Favorite J-Pop Artists: Eriko Tamura!

 As you may recall I was first introduced to J-Pop singer Eriko Tamura a few months back when someone included a  very early performance of hers doing her single “Sukiyo”. I was entranced not only by her cute idol looks and style, but she had a really great voice that I fell in love with at first hear! Wanting to hear more, I purchased her “Golden Best” collection and was soon introduced to her entire singles output! 

I had fallen in love with Sukiyo for its cheerful, bubble-gummy pop sensibilities, but I was to note that for the most part, Eriko’s songs were more on the mature side (though of course entirely idolly) that leaned more towards R&B and ‘regular” Top 40 pop-rock.

No matter, because within a week’s worth of playing, I had fallen for all of her songs, especially tracks like “Reversible” and “Domino”. etc! It was then that I began venturing into her catalog of music, and thanks to some blessed niche 80’s J-pop sites, was able to grab MP3’s of some of her albums.

I must say that I was immediately captivated by Eriko’s album output. Each one was sooo good with tons of terrific songs that I soon found myself planning my entire days off around listening to them!!!

Some of the albums became BIG favorites of mine and I got to the stage of Eriko fandom that I wanted to own the physical CDs of them as well! Through online shop Surugu-ya I was able to get ahold of two Eriko CDs, including Ima no Watashi De… as well as my still hands-down favorite album from her, “Shoujo De Irareta”, but knew I would soon be wanting more!

Well, as of this past month, my love for Eriko’s music has reached an all-time high, and with  her songs constantly on play, decided to celebrate by purchasing ALL the remaining CDs I’d been missing in her catalog, May be Dream, Myself, Behind The Heart, Taiyo No Vacance, Der Traum and Sure!

 ...to make a COMPLETE collection of all Eriko’s 8 original studio album releases!!!

MAN, I cannot stress enough how much I’m loving these albums, and as I listen, I am constantly baffled why Eriko wasn’t more popular as an artist! She had the voice, the looks, and a HELLA lot of wonderful, catchy and groovy songs in her catalog!