Featuring the second single with the expanded version of EXILE, their single “The Hurricane ~Fireworks” features a collaboration with US hip hop artist FLO RIDA and their “Street Fighter IV” video game theme song “THE NEXT DOOR -Indestructible-”
GROUP: EXILE
CD SINGLE: The Hurricane ~Fireworks~
LABEL: Rhythm Zone
CATALOG #: RZCD-46314/B
DURATION: 35:17
RELEASE DATE:Â July 22, 2009
BUY THIS CD SINGLE:
- FIREWORKS
- 優ã—ã„å…‰
- THE NEXT DOOR -INDESTRUCTIBLE-
- FIREWORKS (Instrumental)
- 優ã—ã„å…‰ (Instrumental)
- THE NEXT DOOR -INDESTRUCTIBLE- (Instrumental)
- WON’T BE LONG [Live]
DVD: (Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 13:59 Minutes)
- FIREWORKS (Video Clip)
- 優ã—ã„å…‰ (Video Clip)
EXILE, Japanese most popular and highest selling group who began the year fresh after winning the top award at Japan’s equivalent to the Academy Awards (Nihon Record Taishou) and then surprised everyone earlier in the Spring that they would combine with the group J-SOUL BROTHERS and become a 14 member group.
In July 2009, the group released their 31st CD single “The Hurricane ~Fireworks~”, the second single to feature the 14 members and would feature a collaboration with US hip hop artist FLO RIDA and also feature the theme song to the popular video game hit “Street Fighter IV”.
The single kicks off with the pop track “Fireworks” which was written by michico, P-CHO, GS, KUBO-C and TOMOGEN and featuring music by T. Kura and michico. The song would feature shamisen playing in the background courtesy of the YOSHIDA BROTHERS and rap by DOBERMAN INC.   Overall, a fun Summer track with cool beats and the shamisen playing in the background.
The coupling song “Yasashii Hikari” features a beautiful romantic slow ballad sung by ATSUSHI (who also wrote the song) and features music by Hitoshi Harukawa.
The third track “THE NEXT DOOR – INDESTRUCTIBLE” is the group’s song that was featured as the theme song to CAPCOM’s “Street Fighter IV” and features a collaboration with US hip hop artist FLO RIDA. Also, a song that was planned to give international exposure to the group. The song is an all English track written by NEGIN and Tramar Dillard and music by li showy. An upbeat track featuring electric guitar by KIKU.
The next two tracks feature instrumental tracks for the three vocal tracks and then concludes with a live version of the popular song “WON’T BE LONG” (which was a collaboration with pop diva Kumi Koda) minus Kumi but overall, a wonderful live track as you can hear the audience really getting into the song. Awesome!
As for the DVD, the DVD features the music videos for “FIREWORKS” and “Yasashii Hikari”.
The first music video “FIREWORKS” features a girl reading a “Hanabi” storybook and all of a sudden fireworks comes out of the book and then we see a summer Hanabi festival style with people dancing and performing and then features the group performing via fire and water CG is shown all around them. The music video is directed by Takahide Ishii and produced by Hirokazu Yukawa (Quick Magic).
The second music video is the slow jam “Yasashii Hikari” and is directed by Shigeaki Kubo (SHARKS) and produced by Hayato Murakoshi (MFG). The music video is like a short film which features a couple in love and spending time with each other. The couple had great times until things started to worsen in their relationship and are on the verge of a breakup. The woman visits their old spot where they once would look at lamps around a tree, while the guy has a hard time coping without his girlfriend near him. But he decides to make it up to her when he calls her up and ask for another chance. And her reaction may not be what you think.
The CD insert is a trifold which features a photo of the group and the lyrics to the songs plus production credits. Included inside is a small poster introducing us to EXILE GENERATION and the family tree. Also, a plug for the group’s SkyPerfecTV show, “EXILE GENERATION SEASON 2” and also upcoming Rhythm Zone releases.
Overall, I’m a fan of EXILE and with the group you know you are getting music featuring awesome vocals and upbeat tracks and the occasional slow jam. I thought it was a good touch to include three vocal tracks of different tempos and also the live version of “WON’T BE LONG”. The collaboration with FLO RIDA for “THE NEXT DOOR – INDESTRUCTIBLE-” was good for an English track from a Japanese group but I know that for those who played the “Street Fighter IV” video game, some had mixed feelings towards the song.
And when it comes to the DVD portion, the music videos were well-produced and higher budget than most artists or group receive for a music video. But overall, well-done, especially for the short film/music video for “Yasashii Hikari”. Definitely an ending that is nowhere a cliche with an ending I wasn’t expecting.
But overall, as an EXILE music fan and knowing what the guys have accomplished in Japan, “The Hurricane ~FIREWORKS~” is a solid 31st single for the Japanese pop/R&B group.
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