[WORLD GROOVE] Currently listening to Kosaka Riyu – Platinum Smile

 

ARTIST: Kosaka Riyu

CD SINGLE: Platinum Smile

LABEL: avex entertainment

CATALOG #: AVCA-26522/B

DURATION: 34:04

RELEASED ON October 24, 2007

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. Platinum Smile
2. Platinum Smile (Rock Edit.)
3. TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY
4. Platinum Smile (instrumental)
5. Platinum Smile (Rock Edit.)(instrumental)
6. TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY

DVD: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 5:35

1. Platinum Smile Music Video

A beautiful ballad and the fourth CD single solo release for BeForU member Kosaka Riyu.

For those not familiar with BeForU, back in 2000, KONAMI and then TOSHIBA-EMI held an audition for a female unit. Kosaka Riyu was among the four original girls selected to be part of the group and the group went on to make music for the popular Beat Mania (Bemani) series especially with “Dance Dance Revolution”.

In 2004, Kosaka released her first album and has since released several CD singles.

On October 2007, Kosaka released “Platinum Smile” which was a song that is used as an insert song for the film “Kamen Rider the Next”. Although she has had several solo songs, her label Avex Entertainment indicates “Platinum Smile” to be her fourth CD single.

“Platinum Smile” is a beautiful ballad featuring two versions on the CD single. The first is a love ballad that is beautiful and definitely showcases Kosaka’s vocals and very touching. The “Rock Edit.” version is not a ballad and is actually a fast, uptempo song and is actually a very cool fast song for the young artist.

What I found so cool about this song is typically when redone on a CD single, you get a typical remix which is either good or bad and nowhere in between. For “Platinum Smile”, it’s pretty cool to see how the song can sound like an emotional ballad and the other, a kick ass song with atmospheric chiming of electric guitar and thought that was very cool to hear two different versions.

The song is written by Kosaka and composed by LOVE+HATE.

The other track is “TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY” which is a Japanese pop song which is nicely done. It has an Earthy sound to it and all in all, a very cool coupling song.

Now one thing I do have to add is that for the sixth track “TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY (instrumental), the duration time is 10:40. The song ends at 4:21 but around 10:31, the “Platinum Smile” song comes on and Kosaka says something right at the end of the track.

As for the DVD, the music video features Erika Mori (who plays the character of Kazami Chiharu from the film “Kamen Rider the Next”), as she puts on headphones and watches the television featuring Kosaka Riyu singing “Platinum Smile” passionately and dressed all in black (and in slow motion).  The music video also shows clips from the film.

As for the CD insert, pretty much a tri-fold which features Kosaka Riyu standing and the lyrics utilizing each fold and the credits for the CD single.

All in all, a very big contrast from the music that I have reviewed for BeForU and I have not listened to her previous CD singles before.

I was pretty impressed by the CD single title track and the rock edit and the two differing versions and it was a pretty solid single from Kosaka Riyu.

All in all, it’s a very cool CD single that I definitely recommend to fans of hers, BeForU, Kamen Rider fans and fans wanting to check out other female artists in the J-Pop realm.

[WORLD GROOVE] Currently listening to BeForU – Strike Party!!!

GROUP: BeForU

CD SINGLE: Strike Party!!!

LABEL: avex mode

CATALOG #: AVCA-26115/B

RELEASE DATE: January 17, 2007

DURATION: 15:22

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. Strike Party!!!
2. BALA=BALA
3. Strike Party!!! (instrumental)
4. BALA=BALA (instrumental)

DVD: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 15 minutes

1. Strike Party!!!
2. Making of

“Strike Party!!!” is the second CD single release for the six member female dance group known as “BeForU”.

Known for their work on the popular Bemani video games such as “Dance Dance Revolution” and “Beat Mania”, the group came out with this second CD single back in January of 2007 and was used for the ending theme of the baseball anime series “MAJOR”.

Their music combines a bit of the hyper Eurobeat/techno style with some rock music influences.

For “Strike Party!!!”, you get that style of music and to be truthful, you either love this music or you don’t. In a way, the music tends to sound alike each time I review their CD singles and album but I do enjoy it because it is fun and catchy.

