You Kikkawa – One for YOU! January 22, 2012

Track Listing

1. ~Ignition~
2. Konna Watashi de Yokattara
3. Sweetie
4. Kikkake wa YOU!
5. Knight Flight
6. Time to zone
7. Aitaku Nattara
8. Mizuiro
9. Hirahira Hoshi
10. Sayonara Namida
11. Arinomama no I LOVE YOU!
12. Hapirapi ~Sunrise~
13. Haka no Naka no Blue
14. Make YOU!

1. ~Ignition~

Yuu’s debut album begins with an interesting introduction.  It first opens with typing on a keyboard before getting into this dance-pop arrangement which is kind of unusual (well for her at least).  Pretty short here.

2. Konna Watashi de Yokattara

Which is kind of left field to see that Yuu’s 3rd A-side follows the intro…doesn’t make too much sense.  I’m still loving this song a lot since it wasn’t like her previous releases but it’s more energetic and had a lot more fun written in it.  Plus, her vocals sound really good in the song which is great!  Yeah, you can tell it’s a great song!

3. Sweetie

A couple of B-sides also made the album’s cut as well.  The first is one from “Hapirapi ~Sunrise~ and Sweetie amps up on the cute quite strongly by being a bit more synthy and cute than the last song.  Also, her vocals are a bit more higher and tighter.  I love the faster arrangement and Yuu in the chorus is really good since she sings out and louder than normal…It’s definitely grown on me since the single so it’s a good thing for sure!

4. Kikkake wa YOU!

Then we move into Yuu’s debut A-side and nowadays, I’m kind of turned off by it for some reason.  I mean it does sound a bit like her idol days, but moreso.  I did like the use of acoustic guitar in the melody, but there’s something about the song that just seems so…bland.  I use to really enjoy it when she began her career, but since then has been surpassed by MOST of her other songs.

5. Knight Flight

When I saw this title, I immediately thought of Perfume’s “NIGHT FLIGHT”…yeah play on words but whatever, it’s still hard not to think of that haha.  As it’s the first new song on the album (sans the intro), Knight Flight is oddly enough a ballad which surprised me a lot since I was expecting something edgy.  Still, it shows off Yuu’s vocals nicely and she sang the song well (maybe a little pitchy on the high notes in the chorus) but I kind of dug this song. 

6. Time to zone

Ahhhh, hearing acoustic guitar once again is really nice to hear and even better that it’s kind of like “Konna Watashi de Yokattara” with the whole happy and upbeat style.  Yuu still kind of squeaks in various areas in the song but she gave it her all in this song and you get this feeling of you know she’s having fun with this tune.  I liked it!

7. Aitaku Nattara

Another ballad?  Kind of makes flow between this and “Knight Flight” seem so unneeded to be honest.  Aitaku Nattara does have a little more going for it because there’s more in the instrumentation here like drums and acoustic guitar.  Also her deeper tone actually makes the song a little better as well and she sounds light and fluffy.  It does kind of sound like your usual J-Drama ending song…but Yuu did it very well.

8. Mizuiro

One of the songs I wasn’t looking forward to hearing again is another B-side from “Hapirapi ~Sunrise~.  It kind of represents Yuu’s interest in pop/rock like SID and Buono! which is a little weird to compare but it’s definitely more towards the latter.  I don’t know why but it felt a little bland for me and kind of didn’t spark any interest.  I would’ve happily replaced this with “Fuyuzora Hanabi” at least!

9. Hirahira Hoshi

She’s just not sticking to any solid style for this album and I’m enjoying it so far!  Hirahira Hoshi really stands out on the album because it’s more electro than anything on the album which is great.  I’m surprised Yuu is under a lot of different filters, but it kind of works because you can hear a computerized voice mixed in with natural…it’s quite enticing!  It’s probably my favorite of the new songs on the album!

10. Sayonara Namida

As her first song announced when she became a soloist, Sayonara Namida is surprisingly growing on me for some reason even though it still sounds rather meh at different spots.  I will say the main reason I loved the song was initially from Yuu’s great, deep vocals.  It just made me wish her solo days was going utilize this A LOT more (though I was wrong).  Probably should’ve been the A-side in the first place…not “Kikkake wa YOU!” >.>

11. Arinomama no I LOVE YOU!

I’m loving the fact that “LOVE YOU FOREVER” got replaced by another strong R&B song.  It’s a style that I’m not used to from Yuu but once again lets us hear her deeper vocals sing and I just kind of loving it!  I still hear a little bit of Gocchin in her tone as well which adds to my excitement of the song!  I really liked it!

12. Hapirapi ~Sunrise~

After the low-key and relaxing last track, Hapirapi kind of just bum rushes you back into the peppy and fun sound from Yuu.  As it was her second A-side, I also kind of grew out of the song (especially on this album) since it doesn’t have the best vocals and it kind of reminds me of other songs.  At least the chorus is kind of cute right? 

