Aoyama Thelma – Emotions [2nd Studio Album]
Aoyama Thelma’s 2nd studio album, entitled Emotions, was released on 09.09.09. The singles included on the album are 届けたい… and 忘れないよ.
The album’s introduction is pretty pointless, just featuring Thelma walking along sidewalk with the sound of heels filling most of the track. Then some music comes in and she does some vocalizations. It really wasn’t necessary and did not need to be put on the album.
The second track on the album is 忘れないよ. The song begins with a soft midtempo instrumental that gives a very calming feeling to the listener and establishes the atmosphere of the song quite nicely. She sings “yet I still belive in you” and there’s such emotion in her that really catches the ear and starts things off perfectly. She continues to sing with smooth vocals and emotion, making the song a good listen until the chorus. There’s a magical feeling in the instrumentation that shines, bringing the feeling of distance to life. It’s a very pretty song and is a very strong first full track.
Following is the cute and happy song, Happiness. The song starts off with part of the chorus and there’s a sparking sweetness that comes frmo the instrumentation. Again, it’s a midtempo number but it stands out from the last one as there’s a real feeling of true happiness that comes out. During the verses, there are points where her voice sounds too high and awkward but she stays pretty well throughout, vocally. It may be a little cheesy but it’s cute and it’s nice to see her give a different side to a slow song.
二人の約束の日 is the fourth song on the album. It’s yet another midtempo number and this time a sorrowful feeling arises with the beautiful sounds of the piano. There’s nothing really about this track that makes it super memorable or stand out from her other slow songs. As usual, the music is pretty and so are her vocals but it’s not enough to really wow the listener.
The next track, I’m Sorry, picks up the pace a little bit. The song opens up with the piano and this time, the beat is much more clear. There is almost a coldness in her voice as she sings in the first verse, really standing out to the listener. The chorus is much more upbeat and actually a good moment to dance to. Yet the emotions still are rushing through like a flood, making for an interesting combination. She ends it perfectly with her deep and smooth vocals as she sings “I’m sorry…” The pure instrumental section sounds really cool and is definitely one of the song’s standout points. I’m Sorry may not be the most groundbreaking song but it shines on Emotions.
KEEP ON is the next song. It starts off with a funky instrumental that makes the listener want to dance along and then Thelma starts singing the first verse. As usual, her vocals are smooth and carry over the music strongly. There is this attitude in her voice that is reminiscent of Don’t Stop. The problem with the song is that the instrumentation pretty much stays the same throughout, making it a little tiring for the listener. Overall the song would have been much better if the music got spiced up here and there.
素直になれなくて is the following song and it brings the atmosphere back down. Beginning the song is part of the chorus and there is a lot of vulnerability in her vocals, which makes the listener want to keep going. On the first verse, her vocals are very pretty and portray a lot of emotion. Her voice is perfectly complimented by the mellow atmosphere of the music. It’s a great song and definitely one of the more memorable songs on Emotions.
KEN THE 390 joins Thelma for 届けたい…Back when it was released as a single, it wasn’t very memorable and it still doesn’t have that magic that warrants many listens. It’s just another one of Thelma’s ballads that are nice but nothing special.
Baby, I Love You continues the string of dull numbers as it’s yet another slow song that fits the Thelma formula. Much like the last track, there’s just no spark to make it pop and stay in the listener’s head.
Up next is the upbeat and cool LOOK. Finally she goes for something upbeat and there’s just something entrancing about the instrumentation. It actually shines over her vocals and just draws the listener into the world of the song. Although there are some strange cartoon noises that pop out quite frequently. Despite being a pretty repetitive song, it’s nice since it’s different and provides the album with a little balance.
Thelma joins VERBAL for the semifinale, WANNA COME AGAIN. It follows the coolness of the previous track and has an aggressiveness in the instrumentation that isn’t very common in her songs. As usual, VERBAL delivers his coolness with his great voice and spices things up. The chorus is a little disappointing since it feels like she’s almost out of breath. Overall though, the song is definitely one of the gems of the album and is worth a listen.
Of course the album ends on a slow note with Cinderella Story. It’s another generic track that isn’t even worth a listen.
Album Ranking: C +
Although it’s true that Thelma can deliver some great ballads, she needs to experiment more with her music. She has done some great upbeat songs in the past (MADONNA and Don’t Stop) and it’s baffling as to why they’re never A-sides. Since all of the singles are pretty much ballads, the album tracks need to create a balance and that’s not what happened here. Also, the flow is pretty bad, distracting the listener from the overall package.
5 Most Memorable Tracks: WANNA COME AGAIN (featuring VERBAL) / I’m Sorry / LOOK / 忘れないよ / 素直になれなくて
Aoyama Thelma – 忘れないよ [7th Single]
Aoyama Thelma’s 7th single, entitled 忘れないよ, was released on 08.05.09. The title track was used as the theme song to Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale.
忘れないよ is a pretty slow song. The song begins with a pretty and very natural sounding instrumental before going into the first verse. Thelma sings “can I still believe in you?” and there’s a lot of emotion packed into that line so the listener instantly is curiosu about what is to come. She continues to provide smooth and sweet vocals over the music, letting the emotions flow. Unfortunately, the chorus falls flat on those expectations. Nothing really changes, neither the instrumentation or the vocal strength so it feels a little boring. It’s nice but it’s not the most engaging song and comes to be just another one of Thelma’s ballads.
On the other hand, Don’t Stop picks up the energy and shows off Thelma’s cool side. The image has a real coolness to it and Thelma’s vocals really give an attitude that sounds great. It’s reminiscent of MADONNA and it’s always confusing as to why Thelma doesn’t choose these very strong B-sides over the more uninteresting A-sides.
In order to promote the single, a PV for 忘れないよ was made. The video is nothing special, mostly featuring scenes from the film as well as Thelma in a dark place. It’s not very interesting but it fits the theme of the song nicely.
Single Ranking: B
Don’t Stop really should have been promoted to A-side status since it shows a different side of Thelma and what she can really do. It’s nice to have a certain sound but it’s getting to be old for her and she needs to switch it up on these A-sides.
Aoyama Thelma – 届けたい… featuring KEN THE 390 / このまま ずっと [6th Single]
Aoyama Thelma’s 6th single, entitled 届けたい… featuring KEN THE 390 / このまま ずっと, was released on 03.11.09. The first A-side is a reponse song to KEN THE 390’s song 届けたくて… featuring Aoyama Thelma. このまま ずっと is a recut song from her recent love song collection LOVE ~ThelmaLoveSong Collection.~
届けたい… is a sweet love song. The song begins with a soft piano based instrumental and there is this sort of clicking that really doesn’t belong with the whole atmosphere of the song. Thelma then sings a few lines and her vocals are so delicate and filled with love that the listener can’t help but feel her emotions. It’s already obvious that the rapping is going to sound out of place later in the song when KEN THE 390 does a few bars. He has a nice voice but it just doesn’t compliment the music very well. Thelma continues to sound good on the verses, providing smooth and sleek vocals. She sounds a bit too low on some parts of the chorus but overall she does a pretty good job. As predicted, KEN THE 390 sounds completely out of place when he delivers his raps. Overall, this song would have been a lot better without KEN THE 390 but it’s certainly not a bad song.
