Sayuri Sugawara – Habataku Kimi e March 29, 2012

Track Listing

1. Habataku Kimi e
2. Sakura
3. My HERO (CD only)
4. Habataku Kimi e (Instrumental)
5. Sakura (Instrumental)
6. My HERO (Instrumental)

1. Habataku Kimi e

Beautiful piano open up Sayuri’s second A-side of the era, Habataku Kimi e which is more of the same we’ve gotten from Sayuri since she debuted two years ago.  Meaning more of that R&B style is found here and I’m thinking it’s her niche but it works with me because her voice is really pretty for some reason.  It just sounds great and she gets stronger towards the chorus for sure ^^.  Impressive song and better than couple of her last leading tracks (from the mini-albums) and A-sides.

2. Sakura

Of course since it’s that time of year, it’s no surprise we’d get our Sakura-themed song from Sayuri.  Unlike “Habataku Kimi e”, Sakura is more ballad-friendly for people with strings and piano leading it up lol.  For how simplistic it is in its arrangement, it’s a pretty song and Sayuri sung it very well (even throwing some English in the chorus).  I honestly wouldn’t have minded if she had chose this as an A-side because it’s pretty good! lol.

3. My HERO

Oh a CD only song?  Well My HERO began with Sayuri opening it up in an acappella style before acoustic guitars join in after the intro.  Her voice are a bit more at a comfortable level since she was singing high notes in “Sakura” and all that.  I do chuckle at the ~my heelow~ in the chorus and various other places but not bad but nothing too remarkable here.

 

 

As the second single of the era, Habataku Kimi e actually impressed me a bit more than “Ashita ni Naru Mae ni” since two of the three songs are pretty damn good for here…she keeps on impressing me with songs like the lead track and Sakura.  My HERO is alright…but is obvious it’s a little under the other two songs.

Sayuri Sugawara – Ashita ni Naru Mae ni December 15, 2011

Track Listing

1. Ashita ni Naru Mae ni
2. Basket Court
3. ROCKSTAR

1. Ashita ni Naru Mae ni

Wow, I didn’t think Sayuri was going to hit a different kind of low for Ashita ni Naru Mae ni.  I just seems to be you run-of-the-mill kind of R&B tune which is already boring me just a bit.  I will say that we haven’t had an A-side that was upbeat like this one which is nice and it does fitting for the season.  Then again it sounds like shopping mall music for some reason to me.  It’s nice and one of Sayuri’s better songs but the style still isn’t pulling me in very well.  I’m sure it’ll grow on me in due time though.

2. Basket Court

I wonder what she’s meaning by the title…Basketball?  I’m guessing not though.  Basket Court takes out the R&B and replaces it with more of a pop/rock kind of style which she does pretty good at actually but I’m not feeling much here.  It’s just kind of there and a bit much like her previous efforts.

3. ROCKSTAR

At first I was kind of wondering of the audience clapping and being excited but that was really shortlived.  I thought this was going to be a bit more rockin’ but it’s a bit more like “Fly” in the way that it also has a lot of electro/rock.  Sayuri’s vocals are a bit more edgy as well which is the voice I like from her the most and it works in this tune.  It’s definitely the best off the single!

 

 

I wonder when we’ll get our actual 2nd studio album from Sayuri…I mean the mini-albums were nice to give time, but three minis and this single is just stretching it for what it’s worth.  I will say that ROCKSTAR was the best off the single for just being actually good.  Ashita ni Naru Mae ni was alright and can grow to be quite good but Basket Court is just blahfest…I WANT AN ALBUM SAYURI!!!! xD

Sayuri Sugawara – Forever… July 20, 2011

Track Listing

1. Forever…
2. Kaze
3. Fly
4. tears
5. My Sweet Home
6. Futari no Kage
7. Thinking Of You (CD only bonus track)
8. “Suki” to Iu Kotoba -Album Version 2011- (CD only bonus track)

1. Forever…

Ahhh, Sayuri starts the mini-album off with something that would be expected from her with a mid-tempo R&B tune with Forever….I do kind of like it but it’s really for the fact that the chorus has punch to it by adding electric guitars and louder percussion and the whole ~never ever~ thing that’s going on.  It’s a sweet song and I must say it’s a good start so far.

