Berryz Koubou – 私の未来のだんな様 / 流星ボーイ [21st Single]
Berryz Koubou’s 21st single, entitled 私の未来のだんな様 / 流星ボーイ, was released on 11.11.09. 流星ボーイ was used as the ending theme song for the Nintendo DS game Inazuma Eleven 2 Kyoui no Shinryakusha Fire and as the ending theme for the anime Inazuma Eleven.
私の未来のだんな様 is a fun and cool number that will get stuck in the listener’s head on first listen. Beginning the song is a funky instrumental that is absolutely addictive. Then comes the first verse, divided into four parts for Risako, Miyabi, Momoko and Yurina. Risako’s vocals are particularly capturing, staying very smooth and sleek to suit the song’s cool atmosphere. Packed full of fun energy, the chorus really stands out and stays on the mind. Risako ends the chorus with more great vocals before more pure instrumentation is re-introduced. The pure instrumental section spotlights the funkiness of the song and Miyabi and Risako end things off on the right note. This is definitely one of Berryz Koubou’s best songs and really shows what these girls can do.
And the energy keeps on coming with the second A-side, the funky 流星ボーイ. The backing vocals open the song, repeatedly singing “Never give up” and they actually do a good job of catching the listener’s attention and preparing them for Berryz. The girls come in for the chorus. They sound particularly good when they sing the name of the song. On the verses, there is more of a relaxing atmosphere that makes for a nice change while still keeping a cohesiveness. The pure instrumental section features the very cool sounds of the guitar, really bringing the listener into the world of the song. It’s another great track that makes this single perfect froms start to finish.
In order to promote the single, two PVs were made: one for each A-side. The PV for 私の未来のだんな様 features dance sequences and the girls sitting in a chair while feathers lightly fall from the sky. There are also scenes of the girls looking at a TV screen in which various people are chosen. It’s a great video and the girls look great (particularly Risako). The 流星ボーイ is more fun and energetic, just like the song, featuring the girls in outer-space. It suits the theme of the song well and the outfits are really eye-catching.
Single Ranking: A +
Berryz Koubou are continuously nailing each of their singles, each A-side of their double A-sides catching the eye. Both songs this time around have a sort of funkiness to them that ties the single package together but each one stands out on its own. The first A-side is the stronger one but both songs are definitely memorable gems in the girls’ discography, making this a single to definitely look out for.
alan – Swear [11th Single]
alan’s 11th single, entitled Swear, was released on 11.04.09. While the title track was used as the theme song for Bourbon’s Blanchul Mini Series CM, Beauty was used as the Yomeishu’s Nutrition Drink CM song.
Swear takes a lighter than the previous two singles and a softer uptempo beat to compliment it. The song begins with a twinkling sound before the chorus starts. alan’s vocals are very calm and pretty here, suiting the relaxing music perfectly. The verses feature more smooth vocals that give a sort of lullaby efffect. The combination with the music makes for a very nice and natural atmosphere, which brings out alan’s strengths. The choruses provide a little more energy and more vocal strength from alan to keep the song interesting the whole way through. What really makes the song so addictive is the pure instrumental section, leading the listener deep into the world of the song. The music is spotlighted with a few fantastic vocals from alan to make this part easily the best section of the entire song. With its beautiful and mellow nature, Swear emerges as one of alan’s stronger singles and a very good lead-song for her second studio album.
The B-side, Beauty, maintains a sense of calmness but with a slower pace. The opening instrumental has a very calm sound that gives the image of water before alan comes in for the first verse. The piano really suits alan’s voice here and the two make an unforgettable combination. She sticks to a higher register for the chorus and with her heavenly vocals, this makes for a very enjoyable section. Right before the pure instrumental section, alan gives a few stand-out vocals and the music does change it up a little bit to keep the listener engaged. While it’s not as strong as the A-side, Beauty definitely compliments the single and adds to the cohesiveness of the package.