このまま ずっと was a memorable song from the album for its uplifting and happy feeling. The song starts off with the chorus and Thelma’s vocals stay more in the higher range, which stand out to the listener and solidify that sweet atmosphere. A story is told througout the course of the song as there is a true feeling of nostalgia that comes through on the verses. When the chorus comes in, that happiness comes back and it’s an interesting balance. It sounded great in on LOVE ~ThelmaLoveSong Collection~ and it emerges as the stronger A-side on this single.
In order to promote the single, a PV for 届けたい… featuring KEN THE 390 was made. The video is extremely simple, just featuring various Thelmas as she just sings. Admittedly, it’s a pretty boring video and it’s kind of sad that KEN THE 390 didn’t even show up.
Single Ranking: B
After releasing some great songs on her recent love song collection, 届けたい… featuring KEN THE 390 falls a bit short. It would have better to just have a new song rather than a response song. Even the second A-side is a recut, thus the term “new material” is used somewhat loosely. It’s not a bad single but it could have been better.
Aoyama Thelma – LOVE ~ThelmaLoveSong Collection~ [Love Song Compilation Album]
Aoyama Thelma’s love song compilation album, entitled LOVE ~ThelmaLoveSong Collection,~ was released on 02.18.09. The album features some of her previous singles as well as some new tracks. Only the four new tracks will be reviewed here.
好きです。is a beautiful ballad that allows Thelma’s true colors to come shining through. The piano begins the song and immediately, the atmosphere of the song is established. Thelma’s vocals on the first verse are wonderful, staying smooth and portraying emotion perfectly for everyone to hear. The music has a slight build-up to the chorus and it does not fall flat. There’s something magical and hopeful about the overall feeling of the chorus and you can really feel the emotion in her voice when she sings the title of the song. This is a great song and doesn’t come across as another typical Thelma ballad at all. It’s a good incentive to buy this collection of love songs.
このまま ずっと has more of an uplifiting feeling. Opening the song is the chorus and Thelma sings in a slightly higher register, which really gives a sweet and happy feeling. However, on the first verse, that happiness fades. It has an element of nostalgia in the music and it really feels like a story is being told through the songs. Luckily, the happiness returns yet again on the full chorus. It’s nice to hear the hope in her voice because it fills the listener’s hear with hope as well. This is an enjoyable song and another good reason to buy the collection.
So she does a cover of a Janet Jackson song with Again. Now her English is perfect so that’s certainly a plus and it’s clear that she understands the emotion of the song. Her vocals are perfect and compliment the overall atmosphere of the perfectly since her voice has such a soulful quality to it that is perfect for covering a Janet Jackson. She hits the higher notes perfectly and they are some of the best moments of the song. It’s a fantastic cover and she really stepped her game on this.
Song Rankings: A –
Even though a collection of love songs seemed kind of a silly idea when it was first announced, Thelma definitely gave reasons to buy it. The two new songs of hers are both memorbale, particularly 好きです。. Her cover of Janet Jackson’s Again definitely should make her proud and proves that Thelma has the perfect voice for love songs.
[Part Four] Oricon Year Top Singles
Well there have been a lot of singles out this year. Some of them have been amazing and have made me fall in love with certain artists while others made me feel very disappointed. Which single took the number one spot? How many Johnny’s singles and H!P singles made the countdown? You’ll have to continue to find out.
Hey! Say! JUMP has definitely impressed me this year, much more than I thought they would. I can’t even describe just how great their music has been but I’ll try anyway. The group’s fourth single, 真夜中のシャドーボーイ, wins title of “Single of Oricon Year 2008.” If there is one thing that these guys know how to do it, it’s make an upbeat single that makes the listener take notice. 真夜中のシャドーボーイ uses Spanish and Arabian themes to push their instrumentation over everyone elses. Except for Kei, Keito and Ryutaro, everybody has a real turn to shine. Yamada, Daiki, Nakajima and Chinen all have this center role (Yamada having the actual center role) since this song was used to promote their new drama Scrap Teacher so it was nice to see different people getting the time to shine. Everything about the song was perfect. With the constant repetition of the word “チェリー,” the listener is taken to another world. These boys really pull off the mature sound strongly and Chinen’s voice sounds different on this song than the others ones. Daiki, Nakajima, Yabu and Takaki all sound great too. With the multitude of live performances the song has gotten, the guys have looked hot and they sing the song with such confidence. It’s an amazing single that reigns above all the others so they should be very proud to have “Single of the Year.”
It was very hard to choose a first place winner and this single was so close to taking the top spot. Second place though 
is something to be proud of too though and the runner up for “Single of the Year” goes to Koda Kumi with TABOO. After the controversy, Kumi went for a more conservative approach with MOON. However there’s something magical about Kumi when she does the sexy thing. She exutes confidence and it really makes for an enjoyable time when you can get up and move with Kuu. TABOO is the sexy anthem of 2008 as Kumi provides smooth vocals that lay over the hot instrumental. The verses are what make this song so addictive, particularly the last lines when she sings “drive away.” Kumi uses a certain cleverness with these lyrics using various metaphors to describe secret love and they come across to the listener perfectly. Plus I’m sure this single has given many others faith that Kumi will always have that sexiness in her because people have been worried that it’s been declining. Always is a nice compliment to the A-side even though it’s pretty forgettable. TABOO is the hot dance track that Kumi delivered and is just too good to pass up. Even the PV for the song was perfect. They really made sure this would be a strong single from all angles. This song single-handedly has me assured that TRICK will not be an album to forget.
Third place was also really close to nabbing that top spot. The moment I heard the title track, I was instantly addicted and I knew the album that would soon follow would be amazing. That is why third place goes to Suzuki Ami with can’t stop the DISCO. It’s no secret that Ami and Nakata make a dream team because every single they release together just shines. I loved ONE but the moment I heard can’t stop the DISCO, I fell in love with the team. I first heard the chorus when it was used for the Mister Donuts CM and couldn’t get enough of it. But then when I heard the verses…I was blown away. Ami really pulls off the cool vibe here and she’s given me one of the most addictive lines of 2008: me to me no kakehiki (love tactics). I can’t get enough of this song and it’s definitely one of the highlights of Supreme Show. Even the B-sides were amazing: climb up to the top and SUPER MUSIC MAKER (SA’08S/A Mix) were extremely strong numbers that helpe make this one cohesive single from start to finish (and that includes having each song have perfect transition into the next).
