Thoughts on LOVE
Oct. 20th, 2013 01:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spsn
I thought of doing a movie review post today until I saw... LOVE is everywhere today! Off course the first instinct is to listen to it right away. As everybody knows, LOVE is Arashi 12th album, yes they've come a long way and this album adds on to the already huge pool of Arashi songs. Yesterday I complained to my friend that no matter how much I shuffle my playlist, it's always Arashi song, and no, I have other songs too, V6, NEWS, Kat-tun, K8, Yamapi, SMAP, Kinki, T&T (yeah, all Johnny's, but still, they're other than Arashi, right?), so what happen the those other songs? Then I realize that I just keep on adding Arashi songs (they're productive too!) that they ends up to be 70% of the total song list, and this album is going to increase that 70% to probably 75%. So, how this album fares? Regardless, this album will make #1 anyway, come on, it's Arashi, Johnny's #1 cash cow. They have to churn out 1 album per year, else probably Johnny's P&L will look slightly less desirable than the forecast.
Firstly, the cover cannot be cheaper looking than this. When it comes to Arashi, somehow their cover is getting more and more... Off course if we're looking from the concept, it tries to show the more mature Arashi, no more pastel cheery happy Potato, Myojo idol style covers. Nobody smiles, all try their best to look cool and suave and the graphic designer just need to paste the word Love on top of it (different color and slightly different pose for the other version). And Johnny's will make another tons of side money from the shop photos because of this. Then? If I make so much noise over the cover (I don't hate the cover, the boys definitely look good, heck Aiba-chan looks so pretty here, and definitely the shot is done professionally, but still, considering the effort, it's just so cheap, that's all), how about the content?
On the contrary to the cover, with this LOVE, Arashi reminds me to always expect the best from them. I've mentioned so many times in my other posts (I think), when listening to Arashi or Johnny's in general, never expect originality, but expect that they're here to make you happy and satisfied as fans aka customers. I LOVE every single songs (and that includes Sho-chan's solo!). They really thought through and arranged the songs neatly this time. I guess this time they have better planning, scheduling and probably a better song pool to select from. You have to listen the tracks in order, no shuffle, then you can already see an Arashi concert. The tracks show a very different side of Arashi, the mature Arashi, a bit bittersweet when I think about it again, ah, they're graduating from their pastel color idol image, but I do look forward to what mature Arashi will produce in the future. So many different expressions and emotions are displayed from 1 track to another that it feels like you're riding a roller coaster of LOVE (not so much different from watching their concert, I'd think). So imagine that you're in Tokyo Dome with your uchiwa and penlight, only there's nobody else, only you're sitting in that coveted arena seat, the lights are dimmed and bang...
*if you like to look up on the lyrics translation, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
yarukizero has all of them*
愛を歌おう (Ai wo Utaou) ~ a splendid opening. It's so grand that you can imagine right away how Arashi will open their concert (I'd like to think that they'd use this song as the opening). I demand a full fledged orchestra deck like what they had in Arafes for this song. And do they sound better too, vocal wise? My heart melted on the chorus part upon first listening. And the second listening was the time to appreciate their falsettos and harmony. The bridge part is moving and for once Sakurap becomes so majestic (sorry, I'm not the fan of Sakurap, but for this song it's just... nice to hear). In my mind, it'll be the scene of bright light opening the stage and we'll see Arashi in white suits welcoming you to a LOVE celebration... se no... KYAAAAA...
サヨナラのあとで (Sayonara no ato de) ~ A nice soft song, upbeat but mellow at the same time. Another different side of Arashi, yet the song is so Arashi in a way. Do they do something to the voice overall? They sound so light here, even lighter and fluffier than NEWS. At the same time, the song gives a grown up vibes, it reminds me of the feeling when I first listening to Full of Love. If this song is placed on their single, this could be straight away my favorite song, but in this album it's hard to decide. For some reason, the more I listen to this song, a scene of eg. Nino reading a letter in those bright lighting bedroom and his mind wandering back to those flashbacks, spending the time with the girl that he loves, but then having to separate somehow and there'll be a scene of saying goodbye at the train station then Nino's hand try to reach out to the girl's hand as the train moves forward, then in the end we go back to the room with Nino folding up the letter and leaving that room... I just watch too many PVs and too many drama LOL
CONFUSION ~ After a bittersweet soft song, Arashi changes the mood up side down with the more rock-ish side of them. I find the song is totally non-Arashi and so western, what's left with Arashi signature in this song is Ohno's voice, else it's bit difficult to tell that this is Arashi song. But it's because of this different style that I like this song. It's refreshing that they're trying different styles and somehow they're rocking it. I can imagine Matsujun and Aiba-chan getting high aka Aiba-chan jumping around with his 1 leg up routine on this song. I think from this song, I start to see the shape of the overall style, not music expert here, but they're taking lots of influence from 60-80s styles. And, I love it XD.
