Cruel Summer Posted January 22 Posted January 22 27 minutes ago, Aria0327 said: ngl second half of deep river (other than simple and clean) is weaker than the first half. I can agree with at least this for tracks 7 to 9, but Final Distance -> Bridge (Interlude) -> Hikari is a three-track combo that has me obsessed to this very day! But also the title track beats all those combined anyway.
Graves Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 21 minutes ago, Aria0327 said: a career! 2 Hatsukoi tracks and no Ultra Blue is why this world is the way that it is
Graves Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 11 x 1 (Meloetta Carey) HIGHEST SCORE: 9.5 x 2 (Take Me Apart, Cruel Summer) LOWEST SCORE: 3 x 1 (Curaga) MY SCORE: 7 It's about time we discuss Utada and their love for old white dude rock. Shudders. I know, I know... why can't they just have the common sense to stan Namie Amuro like the rest of us? Sampling the Rolling Stones and Sting? And then shouting out Elvis and Freddie Mercury on Exodus? I'm not having it, Hikki. I do question the sample choice. It's a nice novelty, but feels mostly superfluous. Amai Wana, or 'Sweet Trap', is about Hikki falling for a bad boy and getting won over by his charms. An older man, perhaps? She knows this ain't good but can't help falling deeper into said trap. It's very typical of the teen melodrama that occupies First Love, and in that regard the sample comes across a little unnecessary. It kind of reads of that teenage pretension, that "look how deep my taste is! I don't listen to chart songs like other teens!" vibe. The song would bop with or without the Rolling Stones here. Overall good, but the album has better. For once I'm giving Curaga a pass on their First Love-phobia: "Too cheesy." nnn but you didn't lie. HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 1 (confide in me) LOWEST SCORE: 3 x 1 (Curaga) MY SCORE: 7.8 Of all of the tracks on the debut, this might be the one that feels the most like it was penned by a teenager. I mean, obviously that's because it was, but what I mean to say is that it seems like it's trying to hit those trademarks of a teen love song. Daydreaming in your room about somebody who'll never notice you? The soundscape captures the feeling perfectly. Breezy and sweet, but nothing all that substantial. A passing fantasy. Now! Is it just me or does this feel like it takes a few cues from Brandy's Sittin' Up In My Room? (Another bop btw.) Thematically and sonically they seem aaaaawful similar. It would make sense, Mx. Hikki is a known fan. They even made a blog post on their site back in the day STANNING for the vocal bible herself. Just gushing over a Brandy concert they went to in Tokyo or somethin' like that. Real recognize real. And you can ask Madonna, you aren't really a pop icon until you step into your plagiarism bag. Rate villain Curaga strikes one more time: "Just not my thing. This is one I never remember is even on this album." 1
Cruel Summer Posted January 22 Posted January 22 Two of my favorite tracks from First Love being taken out back to back, what a way to start a morning!
Curaga Posted January 22 Posted January 22 1 hour ago, Subomie said: 2 Hatsukoi tracks and no Ultra Blue is why this world is the way that it is Wait, I saw Colors in there! They got at least one Ultra Blue track lol. They absolutely should have included Passion and Keep Tryin’ instead of Hatsuflop. Anata though . . . I stan.
poki Posted January 22 Posted January 22 And you can ask Madonna, you aren't really a pop icon until you step into your plagiarism bag.
poki Posted January 22 Posted January 22 Hikaru has so many meme-worthy moments I should stan full time
Curaga Posted January 22 Posted January 22 2 hours ago, Subomie said: 11 x 1 (Meloetta Carey) HIGHEST SCORE: 9.5 x 2 (Take Me Apart, Cruel Summer) LOWEST SCORE: 3 x 1 (Curaga) MY SCORE: 7 It's about time we discuss Utada and their love for old white dude rock. Shudders. I know, I know... why can't they just have the common sense to stan Namie Amuro like the rest of us? Sampling the Rolling Stones and Sting? And then shouting out Elvis and Freddie Mercury on Exodus? I'm not having it, Hikki. I do question the sample choice. It's a nice novelty, but feels mostly superfluous. Amai Wana, or 'Sweet Trap', is about Hikki falling for a bad boy and getting won over by his charms. An older man, perhaps? She knows this ain't good but can't help falling deeper into said trap. It's very typical of the teen melodrama that occupies First Love, and in that regard the sample comes across a little unnecessary. It kind of reads of that teenage pretension, that "look how deep my taste is! I don't listen to chart songs like other teens!" vibe. The song would bop with or without the Rolling Stones here. Overall good, but the album has better. For once I'm giving Curaga a pass on their First Love-phobia: "Too cheesy." nnn but you didn't lie. HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 1 (confide in me) LOWEST SCORE: 3 x 1 (Curaga) MY SCORE: 7.8 Of all of the tracks on the debut, this might be the one that feels the most like it was penned by a teenager. I mean, obviously that's because it was, but what I mean to say is that it seems like it's trying to hit those trademarks of a teen love song. Daydreaming in your room about somebody who'll never notice you? The soundscape captures the feeling perfectly. Breezy and sweet, but nothing all that substantial. A passing fantasy. Now! Is it just me or does this feel like it takes a few cues from Brandy's Sittin' Up In My Room? (Another bop btw.) Thematically and sonically they seem aaaaawful similar. It would make sense, Mx. Hikki is a known fan. They even made a blog post on their site back in the day STANNING for the vocal bible herself. Just gushing over a Brandy concert they went to in Tokyo or somethin' like that. Real recognize real. And you can ask Madonna, you aren't really a pop icon until you step into your plagiarism bag. Rate villain Curaga strikes one more time: "Just not my thing. This is one I never remember is even on this album." omg thank you for validating my “too cheesy” comment lol. I was afraid for Paint It Black to get posted because I thought no one would understand/agree with what I was trying to say, and it was kind of a throwaway comment anyway for such a low rating. Looking back, I meant to say the instrumental sounds extremely dated; I don’t think the vocal performance or melody is cheesy/corny/whatever the right word is for songs like Nijiiro Bus or Jinsei Saikō no Hi (different kinds of cheesy to me I guess haha). Also, I think usage of, “I see a red door and I want to paint it black,” just screams edgy teenager to me. I think the teenage aspect of this album is what I dislike so much.