In case it wasn’t clear already, Hey! Say! JUMP has put out some fantastic music this year. So does it really come as a 
surprise that they have two singles in the top 5 best singles of 2008? I didn’t think so. Hey! Say! JUMP takes fourth place as well for their 3rd single, Your Seed / 冒険ライダー. It was with this single that I officially became a fan of these guys. Your Seed is the first time they really brought a mature song and the difference from Dreams come true shocked me. Everyone sounded great on this song and the rap section is absolutely infectious. I still haven’t found out who is doing that but the first person that came to mind was Nakajima. Was it actually him? Probably not but ya never know. It’s hard to really put my love for this song into words so let’s just say everything about this song was perfect. Not one thing could have made it any better. 冒険ライダー also had a kind of mature sound while having that fun-loving breezy atmosphere that just makes you wanna smile. I particularly like the chorus when all the boys come together and harmonize so perfectly. Also Yabu shines on his few solo lines before the final chorus so good job to him. So it’s the single that made me a Hey! Say! JUMP fan and one of the best releases of the entire year! The boys are on fire!!!
Johnny’s Entertainment was definitely on a roll at the beginning of the year. NEWS’s first single of the year, 太陽のナミダ, comes in fifth place of Single of the Year. The title track uses Spanish and Arabian influences to really make the instrumentation addictive. Everybody sounded great on the song and personally, Massu’s voice stood out a little more than everyone else’s. Nonetheless, everyone sounded fantastic and their vocals really were smooth over the instrumental. バンビーナ and Lady Spider were also amazing, really catching my ear. It was actually Lady Spider that made me a real fan of NEWS because it just really sparkled in my eyes. It’s so catchy and one that could have been an A-side. バンビーナ really shows the sexy side of the boys. The lyrics have that dirty edge to them and they might even make you blush. Tegoshi can friggin sing and if you had any doubts about it, listen to バンビーナ. They did a magnificent job on this single and it’s certainly not one to pass up. As an overall package, it’s their strongest single to date so give it a listen if you haven’t already and fall in love with these boys like I did.
Suzuki Ami and Nakata really are the dream team. can’t stop the DISCO was amazing as was this year’s 6th best single, 
ONE. The moment I heard ONE, I was addicted and I began following Ami thereafter. The song features a more aggressive instrumental with some perfect vocals from Ami to give it that extra flavor. When the song first opens, we are treated to the best part of the entire song: キラキラの the one. This one line makes the song fantastic but the rest of the song nicely follows this section. The chorus also stands out with the English phrases like “I love music and this world” and “I love your smile.” It’s absolutely perfect in every way so it’s the perfect way to introduce the formal come together of Ami and Nakata. Originally the B-side, A token of love, did not really impress me but after giving it some time, I fell in love with it. A token of love also features that aggressive sound that supports Ami so perfectly. I really like that last line of the chorus, the title of the song, because she says it with such edge and sleekness that it sticks in your head. Plus that ending instrumental sequence is fantastic, really standing out to the listener. Overall, this is definitely one of the strongest singles of the year, without question. It shows Ami’s cool side and is the perfect product of the dream team.
alan has had a smash year with her Element Project. Each single repesented one of the 5 Godai elements and the best one to emerge of the five: 空唄. The title track is a beautiful upbeat song in which alan claims she can fly away. I think because this is the real upbeat number chosen to be an A-side, it stands out from all the other singles she has released. It really portrays the element of the sky well and lets the listener believe what she is singing. If you want even more amazingness, then turn to the B-side, My Stage. This is definitely alan’s most cheery and infectious song because the instrumentation is so light and heavenly, prompting the listener to just smile while listening. Honestly, I think I would have preferred My Stage to be the A-side since it’s a real standout in alan’s discography. I hope that she’ll be doing a similar song to this on her album…whenever that will be coming out. It shows the versatility of alan as an artist and proves that she can do music closer to mainstream music while still having that special touch that only alan can bring.
Perfume also had a strong year, releasing various singles that showed Perfume’s quirky and fun nature. However they 
really stood out when they released Baby cruising love / マカロニ. They’re really the best examples of electrpop ballads as the instrumentation is strong and the girls’ voices suit them perfectly. Baby cruising love was nice because it still had traces of that unforgettable Nakata aggressiveness. However the real star of the single and the reason it placed so high on this chart was because of マカロニ. It is the prime example of how to slow down an electropop song and still maintain the quality. There is such a relaxing and natural atmosphere about this song that when I listen to it, I can just smile and drift off into another world. And having an emotional connection with a song just makes it all the better, which is why this is Perume’s best song to date. It was released at the end of the winter and I can see that there are some wintery traces hidden in the instrumentation. I’m hoping that the girls will bring another strong song like this for their next album, which looks to be strong looking at the singles released thus far. Good lucks girls and I hope the future brings you luck!
If you want the best winter song released this year then you definitely have to look at 24 Xmas Time by Kuraki Mai. I was blown away when I first heard the song because there is something so natural and fun about this song that I can’t help but love. The song kind of goes back to her older style with songs like Love, Day After Tomorrow, which is always a good thing because I adore that song. Okay, let’s be truthful, the song isn’t that wintery or Christmas-like but that’s okay because it’s just a fantastic song. The verses are what make it so addictive and those moments where the instrumentation changes to set up Mai for a strong line (such as my favorite line in the whole song which translates to “kyou mo, watashi wa sekushii.” The B-side was nice, although a little generic but it compliments the whole wintery theme of the single nicely. I can’t believe Mai put out such a great single after a few that were questionable. I’m already anticipating her new album, touch Me!, because of this one song.
I love Tanimura Nana. She’s talented; she’s fun and she’s ready to go! Her 10th single, If I’m not the one / SEXY 
SENORITA, featured two different songs that show off two different sides to her. If I’m not the one is a very beautiful ballad with Nana lamenting that she needs to know if she can’t be her admired’s one and only. She really portrays her emotions strongly and it keeps the listener focused and sympathetic towards her. However the star song on this single is SEXY SENORITA, a fun song that shows off Nana’s sexy and playful side. Her vocals here are strong and the chorus stands out proudly. She portrays attitude and sass, which is perfect for making the listener believe her. I really like the English phrases such as “call me, call me” and “crazy crazy.” I’m still waiting for an album to be released from her since I know I’m going to love it but she’s going to school (she’s attending one of the most prestigious law schools in Japan so go Nana!) so I can’t blame her. I just want any piece of news of a new release soon and it better be an album. Congratulations Nana for being such a threat with your fourth single, If I’m not the one / SEXY SENORITA, which rounds out our top 10.