In order to promote the single, a PV for Swear was made. It features a refreshingly beautiful atmosphere that perfectly captures the essence of the song. Essentially, the PV consists of three different alans (all in different outfits). They each look into a glass apple before taking a walk around the garden and return to their spot. It may not be particularly eventful but everything about the video just fits together for the perfect result. alan looks beautiful a the scenery is absolutely breahtaking, making the Swear PV definitely one to watch.
Single Ranking: A +
With a string of amazing singles, Swear does not fall short of its predecessors. In fact, it comes out as one of the better singles in alan’s discography. It’s nice to see her try new things and Swear is a nice change from all the powerful ballads. Beauty also stands strongly to make this a truly star package worth buying.
Nishino Kana – もっと… [7th Single]
Nishino Kana’s 7th single, entitled もっと…, was released on 10.21.09. The title track was used as a Rekochoku CM song.
もっと… is a laid-back midtempo number that catches the ear. The song begins with part of the first verse and it’s basically just Kana with the beautiful sounds of the piano so it makes for the perfect opening combination. It sounds heartbreaking when she sings “I’m just crying cause of you” and the following moment of pure instrumentation really stands out. Then the instrumentation becomes more diverse to bring chorus before moving back into the first verse. Her vocals carry a certain fragile quality on the verse that suits the music very well and brings the emotions out. When she hits the higher notes, she absolutely angelic and it fits the light atmosphere of the song. It’s a very enjoyable song from Kana that shows off her vocals and style wonderfully.
The first B-side is missing you. Opening the song is a very pretty instrumental that is established by the sorrowful sounds of the piano. Kana then comes in on the first verse and her vocals carry a lot of emotion. In fact, at points, it sounds like she’s going to start crying. The chorus is a little flat and sounds a little generic so it doesn’t capture the strength of the build-up from the verse. Although her vocals are nice, the song could have been nicer overall.
Dear my friends serves as the second B-side. This song has a happier and more cheerful atmosphere than the other two songs. After a cute and fun instrumental, the chorus comes in and it sounds very cutesy. The most interesting part of the song is the instrumentation, which carries different sounds it to make the listener pay attention. The vocals are nice as well but they aren’t as strong as the music, which is a shame since it’s so interesting.
In order to promote the single, a PV for もっと… was made. The video basically features Kana spending the day checking her cell phone for new messages in hopes that the one of her dreams has sent her another one. It fits with the lyrics of the song so it was a good idea to incorporate the phone theme into the video. There is also scenes from the single’s cover and Kana looks so pretty here. Overall, the sweetness of the video fits with the sweetness of the song so it’s a perfect fit.
Single Ranking: B +
It’s another good single for Kana. もっと… is one of her more memorable songs and definitely shows what she can do. Hopefully her next single, which was already been announced, will be as strong as this.
Suzuki Ami – KISS KISS KISS / aishiteru [32nd Single]
Suzuki Ami’s 32nd single, entitled KISS KISS KISS / aishiteru, was released on 10.28.09. The extended version of the A-side appeared on the Aquamarine HOUSE NATION compilation CD.
KISS KISS KISS is a mellow number inspired by taking a drive at night. The song begins with a soft instrumental and then Ami sings some of the chorus and the English stands out nicely. Ami’s vocals show some nice emotion and takes the listener off on a nice start before the first verse starts. Here, the vocals flow even more strongly with the first verse and the meloow atmosphere is almost lulling for the listener. It’s a little repetitive but nonetheless, it’s a nice and calm song. It is sort of like Bitter… from DOLCE although not nearly as strong.
The second A-side is aishiteru. Beginning the song is an interesting and sleek instrumental that instantly makes the listener wonder about what’s coming next. On the first verse, it has a sort of magical feeling to it as if Ami is wandering through a magic garden as she sings. The combination of the music and her vocals proves to be a potent mix in bringing a visual association. On the chorus, the energy comes blasting through but the transition is very smooth so the whole song is quite sleek. This is definitely the stronger of the two A-sides and should have been the main one.