Hit the Floor ~ The first solo of the album and it's Oh-chan's. So 70s, I can see John Travolta dance to this song complete with the disco ball, and now replace that John Travolta with Ohno LOL. What I love about this song is that Oh-chan is finally doing something different! There's no Ohno's solo so far that I don't like, but it's always in similar style that it's kind of expected. So now I'm glad that he chose a different style, and I'm so looking forward to what kind of dance he'll be showing for the performance (or no dance at all???). I like the direction of this mature up idea now. Baby, 知らない世界を見せて上げるよ... (Baby, I'll show you the unknown world), Yes Oh-chan, show me your definition of the unknown world, millions of fans would want to know too!
P.A.R.A.D.O.X~ The flagship song of this album. A very very very catchy song. Lots of people saying it's K-pop, I beg to differ, it's not K-pop. The sound is different and I'd think that it has a strong Mo-town influence on it (those trumpets remind me of the black and white music clips eg. Temptations). But one thing for sure, this song is made for Matsujun. He really shines in the PV, the star. I have a very high expectation on the M-sta performance next week. For such a sexy song, I'd expect lots of sexy fan services, at the very least from Matsujun and Nino. I mean, if you just slice and dice the English words there... Show me, Rock me, Shake me, Hold me, take me higher (to where? hmmm?), gonna make you stop it, gonna make you keep on, going crazy... yeah... suddenly the room becomes 100C hotter LOL... *fanning myself with uchiwa* and on the other side, I think I'm going to see Aiba-chan looking stress during the performance counting every single dance steps, but still pretty *pet Aiba-chan*...
Sugar and Salt ~ ah, this reminds me of one of the older Sho-chan's solos (from ONE, I think), but I love this one better. It's more polished, and sexy. I guess older Sho-chan now knows how to work his charm on a R&B song. I just hope he doesn't need to dance for this because it'll be more kakkoii if he just enjoying himself singing and staring at you with that charming eyes and fangirls will be just melt into a puddle of goo.
I'll be skipping all the single songs because we already know they're good and great. I think they do the song placement very well because all the single title songs has nothing to do with LOVE, but melody flow wise, I don't feel weird or awkward with the track changes.
20825日目の曲 (20825 Nichi Me no Kyoku) ~ Nino's solo. Always look forward to Nino's solo. This time at least it's not a pure ballad, it's rather similar to his previous solo, 1992_4##111 from Boku no Miteiru Fuukei, but with an upgrade. I like seeing this because it shows that Nino's growing, striving, stretching himself in this album as well. High risk, high return applies here? Well, for whatever reason, it works. Lyric wise, I think this song is the only one showing different kind of Love. The lyric is simple and it's almost like he's thinking out loud. Motherly love is the easiest love that people take for granted because it's so obvious, or rather expected in some way. However, if you take it from a different perspective, it also takes effort and hard work to build such love as well, so Nino is grateful for it. Will Nino play the piano for this? Again, Niji is still his best solo, but this one is bound to be special :).
Rock Tonight ~ Arashi's taking one of Kanjani8's song? This is my first impression. And this song full of flower, pastel color, cartoons, a minivan on a journey with Arashi singing along the song. Another take is that this song reminds me of an 80s sitcom high school drama (like Save by the Bell, anybody know this drama? I think it's quite famous back then LOL). Anybody else has this image? Enjoyable song and it's making me smile :)
夜空への手紙 (Yosora e no Tegami) ~ Aiba-chan's solo, the most different one considering his previous solos. Singing ballad is the last thing that I'd expect from Aiba-chan, but now we know how he sounds like in a ballad and please give him more of these types of song because I love his low range voice LOL. I'm expecting a live performance for this, no lip sync and no glossed over with CD recording on DVD and the glittering stage with stars aka penlights. Coming from me probably won't count as anything because I'm too happy and giddy listening to this song, but Aiba-chan can sing. His voice is not gold like Ohno's, and technique wise, he's definitely need to improve, BUT, his voice is comforting and I can listen to this over and over again and I'll be honest that I'm surprised he can hit those high notes... how many NG he got when recording this and how he's going to do it in live... I'm sure he'll work very hard for this song XD am a happy fan and hit the replay button now... and if he sings this in front of me... I'll be jelly XD
Dance in the Dark ~ Matsujun's solo and it's so obvious that this song is made for him. So broadway, showy, flashy, whatever glam words you can come out it and in the end, it's so Matsujun. I'm looking forward to his performance. One thing about the title though, I think by now we can have a collection of song titles with starting with the word 'dance'... Dance in the Dark, Dancin' in the Secret, courtesy of NEWS... and now Matsujun use the same title heh... Listening to this song more, I have the same song image as Monochrome from Endless Game. Matsujun will be the stylish gangster with the 1930s suit, holding the gun machine and the cigar (off course). After a successful bank robbery, he's holding the celebration at a certain private bar, where he'll indulge himself with the ladies and brandy... (arrgghh... now my brain is showing Matsujun in the robes holding cigar and brandy with stocking on his head... courtesy of G no Arashi LOL), but unfortunately the cops has a sniff of his location and he has to make the escape and the chase begins...
