Copied from Cillah. I really liked hers so I decided to give mine a try :).
倖田來未
1. Miss Koda Kumi was one of my first Japanese artists that I really fell in love with. Her style of music was just so fantastic and fun to listen to. I found her through BoA and Utada Hikaru who's style I have know about for a while.
First Song: Hands
Favorite Song: JUST THE WAY YOU ARE, TABOO, Himitsu, yume no uta (Sorry I can't pick just one of my loves)
安室奈美恵
2. Namie Amuro took me a really long time to fall in love with. I found her at the same time as Crystal Kay, Koda Kumi, and Ayumi Hamasaki, but she just did not stand out. Once I kind of got over those 3 for a minute I realized how amazing the "Dancing Queen" is. Her voice is so smooth and relaxing and of the 4 J-pop queens (Kuu, Ayu, Utada, Namie) she is the best in the balladry department which is something I really respect in any artist. She can switch styles at any moment and sound just a fantastic. Now if she would just release more often she might take Kuu off the summit.
First Song: Do Me More
Favorite: Baby Don't Cry or LOVEBITE
宇多田ヒカル ,
Utada
3. I have know about Utada since I found out that "Wow I no longer hate Kingdom Hearts". But also she was under my radar at the same time as I found out as I searched out her music that I knew many of her songs from the ULTRA BLUE and Heart Station period (Keep Tryin', This is Love, Prisoner of Love, Stay Gold, Fight the Blues, Flavor of Life). Rediscovering these songs just made me so happy and kindled a real appreciation for my lady. Also I really love her American stuff especially TITO. The lyrics are a little naive, but they are very entertaining and have made my day more than once.
First Song: Simple and Clean or Stay Gold
Favorite: Stay Gold (MY Dahhhhling STAY GOLD!!!!!!) or Dirty Desire (Can you feel desire? LOL <3)
浜崎あゆみ
4. I have a very up and down relationship with Ayumi. When I used to be crazy in love with her a few months ago is when I amassed all of these plays and I kind of am annoyed at the sound of her voice now, but every once in a while I can deal with her I remember why I loved her. The best thing about Ayumi to me is the Sparkle video! It is the greatest video I have seen in a long time though it is challenged by the video for Mirrorcle World :) in all of its over the top acting. Overally Ayumi is great, but I love joining in the on the hatefest every once in a while and totally agree that "Sunrise/ Sunset is the Next Level of Shitfest". Though I mean it with love.
First Song: Sparkle
Favorite: Mirrorcle World
Amerie
5. I used to really not like her and had actually bought her All I Have album when it came out, but disliked it so much that I sold it back to the store :(. Recently with my reemergence in my love for R&B Amerie came back to mind so I downloaded her Because I Love It album and Why R U single and fell in love.
First Song: Why Don't We Fall In Love
Favorite: Crush or When Loving U Was Easy or Why R U
Kelis
6. My favorite artist right now. I love everything about her (minus her crap singles). I found her when Milkshake came out though at the time I didn't really like her, but I remember wanting to buy her cd. Then when Kelis Was Here came out I bought it immediately and it has been one of my top 3 favorite albums ever. She is so fantastic I just hope now that she is independent of a record label she will release the best songs from her albums instead of the bottom half.
First: Milkshake
Favorite: Circus, Goodbyes, Sugar Honey Iced Tea, Suspended, In the Morning, Young Fresh N, New
태양
7. Tae Yang A.K.A. The King of Asian Music A.K.A. The Best thing out of Korea since BoA. He is the male artist to reach my top 8 and he did it with 6 songs! His voice is so fantastic I just can't wait until his next mini-album and maybe a full length soon... plz. He is by far my favorite male artist and I feel kind of bad that he has so many more plays than Big Bang for me, but maybe if they focused more on him...
First: Prayer
Favorite: Prayer or HOT-Intro
Perfume
8. Perfume is so happy and their dance pop+Nakata = Perfection. I used to really not like them because of the cheery almost childish sound in their music, but Triangle is one of my favorite albums released this year and I can't wait to see where their music goes from her. Hopefully more places like One Room Disco & Edge (Triangle Mix)
First: Baby Cruising Love
Favorite: Edge (Triangle-Mix)
Epik High
9. The best MCs in the world even though I can't understand a word! They were first introduced to me through my friend and our East Asian Studies Club and actually it was just Tablo and the rest of AnyBand. I was so interested by them that when I heard he had a band that I had to listen to any and everything they have.
First: One
Favorite: One