Suilen Posted April 7 Author Posted April 7 The Sun & Moon in Tokyo / 浪漫と算盤 TYO ver. Score: 7,3 Album: technically N/A as only the LDN ver. made the album Big Sheensters: confide in me (10) Little NishiNOsters: madonnas (3) The third collab between Sheena and Utada. For those who missed it, that was the first one: It could've been featured in the rate, but AMIT said no, so... Well, I'll be honest about this single: When I listened to it for the first time, I didn't feel anything. I do hear something now, but I don't know, I feel like none of their collabs really brought out their strengths to the fullest. Nijikan was close, but still quite not what I expect from the two talents. Of course, if you ask me what exactly I want from them, I won't be able to tell you. Maybe for the Sheena to do the production part and for Utada to sing? If Sheena can do a rehash of Mayonaka wa Junketsu, why not do a rehash of Gips or something? The world would stop. Anyway, sorry for the rant, I know that's probably an unpopular opinion. I do like the LDN version slightly more, I guess. As for the title, in Japanese, it's romance and abacus, and if we suppose that they're the opposites, then romance is something irrational to the rationality of an abacus? The lyrics support it, too. The song seems to me to be about being able to move on from a relationship and to learn something from it. Loving the positive message. mathekr prefers the LDN version: "Another case of great song where the album version deserves a 10.” Curaga also supports the Bri-ish: "LDN ver. absolutely outsold. I wanna give it a 10 sooooo bad for the LDN ver., but I don't feel like either version belongs with my other 10s, idk.” AMIT isn't really wowed but finds some good qualities in it: "the orchestral arrangement of the LDN version is more of my taste, but both versions are good. it's not as striking as nijikan but there are a lot of cute melodies in here that I appreciate.” Meloetta Carey isn't impressed: "it starts nice then it just kinda meanders.” 4
AMIT Posted April 7 Posted April 7 meh, it's not a song I would probably miss if it didn't exist, but it's cute I guess. 1
Curaga Posted April 7 Posted April 7 Cute collab from two of my favs, but I'm not surprised this isn't anywhere near the top ddd 1
Suilen Posted April 7 Author Posted April 7 A proper single from the first three albums sadly misses the top 20. Any ideas about what that could be?
Graves Posted April 7 Posted April 7 1 minute ago, Curaga said: 歌舞伎町の女王 / Kabuki-cho no Joou next? Hush your mouth! 1
Suilen Posted April 7 Author Posted April 7 Koko de Kiss Shite. / ここでキスして。 Score: 7,38 Album: Muzai Moratorium Big Sheensters: confide in me (11), AMIT, Subomie, Kyle-x (10) Little NishiNOsters: madonnas (2) So, the first proper single from her first three albums is here. Is anyone shocked it's this one? I probably am. Well, there was a time when I didn't 'get' this song, but I'm a different person now. The song was written in Fukuoka (Ayumi's hometown, for your information), and it's addressed to a boy she was dating when she was 17, which was her way of being as straightforward as possible to him. A member of her pre-debut amateur band predicted that the song would sell well, and it kind of did: despite only reaching no. 10 on the charts, it was the most successful single off Muzai Moratorium (according to its year-end chart position and certifications, let's not fight over charts now). The lyrics are pretty simplistic and, well, straightforward. She compares her boyfriend to Cid Vicious and herself to a pair of handcuffs that will bind him. She also says that she's not pretty (a lie) and suspects him of looking at another girl yet still wants him to love her. Your typical teenage drama, but Sheena makes it sound almost sophisticated. The song being emotionally charged contributed to the theme, too. AMIT is obviously stanning and even had the same issues with her vocals I did back then, yet I was dragged mercilessly, and he could just prance about like nothing had happened: "yeah it's the best out of her debut singles, no doubt. it took me a while to get used to her vocals on this (the intro is LOUD!), but the chorus melody is undeniable. an amazing track and a discography highlight for sure.” Ewan Chaos likens the song to PJ Harvey's stuff (love her): "It's giving PJ Harvey (complementary).” Well, sorta kinda. Meloetta Carey believes that the song is responsible for NANA: "the best thing about this song might be that it's kind of the spark for the Nana anime when you think about it.” The manga started its serialization in 2000, so it's possible. I looked up whether Ai Yazawa ever mentioned Sheena, and while her official answer was that her characters aren't based on real people, the Japanese readers seem to be convinced that she was, indeed, the Nana Osaki prototype. Kyle-x appreciates the aesthetics: "Alt baddie strolling through a field in spring vibes.” Subomie is belting out the song as we speak: "The acapella opening moment has become a shower sing-along moment for me, much to my roommate's annoyance hehe.” 3 1
ATRL Moderator madonnas Posted April 7 ATRL Moderator Posted April 7 Has that one live single gone yet cuz
ATRL Moderator madonnas Posted April 7 ATRL Moderator Posted April 7 Oh, yeah, sorry I had to do that
Curaga Posted April 7 Posted April 7 3 minutes ago, Subomie said: Hush your mouth! I guessed that one because I at least didn't want it to be Koko de Kiss Shite but
Kyle-x Posted April 7 Posted April 7 Unsurprisingly, I love a bit of screeching so I love the vocals in this one 1 1
AMIT Posted April 7 Posted April 7 I am shocked both Koufukuron and Kabuki-cho no Joou outlasted, even though I love all 3.
