Takizawa Hideaki – シャ・ラ・ラ / 無限の羽 [2nd Single]
Takizawa Hideaki’s 2nd single, entitled シャ・ラ・ラ / 無限の羽, was released on 05.06.09. シャ・ラ・ラ was used in a Takara Can Chuuhai Chokushibori CM. 無限の羽 calls upon Kis-My-Ft 2 members Kitayama Hiromitsu and Fujigaya Taisuke as well as A.B.C.-Z. members Kawai Fumito and Totsuka Shota as collaborators.
シャ・ラ・ラ, a jazzy dance song is the first A-side.The song begins with a sad instrumental that soon picks up the tempo and catches the listener’s ear. There’s this jazzy sound to it that is perfect for dancing and it introduces Tackey perfectly. On the first verse, he provides some great vocals and he stands out particularly when he holds his notes. What makes the chorus stand out is the way that he sings the title of the song with such rapidity and coolness that the listener can just melts. He also holds that last note of the chorus very strongly. The pure instrumental section is catchy in its own right and there are little parts where the music stops so it’s very grabbing. This is a great song, definitely worthy of being the leading A-side.
The second A-side is the slower song, 無限の羽. The song opens up with an emotional-filled instrumental supported by a beautiful ensemble of instruments. When he sings, his voice definitely portrays emotion and catches the ears of everyone. Then the music becomes a little more diverse and the guitar really shines. He gives a little more power on the chorus and really makes sure that this section stands out and catches the ears of the listener. The pure instrumental section is magnificent, with the guitar coming out as the central instrumental and giving another layer of emotion to the song. The only problem with the song is that I was under the impression that the participating Johnny’s Juniors would have more of a role on the song rather than just being backing vocalists.
In order to promote the single, two PVs were made: one for each A-side. The PV for シャ・ラ・ラ is the dance video, featuring Tackey dressed very nicely in a suit, dancing and flirting with a woman. Having girls in Johnny’s videos just isn’t what is preferred by most (myself included) but I guess there’s no true harm here. On the other hand, the PV for 無限の羽 is just uninspired. It features him recording the song alnogside some little annoying animated creature. It’s pretty weird and it’s pointless to have it there.
Single Ranking: A +
Tackey definitely stepped it up with his new single since both A-sides are fantastic. While シャ・ラ・ラ carries a fun jazz sound to keep the listener up and dancing, 無限の羽 brings out the emotions for everyone to hear. My only gripe is that the Johnny’s Juniors should have had a bigger part on the second song.
Takizawa Hideaki – 愛･革命 [Debut Solo Single]
Takizawa Hideaki’s debut solo single, entitled 愛･革命, was released on 01.07.09. The title track was used as the theme song for the musical Shinshun Takizawa Kakumei.
The A-side is the catchy Spanish influenced track, 愛･革命. Opening the song is the piano, immediately bringing an emotional presence. Soon Tackey dives into the first verse and there is something so charming about his vocals here, that the listener can’t help but feel the magic of the song. Soon, the instrumentation changes and turns into a Spanish upbeat number. His vocals sound great here, staying very sweet and still portraying the emotions of the song perfectly. The chorus has a sort of typical feeling that somehow works here instead of coming across as just generic. Like many other songs prove, Spanish influences perfectly suit Johnny’s boys’ voices and 愛･革命 is no exception.
With Love is a wonderful love song that Tackey gives life to. The song starts off with a very pretty instrumental that gives off a sweet magical feeling. There are some traditional sounding instruments that make their way into the music and they add to the interest level. His vocals on the first verse are nice and they go nice with the simplicity and beauty of the piano. He shows off his vocal strength on the chorus and the emotions coming flowing out with love. He hits his notes on the last phrase “with love” perfectly and it makes the listener believe him. There is more of a beat during the second verse and it adds to the song’s sweet quality. With Love is a great song that shows off Tackey’s ability to communicate the emotion of love.
Single Ranking: B +
Tackey certainly brought a quality release for his debut single. The title track takes on Spanish influences to make a catchy upbeat number while the B-side sticks to the more emotional path for a ballad. It’s a great way to introduce the world to Tackey’s style of solo music.
Amai Wana 