2. Kaze

Things take a small turn going into Kaze which moves away from Sayuri’s original style to a more pop/rock style which I don’t mind at all since her vocals are light and very sweet to listen to.  It might be a slow track and moves at the same pace, but I really like the depressing vibes and Sayuri was singing quite nicely.

3. Fly

I never thought she’d pull it off, but our next song can be described as an electro-rock track.  I’m actually seriously enjoying this song not because of my uber enjoyment of the genre, but this song is quite good and Sayuri sounds great in the song (though I do think the filters are meh) but this song is probably one of the best tracks off the mini-album.

4. tears

After such an exciting song, I was surprised that Sayuri would take it light again, but tears is a good song as well.  It doesn’t sound like your typical R&B track since there’s so many things that sound really good together in the arrangement and the chorus and the parts without Sayuri singing makes it sound like an older Hitomi Shimatani song.  Good song!

5. My Sweet Home

Can’t believe our next song really makes me think of ayaka for some reason.  My Sweet Home also does sound like another “Kaze” but more of a ballad than said song.  I like the acoustic and electric guitars together and it makes the song a bit more emotional.  Sadly, otherwise I don’t remember this song and it fits more with the last few singles she’s done.

6. Futari no Kage

Closing the CD+DVD out, Futari no Kage is another ballad track from Sayuri but it’s pretty to listen to.  Sayuri sounds very pretty in the song and while things are more of a slow burner-kind of style, but it does sound good after more instruments enter the song.  It’s nice and it make a nice closing to one of the versions of the mini XD

7. Thinking Of You

Oddly enough the CD only version includes two more tracks.  Thinking Of You does surprise me quite a bit since the song is upbeat and has a dance beat going on which is a nice move.  It doesn’t have an edge like “Fly” does, but it’s steady, light, and full of life so I must say it was a great song and wonder why it was only on one version of this release.

8. “Suki” to Iu Kotoba -Album Version 2011-

It seriously hasn’t been a year and we’re already getting a new version of Sayuri’s last A-side.  The changes that were made for the song are pretty noticeable when the tune has more of an acoustic feel to it and it’s softer than the original as well.  It also took out the R&B style as well and replaced those with piano and strings.  It’s a nice take, but I still much prefer the original oddly enough.

 

 

Third mini-album…really?  I must say that I liked Forever… a whole lot more than her last one, “Close To You”.  I do think the mini was split between, ballads, R&B, dance tracks, and pop/rock tracks so it was a good even distribution of areas to Sayuri’s style.  Strong and definitely more memorable…good good release!

Sayuri Sugawara – Close To You December 22, 2010

Track Listing

1. Sayonara Mata….
2. So Long My Love
3. Close To You
4. “Suki” to Iu Kotoba
5. Sunao ni Narenakute
6. WINTER STORY

1. Sayonara Mata….

Beginning Sayuri’s mini-album, Sayonara Mata…. starts on a good note since it’s of course a slower song from her.  I love the songs quite lovely ballad-like atmosphere and is it just me or am I noticing her vocals have stepped up?  Her voice just radiates through the song and despite not really changing since “First Story”, the arrangement is quite sweet and the strings/piano/acoustic guitar sound good.  It’s a pretty pleasant tune!

2. So Long My Love

After the first thing I was wondering if the album was going to more or less any different, but So Long My Love dashed my theory out the window.  I mean it’s more along the lines of what she sounded like when she debuted with R&B, but this has a pretty strong amount of synths used throughout.  I also found myself liking the song quite a bit as well and I loved that it give Sayuri a bit more room for her vocals as well. 

