Nami Tamaki – REAL April 18, 2013

Track Listing

1. REAL
2. emotion
3. Believe -2013- (Regular only)
4. REAL (instrumental)
5. emotion (instrumental)
6. Believe -2013- (instrumental)

1. REAL

I was wondering what Nami do for her third A-side under Teichiku and honestly, I’m happy she switched producers for this one!  I have to say that I’m surprised she got the same guy that produced “Brightdown” because REAL sounds JUST like that song but more suited for Nami of today.  Nami sounds amazingly in control and the chorus is just as much giving this epic performance!  I just love that Nami tackled rock again!

2. emotion

For the B-side, I was kind of expecting a ballad to come along but emotion kind of also has the pop/rock flair, but it also kind of sounds like something SONY Nami would’ve released as it has some synths.  I actually have to admit that I kind of like this song a smidge better than “REAL” because her vocals are deeper and way cooler to listen.  The chorus has a bit of some odd transitioning, but the song is very cool as well.  Damn xD

3. Believe -2013-

On the regular editions of the single, we get a bonus track which is a self-cover of her debut song Believe which is a surprise for me!  Given the time that’s past since then, the song got glossed up by being a bit more electro and with Nami’s vocals matured as they have and her resing it…it’s something.  It does feel like Nami toned the energy down, but the mood of the song is different but at the same time familiar.

Nami’s 3rd single and she’s just bringing all the feels in.  REAL and emotion really sent the message that she wants to go back to her SONY sound on this single and it’s like she never even did the UNI-J failures.  Both songs are quite impressive and her voice has never sounded better!  Her self-cover of Believe is a smidge weaker than the original, but the new arrangement was a nice touch!  She’s just on a roll!!!!!

Nami Tamaki – PARADISE October 9, 2012

Track Listing

1. PARADISE
2. COLORS
3. PARADISE (Instrumental)
4. COLORS (Instrumental)

1. PARADISE

I might as well sell my soul to Nami again because since her second label change, she’s just been bringing it (plus it helps that Shinichi Osawa is bringing it back).  Unlike “LADY MIND” the song has a little more going for it…a bit more filling and change.  The arrangement does sound similar to her last single as well, but a little lighter and has more of a scenic tone to it.  Nami also seemed to ditch the repetitive lyrics for something a little more filling as well which stands out to me a lot!  I have to say, this song has re-solidified me stanning for her ^_^!!!

2. COLORS

Likewise from her last single, COLORS is another Oddity-produced track, but this one seems to be quite a banger for me.  I mean the beats and synths are edgy and Nami sounds REALLY good in this song (even though she’s under auto-tune for some of it).  I really ended up liking this as well and to me is better than “START UP”.

 

 

Wow, I knew “LADY MIND” was a test to see how she would fare going back to dance music, but with PARADISE, she just rolled with the punches and cleared up the slight issues I did have from the last single with both songs.  PARADISE is awesome and it’s also kind of bright but airy too (kind of reminds me of a less-anime, more synth version of “New World”.  COLORS is pretty cool and Nami worked that song as well, leaving us with a cool club thumper…Yeah, you know I definitely want you guys to listen to it *RECOMMENDED*

Nami Tamaki – LADY MIND January 27, 2012

Track Listing

1. LADY MIND
2. START UP
3. LADY MIND (Instrumental)
4. START UP (Instrumental)

1. LADY MIND

Who knew that one day Nami would acquire the help of the amazing Shinichi Osawa to one of her songs!  I have to say that I love this mix because her voice seems to work with the electro sound that Osawa produces.  Makes for an amazing combination.  To me, this song makes up for all the mistakes she’s made during her stint under UNIVERSAL-J it has tons of life and she’s having clearly from the PV as well.  The thing most people will probably point out in the song is that the arrangement is a little reminescent of Angelababy’s “Beauty Survivor” and Namie Amuro’s “NAKED” (which both are produced by Osawa as well).  I can totally see that but Nami’s vocals are unique to the song which is a major plus!  Great song and a new beginning to Nami ^_^

2. START UP

I was curious to see what the B-side was gonna end up like and it’s just as club friendly as “LADY MIND” fortunately.  I actually this is a bit more edgier (since this wasn’t an Osawa production funny enough).  I’m really loving the song oddly enough since it has a bit more punch and has better vocals.  I’m surprised that the B-side is actually at A-side level…it’s just great to hear! 

