Rie Fu [Import]

1. Japanese Title

2. Beautiful Words

3. Somebody's World

4. 2cm

5. I So Wanted

6. Decay

7. Prayers And Melodies

8. Japanese Title

9. Voice

10. Japanese Title

11. Shine

12. Life Is Like A Boat

13. Interlude

14. Decay ( English Version)

Rie Fu,Rie Fu,Sony,World Music

Average customer rating: EXcellent Package this soundtrack is amazing!!! I wish I could give it 10 stars! Best Anime CD in awhile Greatest CD ever!

Bleach the Best Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Anime & Video Game Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Bleach V.2 Bleach Original Anime Soundtrack Eureka Seven Bleach, Volume 4: The Substitute (Episodes 13-16) Bleach, Volume 3: The Substitute (Episodes 9-12) ASIN: B000J4OYVI Release Date: 2006-12-25

Customer Reviews:

EXcellent Package.......2007-08-02

I usually don't pay this much for CDs but based on how unique an item I thought it was worth it. I have to say once I got it and saw for myself I am more then satisfied. The overall package is excellent and it all fits nicely in the case of really good quality you just don't see stuff like this in the states. You get the original songs and the DVD with the openings, which is great I was able to get the modified songs off the DVD to enjoy on my ipod along with the full versions so I can have a complete BLEACH play list very good deal.

this soundtrack is amazing!!!.......2007-07-25

I love this cd! It contains all the opening and ending themes from the anime, also it has a dvd of all the opening and ending videos plus a few pictures from it as well. My only complaint is that most american dvd players won't be able to play the dvd due to it being Japanese, but otherwise I absoulutly love the music and if you like any of the opening or ending themes to the show then this is the cd for you.

I wish I could give it 10 stars!.......2007-04-30

I bought Bleach the Best for the CD alone. The CD is wonderful!!!! My children and I love the songs and have a great time. In the car or doing dishes at home, this CD has music that gets you pumped to watch the series! The CD songs are the openings and closings for the show and it is great to hear them in their true form. The CD set I purchased from Amazon came with the DVD for Region 2 or for Japanese DVD players, pin-ups of the captians and Renji along with a booklet with the lyrics of the songs in Japanese. As far as I am concerned, it is worth every penny!

Best Anime CD in awhile.......2007-04-19

I love this CD! I watched the first 118 episodes of the show and grew to LOVE the theme songs. I wanted them so bad but Amazon has too high a price for this cd, so I bought it used from one of the sellers. I got the cd in perfect condition for half the listed price for a new one, and just wanted to comment on one of the previous feedbacks about the DVD issues.

First off, this listing is for the CD ONLY, at least for the used copies. There is another listing with the CD/DVD combo here on Amazon. So if you want the DVD as well, make sure to look at both listings carefully or you will pay the same price and only get half of the packege, unless you buy used.

But I do say that the price is worth it to fans of the show who are farther along then the english dubbed episodes, because many of the theme songs are from later episodes. Hope this helps anyone interested in the CD.

Greatest CD ever!.......2007-04-05

I love this CD so much. It's all I listen to right now. I play it in the car on the way to work and then put it into my computer and listen to it alla day at work. The artwork on the cover is very cool too. Well worth the price!

Average customer rating: Fresh as a Rose

Rose Album ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Riefu ASIN: B000EGCWGA Release Date: 2006-03-28

Customer Reviews:

Fresh as a Rose.......2006-10-01

In Japan, there are superstars who are worshipped so highly that it's shocking that most Americans have never heard of them. Still, for every Ayumi Hamasaki and Koda Kumi, there are artists like Rie Fu. Artists who consistently put out high quality music, but as a result of poor marketing and not being in synch with the popular music scene, they're not appreciated or even seen by most jpop fans. Rose Album is an example of a five star album that has sold abysmally. Rie Fu is an example of a truly talented artist that just needs a little more exposure.

