Right after making her debut, she sang the theme songs to Valkyria Chronicles and Tegamimachi which instantly gained her fame, but her anisong tie-ups came to a halt in 2010. She released an album in 2011 and then switched over to 5pb.
She handled a number of theme songs for games, but her contract was not renewed come April 1 of 2014. Because of this, she has lost her eligibility to stay in Japan, and will need to leave the country on May 2 unless she finds a new label.
Right around the time of this was the news of the cancellation of this year's 8th Anisong Grandprix. This competition started back in 2007 and has been a yearly event, with preliminaries being held all over Japan until the finals take place in Tokyo. The winner of the grandprix got to debut professionally as an anisong singer. This competition was one of the biggest events that symbolized the anisong boom that took place years ago.
This event has procured a number of anisong singers such as Shuhei Kita and Sayaka Sasaki and has been a popular entry point for aspiring singers to achieve their dreams. However, controversy struck the event as a lot of viewers and industry members doubted how Natsumi Okamoto, whose singing ability was widely criticized, was able to win the event. This even prompted the competition chairperson Ichiro Mizuki to post criticisms about the judges on Twitter. There have been no further comments or explanations made regarding the cancellation of this year's event, which has led to further speculations.
(Continued after the jump)
Source:
Each of these talents have their respective circumstances, but one common factor is the change in the anisong marketplace. When you look at the 88 anime theme songs in the Spring of 2007, you would see that 26 of those were performed by anisong singers, while only 7 were performed by seiyuus who were in the anime itself, or seiyuus who also had a musical career.
Fast forward to 2014, and of the 90 anime theme songs this spring, only 15 songs are performed by anisong singers, while a whopping 45 songs are performed by the seiyuus. The general ratio has made a complete turnaround, which has even led to the reduction of actual slots for these anisong singers.
Looking at the CD sales would also show that anisongs sung by seiyuus have performed better on the charts, which has led to the producers opting to just utilize the actual seiyuus for the theme songs due to their idol-like popularity.
It's been a long time since people have used the phrase "Anisong Boom", but it seems that the actual anisong singers themselves have not been benefiting from it that much. It cannot simply be said that the anisong bubble has burst, but the industry probably needs to stop and rethink about the current situation of anisongs.
I'm fine as long as Kumiko Osugi doesn't go on a break
It's fine once in a while, but it just seems too repetitive when you keep on hearing the same voice all the time. I'm fine when the main heroine sings the song by herself, but the thing that irks me the most is when the other characters all sing a line or 2 for laughs.
Anisongs won't sell without the brand. It'll just disappear sooner or later.
When I hear foolish interludes or inserted remarks made by characters in anisongs, I always think that "Wow, these people know that their business is aimed at stupid people".
俺の中じゃ堀江美都子で止まってる
I can't differentiate anisong singers from seiyuu singers. Everything inside of me has just stopped moving post Mitsuko Horie.
http://blog-imgs-29-origin.fc2.com/a/k/h/akhd/Micchi04.jpg
What about Angela-san?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514cCJl8A6L._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Then what will happen to FLOW who transformed into an anisong band because their regular songs can't cut it?
http://suma-to.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/flow_a01.jpg
今後はアニメ業界もこういう話に乗らないほうがいい。 声優やアニソン歌手、それを支えるスタッフとファン 全てを傷つける。
This was all just the doing of some people in the music industry who tried to do business in the anime industry because it was the "in" thing, while trampling on seiyuus and anime in the process, right? Especially this certain CS network.
The anime industry should refrain from this kind of stuff in the future. It will all just hurt the seiyuus, anisong singers, and the staff and fans who support them.
- 22 ：名無しさん＠恐縮です＠＼(^o^)／：2014/04/28(月) 13:46:48.27 ID:piy8pFGJ0.net
- >>19その辺 Lantis とかは頑張ってるからそのままでいてほしいな
Lantis has been working hard in that field so I want them to keep at it
There are people like meg rock and Chiaki Ishikawa who will then head on over to songwriting and composing, so I guess these are difficult times for people who can only sing.
http://www.megrock.com/rlsinfo/incl/img/lhcm_1022.jpg
- 50 ：名無しさん＠恐縮です＠＼(^o^)／：2014/04/28(月) 13:55:00.88 ID:6s21s74T0.net
- >>20アニソン歌手に求められているのはそこでしょ。声優は自分で曲を作れないから そういう意味ではアニソンシンガーソングライターというべきか たまに自分でも歌って箔をつける
That's what they're looking for in anisong singers because seiyuus can't write their own songs. In that sense, they should be called anisong singer/songwriters. And then they sing once in a while to add gloss to their careers.
The main consumer base are moe pigs so there's no helping it if it's seiyuus > dedicated singers
Aki Misato has disappeared too
http://lantis-store.jp/pic-labo/A_header_misato.jpg
That's so tragic. She came from overseas, wins the competition, and thought that she can make a living here. Even if she goes back home, being an anisong singer won't do her any good at all.