3. Close To You

I guess she had to mix the two songs to get this one next.  Being the title track for the mini-album, Close To You is like I said a mix of both R&B and a ballad and while I’m not fond of these songs, this one feels like a throwback to 90′s R&B with an Americanized twist to it.  Beyond that, I’m still not too fond of it and it just kind of passes by me.

4. “Suki” to Iu Kotoba

I’m not sure why she had to actually put the 2 A-sides she released so far onto the mini-album but nonetheless there they are.  Being the most recent A-side, “Suki” to Iu Kotoba follows pretty closely behind “Close To You” even though it was released before it, this song is still one of Sayuri’s best A-sides released so far.  Even though I did just come out of a boring tune, this one lightened me up and gave me reason to love it even more. 

5. Sunao ni Narenakute

Of course, the first single released in the era is also found on the mini-album and I still don’t think much of it besides the fact her vocals sound nice, but it’s just like any other R&B song out there so for me it’s pretty bland as songs go.  I’m just going to slip by this song.

6. WINTER STORY

I’m happy that Sayuri decided to close the mini-album with a new song.  WINTER STORY might not be anything much for me, but it does stand out here as the atypical Winter ballad and it doesn’t cover itself in it like crazy.  There’s still not enough to make it memorable, but whatever it’s there lol.

Sayuri’s mini-album is half-half for me.  I mean the three songs that I really enjoyed stood out quite a bit and I fell in love with them quite strongly.  However the other half were just terribly plain from her and just didn’t do anything for me.  Iono, but if there’s an album in the era…I wonder what’ll be on it at this point…

Sayuri Sugawara – “Suki” to Iu Kotoba August 31, 2010

Track Listing

1. “Suki” to Iu Kotoba
2. I Wanna Cry…
3. “Suki” to Iu Kotoba (Instrumental)
4. I Wanna Cry… (Instrumental)

1. “Suki” to Iu Kotoba

It seems that Sayuri wanted to go back to what she did pre-”Kimi ga Iru Kara” with the whole light R&B style.  I mean it’s not Kana Nishino, but it’s actually relaxing to listen to and Sayuri’s vocals are getting better to listen to as well which is great.  I thought the background vocals were an odd but nice touch.  It’s definitely a ballad I could keep listening to for a long time and that’s good.

2. I Wanna Cry…

For a song that should come off as a ballad, I was surprised it was an upbeat tune here.  I like her voice still since she has the right emotion going on for it and a lot of English as well.  I really do enjoy the pop/rock style going on and it makes a worthy B-side for this single!

 

 

I was impressed a lot by Sayuri for her second single of the era.  There is just something that clicked that didn’t happen with “Sunao ni Narenakute”.  This single was what I needed to like her again and it worked.  I like how sweet that A-side.  Even beter was how nice the B-side came off.  One of the better singles this year!

Sayuri Sugawara – Sunao ni Narenakute May 19, 2010

Track Listing

1. Sunao ni Narenakute
2. Stay with you
3. GLOW
4. Sunao ni Narenakute (Instrumental)
5. Stay with you (Instrumental)
6. GLOW (Instrumental)

1. Sunao ni Narenakute

Alright, I agree with the masses that say this song sounds a bit like “Ano Hi no Yakusoku” since it does have that R&B sound that both songs do have.  It’s not too bad and it’s so much stronger than her last A-side which is a plus of course.  I think I might end up liking this song a lot more than I would.  Sayuri’s vocals aren’t strong but they sound great otherwise.

2. Stay with you

Which can be said the almost exact same about the first B-side.  It’s more or less a refined version of “Sunao ni Narenakute” since it share a lot things but I think Sayuri’s performance is a lot more enticing and a lot more catchier.  Besides that, I think the same can be said about this song like I said about the previous track.

