Utada Hikaru – Flavor Of Life January 10, 2009

Track Listing

1. Flavor Of Life
2. Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-
3. Flavor Of Life (Original Karaoke)
4. Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version- (Original Karaoke)
5. Flavor Of Life -Antidote Mix- (CD Only Bonus Track)

1. Flavor Of Life

It’s kind of weird hearing the original, when the ballad version is more well-known.  Just like the Distance/FINAL DISTANCE thing, you can take the song and maneuver it anyway you want to, since the original sounds pretty refreshing.  It’s pretty upbeat and the addition of BKGD vocals are pretty nice, especially during the bridge.  It does sound quite different than the stuff she released off of “ULTRA BLUE” which is great!

2. Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-

Strange that the rearranged version got the PV and the most promotion of the single.  I guess it’s the more appropriate version of the track as it had a pretty huge tie-in to Hana Yori Dango.  Doesn’t it seem tracks from that dorama always get the big songs?  Anyway, I kind of wished the BKGD vocals were there in the bridge of the song.  Still, I’m starting to hear Hikki’s vocals start to sound pretty thin here, but even stranger is her lower register, it isn’t bad, but you have to get used to it.

3. Flavor Of Life -Antidote Mix-

What a strange remix indeed.  It starts out pretty weird with the sound temperaments they were doing.  When they hit the first verse the beats come in and it sounds like something she would’ve done pre-DEEP RIVER.  I did kind of thought the remix didn’t bring enough to the table, to make it stand out like the others.  At least we finally get a remix after how long?

 

 

This would become her hugest song she’s had since like forever.  Breaking a lot of records on the charts.  Flavor Of Life still is a great single and c’mon everyone likes one version of it, right? 

Ami Suzuki – Fantastic January 10, 2009

Track Listing

1. Fantastic
2. Slow Motion
3. Fantastic (Instrumental)
4. Slow Motion (Instrumental)

1. Fantastic

Or what I like to call it the odd A-side of the era.  Fantastic, another trance-themed track starts out pretty quietly, but as soon as Ami sings the song goes into this trance mode.  I really love it actually and Ami’s strong singing comes shining through in this song.  The only main gripe with the song is probably when she does try for the higher notes.  Does anyone else notice that the song doesn’t really have a structure?  It’s quite strange but still cool.

2. Slow Motion

It starts up hurting my ears with the screeching sound, but as the title implies, it is a ballad and after the energetic “Fantastic” I kind of though the song was underwhelming.  Ami is singing with the accompainment of a piano and acoustic guitar and some static in the background.  Luckily, it brings the pace up at the chorus.  Even though not many would remember this song much because once again Ami and avex ballads don’t usually end up being too memorable.  Still, Slow Motion is a nice track overall.

 

 

Fantastic, actually is her best selling single of the “CONNETTA” era which is shocking right?  Well the single was a nice surprise after the slow “Little Crystal” single and both songs are strong in their own right.  Still, Fantastic on the album is just so random IMO