11. Misia – Catch The Rainbow [Digital Release]
12. Morning Musume – ペッパー警部
13. Leah Dizon – Love Paradox
14. C-ute – 江戸の手毬唄 II
15. alan – 風の手紙
16. Perfume – Dream Fighter
17. Tohoshinki – 呪文 -Mirotic-
18. Arashi – One Love
19. Morning Musume – リゾナント ブルー
20. Ito Yuna – miss you
21. Koda Kumi – anytime
22. Perfume – love the world
23. Tanimura Nana – JUNGLE DANCE
24. V6 – 蝶
25. Kinki Kids – Secret Code
26. NEWS – SUMMER TIME
27. Leah Dizon – Vanilla
28. Aira Mitsuki – チャイナ・ディスコティカ
29. Berryz Koubou – 行け 行け モンキーダンス
30. alan – 懐かしい未来 ~longing future~
31. MEG – HEART
32. AAA – MIRAGE
33. Ishida Yuko – Changes
34. Hey! Say! JUMP – Dreams come true
35. Tohoshinki – Runaway / My Girlfriend
36. Tohoshinki – If…?! / Rainy Night
37. Tohoshinki – Purple Line
38. Utada Hikaru – HEART STATION / Stay Gold
39. Tegomass – アイアイ傘
40. Takasugi Satomi – ありがとう
41. Ito Yuna – 恋は groovy x2
42. BONNIE PINK – Ring A Bell
43. Shiraishi Kikyo – again
44. Shiraishi Kikyo – BLACK
45. Shimatani Hitomi – 泣きたいなら
46. Hamasaki Ayumi – Mirrorcle World
47. ayaka x Kobukuro – あなたと
48. alan – RED CLIFF ~心・戦~
49. Amuro Namie – 60s70s80s
50. Berryz Koubou – MADAYADE
51. Nakashima Mika – ORION
52. Crystal Kay – 涙のさきに
53. Jyongri – Winter Love Story
54. C-ute – 涙の色
55. Kuraki Mai – 夢が咲く春 / You and Music and Dream
56. Arashi – Step and Go
57. Arashi – Beautiful days
58. V6 – LIGHT IN YOUR HEART / Swing!
59. AAA – MUSIC!!! / ZERO
60. Aoyama Thelma – 守りたいもの
61. Koda Kumi – MOON
62. NEWS – Happy Birthday
63. Kitahara Aiko – その笑顔よ 永遠に
64. Shibasaki Kou – よくある話～喪服の女編～
65. Milky Way – タンタンターン!
66. Kuraki Mai – 一秒ごとに Love for you
67. C-ute – FOREVER LOVE
68. Otsuka Ai – クラゲ, 流れ星
69. Aira Mitsuki – ロボットハニー
70. ayaka – おかえり
71. Utada Hikaru – Prisoner of Love
72. Shimatani Hitomi – WAKE YOU UP / 雨の日には 雨の中を 風の日には 風の中を / Marvelous
73. Hirahara Ayaka – 孤独の向こう
74. Milky Way – アナタボシ
75. alan – 恵みの雨
76. BoA – be with you.
77. BoA – VIVID
78. Fukui Mai – アイのうた
79. V6 – VIBES
80. Hirahara Ayaka – さよなら 私の夏
81. EXILE – LAST CHRISTMAS
82. Tohoshinki – Close to you / Crazy Life
83. Nishino Kana – Style
84. Arashi – truth / 風の向こうへ
85. KAT-TUN – White Xmas
86. GIRL NEXT DOOR – Drive away / 幸福の条件
87. GIRL NEXT DOOR – 偶然の確率
88. TOKIO – 雨傘 / あきれるくらい 僕らは願おう
89. Tohoshinki – Beautiful you / 千年恋歌
90. SMAP – そのまま / White Message
91. Angela Aki – 手紙 ~拝啓 十五の君へ
92.Tackey & Tsubasa – 恋詩-コイウタ / PROGRESS
93. AAA – BEYOND~カラダノカナタ
94. Kawashima Ai – カケラ / Flag
95. SMAP – この瞬間, きっと夢じゃない
96. EXILE – The Birthday ~Ti Amo~
97. Buono! – ガチンコでいこう!
98. Berryz Koubou – ジンギスカン
99. Buono! – Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
100. Buono! – ロッタラ ロッタラ
[Part Three] Artist Profiles
There have been so many artists this year that should be proud for putting out some fantastic music. From the boys to the girls, from the new artists to the veterans, they have made this Oricon Year one of strong music. Today, we’ll explore artists that have released this year (exluding those from Hello Project and Johnny’s Entertainment, who have already been covered).
Let’s start things off by covering one of my favorite genres, Japanese electropop. From Perfume to Aira Mitsuki to SAWA, there have been many different styles from electropop that stood out. But there is one producer who is the head of this genre: Nakata Yasutaka. And there is one person who reigns queen of J-Electropop 2008: Suzuki Ami. Nobody brought the heat like Ami. DOLCE was released at the beginning of the year and even though, it didn’t feature Nakata’s touch all over the album, FREE FREE and SUPER MUSIC MAKER were integral parts of that album. Then to commemorate her 10th anniversary, she continued to release. Both singles, ONE and can’t stop the DISCO, got me hooked on her. Even the B-sides, A token of love and climb up to the top, were extremely impressive and it made me really anticipate Supreme Show. I was definitely not disappointed because tracks like TEN, Mysterious and TRUE are twinkling jewels of the Nakata and Ami team. She brought something new to the electropop scene: sexiness. Let’s face it, electropop is more on the cute and quriky side but it’s nice to see something new and that’s what Ami is. She has her own style that makes her stand out against the other girls of electropop. She did a fantastic job this year and definitely deserves high praise. Perfume, also produced by Nakata, impressed me this year. After releasing a fantastic single, Baby cruising love / マカロニ (マカロニ still holding the title as best electropop slow song), the girls came with GAME. It was a strong album featuring many impressive numbers such as Butterfly and シークレットシークレット which made me really take notice of them. However it was the following singles, which cemented me in fandom. Love the world and Dream Fighter were two excellent singles that really have me anticipating another album from them. They 
definitely bring that electropop flavor well. Aira Mitsuki also had some memorable tracks come through to make me a fan of hers. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. (Cherryboy Function Version), Beep Count Fantastic (featuring Terukado), チャイナ・ディスコティカ and Rock n’ Roll Is Dead are all addictive tracks and she has a habit of getting the best tracks with a focus on instrumentation rather than vocals. With these kind of tracks, it’s no wonder that she stands out in the electropop crowd. I know MEG isn’t the most popular product of Nakata’s work but she has gotten some standout songs like SUPERSONIC, MAKE LOVE and the amazingly fantastic NATALIE <FM 16 MIX.> That last song is one of my favorite electropop songs ever so it’s clear she can bring the magic. Although Nakata is the king producer of electropop, his group capsule wasn’t as strong as I was hoping for. There were some standout numbers on their new album, More! More! More! such as Phantom and e.d.i.t. but overall, they were definitely not the strongest electropop members. Electropop certainly stood out this year and with the growing popularity of Nakata, I look forward to seeing what he brings us in 2009 (particularly for Ami and Perfume).