In order to promote the single, a PV for KISS KISS KISS was made. The video takes on a similar style to the ONE PV with the various colors. This time, fitting with the inspiration of the song, the video takes place in and around a car. Ami looks very pretty and it’s a nice and relaxing fit with the atmosphere of the song.
Single Ranking: B +
This single is definitely a large step up from Reincarnation. aishiteru has the cool energy that suits Ami perfectly and should have been promoted as the lead A-side. KISS KISS KISS is nice as well with its laid-back style but upbeat songs are Ami’s forte so hopefully we’ll be getting some more aggressive stuff from her. It would be nice for her to revisit working with Nakata soon for more fantastic material like Supreme Show.
BoA – BUMP BUMP! [29th Single]
BoA’s 29th single, entitled BUMP BUMP!, was released on 10.28.09. Both songs on the single feature VERBAL of m-flo, whom she worked with on UNIVERSE of her last single. The title track was as NTV’s MUSIC FIGHTER POWER PLAY song as well as being a music.jp CM song.
BUMP BUMP! has BoA and VERBAL bringing the energy that will make the listener want to dance. The song begins with the chorus, sung without all the instruments by BoA and her vocals sound great here. Then she says “hit it” and VERBAL comes on in for a rap section. Here, the full instrumentation is shown and it instantly catches the listener’s ear. As usual, VERBAL sounds great and makes a great introduction for BoA. She sings with attitude but there’s also cute parts when she calls herself “BoA-chan.” The English phrases in the song like “let’s party!” and “life’s a melody” all stand out nicely and spice the song up a little. The song is absolutely fantastic and really shows BoA to be the star she is.
VERBAL joins BoA again for the B-side, IZM. The song opens up with VERBAL and he sees a lot different than he usually does, which isn’t a very good thing. Then BoA comes in and provides some strong vocals that portray emotion over the cool and slightly mysterious instrumental. It’s a nice song but it’s nothing that is stellar or anything. It would have been better if VERBAL’s voice sounded like it usually does.
In order to promote the single, a PV for BUMP BUMP! was made. It pretty much features BoA dancing in a gothic style house with some creepy background dancers. As usual, BoA delivers some great dance moves, matching the energy of the song. VERBAL also looks great like always.
Single Ranking: A
BoA did a great job with this single. BUMP BUMP! brings a fun exciting energy for the listener to enjoy from start to finish. Although IZM is not nearly as strong, it still sounds nice. With her next single already on the way, I hope that she’ll continue to bring such great songs like this.
Morning Musume – 気まぐれプリンセス [41st Single]
Morning Musume’s 41st single, entitled 気まぐれプリンセス, was released on 10.28.09. The title track was used as the ending theme song to TV Tokyo’s The Gyakyuru Researchers. This single is the last to feature Koharu Kusumi, who will graduate from the group in December.
気まぐれプリンセス carries a much more lighter tone than the girls’ previous singles while still maintaining the same addictive catchiness. The song begins with a fun Russian styled instrumental that instantly hooks the listener. The repeating “oi” is great and adds to the energy of the music. Ai starts off the first verse and what’s interesting is that the verses carry the girls’ voices in a higher pitch than normal. Nonetheless, Ai sounds great and then Reina comes in to close the verse. The hook divides the girls into trios and each one of them has kind of a rapid pace for their parts, quickly catching the listener’s ear. The chorus is primarily divided with Ai and Eri alternating as the leads. It’s a great opportunity to allow Eri the screen time she deserves and she handles the spotlight perfectly, showing off vocals that suit the song fantastically. This definitely continues the string of amazing Morning Musume A-sides and with Eri as a lead, it provides something nice and new for the listener.