Starlight Kiss & FUNKY ~ These 2 songs really go hand in hand and they line them up one after another. I still didn't really realize the track changed between these 2 songs until now... Disco ball anyone? Arashi in Koi no ABO get up? I'd love to see these performed. Such a fun and easy to listen songs. This also reminds me of their old concert, see below... enough said... well now that all of them have passed their big 3 0 mark, we won't see these anymore, but my little fan girl heart still wish that they'll put on those costumes again XD...
yarukizero has all of them*愛を歌おう (Ai wo Utaou) ~ a splendid opening. It's so grand that you can imagine right away how Arashi will open their concert (I'd like to think that they'd use this song as the opening). I demand a full fledged orchestra deck like what they had in Arafes for this song. And do they sound better too, vocal wise? My heart melted on the chorus part upon first listening. And the second listening was the time to appreciate their falsettos and harmony. The bridge part is moving and for once Sakurap becomes so majestic (sorry, I'm not the fan of Sakurap, but for this song it's just... nice to hear). In my mind, it'll be the scene of bright light opening the stage and we'll see Arashi in white suits welcoming you to a LOVE celebration... se no... KYAAAAA...
サヨナラのあとで (Sayonara no ato de) ~ A nice soft song, upbeat but mellow at the same time. Another different side of Arashi, yet the song is so Arashi in a way. Do they do something to the voice overall? They sound so light here, even lighter and fluffier than NEWS. At the same time, the song gives a grown up vibes, it reminds me of the feeling when I first listening to Full of Love. If this song is placed on their single, this could be straight away my favorite song, but in this album it's hard to decide. For some reason, the more I listen to this song, a scene of eg. Nino reading a letter in those bright lighting bedroom and his mind wandering back to those flashbacks, spending the time with the girl that he loves, but then having to separate somehow and there'll be a scene of saying goodbye at the train station then Nino's hand try to reach out to the girl's hand as the train moves forward, then in the end we go back to the room with Nino folding up the letter and leaving that room... I just watch too many PVs and too many drama LOL
CONFUSION ~ After a bittersweet soft song, Arashi changes the mood up side down with the more rock-ish side of them. I find the song is totally non-Arashi and so western, what's left with Arashi signature in this song is Ohno's voice, else it's bit difficult to tell that this is Arashi song. But it's because of this different style that I like this song. It's refreshing that they're trying different styles and somehow they're rocking it. I can imagine Matsujun and Aiba-chan getting high aka Aiba-chan jumping around with his 1 leg up routine on this song. I think from this song, I start to see the shape of the overall style, not music expert here, but they're taking lots of influence from 60-80s styles. And, I love it XD.
Hit the Floor ~ The first solo of the album and it's Oh-chan's. So 70s, I can see John Travolta dance to this song complete with the disco ball, and now replace that John Travolta with Ohno LOL. What I love about this song is that Oh-chan is finally doing something different! There's no Ohno's solo so far that I don't like, but it's always in similar style that it's kind of expected. So now I'm glad that he chose a different style, and I'm so looking forward to what kind of dance he'll be showing for the performance (or no dance at all???). I like the direction of this mature up idea now. Baby, 知らない世界を見せて上げるよ... (Baby, I'll show you the unknown world), Yes Oh-chan, show me your definition of the unknown world, millions of fans would want to know too!
