ALARM / STROBE

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1. ALARM – Namie Amuro – ALARM Single/Queen of Hip-hop

This was actually one of the two songs that got me into Namie (the other was Violet Sauce). This song comes directly out of Namie’s most hip-hop of eras, so that’s the style represented here, and pretty damn well, might I add. The beginning starts off with some stacatto notes from something like a synthetic clavichord, and then launches into a electro-influenced hip-hop beat. There is a lack of any kind of electro beat, however- only the sounds used are reminiscent of electro at all. There’s some wobbling bass and waspy sines paired with the standard drum-and-cymbals combo for the backbeat. Honestly, it’s a very interesting combination that blends nicely with Namie’s strong and smoky vocals. Something I enjoy in particular about this song is how Namie is able to get your blood boiling without even having to hit a high note. A very sexy, danceable tune. I love everything about this- yes, even her Engrish, which, by the way, is great for the entire tone of the song.

A fuschia song with swirls of violet

2. STROBE – Namie Amuro – ALARM Single

To be honest, STROBE is just as strong as ALARM, which is why I’m surprised that it isn’t on the album Queen of Hip-Hop along with its A-Side. STROBE gives you the same kinds of sounds as ALARM, but slows the tempo way down so that you have less of a pussy-popper and more of a sway n’ flow. You can hear the beginnings of a cricket-filled night at the very start of the song, and throughout there are little disc scratches and the shooka-shooka of maracas. Kind of edgy and sensual all at once. Namie does hit some higher notes this time around, but she does also sing in a lighter, softer voice at the end of the chorus (and the end of the song). This song feels like an intense lullaby…or, whatever your mind goes to when she says…those things in English that she says xD I shan’t repeat them…I can’t bring myself to, but still. Sensualllllll~!

A smooth creamy orange color, like candlelight, or cashmere.

YOU

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YOU – Yuya Matsushita – YOU / I AM ME

I chose to take a look at Yuya’s fifth single first because it’s one of my favorite songs in his repertoire. Also it shares a name with an Ayumi Hamasaki song (although the two songs are completely unrelated… ^^; heh). Yuya’s debut songs were slower (with the exception of Trust Me), and when YOU hit the market, I was pleasantly surprised to have an upbeat pop number playing in my ears. If you’ve listened to any of Yuya’s other songs, you will probably agree with me when I say that he does VERY WELL with his upbeat pop numbers. This song gives me fighter vibes. Kind of like the whole…Boxing trainer motivating his trainee, get what I’m saying? The BG music is a hybrid dance/hip-hop sound, not too fast or too slow. When you listen to a lot of EDM like I do, sometimes it’s nice to get a pop tune that isn’t influenced by house or trance. The way he mini-raps the words “Whatcha gonna do tonight for somebody?” is super cool, too. It’s funny, because the actual song is more of a love story than an anthem. Or perhaps it’s both? A love anthem, that’s it! I like that term. Songs like this really showcase Yuya’s talents- he has an amazing voice (his English is pretty solid, too), and he’s a very skilled dancer. There’s a part of the MV where he catches this chair with his foot…Yeah, in case you hadn’t noticed, I stan Yuya pretty hardcore. He’s just awesome, and YOU shows it!

A bright sunny gold, kind of like a new medal

아틀란티스 소녀

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 아틀란티스 소녀 (Atlantis Princess) – BoA – Atlantis Princess

The title track of BoA’s third Korean album is an upbeat number. You can’t help but feel a little bit hopeful listening to this, even if you can’t understand a lick of Korean. The background music is nothing too special, but I enjoy the piano accompaniment. I personally am a sucker for pop music that incorporates classical instruments. What really carries this song is BoA’s voice. She has this way of singing with the perfect emotion- there’s really no questioning why she’s so popular in more places than just Korea. The lyrics express hope, which isn’t really surprising at all, considering the way BoA puts her feelings into singing them. They feel like they carry across the sky and sea to everyone. Honestly, that’s probably the way they were meant (all this Hallyu going on, you know). This is just one of those songs that your hearts feels (I’m really getting kind of sappy with this entry, aren’t I?) more than your ears, which is why I recommend it.

