Graves Posted January 31 Author Posted January 31 Lady, let's go... HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 9 (Subomie, Riverbank, Curaga, AMIT, bestfiction, Cruel Summer, Hey Dude, nostalgic, Reverie) LOWEST SCORE: 6 x 1 (gingguu) MY SCORE: 10 What a rush! Listening to Keep Tryin' is like getting a blast of positive energy every single time, I feel like you gotta be somewhat heartless to not enjoy this one. I could see it coming across a little twee to some, but to me? This is perfect! Keep Tryin' is like... your supportive friend who keeps on pushing you to thrive, even when the rest of the world is down on you. It's a song that doesn't mince words. Yeah, the world is pretty **** a lot of the time, but you matter. And your happiness matters. So keep it pushing, dude! Keep trucking along until you get that promotion, or earn that pay check, or even just make it to the next weekend for some time off. It's earnest and upfront, but that's kind of what the song asks for. Like a firm pat on the shoulder or a deep hug in musical form. I especially adore the ending, with Hikaru pleading for various people to "keep trying, trying". Mom, dad, big brother, mister train conductor, the bride that's just getting married... y'all better keep trying! Yeah, that's an ear worm right there. Keep Tryin' was the fifth single from Ultra Blue, and was another hit (duh). It was used as the commercial song for some mobile service too. It was a this period that physical sales were really starting to deflate however, and the stats from this era are comparatively a little weaker than the other pre-hiatus projects. It's a little sad, honestly. This was some of their best work and it feels like it didn't thrive like it should've in a way. Not going to talk about the SCIENCE FICTION snub either. Oh, we can't forget that awesome video! Camp and cute, Hikaru plays out the song lyrics pretty straight forwardly in this diorama townscape. Playing the role of many common jobs - waitress, tram driver, office worker, street musician, pig - Hikki goes through a fun day in the life scenario of a whole city. The set design is so colorful and even the choreography of their movements in done in a fun manner. This was their last collaboration with ex-husband Kiriya, so it's nice that they at least parted creatively with a bang. We can only wish that the later videos had this level of quality to them. The girls like this song, but they didn't have much to say. Luckily, Curaga never lets me down: "Another 11 contender. This song is home to me. The love I have for this song . . . omg. Transportive for me." 1 3
Curaga Posted January 31 Posted January 31 Welp I’m voting for traveling, Sakura Drops, or Keep Tryin’ for #1 now that Passion is out!
Graves Posted January 31 Author Posted January 31 Just now, Curaga said: Welp I’m voting for traveling, Sakura Drops, or Keep Tryin’ for #1 now that Passion is out! nn
Suilen Posted January 31 Posted January 31 Anyway I can at least see Marseilles' virtues and some reasoning for its win but what the **** is Bad Mode doing so high 1
Ewan Chaos Posted January 31 Posted January 31 Our first 9 average My least favorite of the top 10 but a great song! Let me force the stanning on relistens. 1
Graves Posted January 31 Author Posted January 31 HIGH SCORERS 1. scenekiller - 9.317 2. Cruel Summer - 9.25 3. Curaga - 8.917 LOW SCORERS 1. Aria0327 - 5.25 2. bestfiction - 6.917 3. gingguu - 7.25
Graves Posted January 31 Author Posted January 31 Keep Tryin' is brilliant. One of the songs that sold me on Hikaru early on in my listening journey. This and my 11 2
Curaga Posted January 31 Posted January 31 NO WAY ……… Not even top 3 ……… As much as I adore Fantome and tout it for its subtle but effective artistry, I will probably always be an Ultra Blue girl at heart 2
Graves Posted January 31 Author Posted January 31 Oh yeah, and that means the top five is: traveling Sakura Drops Bad Mode Kimi ni Muchū Somewhere Near Marseilles
AMIT Posted January 31 Posted January 31 3 minutes ago, Suilen said: Anyway I can at least see Marseilles' virtues and some reasoning for its win but what the **** is Bad Mode doing so high Wait, I forgot about her. Def not a Top 5 contender, we- 1
Curaga Posted January 31 Posted January 31 ok, nvm, I love traveling, but Sakura Drops OUTSOLD Need her to be #1 2
Graves Posted January 31 Author Posted January 31 3 minutes ago, Suilen said: So it's between Deep River and Bad Mode huh. Always has been. 1 1
Curaga Posted January 31 Posted January 31 I’m gonna guess Subomie’s 11 was Bad Mode because sis has taste tbh
Suilen Posted January 31 Posted January 31 Just now, Curaga said: I’m gonna guess Subomie’s 11 was Bad Mode because sis has taste tbh But Subomie's fave track from Bad Mode was Time 2