 

 

So, after a little break after her “Ready” album, Nami left UNI-J and joined Teichiku Records (which is known for their enka artists, Fudanjuku, and Kanjani∞).  I have to say, Nami’s first single under the label is super impressive and has rekindled my love for her!  LADY MIND ranks up their with the best Osawa works and START UP is refreshing yet damn energetic….oh yeah….she’s back *RECOMMENDED*

Nami Tamaki – Ready February 25, 2011

Track Listing

1. Girlie Night feat. Girl’s Day
2. Missing You ~Time To Love~ feat. KWANGSOO, JIHYUK, GEONIL (from Choshinsei)
3. My Boy
4. Tsuyogari to ka, Iranai n’ da ne.
5. Just Dance
6. My Style
7. Signal
8. Good-bye

1. Girlie Night feat. Girl’s Day

Opening Nami’s 6th album, we begin things with a collaboration with K-pop group, Girl’s Day who are relatively new to the scene.  Anyways, unlike the last album, things quickly are set in stone with Nami under some pretty cool synths and usage of autotune in some places.  I love the energy of the song and has a lot of catchy hooks for me.  Girl’s Day doesn’t seem to have as much of a role in the song as Nami does, but that’s the point.  Good track to kick things off.

2. Missing You ~Time To Love~ feat. KWANGSOO, JIHYUK, GEONIL (from Choshinsei)

As the only A-side released in the era we get a JPN cover of T-ara’s song next and I feel a little more happier to listen to it than when it was released as a single.  As this is the other collaborative effort on the album, Missing You is still quite an interesting song that gave a twist to Nami’s older dance side.  I still think the pseudo-rapping, Choshinsei, and that very awkward opening are weak parts of the song…but something about the chorus just sounds right!  I’m still overall on the fence, but I’ve grown to slowly enjoy it more.

3. My Boy

Since Nami took the album down a specific direction, My Boy feels something like BoA would easily pull off because of the lighter K-pop feel that goes on.  It actually reminds me a whole lot of KARA’s stuff because of the glossy persona the song has.  It’s an interesting kind of song though I will admit…

4. Tsuyogari to ka, Iranai n’ da ne.

After “My Boy”, I was wondering what was coming after on this trek and with Tsuyogari Toka, I found myself really loving the arrangement with the steady rhythm and catchy synth arrangement.  The chorus does seem a bit repetitive, but I love the kind nostalgic feeling I get with this song since it sounds like “Don’t Stay” material.  I think I’m loving this track quite a bit!

5. Just Dance

Changing it up for our next song, it’s not a cover a Lady Gaga’s breakout hit.  Just Dance could have been a quite powerful song for the album, but it oddly falls flat in some of the execution.  Like, I love the verses and bridge…but the chorus feels so….anticlimatic and doesn’t seem to have that punch that it needs to, plus it’s pretty repetitive as choruses in Nami’s career goes.  Kind of just a weaker tune.

6. My Style

If you wanted a kind of darker type of K-pop like track, My Style would fill that quota quite nicely.  I love the attitude of this song a whole lot because it shows a lot of Nami’s personality and while it’s not as epic as “No Way Back”, this song is definitely the best track off the album since her vocals (and English for that matter) sounds better than before.  Just remember, ~she’s just a crazy girl, in a crazy world~.

7. Signal

I guess we get into something that’s a bit like “Just Dance” was the smoother style of K-pop dance music and Signal actually fixes the problems that made said song before sound so lazy and uneventful.  I actually love this track as well since it reminds me of the lighter dance songs she has done back in the day.  I think it’s something that would keep me coming back over and over.