For “BALA=BALA”, very cool J-POP song that kind of reminded me older MAX and SPEED (Go Go Heaven) music. For this coupling song, it has more of an electric guitar rock edge to the overall music.

But for this CD single, I feel the strength is the CD+DVD release because unlike their previous release (and latest release), the DVD showcases the different sides of the women in the group.

Also, to see how they interact with each other while filming the music video, how they play with the dogs and which girls seem to be closer friends and also a cool moment where each member talks about their experience of the video and photo shoots. More or less group interaction and group dynamic and seeing how each of these six women work together.

With many female idol groups in Japan, you kind of like to know more about the group because with the music, despite me enjoying it, all women… I really can’t decipher who is singing what because sometimes they all sound alike.

So, this music video is definitely one of the better CD+DVD releases from the group.

As for the CD insert, it features the group’s lyrics and also a plug for the group’s first album.

As mentioned earlier, with BeForU’s music, you either like it or you don’t? It’s J-POP with a heavy Bemani influence that even past MAX and Forever Blue music are not even in the same category.

It’s fun/catchy and I like the music a lot. But for me, I wanted to see more of the group dynamic and know more about BeForU than toss them in the side and see them as just another female pop idol group.

BeForU has established a sound that other female groups in Japan are not doing which is nice but for “Strike Party!!!”, a very good catchy song and the DVD version, even much better because it shows the women in a different light and you get to see the group interact and also talk about their experiences shooting the music video.

[WORLD GROOVE] Currently listening to BeForU – “Yo Hanabi”

ARTIST: BeForU / CD SINGLE: “Yo Hanabi” / LABEL: avex entertainment / CATALOG #: AVCA-26357/B

DURATION: 18:49 / WEBSITE: http://beatrevolution.i-revo.jp/beforu/

CD TRACKS:

1. Yo Hanabi
2. Moon Bike
3. Yo Hanabi (Instrumental)
4. Moon Bike (Instrumental)

DVD TRACKS (Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 4 minutes)

1. Kagerou (LIVE CLIP)

REVIEW:

BeForU is a six-member female J-Pop group that is known for their music used on Bemani (Beat Mania) video games from Konami for popular games such as Dance Dance Revolution, Drummania and Guitar Freaks fan. Produced by Maeda Naoki (a well-known music producer for Konami), BeForU is a shortened title for (Because you are here, I’ll Be here For U) and also was used as a song for Dance Dance Revolution 4th Mix.

Their 5th CD single “Yo Hanabi” follows the music that many Bemani fans expect from “Be4U”, which is J-Pop influence by Eurobeat, trance and electrosynth pop.

For those not familiar with that, I guess the best comparison I can give is if you are familiar with older works of MAX, D&D and dream or even HINOI team, you will probably enjoy the music of BeForU.

Both tracks “Yo Hanabi” and especially their coupling track “Moon Bike” are two fun, enjoyable and energetic tracks.

DVD:

Typically on a CD+DVD single, you get the music video for the primary track and some off-shot/making of. In this CD+DVD single, you get the live performance clip of their song “Kagerou”.

The group performed in front of a live audience with a live band. The audience was totally into the performance and the choreography was not as sophisticated as what you see from DRM or HINOI team but compared to those live idol performances, the concert clip looked very lively and it was nice to see the six women perform with a live rock band. Songs were sung very well and definitely a positive, energetic vibe.

INSERT BOOKLET:

The insert is just the lyrics, credits and a list of their upcoming performance at Zepp.

JUDGEMENT:

So, the question is if you enjoy this type of music. I’ve literally grown up with avex dance music and enjoy this style of J-POP music. The fact is that with MAX going for more an R&B sound, D&D is no more (with former D&D vocalist OLIVIA now more rock than dance music) , Favorite Blue is no more (although t.kimura is now with m.o.v.e) and dream (now DRM) focusing on a more mature sound, if you crave the Bemani or Eurobeat J-Pop sound, BeForU and HINOI team are the two female groups that continue to push that style of music and “Yo Hanabi” (along with its coupling song “Moon Bike”) are two cool tracks that I enjoy a lot and it’s really cool to get an insight of their live performance with the inclusion of the DVD of “Kagerou”.

Check it out!