ATRL Moderator madonnas Posted April 7 ATRL Moderator Posted April 7 On 4/5/2024 at 6:09 PM, Suilen said: Karisome Otome (Death Jazz Version) / カリソメ乙女 (DEATH JAZZ ver.) Score: 6,9 Album: Sanmon Gossip Big Sheensters: madonnas (10) Little NishiNOsters: AMIT (3,5) Technically the first single off Sanmon Gossip, released 3 years before the album. Three versions of the song exist: Death Jazz ver. (this very single and later Sanmon Gossip, sung in Japanese), TAMEIKESANNOH ver. (found on Heisei Fuuzoku, an instrumental) and Hitokuchizaka ver. (found on the Kono Yo no Kagiri single and later on Watashi to Houden, sung in English). And I think that SG got the worst deal. Not to seem too contrarian or something, but the instrumental version is probably my favorite, then the English one. Maybe combining that instrumental with Japanese would've been the best option, but I guess Sheena knows better than me. Now, to address the elephant in the room: What the hell does a 'temporary virgin' mean? Did she lie about being a virgin to that guy she's singing about? Is there a deeper meaning to it? But it makes for an iconic name, I suppose. And look at that score, hihi. AMIT isn't a fan of the GaGafied Sheena but will use the receipts to drag other artists: "big band jazz like this is really not my thing, and this song is no exception, but I guess we can't say Shiina does not try to dabble outside her comfort zone, at least up until this point " Ewan Chaos finds the subtitle funny: "Not death jazz version sksksksksksk.” madonnas uses a pretty heavy hyperbole in the praise: "this is the type of song that could save lives.” Well, not mine, I'm going to die again if you play that during my CPR. Just saw this …. Yall SUCK 1
ATRL Moderator madonnas Posted April 7 ATRL Moderator Posted April 7 Just now, Subomie said: There is because I just saw that Karisome Otome Death Jazz version didn’t make the top ten
Suilen Posted April 7 Author Posted April 7 And the last one for today is... Ringo no Uta / りんごのうた Score: 7,53 Album: N/A Big Sheensters: gingguu, Invisibility (10) Little NishiNOsters: Curaga, Subomie (5) My name is Ringo (apple in Japanese), and this is a song about apples. Get it? Sheena released the single on her 25th birthday. She wanted it to be a song that could be sung by children, hence the hiragana in the name. She was also under the impression that children love rumba, so she used an arrangement reminiscent of Latin music. Sheena had to adjust her r-pronunciation to the standard one (her signature trill one isn't and might be considered rude, and we can't teach children that) for the 'Minna no Uta' program. Instead of appearing on the show herself, a mascot named Ringo-chan was used. Behold this monstrosity: The song's lyrics are indeed child-like, very similar to some generic poem (not a drag since she intended it to be that way, and the official lyrics are rendered in hiragana, too). But then, at the very end, she refers to the apple as a forbidden fruit, which kind of changes the whole mood. Sheena later self-covered the song for Tokyo Jihen's debut album, which is… pretty different sonically, moreover, both the song title and the lyrics use kanji. No longer a children's song (should've probably included it on the Adult album to emphasize the point). I actually feel like upgrading my score as the song is growing on me in real time, but what's done is done. mathekr prefers the version for grown-ups: "It's a good song, but the Tokyo Jihen version is the superior version." Ewan Chaos shows off a bit of geographical knowledge: "Queen of the Italian riviera.” AMIT says it all: "this one actually grew on me a lot when I was listening to it for the rate. love the tango influences! a great closure for her overall incredible pre-jihen output.” 4 1
Antisocialites Posted April 7 Posted April 7 11 minutes ago, Suilen said: Koko de Kiss Shite. / ここでキスして。 Score: 7,38 Album: Muzai Moratorium Big Sheensters: confide in me (11), AMIT, Subomie, Kyle-x (10) Little NishiNOsters: madonnas (2) So, the first proper single from her first three albums is here. Is anyone shocked it's this one? I probably am. Well, there was a time when I didn't 'get' this song, but I'm a different person now. The song was written in Fukuoka (Ayumi's hometown, for your information), and it's addressed to a boy she was dating when she was 17, which was her way of being as straightforward as possible to him. A member of her pre-debut amateur band predicted that the song would sell well, and it kind of did: despite only reaching no. 10 on the charts, it was the most successful single off Muzai Moratorium (according to its year-end chart position and certifications, let's not fight over charts now). The lyrics are pretty simplistic and, well, straightforward. She compares her boyfriend to Cid Vicious and herself to a pair of handcuffs that will bind him. She also says that she's not pretty (a lie) and suspects him of looking at another girl yet still wants him to love her. Your typical teenage drama, but Sheena makes it sound almost sophisticated. The song being emotionally charged contributed to the theme, too. AMIT is obviously stanning and even had the same issues with her vocals I did back then, yet I was dragged mercilessly, and he could just prance about like nothing had happened: "yeah it's the best out of her debut singles, no doubt. it took me a while to get used to her vocals on this (the intro is LOUD!), but the chorus melody is undeniable. an amazing track and a discography highlight for sure.” Ewan Chaos likens the song to PJ Harvey's stuff (love her): "It's giving PJ Harvey (complementary).” Well, sorta kinda. Meloetta Carey believes that the song is responsible for NANA: "the best thing about this song might be that it's kind of the spark for the Nana anime when you think about it.” The manga started its serialization in 2000, so it's possible. I looked up whether Ai Yazawa ever mentioned Sheena, and while her official answer was that her characters aren't based on real people, the Japanese readers seem to be convinced that she was, indeed, the Nana Osaki prototype. Kyle-x appreciates the aesthetics: "Alt baddie strolling through a field in spring vibes.” Subomie is belting out the song as we speak: "The acapella opening moment has become a shower sing-along moment for me, much to my roommate's annoyance hehe.” this is SICK and TWISTED 1
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