Graves Posted January 31 Author Posted January 31 11 x 1 (Ewan Chaos) HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 5 (Subomie, Curaga, Take Me Apart, Hey Dude, Reverie) LOWEST SCORE: 7 x 1 (Suilen) MY SCORE: 10 Bad Mode is such a brilliant way to introduce an album. The idea of being in a bad mode is, as described by Utada, being down about life, being down about yourself, feeling downtrodden and depressed... so for this song to act as a comfort, sounding like the sonic equivalent of a warm embrace? It's perfect. Hikaru was inspired by city pop sounds, which was a new sound for them and a particularly brilliant choice for the mood they meant to convey here. City pop is nostalgic - good times come to mind when you listen, and that's just what you need when you're in a bad mode. From the moment the soft synths come in at the start, you just feel like things aren't so bleak. It's uplifting from the second you press play. I adore the bridge especially, the way all forms of flowery language are abandoned and Hikki tells us upfront that they're here for us. The bluntness of her support hits you across the head in it's obviousness, but isn't that what you need when you're wallowing in self pity? Your friends' support, unconditional and everlasting. Never disguised behind metaphors - upfront and clear. There never is any doubt that they're here for you. "You know I'm bad at explaining, But lately I've done some maturing, Won't you lean on me when you need... Something to lean on." Peep the video too - it's great! One of the greatest visuals of their post-hiatus career surely? And this wasn't even a single either, like damn! What a treat! Curaga has felt the spiritual healing of this song: "Could be an 11. Love this track so much omg. It’s just so catchy and fun, and then gets kinda smooth and spacious. Really amazing." 11-giver Ewan Chaos praises not one, but two of the tracks that has the girls riled up tonight! "Unpopular (?) opinion this is t1 on the album above Marseilles, BUT Marseilles is a close #2!" 3 1
Suilen Posted January 31 Posted January 31 No offense but Darenimo Iwanai, Not in The Mood or Time deserved 3 1
Ewan Chaos Posted January 31 Posted January 31 The people crying about Bad Mode being too high and it wound up at #5, ahh my f**king 11!!!!!! Actually I'm shocked it got this high too because I knew I'd be the only 11 giver nn. It totally deserves even though I think Traveling or Marseilles would be better winners. I love this song so much and it's one of the multiple triumphs of a well-established artist who's still in their stride and releasing music as good as their output from 20+ years ago 3
nostalgic Posted January 31 Posted January 31 1 minute ago, Suilen said: Not in The Mood Those who get it, get it 4
AMIT Posted January 31 Posted January 31 I love Bad Mode (gave a 9), but it doesn't hit me like some of her other openers I fear. I prefer many songs on the album over it, but I'm not mad it got this far, more like surprised. 2
Ewan Chaos Posted January 31 Posted January 31 It was also a huge highlight from that live session. The saxophone player was LIVING 2
Graves Posted January 31 Author Posted January 31 HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 9 (Riverbank, Curaga, Take Me Apart, AMIT, willmcclure9, Suilen, Cruel Summer, nostalgic, Reverie) LOWEST SCORE: 7 x 1 (bestfiction) MY SCORE: 8.5 Kimi ni Muchū, 'Crazy for You', is a love song Hikaru made with the help of PC Music legend A.G. Cook. Hikki has said that it was difficult to write a love song like this since she was not actually in love with anybody at the time of making it. She found it hard to write about feelings so strong when not experiencing any of them herself. The song was used as the main theme for the drama Saiai, so I can only assume that's why it was written... despite Hikaru not feeling any of these lyrics lmao. But credit where it's due! The delivery could've fooled me, I think they did a damn good job in making this track. The production is obviously killer, Cook did great work as always - so many layers to it! But Hikaru is no slouch, and I would actually buy that they were legitimately infatuated if I didn't know otherwise. That part where they blurt out the lines all rapid-fire really brings to mind the giddiness of a new crush. Like yes, share your thoughts! All ten thousand of them that pop into your head with every passing second! Kimi ni Muchū was the final single from Bad Mode, released in November of 2021. It actually was a neat little hit for Hikaru, with pretty decent streaming numbers too. I kinda wish it had a great video to go along with it, but it's very... Hatsukoi. AKA - bland and stuck in the studio. I've said enough about Hikaru videos for a life time, let me not be negative any longer. The song is great! That's the important part! Curaga gets their life once more: "So pretty. I really love this one. Their delivery of “Kimi ni muchuu” is so gorgeous. Omg the bass/synth/whatever at 3:03 is sooo cool." 3 1
Suilen Posted January 31 Posted January 31 Well it's ******* over I'll just reiterate what I said before - one of their best written songs, not in the lyrics department necessarily, but in a plain songwriting way. Everything works when you listen to it and understand what's being said, but I'm glad that it resonates with people in general. 3
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