Monday’s TV viewing started with USA’s “WWE Monday Night Raw”.  I must of have missed a major pay-per-view battle between Chris Jericho and Sean Michaels because that ladder match seemed brutal.  Jericho with a big red bruise on the left of his lip and part of his tooth broken off.  Of course, for me, watching Santino Morella is the high point of the hour.  The dude is just great on the mic and to insult the Seattle fans of not having an NBA team and sporting the Oklahoma Thunder (formerly Seattle Super Sonics) was amusing.

At 7:00 p.m., I switched to MTV to catch “The Hills”.  The women are hot!  And this episode featured Audrina dating other guys but Heidi’s sister meeting with Lauren to find out if she and Heidi can ever be friends.  Again, Spencer (Heidi’s boyfriend) was just a total dick and the clip for next week’s episode features Heidi possibly choosing Spencer over her sister and giving her sister the boot out of their home.  If anything, interesting debate on the aftershow on MTV.com and also next week, Audrina will make an appearance and I’m sure she will be grilled in regards to the news from Perezhilton.com that LC messed with Audrina’s guy, Justin.  And personally, I just don’t see that happening as LC is totally disgusted with Justin’s appearance and mannerisms.  But Audrina, possibly acting on emotion, lashed out at her best friend to the media and LC wrote on her blog about the whole situation.  Duh-ra-ma!

After “The Hills” was MTV’s “EXILED” in which rich, spoiled teens (featured on “My Super Sweet 16″) are given the heave-ho by their parents to learn that money doesn’t grow on trees and put out of their comfort zone and live for one week in another country (typically with a tribe or very impoverished area) and learn things the hard way.  This time it was Sierra, daughter of musican Cee-Lo where she was exiled to Vanuatu (Island nation in the South Pacific, north of Australia).

Despite not wanting to eat the tribe’s pork and definitely not into the fishing and digging and seeing how women have to live in Vanuatu.  But like all the girls, they eventually have to do work and the first thing I did was check the aftershow to see if she’s changed and learned her lesson.  According to her parents, I guess she did.

I then watched “HEROES” for the fourth episode titled “I Am Become Death” in which Peter from present day is taken to the future by future Peter. You see that those who have the money, have been given powers. Some who use it for good but those who have used it for evil. The world has changed for the worst.

The other interesting development is how Gabriel (aka Syler) has changed. He’s a father and trying to be a good father and has controlled his appetite towards eating the brains of other gifted people with super powers. But what happens when present-day Peter meets up with future-Gabriel?

This show continues to get better with each episode. Definitely leaving behind the second series in the dust and taking the show back to what was important and that is good storytelling. And hopefully unlike the second season, not to be hampered or rushed due to a writer’s strike or any strike.

“EXILE, Japan’s current R&B hitmakers releases their 27th CD single featuring a mid-tempo jam with “pure” and an upbeat dance track with “You’re my sunshine” that overall is a pleasant CD single featuring awesome vocals and cool grooves!”

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GROUP: EXILE

CD SINGLE:  Pure/You’re my sunshine

LABEL: rhythm zone

CATALOG #: RZCD-45863

DURATION: 26:29

RELEASE DATE: Feb. 27, 2008

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. Pure
2. You’re my sunshine
3. 変わらないモノ
4. Pure (instrumental)
5. You’re my sunshine (instrumental)
6. 変わらないモノ (instrumental)

EXILE continues to be one of the chart topping R&B vocal groups in Japan and to this day, haven’t really slipped in the ratings as their CD singles tend to reach the top 3 and are usually among the few in Japan that is consistent with sales.

The seven member group (consisting of HIRO, MATSU, USA, MAKIDAI, AKIRA, ATSUSHI and TAKAHIRO) is known by their awesome vocals and dance choreography and in 2008, EXILE kicked off the New Year with their 27th CD single “Pure/You’re my sunshine” which featured a total of three tracks.

The first track “PURE” features a song written by EXILE vocalist ATSUSHI and music by Harukawa Hitoshi.  A beautiful mid-tempo track with a smooth groove, acoustic guitar and keyboards.  Definitely a track showcasing the smooth vocals of the group that they are known for.

The second track “You’re my sunshine” is an upbeat track written by TAKAHIRO and music by Hara Kazuhiro.  Overall, an upbeat dance track featuring a more synth-inspired track with some guitar.

But surprisingly, my favorite track is the coupling track “変わらないモノ” written by ATSUSHI and music by Takumi Masanori.  A slow ballad enhanced by strings courtesy of Yuko Katijani Stirngs that sets a beautiful atmosphere for the overall track.

