Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

Super Anime Remix Super Best
Release Date: 7/22/09
Price: 2857 yen

First of all, that title is ridiculously redundant. Second, the font looks exactly like the font EMI used to use for their Dancemania “Super Best” releases.

Although it looks like there are a lot of repeats, a few of the songs seem to have new vocalists. It’s unclear of the tracks will be remixed as well, but it’s doubtful. After all, when Akiba Koubou did a Nagisa version of “Sousei no Aquarion” it was just the Haruka version with Nagisa’s vocals instead. 🙁

By the way, it seems that Dreamusic will be hosting a ParaPara competition of their own. Details at the SAR Official Site.

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egg ParaPara Compilation
Release Date: 9/30/09
Price: 2800 yen

CD+DVD release from Avex. egg is a Japanese magazine focusing on overly tanned girls and their respective fashions. No preliminary tracklist yet, but expect eurobeat and lots of it.

Pre-order at CDJapan.

Natsu Monogatari presents Wa Euro Best
Release Date: 8/5/09
Price: 1886 yen

The official Dancemania website has been updated with info on Wa Euro Best. The track list they have up has “Samishii Nettaigyo,” which appeared on Natsu Monogatari 2008, in place of “Ginga Tetsudou 999.” However, I think that’s a typo, as HMV lists “Ginga Tetsudou 999.” Other than that, not much new info, except for the announcement that the release will come with a lyrics booklet.

Actually, there is one bit of surprising news: DIGITAL DOWNLOADS! A Wa Euro Best “Download Selection” will be available shortly after the CD release. Judging by the title, not all of the tracks will be available, but this will still be the first time that EMI have digitally offered full versions of Dancemania tracks. No word yet on which tracks will be available for download. It’s just a shame EMI didn’t start doing this with Natsu Monogatari 2009 or Hime Trance Anime Mix.

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Natsu Monogatari presents Wa Euro Best
Release Date: 8/5/09
Price: 1886 yen

Somehow the final list looks even worse than the preliminary one. We’re only getting six new tracks. In fact, it’s really only 5 since the “Red Monster Hyper Mix” of “Banzai” is essentially the same as the Mocchi edit. Another one of the “new” tracks is an existing eurobeat remix of Nagisa’s “Come On.” There are three new anime covers that haven’t appeared anywhere else, though, plus the new Rumi Itabashi song.

There are only 20 tracks in all, so we should get fairly lengthy edits of each. A shame Misa’s “Natsu Monogatari” didn’t make it onto the final list. It would’ve been nice to hear the full second verse of the Eurobeat version.

The cover is looking pretty good, though they probably should’ve had a cartoon “Hime” version of Rumi on the cover to trick people into thinking it was part of the Hime Trance series. Heck, why not just call it Hime Euro?

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Natsu Monogatari presents Wa Euro Best
Release Date: 8/5/09
Price: 1886 yen

Interesting discussion going on at ParaParaStage. It seems that DJ Yosshi, the producer of the Natsu Monogatari series, may be forced to retire if Wa Euro Best doesn’t sell well. Seeing as how Natsu Monogatari is basically the only thing keeping the Dancemania brand alive, this is very dire news. If DJ Yosshi goes, then we can say goodbye to Natsu Monogatari 2010 and effectively to Dancemania as well.

According to the thread, Wa Euro Best either has to A) Sell 10,000 copies or B) Place in the Oricon Top 100. The first thing is pretty unlikely, especially if it’s true that he wants it to sell that much in a week. As for placing in the Top 100, let’s take a look at the history of Summer Story’s highest chart placements:

Natsu Monogatari 2007 – 82
Natsu Monogatari 2008 – 162
Natsu Monogatari 2009 – 215

Yeah, not looking all that great. Super Eurobeat hasn’t even broken the top 100 since SEB 190, and the last eurobeat FARM compilation to do well was VIP Hybrid (139th place). The latest Love Para didn’t even break the top 300. 🙁

What sales are necessary to get into the Top 100? Well, it varies. Last week, the 100th album sold a little under 1,500 copies. However, a few weeks ago #100 only sold 1,000 copies. So, somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 copies is the bare minimum for Wa Euro Best to reach the Top 100.

Remember, CDJapan has a coupon for 500 yen off a 3,000 yen order. If you have any interest in seeing Dancemania continue, please consider buying Wa Euro Best.

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Buchiage Parance #9 (Haishin Gentei Mix)
Release Date: 7/8/09
Price: 1905 yen

Victor Japan aren’t usually known for putting their albums up for download, so this comes as a bit of a surprise. The track list is mostly the same as the physical release, except with 5 tracks omitted (Caramelldansen and a few Zipang tracks, so no big loss). It’s unknown if the downloads will be of full versions or if it’ll be another non-stop mix. I’m crossing my fingers for full versions; the 2 bad techno mix of “Iteza” is 2 good.

