Raid My Minibar: Don't get laid. Get Raid.


My pick!: Top 20 Jpop Songs of 2009 (Rank 11th to 20th)
Wednesday, December 2, 2009

In all honesty, I'm not completely pleased with this list. Firstly it's because I've not been paying as much attention as I'd like to Jpop as I did in previous years (which was really fanatic, in retrospect) and secondly it's because most of the stuff I DID hear ended up being really lame.

Hence I cut the list short, with only 20 songs this time around. But you already had 15 songs in the previous post to try out so that should more or less compensate for the lack of songs.

Number 20: Morning Musume - Nanchatte Renai



Sadly this is the only H!P song that made the list. Everything else this year was just plain boring to me. Probably best described as a power ballad, the vocals are decent and not sickeningly cutesy for once (with the exception of Koharu, epic nasal fail).

Number 19: NEWS - Koi no ABO



DISCO! What's not to love?

Number 18: Arashi - Tobira



How surprising, the main song of this single is not even in the top 20! The typical feel good Johnny's song where all the fans hold hands and wave while the Arashi boys go around the stadium on their silly floats. Good fun.

Number 17: NYC Boys - NYC



This one's for the pedophiles. But we all know we secretly want to bang them underaged boys. Slurp. Anyways, as with all the younger Johnny's groups' songs, it would be safe to assume full-on sugary pop. Steer clear, those who do not like the bubblegum.

Number 16: Hamasaki Ayumi - Rule



I think I've mentioned on my blog before (I can't seem to find the post) that if she had went on do full-on rock and not half-ass it like what she's doing now, I would still be liking her.

This song is a perfect example of how epic Ayumi can be when she wants to be. Full of power and drama and her queenliness, this song will get anyone's adrenaline running. So use this at the gym. Or when murdering someone, if that is your thing. In which case please do not read my blog anymore. I said please, don't kill me.

Number 15: Kanjani 8 - Kyu☆Jo☆Show!!



It's loud, sparkly and crazy. Add in big band and you get Kanjani 8 doing their best thing. THEY'RE CRAZY. Which is what makes this song so unbelievably fun. It's kind of like orchestrated chaos, so be prepared. Did I mention big band yet? Brass! Drums! Loud music!

Number 14: Tegomasu - Tanabata Matsuuri



You can always count on Tegomasu to sing well, and this single is sort of a good display of that. A more traditional tune ensures that this song stands out from the rest of Jpop this year. The brisk cheerful tune has a kind of childish innocent quality to it, and that makes me smile. You will smile too! If you have a bit of kiddy innocence left in you that is.

Number 13: Nakashima Mika - Game



Yes ignore the creepy cover. As much as I bash her and talk a lot of shit about her, this song is really really well done. Old school rock and roll (I'm just guessing genres here) with her eccentric voice combines for a really strange retro song. And we all know she has the weird attitude to carry it off too.

Number 12: Arashi - Everything



Another typical feel-good Arashi pop tune that's not spectacular, but does the trick. The bridge between Ohno and someone I can't remember (Matsujun?) added a nice bit of variety to an otherwise very very generic song. The bridge was my favorite part of the song to be honest, but well, the other parts of the song are pretty decent too.

Number 11: Koda Kumi - ECSTASY



And what would Jpop be without Kuu's sluttiness. This is not one of her best slutty songs, but it does well enough to reign over many many other Jpop songs this year (a sad indication of how weak Jpop is in 2009). Typical sexy dance tune that's just downright dirty and suggestive and is pheromones in aural form. Go listen and touch yourself inappropriately!

As per last week, I've uploaded all the songs on this list to Mediafire for you guys, let me know what you think in the comments!

Click here to download!

