UVERworld become ANIME SONG KING!?

This week, new CD single of UVERworld, "儚くも永久のカナシ" (hakanakumo towa no kanashi) topped the Oricon J-POP weekly charts. This CD single has been attracting a lot of attention as the theme song for a TV animation series GUNDAM 00 2nd season.

Member of UVERworld are from Shiga prefecture that located Western Japan. They debuted in 2005 with single "D-technoLife", the theme song for TV anime BLEACH. This song entered music charts at No.4. Now, they are popular with teenagers.
UVERworld have released 11 CD singles, 6 songs of these singles ware used for TV anime as theme song and 2 songs got tie-up with TV drama.
UVER's sounds have heart-quickening melodies. I think the reason for their popularity is catchy, ear-catching tunes and thought-provoking lyrics. It's may suitable for anime song. But lead singer TAKUYA∞ has a high-pitched voice, so most men can't sing UVER's song well like him at Karaoke. (^^;)

The story of GUNDAM 00 is heavy. . But since GUMDAM SEED series, GUNDAM is popular with women. Because the characters are attractive. In addition, theme songs for GUNDAM series always become a hit.
"儚くも永久のカナシ (hakanakumo towa no kanashi)" means transitory but everlasting sadness in English. This song has a sense of speed. It match with the opening image of GUNDAM 00.
Ending pictures of GUNDAM 00 are also great. Its theme song "Prototype" by Chiaki Ishikawa will take the top spot in J-POP music charts. Its on sale date is Dec. 3th. She also sang the theme song for GUNDAM SEED & GUNDAM SEED DESTINY in 2004 and in 2006 as See-Saw.

MACROSS F reached BUDOKAN !

MACROSS F finally reached BUDOKAN!
On November 5th, the concert "Kanno Yoko Presents : MACROSS F Galaxy tour Final" took place at a big arena in central Tokyo "NIPPON BUDOKAN" .

BUDOKAN is a special place for Japanese musicians and they are dreaming of reaching there, but by reason of the size of venue, only very popular and big musicians can be allowed to perform there.

In spite of the concert was on weekday, tickets were immediate sold out from they went on sale.
There were two concerts at city concert hall in October which has same title as this, but these were also a sellout from the moment they were on sale. So,this time's concert was decided to take place specifically as service for fan.
Of course I tried to get the ticket too, but I couldn't get it.

I was surprised because the animation series "MACROSS Frontier" had been broadcasted via TV in late night hours, so I think it should be known by fans only. (Has Otaku population increased in Japan?)
In addition, a singer May'n and a voice actress Megumi Nakajima who are 19years old girls, sings main character's song had been unknowns until then.

I think this time's success was brought by a composer Yoko Kanno, so to speak she is a God of anime music. All CDs of associated MACROSS F has entered music charts in top5 and it's a first hit for the animation music since 1997, The End of EVANGELION.

For your information, on the following day, very popular techno-pop idol group Perfume began two days concert at BUDOKAN.