Ayaka’s First Message Still At No.1 In HMV Chart

I am truly amazed at Ayaka’s debut album’s staying power in Singapore’s HMV Japanese chart. Not even megastars such as Ayumi Hamasaki or Koda Kumi can challenge that. I am sure Ayumi’s Secret has reached #1 position some weeks ago but this couple of months old album still reigns.

I bought this album quite some time ago and what prompted me to do so was Ayaka’s voice. Japanese singers tend to have this higher than normal pitch (according to my buddy Tong Kiat – who worked in Japan before – Japanese girls tend to speak like that too in any normal day). Ayaka has this thick, powerful, and soulful voice that drew my attention when I first sampled her album. If I was to blur out the language, her vocal style is closer to the western music than her Japanese peers. Excellent control of her voice with beautifully executed accentuation and vibratos.

Now that is the good things about her. The album however has songs with uneven quality. Some songs are really good (like the one below called “I Believe”). Some songs are quite forgettable. When “First Message” was released in Japan, it was the highest selling album of the week as well as the highest selling debut album for a female artist in 7 years. Commercially it is quite an achievement.