Talking about My Favorite Musicians Whose Names Start with a Vowel

It’s getting colder!
Every year when November begins, I suddenly remember that November is a cold month.
Fashion brands start selling winter clothes in September, right? It’s a regular event for me to take out my winter clothes in a hurry, but have you already changed your wardrobe for winter?
Well, today’s theme is

my favorite musicians whose initials are vowels.

So let’s get it started!

■One of the four main household names in Japanese new folk music, Morio Agata

I went to a live Morio Agata concert when I was a sophomore in college.
It was a joint concert with the band the dresscodes in Shibuya.
I have always liked Japanese folk music, but Agata Morio is the only one whose live concert I’ve been to.

By the way, the other three of the four standard names in Japanese new folk music are Takuro Yoshida, Shigeru Izumiya, and Masato Tomobe (I wrote a concert report on a live streamed Masato Tomobe concert before. Have you ever read it?).

I watched a live streaming from Shindaita FEVER! - Flower Companyz ＆ Masato Tomobe -

Morio Agata is known for a song called “Red Elegy”.
The song was originally a manga that was published in the comic magazine Garo, so Agata’s debut song “Red Elegy” is based off of the manga.

Agata comes across as kind of dark, but in fact, he’s involved in the Japanese manga/anime Urusei Yatsura!

Ending theme of Urusei Yatsuraマ
“Hoshizora Cycling"

He was the vocalist in the musical group Virgin VS who played “Hoshizora Cycling”.
The impression of Agata as a folk musician is completely different here… He is so versatile...

■ Ishifuro

Ishifuro is a famous Vocaloid producer.

〇 Yurufuwa Jukai Girl

I can’t even count how many times I listened to this song when I was in junior high...
I joined a band club in high school and started playing different instruments eight years ago. I didn’t think much of the song then but now I think the instrumental part of this song sounds really cool.
I especially like the drum part.
This song is about high school students so you may think that you can only relate the song to yourself better if you had listened to this song as a student, but it still touches my heart even after graduating from college.

Ishifuro formed actual bands called Necry Talkie and contemporary life under the name Ren Asahi.

〇 Necry Talkie

This guitar technique is just awesome...
He also writes touching lyrics in this band.

〇 contemporary life

I learned about this band when a friend of mine covered this band in college.
When I listen to one of their songs “Husky Girl”, it still reminds me of the gig where my friend played a cover of that song.
Even when I listen to this song alone on the train, I feel like I want to start screaming.

Ishifuro mass-produces wonderful songs even in bands...

■ Wool & The Pants

Wool & The Pants (‘W’ can be a vowel) is a psychedelic, alternative rock band.
Once you hear this band, you’ll be addicted.
Their music is not so intense.
Their performance is rather calm, but it gradually gets your heart pumping.

Wool & The Pants is a young band that was formed in 2015, but their first album, which was released last year (2020), already shows an air of dignity...
This band makes me think that this is what modern music is all about.
They are often described as “from the underground of Tokyo”, but that is exactly what they are like.

The album is released from Peoples Potential Unlimited, one of the leading American underground record labels. I wonder if they will become bigger in the rest of the world before they become famous in Japan...?

■ Elton John

I think many people have the impression that he is some guy in eccentric fashion.
His sunglasses look is so iconic.
But behind those sunglasses, he has an incomparable talent.

Have you ever watched the movie Rocketman?
It’s a biographical film based on the life of Elton John. The film was released in 2019 after the phenomenal hit Bohemian Rhapsody that was released in the year prior.

Many of Elton’s songs, including “Rocket Man” which is also the film title, are rock songs even though he sings on piano.

He is also charismatic as he wears his flashy costumes.
I heard that his live performance is incredible. I hope I can see his live performance once.

My favorite songs is
“Crocodile Rock”
In the live performance, this song starts with a gentle piano, but it’s actually a very lively song.
I want to sing and dance to this song with my friends.

■ Odotte Bakari no Kuni

For the vowel ‘O’, it was hard to choose one, but I knew I would choose this band!

They use a lot of effects but their songs are pop.
The melody is so catchy.
It’s not too much to say that this band has given me the opportunity to discover why spatial effects are so appealing.

I can’t narrow down my favorite songs, so I will list three here.

〇 Sekai ga Mitai

If you read the lyrics carefully, you will notice that this is not a cheerful song, but the effects I mentioned earlier make it a pop song.

〇 Honto Gomen ne

This song has a strong taste of shoegaze music.
As the title - “I’m so sorry” - suggests, the lyrics sound so overly apologetic. Lol.
But the vocalist, Koji Shimotsu’s voice is so beautiful that it pulls me into the song.

〇 Cycling Road

I listen to this song as if I’m taking one pedal at a time, rather than speedily cycling.
The guitar riff in the verse is cute.
The lyrics that use metaphors like detouring can be perceived differently depending on the listener's sensibility.
To me, it gives me a gentle feeling.

What did you think?
The songs I introduced here are completely my taste, but I would be happy if you can find your favorite!

Now, before wrapping up this article, let me quickly introduce you to some of my recommended items to enjoy music!！

If you want to sing and play your favorite song, all you need is your voice and an acoustic guitar!
This is a dreadnought acoustic guitar with a vintage taste.

RECORDING KING / RD-T16

If you want to get a snare sound closer to your favorite song, you may be able to do it with EVANS drumheads and hardware.
↓Click the link to find out how!

EVANS products

If you want to enjoy listening to music with a good sound quality, you can also change the speaker unit on your speaker!

EMINENCE / KAPPA-12A

CELESTION / K12H-200TC

There are various ways to enjoy music.
If I ever get the chance, I would like to continue this series where I recommend my favorites at my own discretion!