Just in case you can't get enough, here are some songs (according to rank) that NEARLY made the list but got cut in the last selection. These are songs that I think are acceptable upon listening to it, but couldn't really get into it in the end:
  • 31. mihimaru GT - Switch
  • 30. V6 - Spirit
  • 29. Koda Kumi - Joyful
  • 28. Tohoshinki - Survivor
  • 27. Koda Kumi - Driving
  • 26. ikimonogakari - Hotaru no Hikari
  • 25. Koda Kumi - Lick Me
  • 24. Do as Infinity - Umareyuku Monotachi e
  • 23. Yano Kenta starring Satoshi Ohno - Kumori Nochi Kaisei
  • 22. Arashi - Believe
  • 21. BoA feat. VERBAL (m-flo) - Bump Bump

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Q4R #020: I closed my eyes and approved a few questions and out came this post.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009

This week's Q4R is a little random, because I really don't know what theme to choose this week. D:

So here we go!
  • Dear Raid

    Why is your blog so sexy?

    Sending the man-love from London,

    Ciaran.
Ooh London. Please send me a clip of yourself saying "Raid, I'd love to fuck you" in your (hopefully) British accent!

A naked photo would be nice too. Kthxbai. :D
  • you're smexy and also what jpop star do you think has the worst teeth ?
Well, I'm not one to judge when it comes to how straight people's teeth are, and in all honesty, some people do look kind of cute with crooked teeth.

So I'm just going to name this person whom I'm quite surprised smiles so widely when she has teeth like that. It's just really un-J-media-like.



She's Mi-mi from BRIGHT, a girl group under avex, and she has probably the messiest teeth I've seen in Jmedia.

A close second would probably be...



Murakami Shingo of Kanjani 8. But I still love him, so you can see that I don't really care about how nice people's teeth are.
  • I dont fully understand the system of H!P, care to explain? =]


Tsunku (to himself): When they have boobs and get too hard to keep your hands off of, GRADUATE THEM.
  • YOU ARE MY SOUL SOUL ITSUMO SUGU SOBA NI ARU~
Your gheyness does not scare me Ninomiya Kazunari! Stop leaving creepy comments on my blog and go back to fucking some other Arashi member ok? (Preferably Ohno, he's just so desperate for you.)

(And how sad is it that I know the next line of the song?)

(And I just realized that Nino, being born 3 days after my birthday, is such a big bitch too. So if you don't want your kid to be bitchy, you'd probably want to avoid the month of June altogether...)
  • fanservice, yay or nay?
Refer to above question.
  • life is too hard. why is it so hard? why cant we just all eat popcorn until we explode? huh? why are finals such a pain in the ass? why are teachers always fat, and the hot ones are gay. I CANT DO THIS NEMORE!
Personally, the idea of eating popcorn till I explode is not really a very pleasant one, so go ahead without me if you're intending to do that.

Finals are a pain in the ass at first, but once it's over, the feeling is so so amazing. Very much like some other activity many people love.

(Look what school is teaching us on a subliminal level!)

Teachers are always fat or gay so you'd actually study, instead of ogling them. It's an effective system I'd think. Unless you like fat people, or are gay yourself. *shrugs*
  • What do you think about Alan?


She has a nice name? My uncle's name is Alan too. He's kind of cool I guess, in the squint-your-eyes-really-hard kind of way.

Other than that, don't really care. Is she from China? I heard she was. And she had some wind-earth-fire singles nonsense. Still don't care.

Ok that's enough randomness for one week. Next week's post will be more... proper I guess. 8D

If you have a really interesting question, or just a really random one, do drop me a comment using the button below!

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My pick!: Top 30 Songs of 2008
Saturday, January 3, 2009

I won't give long comments on ALL of them, because it'll be very boring and lengthy. But it's safe to assume that the song is either A, cracktastic or B, has a very impressionable melody.

Number 30: Tegomasu - Ai Ai Gasa



Tegomasu just continues to show off their singing prowess (as compared to the general JE population) with Ai Ai Gasa. As with most Tegomasu songs, it's a cheerful ballad and I can guarantee you that you will feel warm and fuzzy and blissful after listening to this one.

Number 29: SMAP - Kokoro no Puzzle Rhythm



Like hello? A male version of Perfume? What's not to want? SMAP collaborated with Perfume's producer to release this awesome song. If you like synthesized music but can't stand most Japanese female voices (as do I) then this is for you.

Number 28: Tanimura Nana - SEXY SENORITA



If the cover and title is not enough to make you want to listen to this song, then at least the boobies should help. GO. LISTEN. NOW.

Number 27: GLAY - Starless Night



Typical good GLAY stuff.

