Remember those "greatest hits" or "compilation CDs" back in the day? If you've got a bit of memory, you probably saw them everywhere in record stores. They'd pack all the chart-topping hits onto one disc, letting you binge-listen to your heart's content. Before music streaming took over, this was a pretty popular move!
Fast forward to today, and an X user in Japan just stumbled upon a "BEST J-POP 2000-2004" CD at Daiso. Not only did it give off major "bootleg chic" vibes, but it turned out to be a cover album! Naturally, they couldn't resist buying it to give it a listen, and this hilarious discovery quickly sparked a buzz online.
This is the CD in question. The original poster (OP) noted that every single track isn't by the original artist, but rather a "cover version" sung by unknown vocalists. From MONGOL800's "Chiisana Koi no Uta" to 19 other hits, this 20-song collection was sitting right there in Daiso. Curiosity got the better of them, and they bought it to give it a full listen.
Looking at the tracklist, it's pretty much a pure Heisei-era throwback, packed with huge hits from that time – pure nostalgia fuel! (And get this, the bottom right corner even says Made in Taiwan!)
Of course, the OP's reviews are absolutely savage! 175R's "Sora ni Utaeba" was described as "losing 30% of the original's essence, with bass so exaggerated it sounds like you're eavesdropping from outside a karaoke bar." THE HIGH-LOWS' "Seishun," with its fuzzy guitar riff, was hilariously dubbed "like a real-life high school girl band," making you want to cheer them on.
Ai Otsuka's "Sakuranbo" got a backhanded compliment: "The only flaw is that Ai Otsuka herself isn't singing," highlighting just how crucial the original artist's presence is. But the real "disaster" award went to Kishidan's "One Night Carnival." With a female vocalist, it was deemed "completely unsuitable," sounding like "a cheap performance at a local hostess club 20 years ago."
On the flip side, Porno Graffitti's "Agehacho" and Remioromen's "3gatsu 9ka" were surprisingly recommended. The former was "unexpectedly a good fit," while the latter sounded like "a middle-aged female teacher singing to students at a graduation ceremony," surprisingly heartwarming.
The OP summed it up: "Since it's mostly karaoke-style backing tracks with unknown singers, the whole album's charm lies in *how* they sing it. Recommended tracks are 'Agehacho,' '3gatsu 9ka,' and 'Seishun,' but 'One Night Carnival' is truly tragic."
Netizens went wild, with comments like: "The review is so vivid, now I actually want to hear it!" "It should be a trash CD, but the review makes me want to collect it," "Total Heisei nostalgia trip," and "Suddenly, these mysterious cover albums seem unexpectedly fun, lol!"
Sure enough, after seeing the OP's hilarious take, some netizens immediately rushed to Daiso to grab a copy themselves! XD
While the sound quality and vocal performances might be a mixed bag, this track-by-track review unexpectedly turned a Daiso cover album that might have been gathering dust into an internet sensation – making countless people want to seek out this mysterious collectible!
via： togetter