3. GLOW

The 2nd B-side also once again entitled to the genre, but there’s a guitar opening with a lot more beats, guitar, and strings involved.  The good thing about this track though is that it doesn’t sound like the previous two and sounds a lot more original and snazzy as well.  I definitely enjoyed this song the most outta the single.

 

 

After a pretty good start with “First Story”, Sunao ni Narenakute launches the era off on a strong note.  All three songs do show that Sayuri is probably going to be an R&B artist, but I don’t mind it because she can pull it off and make it stand out with songs like GLOW.  Hopefully her arrangements to become more interesting though.

Sayuri Sugawara – First Story January 27, 2010

Track Listing

1. Arigatou feat. FEROS
2. Kimi ni Okuru Uta
3. Is This Love?
4. Kimi ga Iru Kara
5. It’s My Life
6. Ano Hi no Yakusoku
7. alone…
8. Thrill
9. Eternal Love
10. Sakura no Michi
11. Koi
12. Superstar☆
13. Destiny feat. FEROS <Haru ver.>
14. ALWAYS

1. Arigatou feat. FEROS

Beginning the album off is the B-side from “Ano Hi no Yakusoku” but now featuring FEROS.  Even though I like Arigatou from the single, the album cut isn’t good because of the new addition.  Besides that, it’s still the same song with it’s upbeat pop nature and she sounds good still. 

2. Kimi ni Okuru Uta

We go back far to her debut song and definitely reminds me of Kana Nishino’s R&B flavored music but with better vocals and stronger beats and pretty good vocals.  I really like the piano line that comes with the music and Sayuri sounds really nice here.  I think that the song came off as unoriginal at first, but it turns out to be one her best tracks.

3. Is This Love?

For our first new track off the album, I was surprised at what Sayuri actually did for this track because it’s so different from what we’re used to since it’s got a synth drive and sounds electropop, but at the same time not because there’s no vocal manipulations.  Sometimes the song doesn’t sound exciting enough, but it’s got such a catchy beat and Sayuri sounds overall nice.

4. Kimi ga Iru Kara

Unfortunately, we have to listen to the song that least impressed me in the era.  Is it really shocking that the FFXIII theme is actually a borefest and is in that same category with “Melodies of Life” and “Why”?  I mean it just sounds like every other drama/ballad song that I’ve heard.  I guess Final Fantasy finally hit that rut of icky songs.

5. It’s My Life

As we get back into another new track, It’s My Life is definitely back to a more upbeat and fun arrangement and I like the guitar in this song.  I don’t know why, but the song reminds me of something, but I can’s place it right now.  Interesting little tune.

6. Ano Hi no Yakusoku

Sayuri’s 2nd A-side comes in quite nicely and is far enough from “Kimi ni Okuru Uta” to sound really bland.  It’s not a full ballad, but it’s neither a full R&B track, either way I kind of liked the song’s flow and Sayuri’s sweet vocals worked quite nicely for her.

7. alone…

That’s kind of why I didn’t like alone… as much because it sounds way too similar to “Ano Hi no Yakusoku”.  It’s even in the same range as the other song this is even worse off on the album because of all that boooooo.  Sorry, this was just tasteless and is overly bland for me.

8. Thrill

We get into a jazzy tune for Thrill and honestly, it s a thrill to listen to because she can pull of jazz very nicely.  It’s also nice to note that she’s using a more deeper set of vocals which added more to the thrill of the song.  Very surprising, but amazing nonetheless.

9. Eternal Love

The other song used for FFXIII, Eternal Love is way better than “Kimi ga Iru Kara” because it doesn’t sound like your standard ballad which is great since it’s these song that work out better than boring ballads.  It’s got a magical quality about it that I like about it and Sayuri isn’t trying to be OMG EMOTIONAL.  I like this song a lot.

10. Sakura no Michi

I instantly got deja vu when I turned this song on.  It reminds me of our next track, “Koi” because it’s a little more westernized than most of the other songs off the album and there’s acoustic guitar present again as well.  At least there’s strings to at least alleviate the two songs from each, not bad, but not memorable.