The B-side is the fun and quirky number, 愛して 愛して 後一分. The song opens up with a video-game like instrumental that takes the listener into a new world before the first verse. The verses are split in the following order: LinLin, Aika, JunJun and Koharu. Koharu sounds particularly great here and ending with her was definitely the way to go. Sayumi then has her time on the hook and right before the chorus, there is a very interesting sound that has a breaking down feel to it. It definitely is catchy and is actually one of the best parts of the song. Then the chorus comes in and Ai starts things off with a bang. Reina then follows and as usual, she shines and sounds very nice when she goes slightly higher. For the second chorus, Eri and Risa take over and the two of them make a fantastic duo so it comes out strongly. The pure instrumental section sounds great because it really draws on that space feeling that began the song. Along with a streak of great A-sides, Morning Musume is also churning amazing B-sides.
In order to promote the single, a PV for 気まぐれプリンセス was made. The video features the girls in cowgirl styled outfits while dancing in a castle as well as close up shots. Although the connection between the Russian theme of the song and the cowgirl outfits seems to be lost, the dancing is pretty good and feels more involved than the choreography than those of their last few singles. Eri particularly stands out during the dancing shots.
Single Ranking: A +
Morning Musume is on the perfect streak this year. 気まぐれプリンセス is an absolutely fantastic dance track that provides a nice change from the dominantly sorrow singles of the year. Interstingly enough, the lyrics carry a sadness as well but the combination with the music just is very grabbing. The B-side also is of high quality, rounding out the single as a great package. It would be nice to see Koharu a little more since it’s her last single but the single really is another amazing one from the group.
Hirahara Ayaka – ミオ・アモーレ! [20th Single]
Hirahara Ayaka’s 20th single, entitled ミオ・アモーレ!, was released on 08.26.09.
ミオ・アモーレ! is a beautiful song that suits Ayaka’s style well. The song begins with a nice classical instrumental and then Ayaka comes in for the first verse. As usual, her vocals are beautiful and carry a fragility to them that suits the sounds of the piano perfectly. As the song moves on, more instruments come in to bring a slightly more hopeful and upbeat feel to the song. The chorus sounds quite nice as the emotions come out from Ayaka’s voice fluidly. The pure instrumental section highlights the guitars and they really sound great, taking the listener into a choir. It’s a great song that keeps the listener’s interest from start to end.
The B-side is Moldau. It carries a similar sound to the A-side but has a more sorrowful and fragile atmosphere that Ayaka brings to life. It’s very nice as the emotions also are poured out from Ayaka’s heart.
Single Ranking: B +
Ayaka did a great job with this single, both songs standing out in their own way. They both use classical music and it really suits Ayaka’s vocal style so the choice was certainly a wise one. Hopefully she’ll be delivering more material as great as this in the future.
AKB48 – 言い訳 Maybe [13th Single]
AKB48’s 13th single, entitled 言い訳 Maybe, was released on 08.26.09.
言い訳 Maybe is an upbeat summery track.The song begins with an upbeat summery instrumental that suits the song well. Then comes the first verse and the girls sound very nice here. Despite the upbeat instrumental, a relaxing and calming feeling comes through to soothe the listener. They sound quite when they sing “maybe” but overall, the chorus is a little dry in that nothing amazing comes through to make this section really stand out. It’s nothing fantastic but it’s cute.
飛べないアゲハチョウ is a much stronger song. Opening the song is a cool and funky instrumental that will catch the listener’s attention quickly. On the first verse, the vocals have a mature feel to them that is catchy to the ear and suits the energy of the music perfectly. The chorus keeps the energy from the verses while still sounding slightly different to keep the interest up. The ending of the chorus especially stands out as they break it down by emphasizing the syllables.
In order to promote the single, a PV for 言い訳 Maybe was made. The video basically features the girls dancing on a school lawn and riding bikes. There’s something sweet and natural in its simplicity so it comes across as a successful PV.
Single Ranking: B –
Without a doubt, 飛べないアゲハチョウ should have been the A-side. It has a mature feel that is really pleasing to the eyes and shows off the girls’ cool side perfectly. The A-side is nice as well but it’s nothing that impressive so it sounds kind of typical. Hopefully they will do more songs like 飛べないアゲハチョウ since that is where they shine.