これはやらせ疑惑でケチついたからだろ
> news of the cancellation of this year's 8th Anisong Grandprix
Because of the complaints that the entire thing is rigged, right?
入口が出口じゃ旨味がねっすよ
There's no added value or anything to just being an anisong singer. There's no appeal to it if the entry point is also the exit.
In the end, it all boils down to the strength of the agency
I guess it is better for them to have the seiyuus who were cast sing instead
There's also the route of underground DVD→AV like the singer from Conan
http://twimg.edgesuite.net/images/ReNews/20121207/640_5c934f62c420cc1839ce57fcacff0959.jpg昔の無関係なタイアップと違って、ちゃんと作品に合わせた曲をやるようになったし、 音楽番組でも堂々とアニメの主題歌だと言うようになった。
It's true that the number of anisongs sung by seiyuus have increased, but singers and bands who aren't really specializing in anisongs are also proactively accepting projects like this as well.
Unlike unrelated tie-ups in the past, they're now properly matching the songs to the series. Even on the music programs, they're also announcing that the song is the main theme song of an anime.
Late night animes all have seiyuus singing the anisongs, while kids' anime theme songs are sung by J-POP singers or bands. Even this year's PreCure is sung by AKB, and I think that there really is no more place for actual anisong singers.
- 51 ：名無しさん＠恐縮です＠＼(^o^)／：2014/04/28(月) 13:55:12.15 ID:P5ZZZHB90.net
- >>42アイドルがアニソン歌うのは30年以上前からだからＡＫＢの例え出すのは間違い
Idols have been singing anisongs for 30 years now. It's wrong to give out AKB as an example.
- 62 ：名無しさん＠恐縮です＠＼(^o^)／：2014/04/28(月) 13:57:14.34 ID:HNBnAdhB0.net
- >>51そんな事くらい知っとるわ。 それが昔より増え過ぎたって話をしてるだけだよ。 今はどのアニメを見ても企画物アイドルばっかりだ。
I know that much. I'm just saying that this has been increasing in recent times. Nowadays, all the anime you see are those project tie-ups with idols.
- 77 ：名無しさん＠恐縮です＠＼(^o^)／：2014/04/28(月) 14:00:48.80 ID:P5ZZZHB90.net
- >>62知ってたらなおさらAKBなんか例えに出さないのにｗ 嘘つかなくていいんだよｗｗ
If you knew then you wouldn't have mentioned AKB w No need to lie ww
There's a lot more anisongs now where the lyrics aren't related at all to the anime
- 72 ：名無しさん＠恐縮です＠＼(^o^)／：2014/04/28(月) 13:59:32.41 ID:75lHCfdt0.net
- >>43それ一昔前の話じゃね？ 今はもう一周して、積極的に内容に絡めてきてるのそれなりに見かけるけどなぁ
I think you're talking about the situation a few years ago. Nowadays, I see a lot of songs which are aggressively trying to match it with the contents.
何年後かにアイドル声優が歌った曲がたくさん残るとは思えない
どんどん廃れていくのが落ち
When this sort of thing continues, nothing will be left in the end. I don't think that songs performed by idol seiyuus will still be remembered after a few years. It'll just go downhill from here.
The category "anisong singer" in itself is too obscure, they won't last unless these people possess something extraordinary. But even idols sang anime theme songs back in the '70s.
It's not just anime, even tokusatsu have been using a lot of J-POP singers and bands. Anime and tokusatsu are just being dominated by J-POP and idols. I think this is the tragedy that has been brought forth by Japan being the idol kingdom.
Well, they're basically nobodies from a civilian’s standpoint
SONY and Avex just treat their artists as disposables, right? While Lantis and KING (including Starchild) on the other hand treat their artists with care.
- 75 ：名無しさん＠恐縮です＠＼(^o^)／：2014/04/28(月) 14:00:04.12 ID:qtod/4nL0.net
- >>64KINGはずーっとアニメのレーベルを何十年も持ってたからね。 こんな時代が来てやっててよかった、じゃないかな。 例の>>1との差はなんだろう
KING has had a dedicated anime label for a few decades now. I think they're happy that this sort of era has come. I wonder what the difference is with >>1.
This competition was only held 7 times, so they can't say that it has procured a lot of new talents
But Hekiru Shiina's selling well, right?
http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/idolover/imgs/8/c/8c5830e3.jpg
- 71 ：名無しさん＠恐縮です＠＼(^o^)／：2014/04/28(月) 13:59:22.52 ID:PsLFh4Ao0.net
- >>66プロの歌手になったんだからあたりまえだろ
Of course because she's become a professional singer
ドルヲタの俺はそう思っちゃう。
Wotas prefer younger girls, right?