Ewan Chaos Posted January 22 Posted January 22 Not mad at anything that's left from this weekend update... I Love You is great and definitely not my least favorite from Deep River, but I guess it's fair to be first out when it doesn't sound much like the rest of the album. Of their old white man stanning songs, Paint it Black is probably my favorite. But even then, I think I only gave it like an 8 so, don't mind it being out.
Graves Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 Update coming in 30 minutes @Riverbank @Curaga @scenekiller @Meloetta Carey @gingguu @AMIT @willmcclure9 @Ewan Chaos @Suilen @bestfiction @Aria0327 @confide in me @nostalgic @Hey Dude @Reverie @Cruel Summer Going to bring us to the top fifty five today, with a cute recap to follow. 2 1
Graves Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 1 (gingguu) LOWEST SCORE: 5 x 1 (Suilen) MY SCORE: 8 Can we play a different song? No? Play A Love Song is the opening track to Hatsukoi, and also the album's fourth single! Launching in April 2018, the song was used as a commercial song for Suntory water, being Utada's third time leasing her music for the company to use in their advertisements after Michi and Ōzora de Dakishimete. This also means it was the third time one of these singles got no music video, but instead a lame water commercial of Hikaru walking somewhere. Sigh. But this one has snow in it! I don't care! Make real music videos! Despite being another lowkey single release, I actually like Play A Love Song quite a bit. I think it works really well coming after Fantome, which was something of a depressing album in places. This track is like an answer to that mood, and Hikaru claims that she's done with feeling sorry for herself and that today she and her partner just need to smile, say "I love you", and play some love songs with each other. It's a sweet, lighthearted vibe, which lets you know from the jump that Hatsukoi is going to be a much different experience than Fantome was. Mostly. Like most voters, Curaga is unmoved: "Not bad, not my fav."
Cruel Summer Posted January 22 Posted January 22 I didn’t give that less than a five? Oh… well okay, sad to hear she’s dead but let’s not dwell I guess the post-Fantôme sentiment there is cute and not something I’d thought about before, but honestly, this one is actually unpleasant to hear sometimes when I have her discography on shuffle. It’s just a little grating if you’re not in the right mood.
Graves Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 1 minute ago, Cruel Summer said: I didn’t give that less than a five? A sensible seven
Cruel Summer Posted January 22 Posted January 22 Just now, Subomie said: A sensible seven I was feeling so generous that day! Maybe my vitamin D pill had just kicked in or something. 1
Graves Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 1 (Cruel Summer) LOWEST SCORE: 5.5 x 1 (Hey Dude) MY SCORE: 6.5 This album just had hits upon hits, huh? Stay Gold was a commercial tie-in song for a shampoo brand back in late 2007, it got it's ringtone release in early '08, and finally was a physical single in tandem with double A-side Heart Station in February 2008. Another hit for Hikki: it was already a strong digital seller and then peaked at #3 upon release. Success! ...No music video though, I guess they only had the budget for one of the songs on this double A-side to get a visual. Shame! Or whatever. I can live without a video for this one. While I think Stay Gold is a lovely sentiment for a song - a love song about encouraging a partner to keep shining even as they get older and life gets tougher - it's no favorite of mine. The twinkling piano is very pretty tho, so kudos. I'll just say it now, I'm a much bigger fan of the second half of Heart Station than the first. So don't act shocked when we get to some of my future scores! Curaga seems to be on the same page as me: "Love her vocals here, but not my fav song."
Suilen Posted January 22 Posted January 22 Well this is a bit of an upset, I guess some people can't relate to staying young and beautiful. 1
Graves Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 Upset? I been ready for Stay In Bed to go for about 20 places! Puts me to sleep
Cruel Summer Posted January 22 Posted January 22 Noooooo this is what I get for shading Play a Bad Song when it’s actually fine and cute, I’m sorry! And I was the ONLY ten for this, too.
Graves Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 Just now, Cruel Summer said: Noooooo this is what I get for shading Play a Bad Song when it’s actually fine and cute, I’m sorry! And I was the ONLY ten for this, too. It's ok, karma's clocking me in a couple of the later eliminations today anyway
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