ARTIST: Miyawaki Shion
CD SINGLE: BOY
LABEL: Rhythm Zone
CATALOG #: RZCD-45578/B, Released on July 25, 2007
DURATION: 15:23
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.the-rival.net
- BOY
- Bluff
- BOY (instrumental)
- Bluff (instrumental)
DVD TRACK LISTING: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 12 minutes
- BOY – PV
- BOY – Making Of
- The Rival TV Promotion Clip
When I first read about the Rhythm Zone competition for “The Rivals TV” where Miyawaki Shion would have to go against Seara Ko-Jo for the opportunity to sing on the main stage at a-nation, I have to admit that I felt bad for Miyawaki.
The song that she is competing with “BOY” is a slow ballad while her competitor has a faster-paced song and looks more like someone that would be on the Rhythm Zone label.
With that being said, Miyawaki’s first CD single “BOY” features a total of four tracks (two are instrumental songs of the vocal tracks).
“BOY” is a song that could probably be done well by Koda Kumi but with Miyawaki’s version, it seems very average J-Pop. If anything, she shines more on her coupling song “Bluff” which is a cool J-Pop dance song.
If I found anything that caught my attention on this CD single was the accompanying DVD.
The promotional video shows a sexy Miyawaki Shion but the making of shows her more behind-the-scenes as a normal girl that wears glasses and you see how beautiful she is without being glamored up and it was a total 180 when they featured the TV promotional clip for “The Rivals” and showing how Seara Ko-Jo is. Two very different individuals with obviously different styles.
All in all, Miyawaki’s first CD single debut is average with the coupling song much more enjoyable. I also highly recommend watching the CD+DVD version, because you get to see a better, naturally beautiful side of Miyawaki Shion, that’s not all glamored up for her promotional video.
Almost a decade ago, a Japanese variety show called “ASAYAN” would have these competition battles between pop idol group Morning Musume and pop idol singer Suzuki Ami.
You would watch and see these two promote their songs in the communities all over Japan and ultimately, Suzuki Ami won the competition. There was an air of uncertainty of what would happen to Morning Musume because the year prior, ASAYAN held a contest and the group L*IS was born and after their first CD single, the group was disbanded.
Of course, Morning Musume kept going and became Japan’s most successful female idol group ever.
Flash forward a decade later, the music label Rhythm Zone known for their artists such as Koda Kumi, EXILE, Kiyokiba Shunsuke, etc. have now created “The Rival TV” (www.the-rival.net) which will pit two unknowns Seara Ko-Jo vs. Miyawaki Shion (who graduated from the same music school) and the winner will get to perform on the main stage of the final day of the huge Avex music fest known as “a-nation”.
With Imai Daisuke (BoA, Koda Kumi) producing the songs for both young girls, the two will compete on CD and online sales, spectator votes from a live performance, votes on how the girls are on “All Night Nippon” and CD sales which the two girls need to sell to their fans.
In the end, Seara Ko-Jo who has a style similar to early Hamasaki Ayumi beat Miyawaki Shion which had a CD single that was a ballad and presentation wise, Seara appeared to be more J-Pop visually with her tanned skin and good photo shots. While Miyawaki, behind-the-scenes with her glasses appeared as a smart, school girl that could be a member of a female idol group.
With that being said, I was not surprised that Seara won. She ultimately has a better song and style that would fit well to perform on a-nation.
But I will say that Miyawaki caught my attention more because she has that Shimatani look of intelligent but sexy.
Now that the contest is over, I’m hoping that Miyawaki continues to get developed, given better music and see her again in a different musical light because although she could sing R&B well, she does not have the Rhythm Zone look like Seara has.