White, kind of like a new-fallen snow, or the feathers of a swan.

Valenti

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VALENTI – BoA – VALENTI (Japanese Single)

For the longest time, this was one of the only BoA songs in my music library- it still remains one of my all-time BoA favorites. I don’t think I can express just how much I enjoy BoA’s voice. And to have her pair it with a romantic, Latin-y  beat? It’s laid-back, and the way she croons…Mmm! It’s just a sexy song. You can really feel the emotion in her words through the entire song. Even in the parts where she just kind of “ahhhhh~”s in the background, or whispers toward the conclusion of the song, Valenti is an enchanting example of BoA’s soul (as I call it). This song was recorded in Japanese, Korean, and English (bam!), but my favorite of the three versions has to be the Japanese. To me, Japanese is such a romantic and poetic language. Valenti was just MADE to be in Japanese! Plus…BoA’s English is still kind of lacking at this point, and I find myself wondering what the heck she’s saying throughout half of the English version. Nevertheless, I enjoy this song no matter which language she sings it in. Wouldn’t it be nice if she had a Chinese version also?!

Gold, sparkly, like a tall flute of champagne~

Мен си търси

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Мен си търси – ANDREA – Мен си търси

Balkan music!! Surprise surprise!! Never figured this was a genre I could get into myself, but hey. What did I tell you about those [Music Genre] Top Tens!? That is also how I discovered ANDREA. I actually got into her from hearing Излъжи ме (Izlazhi Me), but I figured that the first song from her sophomore album would be a good starting point to review ANDREA. Мен си търси (Men Si Tarsil, “You’ve Been Looking For Me”) is probably my favorite of ANDREA’s three albums. The title song starts off the album on the right foot. It’s a soft, trancey number that actually misleads you when it comes to ANDREA’s style of music! ANDREA is considered Pop-folk or Balkanic. You can hear strains of Bulgarian folk instruments that I can’t name during certain parts of the song. It’s a really neat effect to add to the mainly trance backbeat, in my opinion. Her vocals match the airy effect quite nicely as well. Of course, I can’t forget to mention her collaborative partner Costi Ionita (more commonly called just plain Costi). He is present in many of ANDREA’s works and actually wrote all but two songs on Men Si tarsil. It is his voice you hear wavering in the background. I’m still trying to get used to the whole…Bulgarian vibratto. It’s neat, but not something my American ears are used to hearing coming out of a man’s throat! And considering Costi sounds kind of derpy in everything except Neblagodaren from ANDREA’s third album…ah well. They’re a good pair. And I really like this song still.

LIGHT BLUEEE like the sky above an island~

Tri-Angle (feat. BoA and The TRAX)

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Tri-Angle (feat. BoA and The TRAX) – TOHOSHINKI – Tri-Angle

Oh Lordy, this song gets to being a hot hot mess. The arrangement is all over the place, and it can’t decide if it wants to be a rap song or a hardcore rock song or WHATEVER it’s trying to be. I love how it starts off with the violin in the background. Makes you think it’s gonna be a pretty fly song, but then we get some rough guitar and it all changes. The violin stays present, and paired with the guitar, we have ourselves a pretty dark song. It helps that the boys have some pretty smooth vocals, even this early in their career, especially Max. Thank God for Max Changmin. Now onto the features. Definitely listen to this song because BoA is in it!! Her voice suits this song so well, and her solo is definitely a high point in the song (even if I almost confused her with Changmin). But then you get The TRAX rapping and then screaming and it’s just a little bit of a pain to hear. It’s about there that you see what I mean by the song being a hot mess. Not terribly, but enough. The upsetting part is that this may be the best song on the whole album. We shall see as I continue to roll through it. But let me iterate that you should listen to this song for BoA and Max. No lie just do it.

Shiny gray song with some little threads of red and purple.