11. Koi

Coming from the “Kimi ni Okuru Uta” mini-album, Koi like I said previous is an acoustic pop track which reminds me more of “It’s My Life” than the previous song.  I kind of dislike it a little more here than on it’s original placing so that’s not good.  I think it’s something about Sayuri not sounding as interested or into the music as before.

12. Superstar☆

I guess for being bored through the middle of the album, it’s somewhat nice to have something more upbeat and catchy in not just the music but in the lyrics.  I kind of like the twinkly synth sound going on in the background, nifty.  Might be a little slow, but it’s hellishly catchy.

13. Destiny feat. FEROS <Haru ver.>

Ick, do I really need to deal with FEROS for another track?  I guess so, but this is an oldie.  Destiny (back on “Kimi ni Okuru Uta”) is still on my shit list because of FEROS again, his rapping and Sayuri’s singing just do not match at all and process the wrong feelings across.  Not exactly what you would call a good collaboration.  Oh, I guess there were a few changes within the lyrics to make it more spring-like, but to me that just doesn’t do enough for me. 

14. ALWAYS

Ending off the album, ALWAYS is actually kind of cute for a song, even though it’s one of the R&B songs that would be like all over the place and be high on ORICON.  What’s good is that Sayuri sounds really nice once again and just made me smile.  Kind of typical but in a good way and it’s nice to end the album off with something like this.

Tracks Recommended

• Is This Love?
• Kimi ni Okuru Uta
• Thrill
• Eternal Love
• Superstar☆

Song of Avoidance

• alone…

Sayuri’s debut album has the right tools to be great, but sometimes it feels like she’s following whatever is popular now hence all those R&B tracks.  Though the thing that most people was waiting for to make her popular flopped, it didn’t really stop the album from being somewhat good and enjoyable. 

Sayuri Sugawara – Kimi ga Iru Kara December 2, 2009

Track Listing

1. Kimi ga Iru Kara
2. Eternal Love
3. Christmas Again
4. Kimi ga Iru Kara (Instrumental)
5. Eternal Love (Instrumental)
6. Christmas Again (Instrumental)

1. Kimi ga Iru Kara

Since it is the the song used for Final Fantasy XIII, I wasn’t really expecting nothing different from all of the main ones from VIII, to the current game.  Each of the series in betweem has had ballads as the tie-ins and Sayuri’s isn’t really breaking new ground or anything, and it isn’t as spectacular like “Eyes On Me”, “Suteki da ne” or even Kiss Me Good-Bye”, but it’s alright.  Better than that Leona Lewis song that’s featured in the American release.  Sayuri’s voice sounds pretty and a few people compared it to ayaka and I can see it completely, but ayaka already had her time in the FF lore xD.  It’s good, but not the best.

2. Eternal Love

Also used in FFXIII, Eternal Love sounds more like something I’d want the game to have.  It’s relaxing, a little more upbeat and sounds like the usual Sayuri since it mixes a bit of R&B into it.  Sayuri’s vocals are a bit stronger and the song prolly doesn’t fit in the game, but it’s a lot nicer than “Kimi ga Iru Kara”.

3. Christmas Again

Where have I heard this guitar melody before?  It’s so similar to some song.  It’s different from the other tracks because of the inclusion of acoustic guitar and it’s not that bad of a song since Sayuri’s voice once again sounds good.  While it is a Christmas song, it really doesn’t live up to other bigger songs…so it just comes off as mild.

 

 

So Sayuri’s 2nd single is rather mundane since it’s kind of becoming redundent against her previous releases.  Though, with the FFXIII tie-in this will either make or break her, though there’s no reason that she shouldn’t get at least in the top 10 on Oricon.  Thank god there’s an album after this so this is also the final single of the era.

