Music

I have a very limited musical background. I remember taking the piano since I was very young until about the fourth grade, when in the fifth and sixth grades I took up the cello. In seventh and eighth grades I took up the trombone, then in eleventh grade I took up the electric bass guitar. I have always enjoyed singing, but due to mixed reviews I don't like singing in public.

I never got into American music. Most lyrics are lackluster to me, and so I turned to Asian music to satisfy my ears without having to understand crappy lyrics. I still enjoy some American artists, but in general you can find me listening to J-pop on Winamp or while driving around. The following are musical artists I respect.

Angela Aki

I admit, I haven't even heard of her until she was announced to sing the Final Fantasy XII theme song. However, I immediately fell in love with her as an artist. While I don't love each and every one of her songs, she has an amazing voice and a talent with the piano which I'm in awe of. I respect her as an artist because she does a lot of the work herself, by writing the music, the lyrics, performing, and singing. I know from experience that singing while playing an instrument takes a lot of coordinated skill, as well.

Leah Dizon

A guilty pleasure. I mostly listen to her stuff because, frankly, she's cute. Her A-sides tend to be very poppy and sugary, but I find myself liking her B-sides better as they seem to fit her vocals better. Despite anything, though, her songs are always catchy. I just find it hilarious how she's a race queen, a pop star, and probably never spoke a word of Japanese before going over to submit a demo tape.

Koda Kumi

Another artist I didn't even look at until she was announced to sing a Final Fantasy song. However, it wasn't until even later when I read her biography that I began to really respect her. While I do not approve of her sexual image, she really does try hard to be a musical artist who writes her own lyrics and wishes to eventually self-produce, and I respect that, especially with her backstory on wanting to sing because of her mother. While most of her songs are either a hit-or-miss with me, I continue to look forward to hearing more of her work.

Kuraki Mai

One of the first few artists I got into, despite not hearing her from any anime or games. I like most of her earlier stuff, especially her first album, but at least she's somewhat consistent in making new stuff. Her voice isn't too strong, but she's still an artist I respect and I always look forward to any new releases and am willing to give them a try.

Michael Wong (Guang Liang)

I like piano stuff. I like romantic ballads, too, or at least how they sound. And hey, love to the motherland, right?

Utada Hikaru

Finally, an artist I've heard of prior to being announced to singing a videogame theme! Most everyone and their mother has heard of Utada Hikaru, and I really respect her as an artist because she's always trying out new things, as well as knowing when to revisit old times. Each album she makes is something new, which is great.

Yuna Ito

I honestly never heard of Yuna Ito until I was given a sample. The first song of hers I heard was the extended wedding version of Precious, and since then I have loved each and every one of her singles. She has an incredible range of music and I always look forward to what she'll be trying next.