A DOUBLE CELEBRATION!

Apparently, I forgot to celebrate this blog's anniversary last February 8, but there really is nothing stopping me from celebrating it a few days late, so... HOORAY! HAPPY 2ND ANNIVERSARY! 

 

But what makes this day more special is, of course, Mami Kawada's birthday! Go on and greet her on twitter!

For today, let's have a look-back on Mami's career to date.

With more than 11 years in the music industry, Mami's career is shining brighter than ever. Most of her fans may think she's not popular enough, I actually thought so too. However, what led to this conclusion was barely incomparative. Looking at her rank and her sales alone, one would really think she's not doing so good. Her recent album SQUARE THE CIRCLE ranked for only four weeks! And her sales are not so good too.

However, comparative analysis with other Japanese artists, or anison artists for that matter, sheds some light. You would actually notice that Mami is doing great both rank and sales-wise, compared to known artists like, say, Faylan or Minami Kuribayashi, or even the Animelo mainstay JAM Project. Apart from that, I've Sound music is not to everyone's liking. Their rock sound is not as mainstream as LiSA's hit single crossing field, perhaps. Their ballads are not as toned down as country-style music, characteristic of YUI. This gives even more challenge for Mami to rise up.

Musical style differences aside, popularity is unpredictable. Aoi Eir just recently debuted but her album was able to break into the top five. Nana Mizuki started out very low, but her career exponentially rose to great heights at some point later on. And more recently, Yuka Iguchi, with her Sat-produced single, debuted at #11 in the weeklies, a victory never attained by ALTIMA, produced by Sat too.

And looking at the bigger picture, Japan has now shifted its sight on either idol groups, or Korean artists and units. This shuns aside anison artists into the periphery. With all these into consideration, Mami Kawada IS popular enough. Her recent singles have been consistently in the top 15, she has been breaking through the NINKI charts, as well. She debuted at the famed Animelo just last year, and she has been a LisAni! mainstay. She was able to beat (somehow, or equal) in popularity her single JOINT (2007) with No buts! (2010). Who's to say she can't do that again? Take note that KOTOKO still failed to come up with a single that would match up with Re-sublimity (2004), which is probably the best I've-produced single to date, making it harder to beat.

In other words, Mami Kawada IS improving as an artist. And today, for her birthday, I wish her a solo Budokan live or an Anime Festival Asia (AFA) participation, or any live event outside of Japan, for that matter, someday. I also do wish her more anime tie-ups and eroge tie-ups as well!

Once again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMI KAWADA!