J-Music Awards 2008 : Let's vote for B'z !

[Pierrot]

Hi everyone !

Once again the french website mimu-net organizes the French J-Music Awards. There are 22 categories like "Best female band single", "Best male solo single" etc...

B'z is selected in two categories : in "Best male band single" for "BURN -Fumetsu no Face-" and in "Best Best-of" for "B'z The Best ULTRA Pleasure & Treasure". Nothing about "Hidden Pleasure"... But you can also say what you expect for the next year. You can say you'd want B'z to come to Europe (well...)

You must register to participate and you can vote until January 13 (you'll have to wait maybe one day before you're registered).

http://www.mimu-net.net/news.php?newsid=2373

I just say, ok it's funny every year to vote for Ayumi Hamasaki or Arashi, but it's time to be serious and to vote for a serious band ! Let's show there are also B'z fans !

Here the forum to see the tendency (but you don't vote there !) :

http://www.mimu-net.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=21&sid=2107f3f511181b4db3d0410443ef8e9f

Well, the Awards are in French, if you have any question because of the language, just ask.

Enjoy !

[soccernbz]

I'm not able to speak or understand French, so if you want to help me you can find a solution (maybe translate important passages)^^

[Pierrot]

Hi soccernbz!

Ok I'll try to help, but forgive my english!

We can start with the following link: http://www.mimu-net.net/news.php?newsid=2373

First, you have to register like in any other website. So you go right and click on Inscription (subscription)

Connectez-vous avec vos identifiants du forum :
login
password
Connexion permanente
Inscription - Mot de passe perdu

(it can take one day before you're registered, or not, just a few minutes)

Then, what does the page say:

French J-music Awards 2008 : ouverture des votes ! / Vote is open!

C'est parti ! Vous avez trois semaines  partir d'aujourd'hui pour lire vos singles, albums, DVDs, concerts, artistes et autres chorgraphies prfrs de l'anne J-music coule. Votre participation vous permettra peut-tre de gagner l'un des CDs au choix parmi le catalogue de Yesasia !

Go! You have three weeks from now on to choose your favorite singles, albums, DVDs, concerts, artists and other choreography of this J-music year. Maybe you will win one CD of your choice in the catalogue of Yesasia!

[...]

Les rsultats de ces JMA 2008 seront publis ici-mme dans la deuxime quinzaine de janvier. Ils seront communiqus aux professionnels franais mais aussi japonais du secteur, qui sont de plus en plus nombreux  nous demander notre avis sur l'exportabilit potentielle de leurs artistes. Voici donc l'occasion d'exprimer vos prfrences de manire trs complte !

The results will be published on this site during the second week of January. They will be communicated to the French but also to the Japanese professionals. They are more and more asking us what we think about the potential export of their artists. This is an opportunity to express your preferences!

(are the Japanese professionals really asking them ? Don't know, but we don't forget L'Arc-en-Ciel has come to Paris this year and X-Japan will come!)

[...]

Now, you are registered and you can click there: French J-music Awards 2008 : votez !

You arrive on a new page where you can vote. http://www.mimu-net.net/jma2008.php

You have to know:
- you can vote in several times
- you have three choices but you can choose only one, or two, or three answers (but you cannot vote more than one time for the same)
- the first choice becomes 3 points, the second 2 points and the third 1 point
- this site is very careful of cheats

Then, you have a list of 22 categories.

01- Meilleur single solo fminin de l'anne 2008 / Best female solo single

02- Meilleur single solo masculin de l'anne 2008 / Best male solo single

03- Meilleur single groupe fminin ou  voix lead fminine de l'anne 2008 / Best female band or female lead voice single

04- Meilleur single groupe masculin ou  voix lead masculine de l'anne 2008 / best male band or male lead voice single

B'z is in there:

Aqua Timez - Niji
Arashi - truth / Kaze no mukou e
B'z - BURN ~Fumetsu no face~
BREAKERZ - SUMMER PARTY / LAST EMOTION
EXILE - The Birthday ~Ti Amo~
flumpool - Hana ni nare
GLAY - VERB
GReeeeN - KISEKI
KAT-TUN - DON'T U EVER STOP
KIMAGUREN - LIFE
L'Arc~en~Ciel - NEXUS 4/SHINE
MAXIMUM THE HORMONE - Tsume Tsume Tsume / F
NEWS - Taiyou no namida
Nightmare - Lost in Blue
ORANGE RANGE - O2
RADWIMPS - ORDER MADE
Shuuchishin - Shuuchishin
SOUTHERN ALL STARS - I AM YOUR SINGER
the GazettE - Guren
Tohoshinki - Doushite kimi wo suki ni natte shimatta n darou
Mr.Children - HANABI
UVERworld - Hakanaku mo eikyuu no katashi
VAMPS - LOVE ADDICT
X JAPAN - I.V.