8. Good-bye

Closing the album (rather short right?), Good-bye is another JPN cover of ANOTHER T-ara song.  Oddly enough this song also makes it known that this album was nothing but dance tracks and I’m not surprised since there’s was a lot of them on “STEP”.  Either way, her cover of Good-bye definitely follows like the original, but with JPN instead or Korean.  Sadly, it suffers the repetitive chorus plague and it reminds me of a K-pop take of “Friends!”…damn…

Tracks Recommended

• My Style
• Tsuyogari to ka, Iranai n’ da ne.
• Missing You ~Time To Love~ feat. KWANGSOO, JIHYUK, GEONIL (from Choshinsei)
• Signal

Song of Avoidance

• Just Dance

As this is Nami’s shortest album to date and shortest era as well with just one single preceding the album, I consider Ready more as a conceptual album than a full blown.  The idea of K-pop mixed with Nami sounds great because Nami is one of the best J-pop dancers out there IMHO and this would suit her and for the most part, she saved her ass big time after that disappointing “STEP” album.  I wouldn’t have minded seeing “Romanic ga Tomaranai” making a scene since that was pretty kickass of a song…but what we got out of 8 songs was definitely the upgrade she needed.

Nami Tamaki – Missing You ~Time To Love~ feat. KWANGSOO, JIHYUK, GEONIL (from Choshinsei) January 14, 2011

Track Listing

1. Missing You ~Time To Love~ feat. KWANGSOO, JIHYUK, GEONIL (from Choshinsei)
2. Missing You ~Time To You~ feat. KWANGSOO, JIHYUK, GEONIL (from Choshinsei) (U.F.S Remix)
3. Missing You ~Time To Love~ feat. KWANGSOO, JIHYUK, GEONIL (from Choshinsei) (Instrumental)

1. Missing You ~Time To Love~ feat. KWANGSOO, JIHYUK, GEONIL (from Choshinsei)

While it’s not news to see Nami cover something (she always does it seems nowadays…) Missing You marks two things for Nami, her first Korean cover turned to JPN (this is a cover of T-ara’s song “TTL (Time to Love) and her first collaborative song with Koreans (specifically Choshinsei, though they’re known in Korea as Supernova.  Anyways the song actually stays pretty faithful (she doesn’t usually do this don’t forget), so it’s a solid track already.  However the things that bothered me in the original are here as well and it’s Choshinsei….TERRIBLE.  Add that very awkward opening and you get an alright cover…nothing like her SONY days, but passable. 

2. Missing You ~Time To Love~ feat. KWANGSOO, JIHYUK, GEONIL (from Choshinsei) (U.F.S Remix)

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a remix hit a Nami single…last one was…well the stuff from her remix album basically.  However, this remix of Missing You is kind of blah when compared to past remixes.  All it feels like is that she took out the energy and beats and left this rather softer and more lighter backup.  To me, it’s not really all that memorable and just seems fail-tastic for me.

Being the only single to represent “Ready”, Missing You ~Time To Love~ is a slight upgrade after her “STEP” singles, but only slight because she’s still far away from what she used to be and it shows on the Oricon charts.  The thing is that her covering songs over and over is starting to feel a bit redundant since Nami has wanted to write more songs but she hasn’t really proved that yet since leaving SONY.  I will say it’s catchy, but there’s some things she needs to work on.  The remix though is bland though yeesh, hope this album will be more interesting…

Nami Tamaki – STEP February 24, 2010

Track Listing

1. GIVE ME UP
2. Friends!
3. Sayonara Shite Ageru
4. Uso
5. Kimi no Namida
6. Negai Hoshi
7. Zero no Sora
8. Moshimo Negai ga…
9. Omoide ni Negai no?
10. Happy Forever
11. in my life
12. Tokyo

1. GIVE ME UP

Well, I’ve actually grown to love the song since it was Nami’s first single under the new label.  To be honest it’s not far off from the stuff she released under SONY, just a little more upbeat and happy than normal.  Since it does sample an 80′s tune while majority is new stuff on Nami’s side she didn’t do too bad and it’s kind of innocent in a way that it makes me smile when I hear it.  I definitely think it was the best A-side of the era!

2. Friends!

Whenever I think of Friends!, I keep thinking of the dogzilla cover that made me lulz everytime.  While it retains that overall feel that “GIVE ME UP” carried, it’s just that it’s somewhat mundane when compared to previous releases.  Nami’s vocals have kind of gotten kind of boring, but I think it’s the mehness of the song itself.  It’s not bad, but it could be so much better.