Sayuri Sugawara – Ano Hi no Yakusoku October 2, 2009

Track Listing

1. Ano Hi no Yakusoku
2. Arigatou
3. Ano Hi no Yakusoku (Instrumental)
4. Arigatou (Instrumental)
5. Kimi ni Okuru Uta (Instrumental)

1. Ano Hi no Yakusoku

For Sayuri’s first single, Ano Hi no Yakusoku is not surprisingly a balladish track from her.  It kind of has that same feel “Kimi ni Okuru Uta” because it’s like nice flowing and mixed with R&B beats.  As for Sayuri, she sounds good again, and at some points she reminds me of Crystal Kay which is cool enough for me I guess.  This might be a little too similar to her last release, but it’s nice overall.

2. Arigatou

However, I was happy with the B-side.  Arigatou is a happier sounding tune.  It’s a bit more towards her R&B style and I kind of liked how catchy the arrangement was and Sayuri did a great job keeping up with it’s bubblyness.  Which by the way, there are bubbles popping in the background too, which made me giggle.  I think it’s a great B-side and better than “Ano Hi no Yakusoku”.

 

 

If she keeps this up, I think her next single “Kimi ga Iru Kara” (Final Fantasy XIII’s theme) will probably be a big hitter for her.  Ano Hi no Yakusoku is more or less a continuation from her debut which is nice and all, but hope she doesn’t get bland with it.  Arigatou though was cute for her and it made up for the sort-of meh A-side.  Good single from her.

Sayuri Sugawara – Kimi ni Okuru Uta September 30, 2009

Track Listing

1. Kimi ni Okuru Uta
2. Destiny feat. FEROS
3. Koi
4. Tsuyoku Naritai
5. I still love you

1. Kimi ni Okuru Uta

Ahhh, Sayuri begins this mini-album with a mid-tempo tune.  First thing I notice about Sayuri is that her vocals are quite relaxed when compared to other artists that do similar tracks.  It’s also delving in a little of R&B and that’s quite nice.  I do think her English is a little off, but it’s easily understandable and she doesnt make those parts stand out.  It’s a nice track altogether and she sung sweetly as well.

2. Destiny feat. FEROS

Released previously as a digital track, Destiny is surprisingly a ballad starting with a beautiful violin opening.  Then things kind of go back into that R&B sound that made up the first track.  After Sayuri’s little dit, FEROS raps along with this and it’s rather tasteless and doesn’t set up Sayuri for after his rapping.  She doesn’t sound right here and beyond the arrangement, this song is skippable.

3. Koi

Koi is a whole lot different than the previous tracks because of the overly Western sound Koi’s got.  Sayuri also sounds a bit more deeper and with the acoustic track behind her, she actually made this a whole lot better.  Still with the happy feeling songs, I thought this was done a whole lot better. 

4. Tsuyoku Naritai

A song that’s like “Koi” again?  I’d say this was more of a contination more than anything.  It does sound like an ayaka song, but I can’t think of which one at the moment.  That being said, it’s rather a nice tune, but placing it after a rather similar song does hinder it.  Tsuyoku Naritai’s acoustic, lively arrangement is possibly a good sound for Sayuri but I don’t want her to possess this side all the time.

5. I still love you

The final track off the mini-album, is finally a pure ballad from Sayuri.  Led by piano and a low thumping beat, I have to say she really scored points with me on this tune.  Her voice is nice and sounds beautiful especially at the end of the chorus where the song sounds like it went sad for a little bit.  Though, it’s weird that she’s saying ~I shtill love u~….though I think she’s playing on words by mixing it with ~aishiteru~ which is basically the same thing.  Clever perhaps?

 

 

I have to say, I can see how Square-Enix chose her to be the gal to sing the insert song for FFXIII.  Her voice is clean and very pretty given the right arrangement.  I do have to say that Destiny was probably the worst song off the mini-album, but I think it was first song issues.  Overall, it’s a nice presentation for Sayuri and I can’t wait to hear her next single.