05- Meilleure collaboration de l'anne 2008 / Best collaboration

06- Meilleur album solo fminin de l'anne 2008 / Best female solo album

07- Meilleur album solo masculin de l'anne 2008 / Best male solo album

08- Meilleur album de groupe fminin ou mixte de l'anne 2008 / Best female band or mixed album

09- Meilleur album de groupe masculin de l'anne 2008 / Best male band album

10- Meilleur Album Best-of de l'anne 2008 / Best best-of

B'z is in there

11- Meilleur DVD live de l'anne 2008 / Best Live DVD

B'z is not in there!

12- Meilleure chorgraphie de l'anne 2008 / Best choreography

13- Meilleure jaquette de CD de l'anne 2008 / Best CD jacket

Free answer

14- Artiste ou groupe fminin de l'anne 2008 / Female artist or band of the year

Free answer

15- Artiste ou groupe masculin de l'anne 2008 / Male artist or band of the year

Free answer (but why not B'z...)

16- Meilleur album asiatique de l'anne 2008 / Best Asian album of the year

No japanese album

17- Meilleur gnrique d'anime de l'anne 2008 / Best anime theme of the year

Free answer

18- Rvlation de l'anne 2008 / Discovery of the year

19- Coup de coeur J-music de l'anne 2008 / Kind of favorite discovery of the year

Free answer, about an artist, a band, a concept...

20- Dception de l'anne 2008 / Disappointment of the year

Free answer, about an artist, a band, a concept...

21- Meilleur concert J-music de l'anne 2008 / Best concert of the year

Only in France

22- Artiste ou groupe le plus attendu en France pour l'anne 2008 / Most awaited artist or band in France (for the year 2009 I guess)

Votre pays de rsidence. / The country where you live (not obligatory I think)

Valider mon vote / Validate


Don't forget, you vote on this page and not in the forum!

I hope I helped you!

[Pierro]

Hi !

There is a prolongation until january 17 (23h59) !!

Don't hesitate to vote !

Until now, they say many fans have voted for Ayumi Hamasaki and VAMPS.

Well well well... B'z should be stronger (as thez really are in Japan).

[soccernbz]

Ok I'm waiting for the email...
Thanks for the translation^^

[Pierro]

Yeah, I hope it works for you!

I'm curious to know how many votes B'z will get at the end. We'll know this week end.

[anjoschka178]

hm i miss the date
i was in holiday 
Are there any results?

[Pierro]

Well, if you missed the date, there will be new awards in 2009!

The results will be known at the end of January. I'll check it up.

[Pierro]

Hi there! We can check the results of the French J-Music Awards 2008!

Remember that B'z was selected in 2 categories:

Best male band single for "BURN -Fumetsu no Face"

Best Best-of for "B'z The Best ULTRA Pleasure & Treasure"

I give here the following results:


Best male single of 2008

01- L'Arc~en~Ciel - NEXUS 4/SHINE : 14.67%
02- GReeeeN - KISEKI : 11.34%
03- Arashi - truth / Kaze no mukou e : 10.8%
04- VAMPS - LOVE ADDICT : 7.83%
05- KAT-TUN - DON'T U EVER STOP : 7.38%
06- NEWS - Taiyou no namida : 6.39%
07- ORANGE RANGE - O2 : 4.05%
08- MAXIMUM THE HORMONE - Tsume Tsume Tsume / F : 3.87%
09- RADWIMPS - ORDER MADE : 3.51%
10- X JAPAN - I.V. : 3.33%
11- Tohoshinki - Doushite kimi wo suki ni natte shimatta n darou : 3.24%
12- Mr.Children - HANABI : 2.97%
12- UVERworld - Hakanaku mo eikyuu no katashi : 2.97%
12- B'z - BURN ~Fumetsu no face~ : 2.97%
15- Aqua Timez - Niji : 2.52%
16- EXILE - The Birthday ~Ti Amo~ : 1.98%
17- the GazettE - Guren : 1.8%
18- flumpool - Hana ni nare : 1.62%
19- GLAY - VERB : 1.44%
19- Shuuchishin - Shuuchishin : 1.44%
21- KIMAGUREN - LIFE : 1.35%
22- SOUTHERN ALL STARS - I AM YOUR SINGER : 1.17%
23- Nightmare - Lost in Blue : 0.99%
24- BREAKERZ - SUMMER PARTY / LAST EMOTION : 0.36%