3. Sayonara Shite Ageru

Our first new song, Sayonara Shite Ageru is definitely running the whole typical R&B mid-tempo shtick.  I think it’s somewhat dramatic which is a good thing.  Her voice might not be as exciting as it once used to be, but in this song it’s kind of nice but I miss the days where she’d yell to get by.  Srry Nami, this song is a little generic.

4. Uso

At least Uso is a tad more interesting because of the tempo boost which is good for sure.  Sadly, once again it comes across to me as being a lot more generic than “Sayonara Shite Ageru”.  The beat is kind of too familiar and this time Nami’s vocals are kind of off for me.  The only thing that might stand out are the strings, but besides that nothing is totally interesting.

5. Kimi no Namida

I like how this song starts up with a nice piano line like that.  Kimi no Namida has a pretty solid beat going and with the lonely piano in the background it’s kind of cool.  While it’s still in the realm of R&B-land, the song has a lot more synths involved as well which is a definite plus.  It might be so different that I might like this a lot.  Give it time.

6. Negai Hoshi

I guess it’s understandable that “Kimi no Namida” would sort of bridge the gap between the two songs.  To be honest, Negai Hoshi has the most electronic influences on the album and it couldn’t be stranger to see this song on the album period.  I really do like the song because it’s kind of a mix of what she used to be like and mixing it up with new producers and such.  Pretty special track hahaha.

7. Zero no Sora

When I first saw the tracklist, Zero no Sora really stood out to me from the new songs.  I was right because it’s really catchy and well different from other songs.  It’s got that same light that made me love her before and it’s great she hasn’t fully forgotten who she was before U-JAPAN.  It’s definitely one of the best tracks off the album and hopefully she can go back to songs like these.

8. Moshimo Negai ga…

As the 3rd A-side of the album, Moshimo Negai ga… isn’t the worst of the era, but it did show the slow change to her music which is a little unfortunate because it made me think that she really isn’t good for R&B (though she’s tested these waters as a SONY artist too).  I don’t know why but I do like Moshimo Negai ga… but not as much as “GIVE ME UP” or even “Zero no Sora”.

9. Omoide ni Naru no?

While this was released a week before this album, I thought Omoide ni Naru no? was definitely one of the top songs of the era.  I found this so much more memorable than “Moshimo Negai ga…” since it had a hook to it and since Jeff Miyahara was involved here it was no surprise that I ended up liking the song fully.  It’s got some emotional value and I like that in a song so it’s one of the best R&B songs she’s released.  Come on, even the ending was epic.

10. Happy Forever

With a song that sounds like something that could end an album, Happy Forever is not there which is strange and kind of makes me nod my head to the side since it’s after “Omoide ni Naru no?”.  Since it’s another B-side from “Friends!”, Happy Forever was me 2nd favorite off the single since it doesn’t try too hard to stand out, but it’s able to keep things fun and celebrational. 

11. in my life

However things come crashing down when we get into the one of the B-sides from “GIVE ME UP”.  I really wanna like the song because it’s an actual ballad and not these typical R&B hybrids that everyone seems to be whoring on recently.  It starts out nice enough, but her vocals are so damn bad in this song and it makes me wonder what the happened from “Winter Ballades” to get here.  Ok, I think it’s the worst song off teh album.

12. Tokyo

The final song off the album comes in and OK, it does make up for why “Happy Forever” wasn’t an album ender.  Nami is back to a more comfortable setting and since the song is still R&B/Pop whatever, it’s alright.  Nothing totally stands out in the song, but I guess it’s an alright ending.  I just wish there was some spark.

Tracks Recommended

• GIVE ME UP
• Omoide ni Naru no?
• Zero no Sora
• Kimi no Namida
• Negai Hoshi

Song of Avoidance

• in my life

To be blatantly honest, STEP is definitely on my shitlist and is Nami’s worst album so far.  While I do understand we’re dealing with a new Nami, is still shows that UNIVERSAL-J doesn’t have much hope for her because she used to be a anime superstar.  Even worse was they gave her some of the laziest arrangements in R&B that made me even madder.  If she wants to get her career back she’ll leave U-J for someone else or go back to SONY where she belongs.

nami – Omoide ni Naru no? February 17, 2010

Track Listing

1. Omoide ni Naru no?
2. Itoshisa no Yukue
3. Rakuen

1. Omoide ni Naru no?

I was surprised at how well Omoide ni Naru no? popped out because while it takes some notes from “Moshimo Negai ga…” its got its own signature sound to it that I found a lot more better than the last A-side.  The arrangement might not be as grandiose and it’s stuck in the rut of other R&B songs, but it’s kind of sentimental and catchy at various points.  I think the best thing is how it ended with Nami repeating ~don’t say goodbye, ima sugu aitai~  I thought that was pretty cool.