YUI – It’s all too much / Never say die [15th Single]
YUI’s 15th single, entitled It’s all too much / Never say die, was released on 10.07.09. It’s all too much was used as the theme song to the movie KAIJI while Never say die was used as an insert song.
It’s all too much is a cool rock track. The song begins with a dark rock instrumental that has a sort of mysterious feel to it. Then YUI comes in and her vocals are quite soft and fragile while carrying a sort of darkness to them as well that suits the music well. Her vocals aren’t too powerful on the chorus and don’t really emote as strongly as they could have to really make this section stand out like it should. It’s not a great song but it’s worth the listen at least once.
Never say die takes on the sort of rock sound from the first track but this time around, it’s higlighted by an upbeat cheery feel. Unfortunately, the end product isn’t anything to write home about. YUI’s vocals sound a bit more complimentary to the music but overall, the song just doesn’t engage the listener.
In order to promote the single, two PVs were made: one for each A-side. They both essenially featured YUI just rocking out with a band as she sings the song with a few other scenes to intercut. The Never say die PV features scenes from the movie.
Single Ranking: C
It’s just not a very interesting single that YUI delivers this time around. Perhaps next time, the instrumentation will have some more magic to it and suit her voice better.
Koda Kumi – Alive / Physical thing [45th Single]
Koda Kumi’s 45th single, entitled Alive / Physical thing, was released on 09.16.09. Alive was used as the theme song to the movie Kamui the Ninja.
Alive is a very calm and soothing ballad that leaves the listener in a dreamy state. The song quickly starts off with the first verse and there is a real sense of emotion flowing from Kumi’s vocals that suit the magical atmosphere of the instrumentation. It really does have an image of slowly drifting off into a faraway magical world. The chorus maintains the sweet gentleness of the verses with just slightly more powerful vocals. The whole song really does flow quite nicely although it would have been nice if there were some parts that had a more dynamic and grand feeling to really make the chorus stand out to the listener’s ears. Nonetheless, it’s a very pretty and gentle ballad that captures the element of loneliness perfectly while giving hope for a brighter future like a dream.
Balancing out the single is the ero-kakkoi song, Physical thing. Beginning the song is some vocalizations from Kumi before the hot thumping beat comes in to drive the listener wild. Kumi’s vocals ooze sequality and brings the emotions of the lyrics out very nicely. She sings “You see me, I see you, it’s easy, keep it real simple” before diving into the chorus, continuing the heat strongly. The pure instrumentation section is awesome and the repeating “physical thing” part really shines. The third verse is interesting in that the lyrics reflect a kind of insecurity and longing to not be alone. The ending features a quickly repeated “thing,” which just sends things off on a perfect note. Although it’s a short song, it’s Kumi’s best song after the release of TRICK.
In order to promote the single, two PVs were made: one for Alive and one for Physical thing. The Alive PV is absolutely gorgeous, featuring Kumi lying underneath a beautiful sky in a very pretty dress. Her sorrow is overwhelming and soon her tears fall onto the earth, turning her surroundings into a forest. That is where the other Kumi comes in, who is wearing a beautiful lightly colred dress. She looks like she is from a fairy tale, which suits the atmosphere of the song perfectly. That Kumi walks towards the future with hope in her heart that the loneliness will eventually pass. Although simple, the video was done perfectly to suit both the song’s lyrics and overall sound. The video for Physical thing really does fit the lyrics of the song, showing off Kumi’s sexy side. In this video, Kumi is featured drinking and with a cigarette, really oozing that ero-kakkoi style. She looks fantastic and it’s always welcomed when her sexy side comes out.
Single Ranking: A
Koda Kumi continues her string of good singles with Alive / Physical thing. Alive does bear a resemblance to faraway, carrying a magical kind of sound but the former is more soothing and peaceful, carrying a similar sound throughout the whole track. On the other hand, Physical thing kicks up her ero-kakkoi sound a la TABOO. Hopefully her upcoming album will feature tracks like Physical thing, which instantly grab the listener’s attention on first listen.
Amai Wana 