Number 26: Tackey & Tsubasa - Koiuta



As a Tackey & Tsubasa single, this was one of the weaker ones. But nonetheless, their style of music is so suitable for me that even their weak songs can make it on the top 30 in my opinion.

Number 25: SunSet Swish - Bye-bye



The B-side of the single PASSION, Bye-bye is surprisingly sentimental (sounding) and is a really good track to sing along to. SunSet Swish's lead vocal has a really high voice though, so be careful not to screech when trying to do a rendition of this song.

Number 24: Superfly - How do I survive?



Superfly has an awesome thick voice that is filled with power and attitude. Which is why this song worked for her. Any other Jpop artist would have fallen flat with this one. Doesn't sound really Jpop to be honest, but it's good nonetheless.

Number 23: Aladdin - Hi wa, Mata Noboru



I know many people frown upon Shuchishin and Pabo, but this song is too cute to resist. They sing about coffee, traffic lights, karaoke and cup noodles. Need I say more?

Number 22: Kanjani 8 - Musekinin Hero



Kanjani 8 never fails to disappoint, and this one is no exception. Very very catchy, it's the kind of track that sticks in your head and refuses to go away. Beware, you'll soon find yourself going JA JA JA JAAAAN too.

Number 21: Koda Kumi - Moon Crying



Koda Kumi's comeback track after the infamous amniotic fluid incident! Pretty much one of her safer genres, it's a sad love song that was produced specially to make those uptight old women of Japan cry along with her. I'm no uptight old woman, but the PV makes me want to cry too. BAWL. *Coughs* You guys do know I'm just kidding, right?

Number 20: KAT-TUN - DON'T U EVER STOP



I love it when I slam a song and then find myself liking it immensely a few months after. This seems to be one of those songs. Things I have said about this song includes "pretty blah", "sounded like a bunch of drunken frat boys", "very melodic TV static" and "suitable for drunken karaoke screaming". I don't take any of those back though, but that doesn't mean I don't like it now. It's the kind of song that grows on you after a while I guess.

Number 19: Shimizu Shota - HOME



Sigh Shimizu Shota. Why did you have to go release such an awesome debut single then flop and flop and flop again thereafter? He's crashing faster than you can say "one hit wonder". Regardless! This song is impressive on many counts. The pitch is really high for a guy and the rap portion doesn't seem to have any breaks for breathing. In other words, he's good. Don't attempt to sing this song at all.

Number 18: Hey! Say! JUMP - Your Seed



I'll admit that I like this song partially because of the totally pedobait PV (ZOMGAH THE DANCE), but that doesn't mean this song isn't fun! The song is the kind that grows on you I suppose, so if you're going to try it out, give it time. You'll come to like it soon enough.

Number 17: Morning Musume - Resonant Blue



KURAI KURAI DON KURAI!!!! What's not to love? (Kamei is totally hot in the PV too. *dies*)

Number 16: Koda Kumi - TABOO



With such a sexually suggestive PV and such a hardcore beat, this song is catchy and great for dancing (or just bobbing your head around senselessly). Koda Kumi is in her element here, so you can be sure that it's a great song.

Number 15: Amuro Namie - NEW LOOK



I was first drawn to the insanely enthralling PV filled with dancing mannequins and hairstylists. Then I fell in love with the song. I don't really see the 60s-ness in this song, but I love it nonetheless. I guess it's just how different the song is compared to all the other songs we've been hearing this year that makes it so appealing to me.

Number 14: AAA - ZAPPER



Sueyoshi Shuta solo (alliteration baby!)!!! Well, I guess that should explain it all. I'm just biased that way. No but seriously, this is one of the stronger songs to come from AAA this year. Shuta just sweetens the deal for me. :D

Number 13: YUI - Summer Song



The light and refreshing acoustic pop number is YUI being her happiest this year. After tracks like Namidairo and Love & Truth, I thought the girl had begun to go down the emo road. Thankfully she hasn't, she's still cute as ever! This song is testament to that fact.

