BALLAD BATTLE: ayaka vs. Angela
It’s been a while since the last entry in this series, so this post has been long over do.
This time it’s a battle between two acoustic queens. One a tad bit “stuck” in the same instrument while the other is just kinda sick.
No more contestants will be added by the way and you guys may eventually be the ones to decide who the winner will be~ ;D
THE CONTESTANTS
- Hamasaki Ayumi
- Amuro Namie
- Utada Hikaru
- KOKIA
- Koda Kumi
- alan
- Otsuka Ai
- Nakashima Mika
- Angela Aki
- ayaka
- Onitsuka Chihiro
- Hirahara Ayaka
ROUND 4
Our fourth round brings us ayaka, an artist with a formidable voice and a wide variety of styles and Angela Aki, no doubt the queen of piano ballads.
The Ballads~
ayaka: Anata to | Blue Days | I believe | Eien no Monogatari | Mikazuki | Minna Sora no Shita | Jewelry day | Why | Mahoutsukai no Shiwaza | Te wo Tsunagou | Okaeri | Koi Kogarete Mita Yume
Angela Aki: Tegami ~Haikei Jugo no Kimi e~ | Somebody Stop Me | Dahlia | Tasogare | We’re All Alone | Kiss Me Good-Bye | Love Is Over Now | This Love | Onegai | HOME | Kagayaku Hito | Sakurairo | Ai no Uta, etc…
Bold tracks are my top 3 favorite ballads from the artist.
Aki’s stuff is about 95% piano driven. An exception is Kagayaku Hito, in which she switched out the piano for the guitar. Of course, Aki is an expert in piano, not to mention that she speaks perfect English, thus we get the occasional English track which is always nice.
ayaka on the other hand has everything from epic ballads to quiet, acoustic tracks. This mixed with her powerful voice offers a nice variety in the ballad field.
Analysis~
I will always say that epic ballads will reign supreme over any other kind. ayaka actually has what might be one of my top three favorite “epic ballads” and what I consider her best track by far. I could of also gone with songs like Why and Okaeri to show off just how powerful her voice is alone, but I wanted the total package.
As for Miss Angera, it will of course have to be a piano track. Instead of the “piano-only” songs she does, I find that her orchestra powered songs bring something fresh and simple to the table, a thing some artists can’t manage to pull-off.
ayaka has those powerhouse vocals and when accompanied by an absolutely flawless arrangement and musical craftsmanship, she delivers what I consider a legendary ballad in the J-Pop world.
However with ayaka, I believe is one of it’s own in her discography. She doesn’t have any other stuff similar to it, even though her variety is welcome. Now that she is on hiatus, a listener will instantly want her to release more similar material.
Angela delivers in what is the quantity of the type of ballads she does. If you love the piano and not to mention her soft and unique voice, then you will have a lot of goods to dig your claws into. I would like to see Angela pull of something different once in a while. She does the piano justice, but when will we get an epic Angela ballad?
The Winner~
It wasn’t too hard to decide who would reign supreme this time around. Her ballads are top notch and she is a legend in the J-Pop market. Deemed the “new Utada Hikaru”, our winner delivered to us beautiful music in the short time she was active. The winner is…
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ayaka!
Do you agree that ayaka is the better ballad maker? Who’s music do you prefer?
omg I love both to death but I think Angela’s ballads are better. The songs with the orchestral arrangements (Kiss Me Good-Bye, Dahlia, Haha Naru Daichi) are orgasmic. <3
I agree with Lex, I like Angela’s ballads more. HOME is just like gold in my ears; I love it so much :)
Thanks you for doing these comparisons keep them up! Is that the same Lex from BeyondtheSea?
Lol yea, that’s the same Lex. xD He’s a big fat lurker.
Sort of unrelated, but I think that Angela looks so awkward playing the piano in that MV. She definitely over-exagerates her movements… and couldn’t they have at least gotten her a bigger piano? The small one makes her seem even more awkward. – -” (her posture is a bit funny)
I prefer just listening to the song to watching the MV~
but anywho~
ayaka FTW XDDD
Ayaka is prettier than Angela but Angela has this very soothing voice. No doubt, these talented ladies will be famous not only in Japan but in the whole of Asia as well,
offer you both classy along with time period fewer lady dior Christian Dior handbags are generally