P.A.R.A.D.O.X~ The flagship song of this album. A very very very catchy song. Lots of people saying it's K-pop, I beg to differ, it's not K-pop. The sound is different and I'd think that it has a strong Mo-town influence on it (those trumpets remind me of the black and white music clips eg. Temptations). But one thing for sure, this song is made for Matsujun. He really shines in the PV, the star. I have a very high expectation on the M-sta performance next week. For such a sexy song, I'd expect lots of sexy fan services, at the very least from Matsujun and Nino. I mean, if you just slice and dice the English words there... Show me, Rock me, Shake me, Hold me, take me higher (to where? hmmm?), gonna make you stop it, gonna make you keep on, going crazy... yeah... suddenly the room becomes 100C hotter LOL... *fanning myself with uchiwa* and on the other side, I think I'm going to see Aiba-chan looking stress during the performance counting every single dance steps, but still pretty *pet Aiba-chan*...
Sugar and Salt ~ ah, this reminds me of one of the older Sho-chan's solos (from ONE, I think), but I love this one better. It's more polished, and sexy. I guess older Sho-chan now knows how to work his charm on a R&B song. I just hope he doesn't need to dance for this because it'll be more kakkoii if he just enjoying himself singing and staring at you with that charming eyes and fangirls will be just melt into a puddle of goo.
I'll be skipping all the single songs because we already know they're good and great. I think they do the song placement very well because all the single title songs has nothing to do with LOVE, but melody flow wise, I don't feel weird or awkward with the track changes.
20825日目の曲 (20825 Nichi Me no Kyoku) ~ Nino's solo. Always look forward to Nino's solo. This time at least it's not a pure ballad, it's rather similar to his previous solo, 1992_4##111 from Boku no Miteiru Fuukei, but with an upgrade. I like seeing this because it shows that Nino's growing, striving, stretching himself in this album as well. High risk, high return applies here? Well, for whatever reason, it works. Lyric wise, I think this song is the only one showing different kind of Love. The lyric is simple and it's almost like he's thinking out loud. Motherly love is the easiest love that people take for granted because it's so obvious, or rather expected in some way. However, if you take it from a different perspective, it also takes effort and hard work to build such love as well, so Nino is grateful for it. Will Nino play the piano for this? Again, Niji is still his best solo, but this one is bound to be special :).
Rock Tonight ~ Arashi's taking one of Kanjani8's song? This is my first impression. And this song full of flower, pastel color, cartoons, a minivan on a journey with Arashi singing along the song. Another take is that this song reminds me of an 80s sitcom high school drama (like Save by the Bell, anybody know this drama? I think it's quite famous back then LOL). Anybody else has this image? Enjoyable song and it's making me smile :)
夜空への手紙 (Yosora e no Tegami) ~ Aiba-chan's solo, the most different one considering his previous solos. Singing ballad is the last thing that I'd expect from Aiba-chan, but now we know how he sounds like in a ballad and please give him more of these types of song because I love his low range voice LOL. I'm expecting a live performance for this, no lip sync and no glossed over with CD recording on DVD and the glittering stage with stars aka penlights. Coming from me probably won't count as anything because I'm too happy and giddy listening to this song, but Aiba-chan can sing. His voice is not gold like Ohno's, and technique wise, he's definitely need to improve, BUT, his voice is comforting and I can listen to this over and over again and I'll be honest that I'm surprised he can hit those high notes... how many NG he got when recording this and how he's going to do it in live... I'm sure he'll work very hard for this song XD am a happy fan and hit the replay button now... and if he sings this in front of me... I'll be jelly XD
Dance in the Dark ~ Matsujun's solo and it's so obvious that this song is made for him. So broadway, showy, flashy, whatever glam words you can come out it and in the end, it's so Matsujun. I'm looking forward to his performance. One thing about the title though, I think by now we can have a collection of song titles with starting with the word 'dance'... Dance in the Dark, Dancin' in the Secret, courtesy of NEWS... and now Matsujun use the same title heh... Listening to this song more, I have the same song image as Monochrome from Endless Game. Matsujun will be the stylish gangster with the 1930s suit, holding the gun machine and the cigar (off course). After a successful bank robbery, he's holding the celebration at a certain private bar, where he'll indulge himself with the ladies and brandy... (arrgghh... now my brain is showing Matsujun in the robes holding cigar and brandy with stocking on his head... courtesy of G no Arashi LOL), but unfortunately the cops has a sniff of his location and he has to make the escape and the chase begins...
