Let The Music Do The Talking

[CielOnTap]

North American fans of NHK's annual Red & White Song fest (67th) can watch this year's show on Dec. 30th at 5:15m ET or 2:15am PT on the TV Japan network.
http://www.tvjapan.net/en/category/?c=5

Which singers and groups will be on the show? See the team lists here: http://www.tokyohive.com/article/2016/11/performing-artists-for-67th-kohaku-announced

[CielOnTap]

While I have yet to see the Kohaku show that aired hours ago in Japan, I found a lovely commercial montage of various SMAP ads that the group did for SoftBank.
Wonderful way to thank the group for their work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3g6y3-iuX0

The band officially ended their activities on Dec. 31 in Japan.

Thankfully, the many television episodes of SMAP Bistro exist online-that was a fun concept showing the group as chefs and head waiter with various actors and singers from many lands.

[CielOnTap]

SMAP did not participate in the NHK Red & White show but did have a SMAP x SMAP 5h special that was mostly a retrospective of the group's activities and a final performance of a song.

http://www.tokyohive.com/article/2016/12/smap-put-an-end-to-their-career-with-final-smapsmap-episode

[CielOnTap]

Singer and actress Janet Jackson has become a mother of a son today. May she and her family know happiness together.

Ms.Jackson started a world tour at the start of 2016 before postponing then cancelling it altogether for medical reasons,
which she later disclosed in the year.

[deja vu]

I have been listening to Todd Rundgrens "something/anything" album. Haven't listened to his music in a very long time.

[dreamon]

Tina Turner - Proud Mary/Nutbush City Limits

That lady can sing and she can move. Wish I had seen her in concert.

[deja vu]

Another legend is Cher.

I did not watch the Billboard Music Awards, but I heard she rocked the show at 71.

https://youtu.be/k51oMxQzOsQ

https://youtu.be/N0M4xF61qBw

[CielOnTap]

The annual Kohaku Uta Gassen (Red & White) singing competition will be broadcast from Tokyo Japan on New Year's Eve. Here are the entertainers and singers you can look forward to:
http://www.tokyohive.com/article/2017/12/song-list-and-performance-order-for-68th-kohaku-uta-gassen-revealed
The program will feature a half-time show as well-Japanese link provided:
http://www1.nhk.or.jp/kouhaku/topics/topics_171227_1.html

If you are in Canada, you will need TV Japan service to see the original program or the re-broadcast.

Of special interest to Namie Amuro's fans, the singer will be participating as a special gueston this year's show! Ms. Amuro last was on the show in 2003.
Also, she has announced this September that is doing one more year of concerts and releasing one album prior to her September 16, 2018 retirement from the music industry. She's been in the business for 25 years.

[CielOnTap]

The annual NHK Red & White music variety show will feature Yoshiki and Sarah Brightman on Dec. 31!
https://www.facebook.com/events/260971977920430/

The lineup of performers for the show this year include (you may need to use Google Translation for the English list):
https://www.nhk.or.jp/kouhaku/artist/