Let’s move onto J-Urban. The J-Urban scene has been pretty quiet this year with certain acts like EMYLI and m-flo not releasing anything but we did have some nice new songs. Newcomer, Shiraishi Kikyo, made waves with me. Both BLACK and again really hooked me because a new talented girl who was doing something upbeat with that sexy vibe was coming through. I thought she did a very good job and she should certainly be proud. Her third single was a little on the bland side but her fourth is already a step up. I’m not exactly sure why she’s changed to Nori Shiraishi but honestly, I think it’s kind of funny. I guess we’ll see what that does for her. Somehow, I still haven’t heard the full version of again and I don’t think a full PV was ever released (that’s nice guys…). I look foward to seeing what she’ll do in the future. DOUBLE stood out to me because she collaborated with superstar Amuro Namie for the sleek and catchy, BLACK DIAMOND. These two girls brought the heat on this new track and definitely set me up to see what she is going to do next. We also saw the Aoyama Thelma achieve massive success with second single, そばにいるね featuring Soulja (to my surprise and confusion). However it was her 4th single 守りたいもの (plus amazing B-side, MADONNA), which caught my attention. I know Thelma can make some very good songs but I’m hoping that her music will be more diverse in 2009 (how about some more upbeat numbers Thelma?). Crystal Kay had some enjoyable songs too as she released another album (Color Change!) and two singles (涙のさきに and ONE). 涙のさきに was pretty catchy and some of the songs on Color Change! were nice but I’m hoping next year, the music will be even better.
Now let’s talk about the boys of J-Pop (not including JE boys). It was obvious from the start that Tohoshinki would be 
the real standout guys of the year. They’ve released so much material that it’s ridiculous. They’ve released a total of 9 singles and an album (also a Korean album) so they’ve been really busy. How did they reach such a high number of singles? The TRICK project. The song TRICK from their album T wsa a mashup of five different songs and so the group released those five seperate songs as singles and added their own solo number as well. Some went very well (If…?! / Rainy Night [Junsu] and Runaway / My Girlfriend [Yuchun]) while some fell flat (Two hearts / WILD SOUL [Changmin]). Overall though it was an enjoyable project. In addition to those 5 singles, four others were released: Purple Line, Beautiful you /千年恋歌, どうして君を好きになってしまったんだろう? and 呪文 -Mirotic.- That last single was amazing as was Purple Line so the boys should be very proud. The other two were okay and could have been stronger but hey, they can’t all be hits. Their 3rd Japanese album, T, also featured some great songs like CLAP! and LAST ANGEL -Tohoshinki Version.- These boys did a fantastic job this year and I can only anticipate what they’ll pull next year. Their next single, Bolero, has already been announced for a January release. Jaejong and Yuhno also really caught my eye because they were absolutely sexy during the Mirotic promotional time. It was…wow. Just look at the Mirotic and Wrong Number PVs. Another group of guys who stood out this year was EXILE, who released quite a bit themselves: three singles, three BEST albums and one studio album (released at the very end of 2007 but believe it is counted in Oricon Year 2008). The singles weren’t as great as I hoped for but the album material was enjoyable from EXILE LOVE. The one amazing 
standout track was Make Love, a hot and sexy number that really shows the boys’ mature side strongly. Atsushi has some wonderful vocals so I’m happy that he’s been given the chance to shine. Newcomer Shimizu Shota also made waves with me as he was a fresh new face with some great vocals (i.e. HOME). He released an album and even though I haven’t gotten a chance to listen to it, I will do so soon. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s good looking. BIG BANG was quite active this year, releasing in both Korea and Japan. G-Dragon has become one of my favorites because there’s something about his voice that really catches my ear. WaT released two singles this year and they were okay, nothing that really made me go wow but I still think they have some nice voices and hopefully the music will be stronger in the future. Although Kobukuro have not been very active this year, they did release the single あなたと with ayaka, which really stood out to me. I look forward to seeing more material from these guys in the future. In the world of J-Rock, Miyavi and Gackt did some releasing although Gackt wasn’t particularly impressive this year in terms of music (but he did look hot). Miyavi was a little better, releasing his album This Iz The Japanese Kabuki Rock. His voice is nice though so maybe he’ll do something stronger in the future. Seamo also caught my eye even though his singles were a little bit iffy. Again, he released an album that I haven’t listened to yet but I do want to hear it soon. So overall, the boys had some nice music (particularly Tohoshinki) and I hope next year it will be even better (because let’s face it, Johnny’s Entertainment music was a lot better than the other guys’ music).
Now we go to the four female artists who I call my Fabulous Four: Koda Kumi, Amuro Namie, Utada Hikaru and Hamasaki Ayumi. There is absolutely nobody like Kuu. She’s fun; she’s free and she’s one of a kind. Kingdom was a fantastic album, filled with everything from sorrow to cuteness to sexy and it really showed how strong of an artist she is. Unfortunately, she made a comment about women’s rotting amniotic fluids which caused an extreme backlash. Contracts were cancelled and promotion for Kingdom was cancelled. Personally, I think the public over-reacted to the comment and it was totally undeserved for Kumi to go through all of that. But she continued to release in June with MOON, then TABOO. TABOO was just the song that make the public go Kumi crazy because it’s a return to her fun sexy dance side that we all love. stay with me will be released in a couple weeks (which will be counted on Oricon Year 2009 so I will not talk about that). I think she’s done a great job this year and I think next year will be even better. TRICK will be amazing and I know that from the bottom of my heart. Amuro Namie has had one hell of a year and everyone knows it. BEST FICTION was a smash hit, managing to almost take the crown of best selling album of Oricon Year 2008. Sadly it did not reach it but it’s okay because it was a million seller and it managed to stay at the number 1 spot for various weeks. Sexy Girl and Do Me More were amazing new tracks that made BEST FICTION worth checking out. She also released the hit single 60s70s80s, which achieved great sales, managing to outsell a slew of her previous ones. WHAT A FEELING was the star track on that single and it’s another one of Namie’s awesome tracks. I hope we’ll be getting some new material in 2009 but Namie deserves a nice long break so I hope she gets it. Utada Hikaru also had an amazing year seeing as HEART STATION is nearing the million mark and has outsold her previous album, ULTRA BLUE. There were some amazing new tracks on there like 虹色バス and Fight The Blues. The singleswere strong as well, which made me one of the most cohesive albums of 2008. Hamasaki Ayumi had a pretty good year herself even though she didn’t get wonderful sales. In fact, GUILTY became 
her first album to not hit the number one spot…ever. Nonetheless, the album was good featuring tracks like (don’t)Leave me alone, Marionette and MY ALL. Well this was Ayu’s 10th anniversary so I was hoping she’d release a little more but what we got was Mirrorcle World and another BEST album. Her new single is set to be released very soon but it will count towards Oricon Year 2009. I wonder when we’ll be getting her new album but hopefully there will be a few more singles before that. Of course, she’s had her troubles during the year too. She officially announced that she is deaf in one ear; she broke up with her boyfriend who she has been seeing for a while and her friend passed away. You know, Ayu is a fighter and it’s one of the reasons why I respect her so much. I hope she has many years of happiness to look forward to.