Number 12: EXILE - Manatsu no Kajitsu



Well, this song is a cover so I don't know whether it really counts or not. Nonetheless, I first heard the Chinese cover for it - by Jacky Cheung if you're wondering - LOOOONG LOOONG ago when I was a wee kid. So when I first heard this song while walking to school (that's really the one of the only times I listen to songs), I was suddenly hit with a strong bout of nostalgia. EXILE's vocals suit the song well, so I like their version best amongst all the versions I've heard.

Number 11: AAA - Love Candle



I swear I went BERSERK when I first heard of this song. The preview for the song came out and it was a DUET between URATA and SHUTA! ASDFGHJKL:" *keyboard slams*

Ahem. Anyways, Shuta's first main part in a song, and he does really well in my opinion. I pretty much fell in love with Shuta's voice all over again with this song. BAH I CAN'T EVEN BE COHERANT WHEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SONG! That's just how much I'm in love with it. I know for a fact that not many AAA fans like this song all that much, but I DON'T GIVE A DAMN. SHUTA X URATA, MINE MINE MINE RAWR!

Number 10: Namie Amuro - WHAT A FEELING



Yet another dance track from Namie makes the list. This is some seriously catchy stuff though! It has hints of synthesized music without the whiny voices that Perfume tends to display. It has an easy-to-follow chorus as well, which is great for screaming and all that. "OOOOOOOOOOOH! WHAT A FEELING WHAT A FEELING!" "Forth, forth and forth, forth and forth. Get on up!" Sort of Discoish though, so avoid this one if you hate that kind of music.

Number 9: AKB48 - Ohgoe Diamond



Most AKB48 songs are kind of hit-or-miss with me. But this song hit me so hard, I couldn't tell the difference between a JE boy and a Japanese girl! Oh wait, I still can't. It's just typical catchy bubblegum pop, which is my thing. If it's yours, you would like this as well.

Watch out H!P, AKB48's hot on your pretend-to-be-innocent asses.

Number 8: Hamasaki Ayumi - MY ALL



AN AYUMI SONG?! HAS RAID GONE MAD?!

Apparently. This song was one of two songs that stood out to me in her GUILTY album, and I said it sounded like the power pop stuff that she used to do. It has a strong memorable melody and is pretty much what Ayumi does best. I swear I would still be liking the woman if she had stuck to doing music like this. But NOOOOO, she had to go do all that rubbish rock. Pfft.

Number 7: Hirai Ken - Twenty! Twenty! Twenty!



I remember Angelia rolling her eyes at me when I told her I liked this song so much. It is just SO CRACKTASTIC! AND GHEY! AND IT'S KEN! Sigh, the Kenken fandom is so amazing.

Number 6: Tohoshinki - Runaway



It's really rare that Tohoshinki would do anything as catchy as this (most of their other stuff bores me to bits). With a chorus that sticks stubbornly in your head and a constant chant of "TRY AGAIN TRY AGAIN", it's easy to see why I would like this song.

Number 5: Arashi - One Love



Arashi's pretty much had a really good year with both the #1 and 2 spot on the Oricon yearly charts for singles. I think this was the #2 single? It made a really lasting impression on me from the start with its really easy to follow melody and it's just so damned HUMMABLE! Would have ranked higher if MatsuJun didn't have a solo.

Number 4: Ikimono Gakari - Blue Bird



The screaming song! HABATA IIIIITAAAARAAAA! MODERENNNAAAAAI ITTO ITTAAAA!

Seriously awesome for those days where you just want to shout at the top of your lungs legitimately (when you don't have a legitimate reason). I like ikimono gakari! All their songs are really really decent. *nods*

Number 3: Hirai Ken - UPSET



You can just imagine Kenken strutting around the stage in high heels when he sings this song (unfortunately not the case as seen in the DVD). With lines (that sound) like "HEY BITCH YOU'RE MAKING OUT WITH SOMEONE SCAMMING IN THE DARK!", this song is just unforgettable.

Number 2: AAA - MUSIC!!!



Possibly one of AAA's best since Get Chu!, this song is chirpy, happy and overly sparkly for anyone's good. Which is probably why I like it. I like songs that remind me of candy and stars and marshmallows. This is one of those songs.