Rie Fu is a singer songwriter as well as a talented guitarist and a pianist. Her music is almost always marked by an acoustic guitar. It's never too heavy but never too commercial. Her songs are typically half in English (a result of going to a prestigious music school in England) and half in Japanese. "Sono mama de," the opening track is a perfect example of that, a laid back opener that weaves seamlessly between two languages. Rie's voice' although not stunning, can carry a tune better than many of the better selling artists in the jpop industry. The next track is "5 minutes," a faster pace song where Rie describes rushing through her morning routine and trying not to linger on certain thoughts in her head. The song is completely in English and the lyrics are actually quite good. Another good example of an "all English" song is the next one, "Funny Dream," one of my favorite songs on the album. It starts off with Rie singing alone in front of a quick catchy piano beat. As the song continues, other elements are added in including instruments with a distinct Middle Eastern feel. These instruments are quite interesting when compared to the lyrics which make a reference to waiting for a train in London.

From here we go to "I wanna go to a place," which was actually one of the singles that preceded this album. It is easily one of the strongest pieces on the album, a gorgeous laid back ballad that couples an acoustic guitar with a string quartet, and English and Japanese lyrics. From there we hear something completely different, with the bluesy "Realize." The next song "Tiny, Tiny Melody," another single, is quite catchy and rather cute. "Conversation" is another all English song. The atmosphere is very laid back as Rie Fu speaks of the difficulty of trying to strike up a conversation with someone important to her.

"They always talk about" is another incredibly strong song with compelling English lyrics. Although this song was only a B-side before the album came out, it really has the strength to stand on its own. "Kiss U Goodbye" is another Bluesy track like "Realize." The next track "Vintage Denim" is one of the gentlest and most stripped down tracks on the album. The lyrics are quite sober but it's a very relaxing track. The last three tracks are all quite different in tone. "Rose" being a mid-tempo pop track, "Long, Long Way (Album version)" is another gentle relaxing ballad, and "negaigoto" as a wonderful piano ballad reminiscent of "Life is a Boat."

All of the tracks on this album are incredibly strong and listenable. Anyone who loves music that is simple and just plain good will love this album.

Average customer rating: Thoughtful and Soulful Talented performer for such a young age! *Insert title here* (This should NOT be a required field...)

Riefu Rie Fu Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rose Album Rose Album From Me to You Fullmetal Alchemist The Movie - The Conqueror of Shamballa Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Vol. 2 ASIN: B0006TPI1G Release Date: 2005-01-31

Tracks:

1. Japanese Title
2. Beautiful Words
3. Somebody's World
4. 2cm
5. I So Wanted
6. Decay
7. Prayers And Melodies
8. Japanese Title
9. Voice
10. Japanese Title
11. Shine
12. Life Is Like A Boat
13. Interlude
14. Decay ( English Version)

Customer Reviews:

Thoughtful and Soulful.......2007-06-28

Rie Fu is perhaps most widely known for "Life is Like a Boat" used in the first season of Bleach. I was enchanted by that one and felt the same way about almost every track on the album.

Her sound is generally soft and adagio, contemporary, largely acoustic, heavy on the piano. Her lyrics are about 50% English, usually whole verses or songs, not random snippets of Engrish, so those who don't speak Japanese can appreciate her philosophical depth as well as her gentle music and calming voice. I compare her to Dido, Norah Jones, and the softer side of Alanis Morisette.

Talented performer for such a young age!.......2007-02-04

I liked the song "Life is like a Boat" from the ending of the early episodes of the "Bleach" anime. I looked up the artist, and read about her some. She's quite a talent, and writes unusual songs with a combination of English and Japanese. Not just the odd word like some songs have for anime and such, but an almost seamless switching of phrases and verses.

The long version of the "Boat" song is there, and I found that I like many of the other songs on the album as well. Something I don't often find when listening to singers who do anime. This one is different, more of a selection that made it into an anime, than someone linked to the genre. I've got a lot of anime albums that are just a waste of money, but this one is solid.

I think I read Rie Fu is currently studying in England at some advanced music or performing arts school. I look forward to more albums from this talented artist.

*Insert title here* (This should NOT be a required field...).......2005-05-29

Ahem. Sorry about the title-field rant. Anyway, disclaimer: Imports from Japan are so expensive that I wouldn't buy one without listening to some samples first, and definitely not based on a review alone!

With that said...

I've lived in Japan for ten months, and "Rie Fu" one of only three albums I've paid full price for. Keep in mind, I have the option of -renting- CDs here. But I wanted to own this one myself, and it was too new to be in the used CD shops in my area. So I went ahead and splurged on the full price.