Flare Stack

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Flare Stack – Aural Vampire – ZOLTANK

Starting kind of backwards here, starting with a new song. Ah well. I’m not gonna do any particular order. Technically, since this is Aural Vampire’s debut with an official label (AVEX)…I am doing no wrong. Flare Stack is one of… five songs on ZOLTANK that are originally recorded for this album. All the others are singles and/or re-recorded content from Vampire Ecstasy. Flare Stack is a solid opener to a pretty solid album, let me tell you. We start it off with some staccato synths that morphs into a darkwave disco beat, and from there, you’re swept away. The song gives you a mix of emotions and never builds up or drops, and it’s addicting. I almost wonder what this song would have sounded like if it had also come off of Vampire Ecstasy, and this album track was another re-recorded. Like they did with Economical Animal Superstar and PNFPN. On the other hand, I’m glad it was born under their pro license, because while Vampire Ecstasy was a GREAT album for what was done with it, it had a lot of jagged edges to smooth out. Flare Stack shows just how much AuVa has improved.

A dark, dark crimson that is very close to black. 

Supa Luv

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Supa Luv – Teen Top -Transform

YouTube does have its uses! Sometimes when I’m bored I’ll look through videos that showcase a “[Music Genre] Top Ten” or something along those lines. I’m starting to get another K-pop kick, so I watched a K-pop Top Ten the other day and saw this pretty little single. It’s not even Teen Top’s debut, but it is certainly a strong number in their small discography. The beat is steady, not too peppy. It doesn’t try to have swag, but it’s got swag anyway. In a Korea full of Korean boy bands, a little group like this definitely has to make something that stands out. Supa Luv, when compared to other songs by other similar groups, isn’t really a whole lot different stylistically. When one pays attention to the arrangement though, the beat has this interesting hybrid of boy band pop and Big Bang rap going on, and I’m digging it somehow. Funny, considering the oldest member of the group, C.A.P, is kind of like a T.O.P wanna-be. Seems like, anyway, since he does the rapping. And that little ad-lib at the close of the song is just so adorable. You gotta love it!

Blue-black song, slick like oil. Haha that sounds funny.

傷跡

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傷跡 – Kalafina – Seventh Heaven

Kizuato, or “Scar”. With a name like that you don’t expect a light hearted sounding song like this. For sure. Unless you didn’t know what Kizuato meant before I told you the meaning! I like the way this song starts out with this “traveling” beat, kinda like music played in those fantasy movies where there’s traveling scenes in mountains and forests. Now, this song was also part of the “oblivious” single along with “Kimi ga Hikari ni Kaete Iku”, so there are only two members present: Wakana and Keiko. I find it cute and entertaining when they say “Kalafina” in their choral chanting after the intial singing, but I also enjoy the way their voices fit together. I think that’s the best part of this whole song, since overall it isn’t as memorable as oblivious. But really, I had not idea this song was going to be so…light. But when they throw the piano in there with some tinkly sounds…chimes, maybe…the lyrics aren’t all happy (the song’s name is scar….!) but the arrangement could make you think that. Slow, steady, and maintains the same beat through the whole song. Not quite up there with oblivious, but it’s definitely helping to establish Kalafina’s overall style.

Kind of a sunset yellow.

Vs

 

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Vs – misono – Vs single

As a martial artist, I have a great appreciation for this song. I mean come on, she says “Boku ni beruto o sasageyou” at the end. In a tomboyish way, she’s saying “Award me my belt”, and that, my friends, it the perfect way to sum up the whole theme of the song. Don’t give up! Keep going! Sure, there are a LOT of songs in Japan about not giving up…”Ganbare!” One of my favorite phrases. But MAN when I first found this song on iTunes a couple years ago, I seriously could not stop listening to it. And it truly is one of the best debut singles written by a Japanese recording artist, and indeed, misono penned this one herself. To date, this is still her best single EVER. Kinda sucks when you can’t top your own debut! Now. The intro to this song is a driving guitar riff, and some synths fade in (that’s the limit of the “pop” in this pop-rock song). And then, without dropping, we get the beginning chorus and you’re completely hooked. I used to listen to this before my belt tests to get amped. And because she said “Award me my belt”. But really, you can do no wrong but listening to this song other than be disappointed in all the rest of her tunes. Like me. Nothing she’s released so far has even come CLOSE to being this epic besides maybe LOVELY CAT’S EYE…

Here’s on of those rare teal songs, guys!!