So let’s move onto the female veterans of J-Pop. Well the term “veterans” can be disputed but I’m coining the girls that have been a while as “veterans.” Which veteran knocked it out of the park this year? Well that’s none other than aiko. 秘密 was one of the strongest albums of the year with many wonderful tracks that showed off aiko’s laidback and relaxing style. She also released KissHug, which was used as an insert song for the Hana Yori Dango movie. It didn’t 
get the sales it deserved but I’m hoping she’ll have even more success in the future because her music is that good. Her talent is undeniable and that’s why she is “Veteran of the Year.” Kuraki Mai is incredible and if you want proof of that, just look at 24 Xmas Time. That was a fantastic wintery song that reached back to her old style. She released ONE LIFE, an album with some standout tracks such as ONE LIFE and Born to be free. She also released the following singles: 夢が咲く春 / You and Music and Dream as well as 一秒ごとに Love for you. They may not have been the strongest singles she’s released but they were actually pretty catchy. Mai will be releasing yet another album, entitled touch Me! in January so I can’t wait to see what she brings. Misia was another veteran who stood out this year. EIGHTH WORLD was a pretty good songs like 以心伝心 and Hybrid Breaks -Interlude.- She released various singles but none so addictive as digital release, Catch The Rainbow. It’s an absolutely fantastic track that will be seeing a physical release soon. Misia, good job this year for your 10th anniversary and I can’t wait to see what awaits us in 2009! BoA is definitely a force to be reckoned with. THE FACE was released early in the year and featured some new standout tracks like Girl In The Mirror, Style and AGGRESSIVE. Although it wasn’t as strong as her previous albums. She then released VIVID, which also was not up to BoA’s usual standards. However what makes her so strong is that she always tries new things. She’s 
now started her American career with the release of the hot single, Eat You Up. Her new song, Look Who’s Talking is even better and it makes me highly anticipate her debut album. Otsuka Ai did some nice releases as well. Even though ロケット スニーカー / One × Time was very forgettable (it ended up being the lowest selling single of her career for a reason), クラゲ, 流れ星 was a step up and already she’s set to release her 5th studio album, LOVE LETTER. It looks to be better than LOVE PIECE but I guess we’ll see when hits stores very very soon. Even though BONNIE PINK was largely inactive this year, she did stand out with the digital release of Ring A Bell and then physical release of its Japanese counterpart 鐘を鳴らして. Both songs were good (the English being the stronger version) and BONNIE should be proud of her accomplishments. I’m hoping she’ll put out an album next year because it feels like forever since Thinking Out Loud was released. Finally we come to Shimatani Hitomi, who could’ve been better. Her new album Flare did not live up to the hotness of its name but I’m hoping that next year, she will pull out the stops for her 10th anniversary.
Now we’ll talk about the newbies. These girls are still relatively new to the music scene but some of them have definitely taken no time in standing out from the crowd. Tanimura Nana has given us some fantastic music. Who could forget the incredibly addictive SEXY SENORITA or the smooth and sultry Ooh… or the catchy upbeat number 
Place of Love? She’s taking on the sexy image just right and with each release, she gets better and better. I’m really looking forward to her debut album and I hope that it will be coming soon because I can’t wait any longer. Actually any new release from her will be welcome. It’s been a while. ayaka released her sophomore album, Sing to the Sky, early in the year and it was a huge step up from First Message. Songs like 愛も嘘も真実, ゴールドスター and POWER OF MUSIC really made a fan of hers. Her voice is incredible so it’s no wonder that the album shined like it did. ayaka definitely has the power to make it big so I wish her all the success in the world. In addition to an awesome album, she collaborated with Kobukuro again for あなたと, a beautiful ballad that blows their last single out of the water. She’s had a great year and definitely will be shining even more brightly in 2009. Leah Dizon certainly had an eventful year. She released two singles, her sophomore album, got married and is expecting a child in 2009. Love Paradox was her strongest single to date and Vanilla (LOVE SWEET CANDY included) was another memorable single from her. Communication!!! was also a pretty good album with great album tracks like Nothin’ to Lose, Step into my World and BxKxRxxx. I was very surprised to see that she was pregnant but I’m happy that she has found somebody and I wish them all the happiness together. I also wish they have a happy and healthy baby and she will be back better than ever next year, ready to show Japan just how strong of an artist she is. Ito Yuna has really impressed me this year, particularly with miss you and 恋は groovy x2. BREEEEEZIN!!!!!!! (the B-side of miss you) is her best song to date and one that definitely cemented my fandom. WISH wasn’t a bad album either, featuring some memorable songs like Power of Love. Hopefully her next album will be even better, shining strongly for all the fans. Even Jyongri had her time to shine with Winter Love Story, her newest single. All the songs on the single convinced me of Jyongri’s power. Her album may have been pretty weak but it looks like she’ll be on the path for strength. One other newcomer that caught my eye was Ishida Yuko with her wonderful new single Changes, which featured an addictive title track, I’ll be sure to look out for her in the future. She has a cool image and a great voice, worthy of celebration. AZU has had her time to shine as well with standout numbers like VIOLIN. She has the voice and talent to make it far so I hope she has more succes in 2009. Other newcomers like Tiana Xiao, Nishino Kana and Takasugi Satomi have had some nice releases and even though they were not particularly engaging, I look forward to what they will do next year. Even Stephanie had some songs here and there.
Let’s go onto the girls who are neither veterans nor newbies. melody. has also done some nice work this year with the release of the beautiful and
calming Lei Aloha. The songs on that album really formed a cohesive one that emerged as one of the standouts of the year. I’m very sad to have heard the news that she will be retiring to focus on the fashion industry. I guess if she had to leave, I’m glad she left with a bang. Arashiro Beni has experienced some popularity this year with her collaboration with Dohzi-T. She also released three new songs for her BEST album, switched labels and starrred in a movie so she’s been quite busy. Mellow Parade was fantastic and hopefully she’ll do another song like this in the future. She has recently changed her name to BENI so I guess we’ll see how that goes for her. Other girls like Angela Aki, Nakashima Mika and misono have had their releases this year and it’s Mika who really impressed me with her most recent single, ORION. The B-side, FOCUS, stood out to me strongly and I have really got to listen to her new album.
