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ALAN THE WORLD #4

Singer and AneCan model alan: her present, past & future.

My best album will be released on 2 March ♫ It features the singles I’ve released so far and also several new songs. It’s very economical (laughs). I sing songs nowadays, but I didn’t practice singing until I entered university. Starting elementary school I specialized in playing an instrument called the erhu. My mother is a singer and I would be taught how to play at her friend’s house.

I didn’t want to play the erhu at first. I wanted to have fun. Playing the erhu is difficult. It only has two strings. I was unhappy when I had to walk to my teacher’s house while carrying such a big instrument. But because my mother would scarily say ‘Go!’, so I really had no choice but to go.

But playing the erhu became fun when it started to sound the way I wanted it to sound. I started to feel that I had to keep trying. Once I start to think like that, I keep trying until I perfect something. When I entered a school specialized in music at the age of ten, I got first place at the erhu exam! I believe that if you keep trying and push on, good thing will happen.

When I was 18 and had started vocal training at my university, there was a Japanese audition. I love J-pop! I really wanted to enter when a friend told me, “It’s the company that Hamasaki Ayumi and Namie Amuro are signed to.” Confidence? I didn’t have any. I wanted to try singing before the judges and listen to their advice. I wanted to know myself. So I wasn’t really thinking about debuting in Japan.

I went straight to the audition after my classes were over. I was still wearing my school uniform. I sang Namie-san’s NEVER END first. But I didn’t know any Japanese so I probably ended up singing something completely different (laughs). After that I sang Natsukawa Rimi-san’s Nada Sou Sou while playing the erhu. I was more confident in playing the erhu that in singing at that time.

I love to listen to different music genres. Like Beyonce or Mariah Carey. Lady Gaga’s ideas for her songs, outfits and PV’s are great. But the songs I sing have a ballad feel. Not a dance feel. I do want to challenge new things, but I think that the things that I like, that I can do and that fit me vary from each other. I don’t want to change drastically, but I want to show a new side of me while changing myself step by step. I want to sing songs that resound in the hearts of a lot of people.

It’s up to me. I have to grasp my own chances. If I hadn’t wanted to audition on that day then I wouldn’t be who I am today. I also feel that the current me is here thanks to the erhu. My past self did a great job! (laughs)

+ Interview

Quote :

alan will release a best album filled with the splendour of her 3-year journey!

A compilation of my work so far, and the future me

Q: Three years have passed since your debut. How do you feel about releasing your first best album?
“I feel have been able to do well so far (laughs). If people hadn’t supported me, I wouldn’t be here now. I am truly grateful to everyone here in Japan!”

Q: What do you feel when you hear recordings of yourself singing in your debut days?
“I remember a lot of things from when I first arrived in Japan… The trouble of not being able to understand Japanese, and the loneliness of having no friends nearby. I often worried whether I really should’ve come to Japan in those days. I’m impressed by myself when I think about all the things I have learned to do by myself (laughs). And I have grown to love the Japanese language!”

Q: What song would you perform for the readers of Anecan if you could?
“Swear maybe. Try to relax and listen to it when you feel pressured or busy and tired!”

Q: Your best album has a mini album with four new songs. What kind of contents does it have?
“The four new songs show a new alan! Rather than keeping the image a heavenly angel, I want people to feel me more closely, like a friend of sister. I also want to release songs that are easy for everyone to sing along to!”

Q: Have you grown used to the Japanese language?
“I think I am able to speak and read Japanese quite well nowadays. I have also learned the pronunciation and where to punctuate. It’s become easier to put my feelings into my songs. And I constantly speak Japanese during MCs at live performances.”

Q: What creative aspect are you trying to improve?
“I have started to create songs lately! I sit in front of the piano and try to play freely. And when a good melody appears, I let the producer(s) listen to it ♪”

I don’t want to keep the image of a heavenly angel. I want people to feel me more closely, like a friend of sister.

Q: When did you feel that you wanted to change yourself the most?
“Now (laughs). I have always been a tomboy but I want to become a more graceful girl in the inside.”

Q: Which song changed your life?
“I have a special place in my heart for my debut song Ashita e no Sanka because that song was my first step as a singer. The message that I have wanted to bring across since my debut is the message of love and peace. The lyrics in this song, such as ‘black water’ and ‘endless ash’, illustrate the things that are wrong in the world. At the hook of the song I sing ‘utae’ as if to blow all those bad things away. I also use my trademark, the Tibetan Wail, a lot in this song.”

Q: What songs do you love to listen to lately?
“Nishino Kana-san’s Best Friend, AKB48-san’s Aitakatta, Nakashima Mika-san’s Ichiban Kirei Na Watashi Wo, Leona Lewis-san’s I See You and the remake of We Are The World. These 5 songs come to mind right now.”

Q: What are your favourite artists?
“Namie Amuro-san, Beyonce-san and Mariah Carey-san.”

Q: With which artists would you like to work together?
“Charice-san. Her skills as a vocalist are great! It would be nice to sing together as two Asian artists.”

Q: What live performances have influenced you?
“Andrea Bocelli-san performance. He became blind in his childhood, but he refused to give up on his dreams and became a tenor singer. His voice resounds in your heart and really touches people!”

Q: What do you want to try doing as an artist?
“I want to try starring in a musical! I have always loved musicals. Last year I went to see Takarazuka and Circle du Soleil, and I was really impressed. It’s difficult to sing and act at the same time, but I want to improve my power of expression.”

...Musical star O.o;

"I don’t want to keep the image of a heavenly angel" - I guess you're gonna have to stop calling her goddess, pompom XD

omg omg omg she loves kana <3
and she can be goddess and friendly too, at the same time. I dont think that she can hide that pureness or I dont know how to call it.
who would tell that too talented alan loves not so talented namie amuro lol.
Im sorry I dont mean to offend her fans lol :) I like her songs too but I cant picture namie anything more than 'dance-queen' and 'funsongs queen'.

Wow Alan singing with Charice that would be awesome I would faint. lolz

A goddess can be like a sister too

But thanks so much for translating!!!

alan the celestial sister.

I wont that alan will come be like BoA, After I did think that BoA looks soo "Virginal" (My way for say how looks Boa), now I think that looks so self-centric.

Now, alan´s way can be described as "a big innocence", That can be the most important thing that she have and I hope never lose her innocence

Piscislove27 wrote:

Now, alan´s way can be described as "a big innocence", That can be the most important thing that she have and I hope never lose her innocence

I agree, I would be so hurt if she started being Koda Kumi ver 2 lol

Xiao_Hua wrote:

Piscislove27 wrote:

Now, alan´s way can be described as "a big innocence", That can be the most important thing that she have and I hope never lose her innocence

I agree, I would be so hurt if she started being Koda Kumi ver 2 lol

or singing a "Eat you up" cover lol

Haha the closest she got to 'sexy' was Diamond's covers XD...no worries for now!

yes, looks sexy in Diamond´s cover , Specially the image at my avatar



(loves this clip xD)

;___; I've been feeling in interviews she gives lately how she feels like a friend, or a sister... so I guess she's accomplishing that much! <3 oh alan, you're so sweet and determined.

That's why I love her so much...even if she's a star, she still never forget her roots and still remain so down-to-earth

Nice article.

Thanks for translating

I love this column and the interview!♥ Thank you for always translating them, Tenshi!

alan always comes off as being very modest and down-to-earth, it's so refreshing to see.

tenshi no hane wrote:

I don’t want to keep the image of a heavenly angel. I want people to feel me more closely, like a friend of sister.

everytime I hear alan's sister it always reminds me of Pommy LOL

Thanks for the translation, tenshi!