2. Itoshisa no Yukue

The next song off the single to me shows off more of Nami’s vocals than what “Omoide ni Naru no?” but it’s also very different from what we’re used to from UNI-J nami.  It has a pretty cool beat going for it and since Nami’s vocals are shown off more radiantly.  I like the stronger flow in the song and makes a whole lot more sense than previous ballads of the era.  Good job here.

3. Rakuen

The song that got me worried was this tune which is a cover of Ken Hirai’s 2000 single.  By the way the original was handled, it’s still very R&B but I was worried because Nami is covering a song a guy originally sung (then again “STORM” was a cover of a Luna Sea song).  I’m happy she’s not trying to be as vocally strong like Kenken.  Nami pulled off another good cover track.

 

 

Is it strange that the final single for the “STEP” era was actually the best one?  While it’s now safe to say that Nami will never pull off something amazing like her SONY days anymore, I’m willing to give a try on the new “nami”.  Omoide ni Naru no? is a a huge gap of what I’ve grown up listening to and it seems she’s just going to become “another female R&B artist” she’s got the right set of pipes to do so unlike so others…Hope STEP isn’t a bomb from hell next week.

Nami Tamaki – Moshimo Negai ga… October 16, 2009

Track Listing

1. Moshimo Negai ga…
2. Sukiya de ~Itoshii Hito e~
3. MAGIC (CD Only)
4. Moshimo Negai ga… (Instrumental)

1. Moshimo Negai ga…

I guess Nami got tired of those uber peppy songs because Nami goes and releases Moshimo Negai ga… which is an R&B track.  Now Nami has had a few experiences with this genre so it’s not surprising she’s come back down to this level.  Honestly, it’s her best A-side she’s had since changing labels.  You still hear synths and the such, but there’s this nice and calm feel to it that works.  Is Nami finally getting better?

2. Sukiya de ~Itoshii Hito e~

Yeah, Nami is actually doing her first answer song of her career.  It’s the answer song to ET-KING’s “Itoshii Hito e”.  It’s not surprising that we ended up with another ballad.  Instead of the synths underlying the arrangement like in “Moshimo Negai ga…”, Sukiya de has a strings-based arrangement (and even better than one of the members of ET-KING arranged this as well).  They are also in the song as well, mostly in the chorus and they sound iono….not into it?, I guess it’s because this is the original part that was kept here.  I do love Nami’s performance though, so I have to say this song is a definite upgrade.

3. MAGIC

Only available on the CD only version of the single, we get ANOTHER DAMN COVER SONG…This time from TINA, MAGIC is another one of the R&B tinted songs and while it has the most synths of the 3, I do think that it’s rather nice hearing this.  Now I haven’t heard the original version to compare it to, but there’s something interesting about this.  I did like how she said ~it’s magic~ before the chorus.  Hmmm, it does remind me that I miss her fast songs….I wish she returned to that…

 

 

Nami’s 3rd UNIVERSAL-J single, Moshimo Negai ga… wasn’t too bad and is her best single so far.  I am noticing her career is going towards an R&B styled career and I’m definitely against it all the way.  She’s a whole lot better as a electronica or rock artist rather than urban.  I’ll have to agree that I do like Moshimo Negai ga… is a nice ballad.  Sukiya de was a nice answer track and MAGIC was of course a good cover….Reminds me, isn’t it time that Nami releases a cover album obviously???