Finally, we come to the groups which feature members of both sexes. To be honest, they haven’t been very impressive with the exception of one group: AAA. MIRAGE was absolutely addictive, featuring some Arabian sounds to push the track over the edge. Everyone sounded great on the track and it was really one to remember. Following a very unforgettable single, they released MUSIC!!! / ZERO. ZERO was wonderful, showing a dark atmosphere that the group really shined with. Other groups mihimaru GT, Aladdin and Every Little Thing failed to impress but hopefully they’ll step it up next year.
This year, some artists stepped up and some artists took a step back. But there are a lot of artists who should be proud for releasing such quality music. There is still one artist left though, an artist who will be crowned “Artist of the Year.” He/She will be announced in part 7 (the final part) of the Oricon Year 2008 Countdown.
Aoyama Thelma – 大っきらい でもありがと [5th Single]
Aoyama Thelma’s 5th single, entitled 大っきらい でもありがと, was released on 12.10.08.
大っきらい でもありがと is an emotional song. The song starts off with a nice slow instrumental with a clear beat. There is a very calming effect from the beautiful music, which works well in the song’s favor for capturing the listener. Then the first verse begins and Thelma’s vocals are nice but that magic from just a few seconds earlier disappears. That lack of magic continues onto the chorus where there just feels like something is missing. Perhaps it’s the lack of attention on the instrumentation that makes it seem less special and Thelma’s vocals are nice but somehow, the listener just doesn’t catch on. Luckily, the song becomes a lot stronger on the second chorus as the instrumentation becomes more diverse and powerful, better suiting Thelma’s vocals.
In order to promote the single, a PV for 大っきらい でもありがと was made. The video is very simple (much like all of Thelma’s videos) but she certainly is pretty here, which makes it enjoyable. The primary scene is of Thelma lying down while there is another scene of Thelma sitting at a table waiting to get a call. Again, the video doesn’t have much going on but it does nicely show the emotions of the song.
Single Ranking: B
Even though it’s a step down from the last single, Thelma does put a lot of heart into 大っきらい でもありがと. With its clear emotional presence coming from both Thelma’s vocals and the instrumentation, it catches the listener’s ears.
Aoyama Thelma – 守りたいもの [4th Single]
Aoyama Thelma’s 4th single, entitled 守りたいもの, was released on 11.12.08. The title track was used as the theme song for the dorama Team Batista no Iko.
守りたいもの is a sweet song that Thelma brings to life. The song begins with a soft and calming instrumental that drives the chorus. Her vocals here show a gentle emotion that gets under the skin of the listener and then some pure instrumentation kicks in. There is a much more poppy sound about it that can be shown without Thelma’s vocals and it wasn’t the best choice since it doesn’t sound particularly capturing. She sounds pretty good on the verses and somehow the poppiness of the song works a lot better here. Although the song is pretty simple, Thelma manages to bring out the calming prettiness in it with that wintery atmosphere perfect for season.
The B-side is the upbeat and catchy MADONNA. The song takes off on a good note with an exotic instrumental that smoothly entices the listener. When the first verse comes in, Thelma keeps the strength as her vocals give that sleekness that is perfectly mirrored in the instrumentation. On the chorus, she brings even more vocal strength to make it stand out and she sounds very comfortable here. There is a little rap section in English and Thelma gives that cute attitude that finds its home on the song. MADONNA is a fantastic song, possibly the best song she has released thusfar and could have been the A-side.
In order to promote the single, a PV for 守りたいもの was made. The video is very pretty featuring Thelma in a snowing setting under a gray sky. As the video goes on, the sky clears into a beautiful day. Thelma looks very pretty throughout and it makes for a very enjoyable video.
Single Ranking: A
Thelma certainly stepped it up from her last single and this song is even one of her most memorable ones to date. It has that wintery charm to compliment the sweetness that keeps the listener wanting more. MADONNA compliments the A-side perfectly by taking on a cool upbeat sound with attitude.
Aoyama Thelma – 何度も [3rd Single]
Aoyama Thelma’s 3rd single, entitled 何度も, was released on 07.09.08. The title track was used in a Nintendo DS CM while 未来予想図II is a cover of the DREAMS COME TRUE song of the same name.
何度も is a sparkling midtempo number. The song opens up with a twinkling sound before going into the chorus. Thelma’s vocals sound nice and carry with the music nicely. Sometimes the notes she hits sound a bit off but overall the chorus is nice. Following is a pure instrumental section that sounds great and emphasizes the coolness of the music. Then the first verse starts and her vocals carry well. The third verse really brings out the magical feeling of the instrumentation with Thelma’s vocals to make it stand out. Thelma then delivers the last line of the last chorus beautifully. The song is an excellent representation of Thelma’s vocal power within beautiful instrumentation.
The first B-side is the twinkling upbeat song, LOVE. The song opens up with a beautiful twinkling instrumentation as she sings “believe in you, believe in me.” Then the first verse starts and Thelma sounds great as her vocals are smooth and the instrumentation remains beautiful. The chorus is a little repetitive but her vocals sound as great as ever and the music is still beautiful. The third verse continues the strength of the song. The repetition of “let’s call this love” really does get a bit annoying but overall the song is enjoyable and one of Thelma’s best.
I☆You is the second B-side. Opening the song is a sweet and uptempo instrumental before the chorus, sung in English. Thelma’s vocals sound great and show off her power, particularly when she sings “I star you.” Her voice sounds a bit strange at points but they sound nice with the interesting instrumental. As the song moves on, Thelma’s vocals dont contribute anything particularly noteworth and thus the song really does feel as long as it is. The instrumentation is very interesting but the vocals don’t enhance the song and they somwhat hinder it. It’s definitely a song that grows more annoying to the listener as the song goes on.
未来予想図II opens up with a sweet instrumental. Thelma sounds great on the first verse as she smoothly sings her way through the verse. Unfortunately much like the previous song, Thelma’s vocals aren’t particularly ntoeworthy so the song becomes pretty boring. It’s another song that isn’t much worth the listen.
In order to promote the single, a PV for 何度も was made and it’s very pretty. There is a naturalness to it that makes it enjoyable and the lighting really helps capture the emotion of the song. The video primarily features scenes of Thelma lying on her bed and walking through the town. It’s a very enjoyable video that captures the spirit of the song nicely.