Best Best-of of 2008

01- Ayumi Hamasaki - A COMPLETE ~ALL SINGLES~ : 20.06%
02- Namie Amuro - BEST FICTION : 14.73%
03- YUI - MY SHORT STORIES : 11.53%
04- Shiina Ringo - Watashi to Houden : 6.49%
05- the brilliant green - the brilliant green complete single collection '97-'08 : 6.3%
05- ELLEGARDEN - ELLEGARDEN BEST 1999-2008 : 6.3%
07- B'z - B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure/Treasure" : 6.2%
08- HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR - Beeeeeest : 4.94%
09- PORNO GRAFFITTI - PORNO GRAFFITTI BEST ACE/JOKER : 4.84%
10- EXILE - EXILE CATCHY BEST : 2.71%
11- Kou Shibasaki - Single Best : 2.62%
12- melody. - The Best of melody. - Timeline : 2.42%
13- m-flo - Award SuperNova -Loves Best- : 1.74%
14- Ayaka Hirahara - Jupiter ~Ayaka Hirahara Best~ : 1.65%
15- DOUBLE - THE BEST COLLABORATIONS : 1.65%
16- BENNIE K - THE "BESTEST" BENNIE K SHOW : 1.55%
17- ZARD - ZARD Request Best ~beautiful memory~ : 1.45%
18- Miliyah Kato - BEST DESTINY : 1.07%
19- Salyu - Merkmal : 0.97%
20- Mariya Takeuchi - Expressions : 0.39%
20- ZEEBRA - The Anthology : 0.39%


I only can say these results are very disappointing. But it seems that it reflects what people listening to japanese music do like. And B'z is not the favourite band.

In the single category, I have no problem with L'arc-en-ciel. The band is very popular outside Japan, it has come to Paris in 2008 (and it has a French name, wow wow). This band deserves its firt place.
But, Greeeen, Arashi, KAT-TUN, boys bands for teenager girls, I can't understand. Maximum the hormone is no music, can't understand. Even X-Japan is forgotten, but the last single was'nt the best.
So, place 12 with 2,97% for B'z and "BURN". Our band deserves something better! They share the place with Mister Children and that can make us smile. Aren't both the best 2 CD-sellers japanese bands of all times?

The Best-Of category is a little bit better. 7th place for B'z with 6,2%. Don't know why they all love Ayumi Hamasaki, what she brings them, but her first place seems to be logical. Same thing for Amuro.


But it's not totally over. We find B'z in 2 other categories:

Male band of the year 2008

01- L'Arc~en~Ciel : 12.7%
02- Arashi : 9.8%
03- NEWS : 6.46%
04- GReeeeN : 5.3%
05- VAMPS : 5%
06- KAT-TUN : 4.46%
07- UVERworld : 3.57%
08- Mr.Children : 2.68%
09- Tohoshinki : 2.56%
10- MONORAL : 2.34%
11- X JAPAN : 2.23%
12- B'z, JERO : 2.12%
13- Kanjani8 : 1.9%
14- EXILE : 1.56%
15- ONE OK ROCK, miyavi : 1.45%
17- Asian Kung Fu Generation : 1.34%
18- Motohiro Hata, Acid Black Cherry, Aqua Timez, flumpool : 1.11%
22- ORANGE RANGE, Porno Graffitti : 1%
24- Masaharu Fukuyama, abingdon boys school : 0.89%
26- Shuuchishin, SEAMO : 0.78%
et bien d'autres... / and many more...


Most awaited artist or band in France in 2009:

01- Ayumi Hamasaki : 9.41%
02- VAMPS, Arashi : 6.20%
04- L'Arc~en~Ciel : 5.98%
05- Hikaru Utada : 4.21%
06- NEWS, Morning Musume : 3.99%
08- Kumi Koda : 3.43%
09- Namie Amuro : 2.99%
Ai - 10tsuka : 2.44%
11- X JAPAN : 2.33%
12- MONORAL : 2.1%
13- Gackt, KOKIA : 1.88%
15- YUI, Shiina Ringo / Tokyo Jihen, KAT-TUN : 1.77%
18- BoA : 1.66%
19- ONE OK ROCK, miyavi., GReeeeN, OLIVIA : 1.43%
23- UVERworld : 1.21%
24- Kanjani8 : 1.1%
25- B'z : 0.99%
26- ORANGE RANGE, Anna Tsuchiya, abingdon boys school / T.M.revolution : 0.89%
29- Aya Kamiki, Maximum the Hormone : 0.78%
31- The Gazette, Mika Nakashima, Mucc, m.o.v.e, AYA, Do As Infinity, Aya Matsuura : 0.67%
38- Ami Suzuki, Chihiro Onitsuka, Hangry & Angry, Mr.Children, alan : 0.56%
43- Plastic Tree, Teriyaki Boyz, flumpool, BUMP OF CHICKEN : 0.45%

And once more you find L'arc-en-ciel and Hamasaki on the top. She has come to Paris last year but didn't sing. Now the fans want to see her on the scene.
We fans of B'z know it will be hard to see B'z in Europe one day. But who knows?