Nami Tamaki – Friends! August 1, 2009

Track Listing

1. Friends!
2. Negai Hoshi (CD Type A only)
3. Happy Forever (CD Type B only)
4. Mata ne (CD Type C only)
5. Friends! (Instrumental)

1. Friends!

Oh this was the direction I was hoping Nami would’ve stayed away from completely.  After the catchy “GIVE ME UP”, Nami releases Friends! which ultimately sound like something H!P would drool over totally.  I’m actually not a big fan of the song despite it does have some catchy parts…like her ad-libbing.  I still feel that the lack of energy in the song really hurt it overall and gotta say….she’s going downhill from here.

2. Negai Hoshi

On the Type A version we get Negai Hoshi which was previously released as its own digital single, so it’s quite nice to see it on the single.  I actually think it’s one of her better tracks since her time on UNIVERSAL-J and that’s saying something.  I think the beat was pretty smooth and the synths did a good job.  I really don’t see the hate in th song as it’s so catchy arrangement wise and doesn’t have bubbly pop all over it. 

3. Happy Forever

Why does this sound like something that was ripped from the “greeting” album?  Besides the fact the arrangement has a more synthy drive, it sounds like something that would’ve fit right on her debut album.  Happy Forever is luckily a happy mid-tempo dance track and it’s a bit nicer than the B-sides off of “GIVE ME UP”.

4. Mata ne

Rounding off the Type C version of the single, Mata ne comes in as the ballad-y track.  There’s a piano melody going on and then there’s Nami who’s actually doing a way better job of singing than she did with “in my life”.  Actually this track brings memories of another track “Ashita no Kimi” back on her debut album but this was more fluid with the instruments that were included here.  Not too bad.

 

 

Nami’s 2nd UNIVERSAL-J single as a whole was a lot better than “GIVE ME UP”.  The glaring problem of the single was the A-side actually and really got me in a twist, listening to its bubblegun sound that I disliked.  Negai Hoshi and Mata ne are both nice tracks in the sound and feel that she was once known for, but maybe it’s still not enough.  Happy Forever was the lively happy tune and it’s good to listen to once in a while….She did better on this single IMO

Nami Tamaki – GIVE ME UP March 29, 2009

Track Listing

1. GIVE ME UP
2. Ichizu na Negai
3. in my life (CD Type B only)
4. Kanojo (CD Type C Only)
5. GIVE ME UP (Instrumental)

1. GIVE ME UP

Let me set this straight, GIVE ME UP is not a full cover of the Michael Fortunati track, it only recycles the chorus and everything else is original.  That being said, this is a pretty fun track giving the fact she’s under a new label.  At first I didn’t exactly like it because it was too bubblegum for my tastes, but after the seeing the PV and hearing the originals and w’s take of the track.  It turns out I really enjoy it. 

2. Ichizu na Negai

Things go downhill when we reach the B-sides.  On all of the versions of the single, Ichizu na Negai is the main B-side.  Now it’s hard to really describe the sound of it because it’s kind of a fusion of funk and urban.  I just found this to be a little on the boring side as it just didn’t do anything for me. 

3. in my life

I guess UNIVERSAL-J was trying to cash on in the fact that Nami does good on ballads, but sadly it turns out to be on bad track.  I mean it’s one thing to hear her sing her heart out in last single’s “Promise”, but they made her hit these really high notes that was just a bit painful.  She’s definitly not made for that (at least not anymore).  The other parts of the song are nice to listen to and she carries it well, but that chorus just destroyed the song.

4. Kanojo

 However, this single is basically saved by the Type C song.  It’s kind of like R&B with the thumps and snapping and major use of the piano.  Of course Nami is still using bad high notes and she’s swooping them a lot, but it’s so much better than listening to “in my life”.   One of the most calm songs I’ve grown to like.

 

 

I’m not exactly sure where they are trying to steer Nami in, but GIVE ME UP was definitly not the greatest of singles.  In fact, it might by next to “MY WAY/Sunrize” in worst single.  Now GIVE ME UP is oddly cutesy and catchy and even though it’s a pseudo-cover it’s still good.  Kanojo was also pretty catchy and showed off a more lighter R&B side.  Even though I can see the company pushing her this way.  Ichizu na Negai was uhm…how do you say….boring!  Like she’s already tried urban sort of with “Gokigendaze” and that came out OK, but this was just not what I wanting.  in my life…could be the worst ballad of her career…Anyways, if she plans to make a real future with UNIVERSAL-J, step the game out ten fold please…