MUSIC REVIEW

Hi! Today I feel like writing bout the songs in my playlist. Particularly I like J-Pop cause their songs are catchy and they use various instrumentals, that’s great. So here are 7 songs I pick to review.

                       Omoide ni Naru Mae Ni 『想い出になる前に』 

Artist : Jyukai

Album : Jyukai BEST ~Stairway to the future~ 

I have always loved Jyukai! Manami’s pure yet strong voice just fits ballads, accompanied with light orchestra in the background, leaving a deep melodramatic impression. This song is so difficult to find, I must admit – I got it by downloading a whole album. The title in English is ‘Before You Turn into Memories’. The song tells us about farewell and regret, a lonely girl who’s still hoping for her loved one to return, but she realizes that what are left are just memories.

“…Before you turn into memories
I should have told you that I love you more…”

  

      Mienai Hoshi  見えない星

Artist : Nakashima Mika

Album : YES

Nakashima Mika is indeed one of the best Japanese singers ever, for her mild and characterized voice that easily melts everyone’s heart. Although ‘Yuki No Hana’ is considered as her most popular song (and it’s been my favorite for like, a decade), we can hear Mika’s real vocal ability in this song. Mienai Hoshi means “The Star I Can’t See”, reflecting the meaning brought by the lyrics. The song tells us about a lonely girl who prays to the star, longing to meet her love. Somehow every time I hear this song, I could always feel the emptiness expressed, as if I were the one who’s left behind (were I?).

“…I hope my wish reaches the empty sky
And the stars I can’t see, way off in the distance
I softly called your name…”

3.       Shiroi Yuki 白い雪

Artist : Kuraki Mai

Album : One Life

As Christmas is approaching, I tend to hear some wintery song that brings a unique spirit of holiday. I especially like the first thirty seconds of this song because it reminds me a lot how cheerful a winter is. Although, when you’ve learned the real meaning of this song, it tells a sad love story of a girl who can’t forget her love feeling, set in winter time and so much linked with the white snow. However, I enjoy the cheerful tone of the song so much.

“…White snow, I remember that promise
With each breath I think of you…”

Hikari no Naka de  光の中で

      Artist : Hiro

With the light tones and cute voice from Hiro, plus the enchanting melodies, this song never gets me bored for once. Somehow it’s different from others, calming and sweet – no drums, no electric guitars, I’m just glad. So feminine it is, just like an innocent girl singing from her heart. Anyway I haven’t managed to find the translation of the lyrics (and I’m just so poor at Japanese that I can’t get the meaning at all), except that the title means “In the Light”.

5.                       Carols

           Artist : Ayumi Hamasaki

           Album : My Story

Of all Ayumi’s song, I think I like Carols the best. Again, the wintery tones just attract my ears so bad, as I’m touched with the lyrics – they’re all just so sweet. I grow to be fond of snow, and I think love linked to snowy days is just perfectly romantic. From the melodies we can tell that this song brings a very sad story, but it’s worth to be listened even by them who may not feel sad at the moment.

“…When the white snow melts
And the city becomes vivid and colorful
I like to keep you closest
To my heart…”

6.      Truth

Artist : Yuna Ito

Album : Heart

This song is a soundtrack of J-dorama NANA where Yuna Ito played as Reira. We can hear some English lyrics inside, sung with nice pronunciation, probably because she was raised in Hawaii. This song is filled with powerful emotion, talking about the ‘truth’ where a girl is ready to sacrifice everything to get her love.

“…Even if we're separated, in this heart
I will feel you forever, It's my truth…”

7.      Yume no Uta 夢のうた

Artist : Koda Kumi

Album : Black Cherry

Honestly I haven’t listened to Koda Kumi’s so much because some of what I have are just too loud, kinda not fit in my ears, so I can’t help it. But then I found this, ‘Song of the Dream’, and I fall for it. It talks a lot about dream, as a girl is desperate to meet her love in the dream realm.  

“…Tonight, as I fall asleep
Come meet me in my dreams
If I could spend countless nights with you
I wouldn't need anything else...”