As an idol-wota, that's what I think.
鮎川麻耶や岩崎良美、森口博子ぐらい歌えるようになってからデビューさせろと 進撃のOPとか最低 あれで紅白に出れるんだから日本のマーケットは異常
There's just too many singers nowadays who sing in such a way that you can't even make out the words to their songs, or you can't hear their voice, or sing in a creepy manner.
They should only make these singers debut once they're on the level of Mami Ayukawa, Yoshimi Iwasaki, or Hiroko Moriguchi. That Shingeki opening song in particular is the worst. And you can tell that Japan's marketplace is abnormal since something like that becomes popular.
Idols may be necessary, but I hope the world turns into a place where even semi-pro singers who have tremendous singing prowess can also become popular
・音圧は音が割れるくらい上げているのを好む
・ストリングスとピアノが入った4つ打ちの疾走曲はすぐに神曲扱い
・Bメロで8割くらいの確率でPPPHが出来るリズムパターンを入れる
・中田ヤスタカの劣化コピー
・男性ボーカルはパンチの無いイケメンボイスとやらを好む
Characteristics of songs liked nowadays by anime lovers
- They want higher sound pressures, that will even break the sound of the tune
- 4/4 beat songs that incorporate strings and piano and bring out a sense of speed are instantly considered godly songs
- 80% of the time, they include a rhythm pattern where fans can go PPPH on the 2nd verse
- Inferior Yasutaka Nakata rip-offs
- They like ikemen-sounding voices that lack punch
- 95 ：名無しさん＠恐縮です＠＼(^o^)／：2014/04/28(月) 14:03:48.60 ID:qtod/4nL0.net
- >>85自分は２かなｗ
I think I'm the 2nd one there
Animes also have tie-ups with popular singers or groups so you can say that they're still managing to hold their own even by using seiyuus....
I don't want Annabel and Maaya Sakamoto to stop
There's no love towards the series. If there's more of the ones who are in it just for the profits, then no one would become happy and the industry itself will just be finished.
アニヲタにどうせ音楽なんてわからない
There's no demand for it, simple as that.
Ani-wotas don't understand music at all anyway.
I don't exactly get the existence of anisong bands who just make inferior covers of anisongs, play them at concerts, and get money from the fans.
Most anisong singers are pretty good, but I think they are the ones who weren't able to break into the mass market. And nowadays, there's an abundance of good singers who can't even make it big.
Conversely, I think that there's just too many seiyuus who are also singing and dancing. They even have radio shows, or make their own variety shows... It's no different from idols anymore.
No one's saying it, but the anime bubble will burst soon.
- 115 ：名無しさん＠恐縮です＠＼(^o^)／：2014/04/28(月) 14:08:19.15 ID:UuvNhstQ0.net
- >>111いつのまにかバブルが来てたのか？
When did the bubble arrive?
- 120 ：名無しさん＠恐縮です＠＼(^o^)／：2014/04/28(月) 14:09:15.54 ID:nn9temEB0.net
- >>111それ何年もずっと言われてきてるけど なぜか本数が増えてる
Everyone's been saying that for a number of years now, but the number of animes has just been increasing.
You guys are fussy when talents have voice acting roles, but you're fine with seiyuus as singers?
日本人は昔から色物とアイドルが好きで、マッチョなアニソンとメタルがダメな民族なんだろうな。
Looking at it like this, it seems that the situation of anisongs is pretty similar to Japan's heavy metal scene. Pure, orthodox metal in itself isn't accepted in contrast to things like DMC and BABYMETAL.
Japanese people have always loved queer unorthodox stuff and idols, and probably don't like macho anisongs and metal music.
http://www.music-lounge.jp/v2/common/im/uf/news/201308/06/babymetal04.jpg
If the singer is truly popular and good at singing, then she'll still be able to find her path outside of anisongs.
Because everyone's a grandpa and grandma already. It's amazing how all these anisong singers have been aging so much.
Bottomline is that the seiyuu pig wotas aren't oinking to regular singers so they can't sell well
それで日本国内で「海外進出（キリっ」とか言ってんだから笑えるわ
Ironically, visual-kei bands (w) who say things like "You ani-otas are disgusting wwwww" in Japan suddenly become popular overseas because of their songs being used as an anime theme song, and then they hold concerts overseas, wagging their tails in front of these foreign ani-otas.
And then in Japan, they smugly say "We've gone international". It's so funny.
These singers just can't earn decently without tie-ups
Too bad for HIMEKA. She's really, really good...
Should we rejoice at the fact that the industry has made progress with the increase of seiyuus who can sing?
Or should we lament over the fact that the market only consists of seiyuu otas...?
Original Thread: 【音楽】アニソン歌手が続々と活動休止･･･「アイドル的な人気がある声優が主題歌を歌ったほうがCDも売れる」
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