Edit: It looks like the digital release has been canceled. 🙁

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Speed Anime M@ster ~Anison Master~*
Release Date: 6/24/09
Price: 1900 yen

This came out a few days ago, but for those still on the fence, someone has uploaded an album medley to YouTube. A different brand of euro than usual, but there’s some mighty fine hyper techno near the end. All of the art you see in the video is included in the booklet, by the way.

The list above below isn’t quite complete, as it turns out. Apparently there are three secret bonus tracks.

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Natsu Monogatari presents Wa Euro Best
Release Date: 8/5/09
Price: 1886 yen

Wow, we’re getting more than one Dancemania release this year. O_O The title translates to Summer Story presents J-Euro Best, which can only mean one thing: repeats. It’s mostly old Akiba Koubou stuff, with some Misa and pachislot songs thrown in for good measure.

We are getting a few new Akiba Koubou songs, though. “Ai wo Torimodose” and “Cat’s Eye” have yet to appear on any other compilations. And though it’s not listed here, there’s also supposed to be a new Rumi Itabashi song titled “True Love Forever.” I’m crossing my fingers for new Misa as well.

Who knows? Maybe if this sells well they’ll release an Italo-Euro Best. They have just enough new Italian-produced eurobeat from the last few years to fill a compilation.

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Nagisa Desu*
Artist: Nagisa
Release Date: 8/5/09
Price: 952 yen

The J-Euro queen will release her first CD through Akiba Records later this summer. The CD will be a mini-album featuring her most popular songs as well as her newest hit, “Step, U darling.”

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Speed Anime M@ster ~Anison Master~*
Release Date: 6/24/09
Price: 1900 yen

Formerly known as “Super Anime Beat,” the title has since changed to “Speed Anime M@ster.” Nothing on the early list made it to the final one, and it looks like Quake’s artists may not involved. Additionally, Akiba Koubou will be contributing quite a few tracks. So, basically, none of the details I mentioned for “Super Anime Beat” ended up being true. Damn you, Victor.

Despite the name change it does look like eurobeat is still the primary focus. Kei finally returns to Victor compilations with two new eurobeat covers. As mentioned, some tracks are licensed from Akiba Koubou, but they haven’t been repeated too extensively. I’m not entirely sure who produced the other tracks, but the artists are, umm, “idols.”

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Super Anime Remix presents Techno Pop
Release Date: 6/17/09
Price: 2381 yen

At first glance it looks like there are a lot of repeats, but I’m fairly sure these are all new tracks or remixes. It appears that all of the tracks will be full-length versions. They better be if there are only 12 tracks in all.

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Super Anime Remix Best
Release Date: 7/22/09
Price: 2857 yen

The first SAR came out less than a year ago, yet Dreamusic have already deemed it necessary to do a best-of release. Because everyone was really clamoring to hear “Sousei no Aquarion” again. That said, at least it has Tugumi’s excellent cover of “Naraku no Hana.”

I’m not entirely sure what the two CDs will have. My best guess is that both will be non-stop mixes. Meanwhile, the DVD will contain ParaPara routines for the most overexpos– err, best Akiba Koubou songs.

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Around 40 Eurobeat
Release Date: 7/22/09
Price: 2381 yen

R40 is a relatively new Japanese term that’s short for “Around 40.” Basically, it refers to people who are around the age of 40. The term is used to market items to people in a specific age group. For instance, a couple of years ago EMI released a compilation titled Disco R35 that featured music that people in their 30’s grew up with (80’s music, for the most part).

R40 Eurobeat features classic 80’s eurobeat that’s been repeated again and again and again on other compilations. It’d be cool if EMI remixed these like they did with the classics on the Happy Paradise series, but it seems they’re far more content going the cheap route.

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Super Anime Remix Touge stage 2
Release Date: 5/27/09
Price: 2381 yen

I was excited to hear that Red Monster would be back with a new collaboration with Tugumi, but I never would have imagined that the duo would be taking on my favorite anime theme, “Naraku no Hana”!! I’m also a big fan of “Uninstall” and, of course, “Glamorous Sky.” I really like “Shangri-La,” too, but didn’t need to hear it repeated again.

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Dancemania presents Natsu Monogatari 2009 supported by 9LoveJ (CD+DVD)
Release Date: 6/10/09
Price: 3000 yen

Akiba Koubou! Akyr! Saifam! Ventura! LED!!! The final list for Natsu Monogatari 2009 has a surprising amount of diversity. Sure, it’s still mostly Anime covers and J-Euro, but there’s enough variety to keep me interested. Plus, no psychedelic!

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