The CD insert is a standard bi-fold with lyrics and production credits.  Also, included is a mini-flyer for Rhythm Zone releases for that week.

There is also a CD+DVD version released simultaneously with this normal CD-only version.

Overall, there is really nothing to dislike about this CD single.  It’s what you expect from EXILE, great vocals and good music.

I was surprised that I found myself enjoying the coupling track the most but it’s a very well done ballad.

You can’t go wrong with this CD single.  Definitely worth getting if you are a fan of EXILE.

BUY THIS CD SINGLE:

Pure / You’re my sunshine

EXILE

Which group or artist took the #1 spot on new release Wednesday on the Oricon album Daily Chart?

NOTE: EXILE takes the #1 spot and GReeeeN continuing to be strong for many weeks in the Oricon top 10.  Good showing for anime and video game related albums with “NARUTO” at #2, “Gundam 00″ drama CD at #8 and video game “Persona 4″ at #5.  Last week’s #1 “Paradiso” by TUBE drops to #15.

1. EXILE - EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST
2. Naruto  Super Hits 2006-2008
3. Kimaguren - ZUSHI
4. GReeeeN - Aa, domo. Ohishiburi Desu.
5. Persona 4 Original Soundtrack
6. Various Artists - Ai no Uta
7. Ayaka - Sing to the Sky
8. Kidou Senshi Gundam 00 - Another Story - MISSION-2306
9. ELLEGARDEN - ELLEGARDEN 1999-2008
10. Various artists - 20-nen 200 Kyoku (20-years, 200 hits) Complete Best Collection Disk

It’s new release Wednesday. Which artist or group took the #1 spot for Oricon’s Daily Charts?

NOTE: EXILE takes the #1 spot, Utada Hikaru stays at #2 and great showing for Aoyama Thelma at #3.  Utada Hikaru had the Weekly Oricon #1 with 480,081 copies sold.

1. EXILE - EXILE CATCHY BEST
2. Utada Hikaru - HEART STATION
3. Aoyama Thelma - DIARY
4. Hamasaki Ayumi - ayu-mi-x 6 -GOLD-
5. Hamasaki Ayumi - ayu-mi-x 6 -SILVER-
6. Shibasaki Kou - Single Best
7. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra - Perfect Future
8. Hirai Ken - FAKIN’ POP
9. LUNA SEA - COMPLETE BEST
10. KREVA - KREVA no Best Ban

Sankei Sports features an article regarding EXILE’s MAKIDAI and model Hasegawa Jun breaking up.

The two were living together but because of their busy work schedules, they decided last Fall to end their relationship.

The two were introduced by fellow EXILE member HIRO (38) and fellow ViVi model Sada Mayumi (30) who were dating and news sources reported  a few years ago of the relationship when MAKIDAI and Hasegawa went to her hometown in Hawaii and since then, news reported that the two were probably getting married.

As for MAKIDAI, EXILE’s latest album “EXILE LOVE” has exceeded a million in sales and Hasegawa continues to be busy in modeling.

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Image courtesy of Sankei Sports

The following music video pick of the day goes to the live performance by Morning Musume of their “Special Love Mix” from “Kouhaku Uta Gassen” (NHK’s New Year’s Crimson Red vs. White special). Not many clips posted so far on youtube at this time but these but nevertheless enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: youtube.com videos are courtesy of youtube and are not on J!-ENT servers

The rock duo Kobukuro has won the biggest award “Grand Prix” at the 49th Annual Nihon Record Taishou on December 30th.

The duo which consists of Kobuchi Kentaro and Kuroda Shunsuke talked about the song “Tsubomi”. Kobuchi talked about how the song was written for his mother who passed away but talked about how his mother protected him and now watches over him.

The group ended the show by performing their hit song.

Other winners of the night included EXILE for best song of the year with “Toki no Kakera” and °C-ute who took best new artist.

As a side note, Kobukuro’s album “All Singles Best” was released in September 2006 and stayed on the Oricon Best Albums top 10 and top 25 for a long time earning now around 3 million in sales and becoming one of the best 2006 albums sold in 2006 and 2007. The group released their new album “5296″ on December 19th (WPCL-10445).

Photos from the 49th Annual Nihon Record Taishou can be seen here.

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Image courtesy of Mainichi Shimbun

The 49th Annual Nihon Record Taishou Awards were held on December 30th and the winner of the “Excellent Song” award went to EXILE for “Toki no Kakera”.

EXILE became the first group to win the award twice in 44 years.  The group thanked their fans for their support.

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Image courtesy of Sankei Sports