Hitomi Shimatani – SMILES (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

May 29, 2009 by Dennis Amith 

“Hitomi Shimatani’s 30th CD single ‘SMILES’ returns to her J-pop roots but overall, the CD single is OK.  Much better if you purchase the CD+DVD version which features another short film style of music video starring Hitomi!”

ARTIST: Hitomi Shimatani

CD SINGLE: SMILES

LABEL: avex trax

CATALOG #: AVCD-31551/B

DURATION: 18:57

RELEASE DATE: March 4, 2009

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1. SMILES
2. Stay with me
3. SMILES (Instrumental)
4. Stay with me (Instrumental)

DVD: Region 2, Duration: 9:18, 4:3

1. SMILES MUSIC CLIP
2. SMILES OFF SHOT

Singer and actress Hitomi Shimatani released her 30th CD single titled “SMILES” which was used as the theme song for the film “Parallel” which she stars in.

For those not familiar with Hitomi Shimatani’s music, in Japan, she’s an artist that is not musically consistent and each release always brings curiosity to the listener.  Sometimes you may get something Spanish, something orchestral, pop, rock and so, no one knows what kind of music to expect.

For “SMILES”, the single that is reminiscent of her earlier years of focusing on J-pop.  Overall, a pop driven track with nice utilization of acoustic guitar during some parts of the pop track.  The acoustic guitar brings a refreshing sound when it is featured throughout the track. Overall, a safe and somewhat pedestrian song for Shimatani.  Definitely an enjoyable track from her fans but for those who have been wanting something a bit demanding and unique, this is probably not the single to expect that.

The coupling song “Stay with me” continues the J-pop theme and features Shimatani singing a little in french “C’est la de pas du du fa sot” throughout the track.  Again, very reminiscent of her earlier works which is primarily sugary J-pop.

The DVD features the music video for “SMILES” (5:42) which continues Shimatani’s music videos incorporating a short film type of narrative.  In this music video,  while Shimatani is packing her things at her home, she drops a few things and while picking up those things, she discovers a photograph of when her boyfriend at the time proposed to her.  The music video features her reminiscing of that time when they went tot he beach and when they had a little fight and then made up, when he proposed and then to the present as they both are packing things up and moving out of their house and starting their new life together.  Throughout the music video, we see Shimatani singing at her home.

The second video is the OFF SHOT (11:12) which features the behind-the-scenes making of the music video on the beach and at the home and really good behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the entire music video.

The CD insert (standard bi-fold) features the lyrics and production credits.

I’ve been a supporter of Hitomi Shimatani’s music and I know that she has fans who respect a certain style of her music and those who look at the charts and realize that she’s not creating chart topping music like she used to.  I tend to liken her as a contemporary music artist, an artist that appeals to an adult demographic rather than a younger age group.

Part of the reason of my enjoyment towards her music is that avex trax has more than enough musical artists that push the envelope in sexiness with their pop music, artists who are known for that musical genre but then you have Hitomi Shimatani which is a talented music artist and now an actress who can transition to different styles of music.  You take her music as it is and enjoy it for what it is.  For those who wish she stayed consistent with her music can easily be put off by going rock from one single, to a sugary J-pop sound with the next.  She’s not an artist to expect musical consistency but you will find consistency in vocal style.

“SMILES” is a CD single that is more on the happier side of Shimatani J-pop music.  It’s somewhat sugary J-pop music that I found just fine on an album but as a single release, I found myself wanting a bit more.  So, I was hoping the coupling track would feature something different but on this CD single release, both are safe, J-pop music.  Musically, the first track was nice to hear the acoustic guitar playing in sync with the pop track but the second coupling track was a track that I don’t think I would be playing much at all.

The CD+DVD release is a much better purchase, as you can see how the music video correlates with the song.   Also, the OFF SHOT was definitely fun to watch, especially if you have interested in filmmaking.   Personally, I happen to enjoy her latest music videos as the label is giving her more of a budget to work with and also dig the short film style of music video that have come out from Shimatani as of late.   It definitely makes the CD single much more enjoyable in my opinion when you can see how her music is used on those videos.

Overall, “SMILES” is an enjoyable pop track by Shimatani.  I felt it was a safe and sugar pop single release but also felt the CD single lacks the musical flair of her previous CD singles.

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