This is YUI’s acoustic performance of Green a.live at Bokura no ongaku back in the beginning of November.

YUI ~ Green a.live Live@Bokura no Ongaku 20111104

21MB 3:16 H.264/AVC 480×272 PSP Ready

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I really like this song. Here it’s arranged differently. It’s a bit more elaborate than the studio version. Bordering too elaborate, since I like the simplicity of the song. But still very good.

I love it when YUI does her occasional cover, because she usually picks interesting songs. This song is called Tsubasa wo kudasai (翼をください) and was originally performed by the folk song group Akai Tori back in 1971.

YUI ~ Tsubasa wo kudasai Live@Music Lovers 20111113

20MB 3:44 H.264/AVC 480×272 PSP Ready

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You can really hear the 70’s carry through. It has a nice feeling to it.

I still have stuff coming in (*cough*SNSD blu-ray*cough*), but this is the latest batch of J/K-Pop goodies that I’ve received. It’s YUI’s latest album How Crazy Your Love (CD+DVD) and the special edition of IU’s Last Fantasy.

I actually received these last week. Let’s start with IU’s album. Just like her last special edition, the box has the regular album inside, but also has a photo book. Or rather, it’s a book about (I guess) how the album was made, but it contains loads of photos of IU. The pictures in this one are super nice. It’s pretty thick too. You can see how big the box is compared to YUI’s album, which is a normal CD case. The inside of the box was a bit damaged on my copy. I guess it wasn’t built for overseas shipping. I think the book is too heavy for the box construction, so it squished the cardboard things holding it in place when it shifted around in transit.

Then there’s YUI’s album. I got the overseas (Hong Kong) version. I usually get that version, since it’s cheaper than the very expensive Japanese one. I opened the case, not really expecting anything special, and look what I found! It comes with a YUI guitar pick (Fender medium)! How cool is that? I felt the urge to break out my guitar which has been stowed away for quite some time now. I also had the idea to make a necklace out of it, like the one YUI used to wear, but I don’t think I can “ruin” it by drilling a hole in it. This CD is also an example of what I like about YUI’s releases in that it comes with a concert DVD. What other artist does that? I think it’s awesome.

In just a few weeks (November 2nd) YUI will be releasing her new album called HOW CRAZY YOUR LOVE. One of the new songs on the album is Lock On, which will also be the theme song for the upcoming drama Kaito Royale. The casino theme in the music video comes form the drama.

YUI ~ Lock On

25MB 3:54 H.264/AVC 480×272 PSP Ready

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Credit: source vid. steely@jpopsuki

Lock On has a bit of a new sound compared to YUI’s previous stuff. Or rather, a combination of the various styles she has used in the past. It’s good, but my first impression is that it’s perhaps a little “all over the place”. It’s getting better with each listen though. I really like the “oo-oo-ooh” at the end of the chorus .

[…] there’s more! »

I really like YUI’s latest single Green a.live. I had it in a playlist that I was listening to today and every time the song came up I got an (for lack of a better word) eargasm .

• YUI - Green a.live 11MB MP3

Buy the single here.

I posted the music video here.

Green a.live is YUI’s reflections on the earthquake and tsunami disaster that struck Japan in March. The music video was shot in Hokkaido.

This song is so awesome! It’s very fine and subtle and evokes emotion. I love how YUI sings this song. Her voice is fragile and strong at the same time. Gives me goose bumps.

YUI ~ Green a.live

28MB 5:10 H.264/AVC 480×272 PSP Ready

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The music doesn’t start until 0:29. There’s nothing wrong with the audio .

The single will be out on October 5th.

I put the mp3 here.

M is a song originally by a band called Princess Princess back in 1988 (not Ayumi Hamasaki’s M), here covered by YUI in a nice acoustic version at Bokura no ongaku.

YUI ~ M Live@Bokura no Ongaku 20110204

26MB 4:03 H.264/AVC 480×272 PSP Ready

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Somehow this made me think of Björk’s very first album (from 1977). I don’t know if any of you’ve heard it. I can’t think of which song it was (I don’t have that album at hand), but there’s this harmony in M (1:10-1:17) which made me think of it.

to Mother sounds especially good in this performance from Bokura no ongaku (our music). It feels like it was meant for a big acoustic performance like this. The second pianist fills out the song in a good way. I like how it’s filmed too.

YUI ~ to Mother Live@Bokura no Ongaku 20110204

22MB 2:36 H.264/AVC 480×272 PSP Ready

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Today I received three out of the five packages of K-Pop and J-Pop goodness that I’ve ordered. I haven’t ordered much this spring… until now that is.

The items […] there’s more! »

As per usual, here are the official wallpapers for YUI’s new single HELLO ~Paradise Kiss~ (1280×1024):

The single will be released on June 1st and can be pre-ordered now.

The track list is:

1. HELLO ～Paradise Kiss～
2. YOU
3. It’s My Life ～YUI Acoustic Version～
4. HELLO ～Instrumental～

The first two tracks are theme songs for the movie Paradise Kiss. Click here for the music video and movie trailer.