K-ON!!’s OP and ED Themes Soar to #2 and #3 on the Oricon Charts

By Chris Nguyen | Published: August 5, 2010

The K-ON! franchise is able to whip up a frenzy among buyers, and in doing so, they just cannot seem to stop selling CDs. With the release of the opening and ending singles, titled Utauyo!! MIRACLE and NO Thank You! respectively, the sales generated have propelled them to the #2 and #3 spots on the Oricon weeklies for the week ending on August 4, 2010.

The opening single, Utauyo!! MIRACLE, succeeded in placing #3 with sales numbering around 26,686 sold, while NO Thank You! managed a touch higher with 26,989 albums sold. Knowing the track record for these albums, it’s likely they’ll continue to stay on the charts for weeks down the line.

For those looking to purchase the albums, links to CDJapan are below:
Utauyo!! MIRACLE – Limited Edition | Regular Edition
NO Thank You! – Limited Edition | Regular Edition

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Gackpoid Vocaloid Voice Celebrates its 2nd Year!

By Chris Nguyen | Published: August 3, 2010

Though not quite as popular or well-known as his counterparts Miku Hatsune, the Kagamine twins, and Luka Megurine, Kamui Gakupo, better known to most Vocaloid enthusiasts out there as the sexy, aggressive Gackpoid, is celebrating his 2nd year of coming into being. The voice, taken from J-pop-rock singer Gackt, has been used in all sorts of creations, ranging from the heavy metal pieces composed by ROY to lighter fare like turnastudio’s qawsedrftgyhujikolp. Often looked upon as the Vocaloid team’s sexiest singer, now might be a good time to sample some of the songs that use his voice. You can check out some of the following below:

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Mahoraba Singer/Composer Bice Passes Away

By Chris Nguyen | Published: July 30, 2010

You might not have heard of Bice, but those who’ve seen Mahoraba ~Heartful Days~ may remember the sweet, charming music that played in the anime as well as the calm, soothing vocals that accompanied some of the BGM. Bice, who also goes by Anne, composed the score for Mahoraba’s anime and provided said vocals. Regretfully, she has passed away on Monday, June 26, from a heart attack.

In addition to Mahoraba, Bice also composed music for Kirarin Revolution as well as a live-action adaptation of a Yayoi Ogawa work.

Source: Natalie

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K-ON!! Vol. 2 Anime Soundtrack Release Date Set

By Chris Nguyen | Published: July 29, 2010

For those of you who’ve been having a blast listening to volume 1 of the K-ON!! Original Soundtrack, the soundtrack to the second season of the K-ON! anime, the second volume’s release date has been set. The CD will be out in stores on October 6, 2010. You can order the soundtrack on CDJapan.

Like with the previous album, volume 2 will continue to present Hajime Hyakkoku’s light-hearted compositions from the K-ON! anime series. Whether the album will come with a character song or two like the first volume did is unknown for now.

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Seiyuu Pop Group Sphere Concert Announced at Budokan

By Chris Nguyen | Published: July 28, 2010

Sphere, the pop group made up of seiyuu Aki Toyosaki, Haruka Tomatsu, Ayahi Takagaki, and Minako Kotobuki, have announced a concert at Budokan on November 23, 2010. The concert, ON LOVE, ON Live, will open their doors at 4:30pm and officially start at 5:30pm.

Anime music fans should be familiar with Sphere’s work given their debut single for Hatsukoi Limited’s intro, titled “Future Stream.” They’ve gone on to release “Super Noisy Nova” for Sora no Manimani, and, most recently, Asobi ni Ikuyo!’s “Now loading…Sky!!.” They also have a single set to be released in October for an anime premiering in Fall 2010.

Source: Sphere website via J1m0ne.

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