End testimonial, onto the review - Rie Fu studied in London, so her English is almost perfect (they're a couple clunkers in pronunciation and writing, but they're more than forgivable.) The album itself is heavy on the English. Three songs are entirely in English, and eight are bilingual, with enough English that it's translated on the side for native Japanese speakers. Only two are predominantly Japanese.

Since it's not listed at the time I'm posting this review, here's the track listing:

1) Waratte, Megumi No Moto E
2) Beautiful Words
3) Somebody's World
4) 2 cm
5) I So Wanted
6) Decay
7) Prayers & Melodies
8) Ame No Hi Ga Sukitte Omotte Mitai
9) Voice (Album Version)
10) Tsuki No Ue (Jamming version) [ <--in the title, and no, I don't know what that's supposed to mean, since it doesn't exactly "jam"]
11) Shine
12) Life is Like a Boat
13) ~interlude~ (instrumental)
14) Decay (English Version)

I'm not sure who to compare her to, but Rie Fu definitely fits the singer/song writer mold, which I'd also say means she's not like a typical Jpop artist (Ayumi Hamasaki, Mai Kuraki, BoA, even Hikaru Utada - I'm not judging their styles, but they all have a much more mainstream sound than Rie Fu.)

Much of the instrumentation is piano or guitar. Her voice is not particularly strong, but it is pleasant - a touch girlish but not as much as other artists - and she doesn't try to strain or push beyond her ability. Her lyrics are often simple but sweet poetry. From Beautiful Words: "The wind could carry all the labor away/in spite of my exertions it's not real to me." Tsuki no Ue: "Silent stars shine in the sky/I wonder the reason why/Every time I try to sing, they/sparkle in my eyes." Life is Like a Boat: "And every time I see your face/the oceans heave up to my heart/you make me wanna strain at the oars/and soon I can see the shore."

Apologies that my rudimentary Japanese is not good enough to judge the Japanese lyrics myself yet. For whatever it's worth, one of my friends, who is strongly on the intermediate level, likes them.

Once again, I'd try to find some samples before ordering. Also, I wouldn't order based on "Life Is Like a Boat" simply because it's the standout. But if you find her latest single "I Wanna Go to a Place" - different album, but the sound is comparable to the first - and like both it and "Life is Like a Boat," that's probably a good indicator that you'll like the album.

And by the way, good luck budgeting to supplement your Jpop collection. ^_~

Average customer rating: Very edgy Punk-Pop

Love Jam Ai Otsuka Manufacturer: Avex Trax ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Love Punch ASIN: B00069BL8K Release Date: 2004-11-17

Album Description

Japanese pressing of the J-pop star's sophomore album. 2004.

Album Details

DVD is NTSC, Region Code 2.

Customer Reviews:

Very edgy Punk-Pop.......2007-03-10

No Western pop singing female artist would or could ever release an album like this. For starters, it covers too many bases - from songs accompanied by an orchestra and grand piano to outright Punk rock à la Shonen Knife/The Ramones and then onto modern Electronica (which is the style I prefer).

Ai Otsuka has a sweet clear voice and she does sing with quite a lot of style and a very agreeable sense of phrasing. Otsuka-san does NOT go in for the irritating, pointless and aimless vocalisations of the current crop of American pop stars (like Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and Christine Aguilera) and she contents herself to sing her songs simply and with expression.

Perhaps if Ai Otsuka sang in English or was an American she'd be a major star? Maybe not. She isn't caught up in the dreary pop clichés tediously exhibited the current crop of musically jejune Western female pop artists.

Average customer rating:

Negaigoto Rie Fu Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000A3H6MC Release Date: 2005-09-05

Album Description

Japanese pressing includes a bonus postcard jacket for the first pressing. Sony. 2005.

Average customer rating:

Tsuki Akari ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000P28RC6 Release Date: 2007-05-29

Average customer rating:

5000 Mile ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000STC8GM Release Date: 2007-09-11

Average customer rating:

Tiny Tiny Melody Rie Fu Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000E1P2IA Release Date: 2006-03-20

Tracks:

1. Tiny Tiny Melody
2. Long Long Way

Average customer rating:

Until I Say ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000FWGT6M Release Date: 2006-08-01

Average customer rating:

Rose Album ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Riefu ASIN: B000EGCWG0 Release Date: 2006-03-28

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