The other results are here : http://www.mimu-net.net/article_view.php?articleid=53

There will be new Awards in 2009. We can hope B'z will be higher! They deserve it. And it wouldn't be normal that little bad "boys bands" (and not "bad boys" bands) for teenager Japanese girls continue to be higher than B'z.

Let's support B'z everywhere in the world!

I hope you have any comment about these results (if not, it's no so tragic 

[Lebon14]

Extremely disappointing.  I tried listening to other JRock other than B'z and I was like "Meh... not enough guitar" or "Too much slow songs" or "The singer sounds off-track" or just simply, "This music is just bad".
My p-o-v :
Ayumi Hamasaki :  You know what?  I only like the trance remixes from her.  Yes.  F**k the originals.
L'arc-en-ciel : Having a French name or not doesn't help : I just can't stand their music.
Kat-tun : I have to blame Tak here for helping writing their "Real Face" single.  Kat-tun's popularity has sky-rocketed since then (Well, it's their 1st single...).
GReeeen : Who in the world are they?!?
Arashi : I'm not in 6-boys band mid-teen girl music.
Ellegarden : I like their music, too bad that they have disbanded... but... they are not better than B'z.
NEWS, ORANGE RANGE, MAXIMUM THE HORMONE : No just no.

[Pierro]

Lebon! I do so much agree with you! You tell what my brain says.

All I know is that French fans do like bad stuff from Japan, only because it's japanese. They don't care about good music. They just want to see some mini skirts moving and stupid little girls yelling. And they think L'arc-en-ciel is the best rock band of history...

After Bad Communication by B'z, I think we should speak oh Bad Evolution for these people. But there comes the big philosophical sentence: It's a matter of taste

(Bad Communication, Bad Evolution, Bad Taste)

Actually, I always thought B'z isn't a "j-pop" or even "j-rock" band. Just a fantastic band from Japan.

[anjoschka178]

Hm it's really disappointing
But not suprising.
I know some people, who love music from japan but didn't like B'z.
I can't explain it to me. Maybe there music is to "normal"?
I played some songs to someone and he/she said, sounds like Aerosmith. Nothing special.

And hm we are here in the forum not many people... B'z is only big in Japan and a little bit in america... And hm they are only present outside japan for there american fans. I think it is unbelievable that they came some day to europe... And i think they aren't interested in that...

But hm we know the greatness of that band, and many other people too, it is disappointing but i love B'z and for me it is uninteresting if other people like them or not!

[Pierro]

People who like Japan and don't like B'z should better know how much B'z is important for many Japanese. But the problem is, B'z doesn't sound japanese, B'z just sounds B'z, with a lot of Western influences, that's right.

To me, B'z is the perfect way between Japan and the West. Tak and Koshi are deep Japanese inside, but the influence of western culture is almost as strong.

For people looking for 100% weird or kawaii-pretty japanese stuff, B'z isn't the good choice. And for the others, looking for very good creative rock, I can understand that B'z isn't the best. B'z is not Radiohead, nor REM or even Led Zeppelin. B'z won't influence the world as the english american bands do, but I think these people should try to understand the essence of B'z, why we like it so much and why many Japanese like it so much.

The feeling is hard to describe. I think maybe it's the joy. B'z makes you deeply happy. It's not just normal feelings: "Their music is so good, I vibrate with it" or "I am a huge fan of them, it's so cool"
Maybe it's something else: "The music is amazing, but now, listening to it, I feel better than before" (but that's not a good description)

And, if we take just the commercial "j-pop-rock" world, B'z will always be the best of it, maybe because of the western influence that many people don't like ("sounds like Aerosmith, that's not what I want in a japanese band"...)

And people saying they don't like Koshi's voice, I just don't understand them.

[anjoschka178]

Yeah your are sooo right Pierro.
For me it's really hard to understand, that many people can't like B'z. Or can't like Koshi's voice.
Not many bands can stand in the business since 20 years (with soooo huge success) and can be inspire the fans sooo much like B'z. They always reivent themselfes. Many bands play over year there music, but B'z try other genre and jump between them. Thats why i love B'z too. You are not sure, when they release a new song what this would be like...

But whatever, we love them and thats the main thing 

[Pierro]

Yes, I understand what you mean, the main thing. But I'd be happy if they become what they deserve, I mean people interested in japanese music should all know what and who are B'z.

Then, I dream of an oppening to the world. Like what Matsumoto did in his "Hit Parade" with Japanese female singers, but this time B'z with singers and musicians from the all world. An art of invitation. Of course there would be Aerosmith, but why not crasy combinations like B'z with Bjrk (she's always singing in Japan, why not with the biggest band of the country?) or Chris Martin from Coldplay? (I like the idea of Koshi and Martin singing together) (Coldplay played with SMAP, they can do better than that!)

Can you imagine some combinations?