Starlight Kiss & FUNKY ~ These 2 songs really go hand in hand and they line them up one after another. I still didn't really realize the track changed between these 2 songs until now... Disco ball anyone? Arashi in Koi no ABO get up? I'd love to see these performed. Such a fun and easy to listen songs. This also reminds me of their old concert, see below... enough said... well now that all of them have passed their big 3 0 mark, we won't see these anymore, but my little fan girl heart still wish that they'll put on those costumes again XD...
Tears ~ Closing ballad. Everything must have an ending, and so does this fun disco album. So many feels, so many emotions, and we have to part our ways... and by the time the song finished... my heart felt empty... ah, I just woke up from a dream... and I haven't really check on the lyrics fully yet...
Overall, this album just shot up to #2 in my list. My #1 is still TIME. To me, TIME is the epitome of Arashi. But LOVE shows me a grown up Arashi, the mark of adulthood and I look forward to the concert... in DVD T__T... I can almost see that this will be a REALLY GREAT CONCERT! Damn! I'll book a flight straight away to jet myself to Japan if I get a ticket (a fan girl can always dream!)... T__T
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2013-10-19 06:22 pm (UTC)This album,I really like サヨナラのあとで. It's soft song and easy to listen.
Thanks for telling your opinions about this album.
PS. My english isn't good. I hope u understand. T^T
no subject
Date: 2013-10-19 06:25 pm (UTC)sayonara no ato de is a really nice song in deed XD... I hope they sing this one at the concert... i hope they sing ALL of them at the concert :)
no subject
Date: 2013-10-20 02:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-20 03:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-20 05:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-20 05:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-20 12:54 pm (UTC)I think we share a lot of the same feelings for this album!!
But:
The flagship song of this album. A very very very catchy song. Lots of people saying it's K-pop, I beg to differ, it's not K-pop.
WHO IS SAYING K-POP?! Do fangirls not have ears?! The influence to my ears is more like American R&B style--like this: http://youtu.be/ViwtNLUqkMY
(ETA: I hope we see those disco outfits again!!!!!!! Come on, Matsujun!!!)
no subject
Date: 2013-10-20 12:57 pm (UTC)ah, crazy in love, it totally reminds me of... Kimutaku cross dressing as Beyonce LOL... doing the exact same song hihihi...
yes yes, those outfit are screaming of a comeback LOL
no subject
Date: 2013-10-20 12:59 pm (UTC)I need to see it. I watch Space Battleship Yamato last night. XDD Oh, sexy Kimutaku in space~~ ♥
no subject
Date: 2013-10-20 01:02 pm (UTC)http://youtu.be/UaxQRWKWrVE
What's your take on Space Battleship Yamato? I only feel the effect and details that's good but the script is trying too hard to stick with the original that it's... sigh...
no subject
Date: 2013-11-03 12:45 pm (UTC)so as long as the song itself is catchy or using electronic sound it'd be a K-pop song? /sigh
i bet that fangirls is still young and new to kpop or jpop :P
no subject
Date: 2013-11-03 01:12 pm (UTC)you're right, i.a that those girls who think that way are young (probably tweenies) and have limited exposure on even k-pop aka the k-pop that they know are only from 2010 onwards, which are... all the same :p
no subject
Date: 2013-11-03 01:29 pm (UTC)and speaking of LOVE album, i love most of the songs there include the solo songs :D i only complain that Tears is a little bit boring ballad that make me sleep after listening it few times and i think Rock Tonight is better to listen at concert than in CD :D
no subject
Date: 2013-11-03 01:39 pm (UTC)Rock Tonight better in concert? Yes! definitely! I wanna see how they'll do FUNKY with all the audience's furitsuke and all, it'll be an interesting concert!i wan a DVD already hahaha...
no subject
Date: 2013-11-03 03:49 pm (UTC)i want the dvd too now and i want ai no uta is performed with real orchestra :D
oh i sent the platina data chapter 11-15 on your message :D
no subject
Date: 2013-11-03 04:04 pm (UTC)ah, they better have full orchestra for ai no uta, i think matsujun knows the expectation and i'm sure we won't be disappointing, after all he already blessed us with a gorgeous album and that paradox performance hahaha...
no subject
Date: 2013-12-25 10:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-12-25 11:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-12-25 06:21 pm (UTC)Also, Arashi's new single is sold out already! At least the limited ed ones. But still!
no subject
Date: 2013-12-26 12:17 am (UTC)arashi single sale this time is absurd! what logic apply buying a cd thatvwe dont even wht we're buying, not even a title song! r tgey just testing arashi fans purchasing logic? its Scarry!