Single Ranking: B –
Thelma’s 3rd single features fantastic instrumentation in every song but her vocals detract away from the beauty of the songs. The first B-side, LOVE, is the nicest one on the single while the title track follows. The other two B-sides may be good for a few listens but aren’t very strong songs.
Aoyama Thelma – DIARY [Debut Studio Album]
Aoyama Thelma’s debut album, entitled DIARY, was released on 03.26.08. Only two singles preceded this album release: ONE WAY and そばにいるね featuring SoulJa.
The album begins with the My Beginning, an small track to properly introduce the album. The song consists of a beautiful piano melody that runs through as Thelma speaks in flawless English. As she speaks the last line “this is my…diary,” her tone on “diary” sounds a bit flat and without any instrumentation left to cushion it, the track ends without much punch. While the music is beautiful, the words kind of clashed and thus the introduction was not as strong as it should have been.
The first full song on the album is the smash success そばにいるね featuring SoulJa. The song opens up with a soft and sweet instrumentation followed by the chorus, which features some nice vocals from Thelma as she delivers the lines with some quick speed. The first verse is so similar to the chorus that it doesn’t really stand apart until SoulJa comes in and uses some smooth sounds that compliment the music perfectly. The purely instrumentation section is wonderful and is easily the best part of the track. Overall the song is so simple and borderlines on boring. There isn’t enough diversity behind the instrumentation and while SoulJa breaks up the song with some smooth vocals, Thelma sounds relatively monotone. It wasn’t the smartest choice to pick as the first full song on the album.
Both singles come back to back with ONE WAY appearing next. Opening up with a relaxing and smooth caribbean smooth, it quickly changes into an upbeat track while maintaining the same sound. The vocals arrive with the chorus, which is catchy and Thelma compliments the music so well that it comes off effortlessly. The verse doesn’t lose any steam from the chorus as she shows her vocal prowess without belting. The third verse has Thelma singing in a quick pace that kind of sounds like a singing-rapping that gives he song even more flavor. After, she shows off her voice by hitting a very nice note. ONE WAY is an excellent and uptempo track that shows Thelma’s versatility.
Following ONE WAY is My dear friend. The track opens up strong and soothing with the chorus with some impressive vocals from Thelma that compliment the slightly uptempo sound of the instrumentation. Soon, the tempo is slowed down but the vocals still support well. The chorus picks up the tempo and this time, more instrumentation is present. Although the first chorus sounded nicer, this one still sounds good. The song then ends with some wonderful instrumentation that brings a perfect close. My dear friend is definitely one of the memorable songs on the album.
Next is Last Letter, one of the many album ballads. Following an average instrumentation is the first verse, which features some nice vocals that go with the chorus. The chorus gives more vocal power but sounds too similar to the verses in terms of instrumentation and the vocals aren’t powerful enough to really seperate it as being truly strong. The third verse is a nice change of pace with the way that Thelma delivers the lines so it stands stronger and ends with an excellent note that showcases the power behind Thelma’s voice. The same instrumentation supported by ad-libbing finishes off the song but unfortunately it doesn’t give the great climax that was hoped for. Last Letter is a nice song but a bit boring and more diversity behind the instrumentation might have made it even stronger.
Picking up the tempo from Last Letter is リズム. The song begins with a nice and smooth beat that has an uptempo feel to it. The chorus is really nice and Thelma’s vocals work well with the music. The transition into the first verse is great and she sounds nice here. Although the tempo is nice and her vocals are nice, it never really steps up from being nice and goes to being great. The chorus without all of the instrumenation really sounds nice as it puts emphasis on her voice, which is undeniably strong. Overall the song is a bit lacking and comes across as slightly boring.
Next is GOOD TIME REMIX featuring Miku (from YA-KIM). The song is uptempo but still has a slow element to it that clashes a bit and makes the true genre of the song hard to determine. The chorus is a bit boring and features English lyrics but makes a good transition into the first verse. Unfortunately, the song doesn’t really pick up from the chorus and still comes across as slightly boring. Miku’s rap isn’t as great as hoped so overall the song definitely feels like it’s lacking something.
A truly uptempo track arrives with HIGHER. From the opening instrumentation, the dance atmosphere is established. Following is the chorus which features some English lines and some great vocals. The verses particularly stand out becaue Thelma’s voice sounds so good in conjunction with the hot dance beat. The third verse continues the strength behind the song featuring some great vocals and a rolling instrumentation. HIGHER is the strongest song on the album and its placement in the middle was wise to break up the softer songs.
The midtempo songs return with Paradise. The chorus starts off the song in a nice way and there is a certain island feel that works with the song well. The first verse works well with the song and makes a good transition into the chorus. Paradise is a really nice track but it has a certain “been there, done that” feel, which makes it again sound a bit lacking.
This Day features Dohzi-T for a poppy song that begins with twinkling and flutes as well as jingle bells that creates a great atmosphere. However Thelma comes in singing in such a high voice during the chorus that it clashes with the sweet instrumentation. Putting a Christmas song may seem a bit strange in the middle of the album but it’s by no means a bad song. Dozhi-T does absolutely nothing for this song since it sounds almost bored as he recorded this. This song is pretty weak and pretty boring and it really should have been removed from the album.
このままで is a piano ballad that begins with Thelma speaking in English and then she sings “you are my baby.” From that line alone, there is such emotion in her voice that it’s capturing. The first verse features some soft but great vocals that support the beautiful instrumentation. The chorus is beautiful and the emotions come even stronger than before as she sings. Although the album features many slow songs, this one is the best offering.
Another slow song comes with あなたに会えてよかった. The transition from the last song to this one is good and the song is actually a nice offering. The relaxing atmosphere behind the instrumentation as well as Thelma’s soft vocals really create a song perfect to listen to with closed eyes. One problem is that the song is really long and perhaps if it were shortened, the listening experience would be even more enjoyable.
The personal song ママへ comes next. There is an element of hope behind the instrumentation that is nice and Thelma’s vocals go with it but overall the song isn’t as strong as it seems it would be. Perhaps it is the placement of the song following such a long list of ballads but the song doesn’t stand apart, especially as the penultimate track.
The album ends with the title track, DIARY. This track features the piano as the integral instrument but the spotlight is more on Thelma’s vocals. Once again, the track sounds boring and its placement as the final song was not a wise decision.
Album Ranking: C
DIARY is certainly a soft album as it is filled with midtempo songs / ballads. Given Thelma’s range, the album should have featured more diversity. Only a handful of songs are upbeat and those [HIGHER and ONE WAY] are really where she shines. There is an overuse of the piano being the central instrument within the ballads, which makes the album seem like it’s dragging on at points. Hopefully Thelma’s next effort will feature some more diversity since she definitely has the voice to pull it off.
Amai Wana 