

kimi ga oshiete kureta
sono kanashimi sae kakegae no nai bokura no akashi da kara
wasure takunai shunkan o ikutsu mo kasanete
boku wa ashita e mukau
itsuka ano hi no kimi wo oikoshi te shimatta boku mo
itsu datte soko niite mimamotte itene
itsumo koko ni iru kara

kimi ga oshiete kureta
sono itoshi sa wa ne kakegae no nai bokura no akashi da kara
kimi ga oshiete kureta
sono shiawase wa ne kakegae no nai bokura no akashi da kara
wasure taku nai shunkan wo ikutsu mo kasanete
boku wa ashita e
kimi no ashita e mukau

[SomethingWild]

I hate the fact that 'they' always use the sexy oufits/poses for the cd-only version 

Edit: Listened to the album s acouple times now. I really like it. It rocks and I even like the slower songs on it.

[starry01482]

Shoko with monster mask.




Well....monsters have to do everyday tasks like cooking too 

[wakaba_doll]

Shokotan's album is AWESOME  I was expecting some solid stuff because all of her previous singles have been really strong, but she really surprised me with this. Definitely on my 'to-buy' list!

[SomethingWild]

[youtube=425,355]XeOSvq0CapY[/youtube]

 

[starry01482]

Ugh, they need singing lessons I think     Sorairo Days seems to be quite a popular one, but I can't really say it's been one of my favourites.

I like the new photos in the layout for her blog, much better than the Snow Tears ones....just more HER somehow.

[doinkies]

Shokotan will be performing at this year's Anime Expo!!!!

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-26/idol-singer-shoko-nakagawa-to-perform-at-anime-expo

I wish I lived closer to LA...doinkies probably won't be able to go T_T

[Timewizard21]

Shokotan will be performing at this year's Anime Expo!!!!

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-26/idol-singer-shoko-nakagawa-to-perform-at-anime-expo

I wish I lived closer to LA...doinkies probably won't be able to go T_T

wow i live in Canada but im definitely going to go if shes a guest of honor
meeting Shokotan is worth the trip lol
i wonder what shes going to do there (hope she performs all her anime songs, that would be awesome ><)
hope i can get another autograph from her (got one from when she was doing a signing for ShokoL et Mikanne)

[doinkies]

I guess she'll sing Sorairo Days, snow tears, and some of the anime themes she covered on her mini-albums (probably only the ones well-known by US fans though, like Zankoku na Tenshi no Thesis or maybe Catch You, Catch Me or Rinbu Revolution).

When Momoi Halko (another otaku idol) performed at Anime Expo last year, there was a DVD released of her performance...hopefully Sony will do the same with Shokotan...

[aedon]

[miki]

aedon-sama !! you're back !!!

[aedon]

Yeah I'm sorta back

翔子との花見

Shoko is still gorgeous without make-up

[A1]

Why couldn't we get somebody like that for Otakon.

[starry01482]

[aedon]

Finally got my copy of Big Bang, and thought I'd ask which ID card did you get?

I got the Mamitasu kind :| (pic from Shoko's blog)


I've also find pics of the other possible kinds:


There's also 5th kind, but it seems like noone bothered to take a pic of it, because it's Sukashikashipan lol

[Timewizard21]

im still waiting for my copies of the album (should be getting it sometime this week)
does that membership card only come with the CD+DVD version?

[aedon]

^ I think it comes with 1st press of each edition