Number 1: Milky Way - Anataboshi



Angelia screamed at me when she saw this song as number one. My friend claimed she nearly went blind from the brightness of this song's PV. Some other friend claimed it to be witch chants for children. Whatever it is, you can't deny that it is the BEST SONG EVAR. The beat is just SO TRIPPY and so rapid, and the lyrics are just so tongue-twistery that the whole affair just becomes glittery chaos! It's amazing!

But seriously, listen to this song non-stop for half an hour. You'll end up loving it too.

Other Honorable Mentions (non-Jpop)



Lady Gaga - Just Dance

I know it didn't come out in 2008 but still. HOW CAN ANYONE NOT LIKE THIS SONG?



Big Bang - Sunset Glow, WONDERFUL

All you silly Tohoshinki/Dong Bang Shin Ki/Tong Vfang Xien Qi/Your-mother's-nickname-for-them fans! SWITCH TO BIG BANG. They are much much MUCH more awesome (and kind of very much hotter than THSK too. Or any other Kpop band actually), you will not regret it.

If WONDERFUL was a Jpop song, it would have been my top song of 2007 AND 2008 combined. It is that epic. GO LISTEN.

I doubt anyone agrees with my list, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try all the songs out. They're mostly really epic songs. And I've tried as much as I can to make it not my-fav-idol-centric so you can have a wider variety of.... discovery! :D

I mean, it is kind of pointless if my number 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5 and 6 song ALL comes from... I don't know, Perfume right? *Runs away from Perfume fans*

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How many people does it take to change a lightbulb?
Monday, December 15, 2008

THIS IS THE QUESTION OF THE CENTURY! MUAHAHA.

And me, being me, has the answer! Ever wondered how much extra help a Jpop star needs just to change one lightbulb? Well, I'm going to tell you now.

How many people does Koda Kumi need to help her change a lightbulb?



One. She needs a guy to try to rape her while she twists the lightbulb into the socket as sexily as possible. Lots of tongue needed.

How many people does Hamasaki Ayumi need to help her change a lightbulb?



Two. One to carry her because she's so darn short (and those deadly high heels she wears are just not suited for climbing ladders), the other to shout at her extra hard what you want her to do with the lightbulb, because you know, she's kind of deaf in one ear.

How many people does Mitsui Aika need to help her change a lightbulb?



Depending on the situation - eight or none.

She needs eight people to go "wow! so awesome!" while she memorizes how to screw in twenty different lightbulbs in twenty minutes. Otherwise, she just needs a puppet to talk to her while she's at it. Preferably a butt-ugly one that resembles a mutated sushi roll.

How many people does Niigaki Risa and Kamei Eri need to help them change a lightbulb?



None. But they have this uncontrollable urge to screw up again and again and again because they like trying to throw the lightbulb into the socket, just to show that they can.

How many people does Nishijima Takahiro need to help him change a lightbulb?



One. He needs either Misako or Hidaka to smack the shit out of him so that he'll change the lightbulb like a good boy. Lots of pouting involved.

How many people does Tegoshi Yuya need to help him change a lightbulb?



Five. He needs the rest of NEWS to grope and touch him all over while they hold him and spin him round and round to get the lightbulb in.

How many people does Akanishi Jin need to help him change a lightbulb?



More than a thousand, all of which are silly teenage fangirls (and some boys) who have multiple orgasms watching him do something so mundane.

How many people does Kusumi Koharu need to help her change a lightbulb?



None. But she needs sunglasses to shield her eyes. She'll go blind if she has her eyes THAT wide open while being so close to a light source.

How many people does Hirai Ken need to help him change a lightbulb?



None. But he refuses to change the lightbulb unless it's those colorful stringy ones, because he's gay that way a special guy.

How many people does Nakashima Mika need to help her change a lightbulb?



None. She doesn't change the lightbulb. She lives in the dark. She's creepy.

Can you think of any more? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

(Post-note: Thanks everyone for being so patient with waiting for a new post! Life's been a roller coaster and sometimes, you just want to sleep and forget about it all. Hopefully everything will be fine now.)

(Post-post-note: ARGH! CHOOSING THE TOP 30 SONGS OF 2008 IS A BIG PAIN IN THE ARSE!)

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