13. Haka no Naka no Blue

Then we get back into Yuu’s rock style and I MUCH prefer this over “Mizuiro” that’s for sure.  It has a bit more bite to it and Yuu is sounding pretty badass and kind of sexy in a way 0.o  It does remind me of certain anime themes which is good.  I will say that she continues to surprise me with the assortment of genres she’s pulling but I have to say this was another great song from her!

14. Make YOU!

As we hit the end of the album, we get our final track and it actually fits even though it’s actually upbeat.  I know it reminds me of something but I don’t even know what that is.  It’s quite a good song, not so much like the others but it’s able to keep me interested and Yuu is doing a good job with it! 

Tracks Recommended

• Hirahira Hoshi
• Konna Watashi de Yokattara
• Sayonara Namida
• Haka no Naka no Blue
• Arinomama no I LOVE YOU!

Song of Avoidance

• Mizuiro

I’m surprised at Yuu’s debut album went.  I was expecting it to be a little more mediocre considering some of her single songs…but DAMN this album actually is a good start.  Besides the odd introduction and Kikkake wa YOU!, Hapirapi, and Mizuiro…this album was GREAT!  Not many faults to it and Yuu sounds strong in most of the songs as well.  Hopefully her second era will continue to impress me like this album did!

You Kikkawa – Konna Watashi de Yokattara December 31, 2011

Track Listing

1. Konna Watashi de Yokattara
2. Early Snow
3. Konna Watashi de Yokattara (REMIX) (Regular Edition only)
4. Konna Watashi de Yokattara (Instrumental)
5. Early Snow (Instrumental)

1. Konna Watashi de Yokattara

I kind of like the direction she took with Konna Watashi de Yokattara actually since the song feels different and not so much an idol song unlike the previous two A-sides she’s had.  I’m also loving the electro beat she’s pulling off in the chorus since it gives a song a different color and such.  I might have said that “Hapirapi ~Sunrise~” was good but this blows it out of the water. 

2. Early Snow

Of course we’re going to get a winter ballad from Yuu since it’s that time of the season.  Her vocals are rather sweet and soft to listen to and it justs flows smoohly along the arrangement which the typical fare of strings, piano, acoustic guitar, and jingle bells.  To people this might come off as a little bland and disappointing considering the last single had good ballads.  Just a little underwhelming but at least she sounds good for ballads.

3. Konna Watashi de Yokattara (REMIX)

As with each single she’s released we get a remix of the A-side.  Considering it feels like it’s a club mix since it has a long intro before the actual song kicks in.  I will say I’m surprised that used ~dance~ so much in this remix…but when Yuu is actually singing, the remix is great making it more electro and heavy.  I just wish there was a little more to it and didn’t rely on the damn repetition!

 

 

I’m surprised this single was pretty simple where there wasn’t a bunch of different editions!  Konna Watashi de Yokattara is her best A-side and shows a lot of hope for our ex H!P Egg.  I think she could do more danceable songs since I think it suits her (but at least let her sound like a singer and less of an idol).  Early Snow is B-side throwaway simply because it’s just plain and white.  The remix could’ve been handled a lot better but the actual song was SOOO good luckily.

You Kikkawa – Hapirapi ~Sunrise~ October 25, 2011

Track Listing

1. Hapirapi ~Sunrise~
2. Hapirapi ~Sunrise~ Remix (Limited A & Regular only)
3. LOVE YOU FOREVER (Limited B only)
4. Mizuiro (Limited C only)
5. Sweetie (Limited D only)
6. Hapirapi ~Sunrise~ (Instrumental)
7. LOVE YOU FOREVER (Instrumental)
8. Mizuiro (Instrumental)
9. Sweetie (Instrumental)

1. Hapirapi ~Sunrise~

It’s funny I must say that Yuu’s second A-side really sends idol beams towards me.  Hapirapi really has this cutesy synth-pop/anime kind of sound this time around and since Yuu’s vocals are a little more tighter as well, it just kind of surprises me.  It doesn’t seem like she moved anywhere but I kind of like Yuu’s vocals a bit more here than in “Kikkake wa YOU!”.  It’s a slight upgrade as the 2nd A-side.

2. Hapirapi ~Sunrise~ Remix

I wonder if we have the same remixer here that remixed “Kikkake wa YOU!”.  Just like the remix on Yuu’s debut, Hapirapi is clearly given an electro touch-up that includes a butt-ton of synths and auto-tune on the vocals to fit the atmosphere.  I kind of enjoyed this a little bit more than the previous remix as well even though they have the same issues like a bit too much editing and a bit long.  Still not bad here!

3. LOVE YOU FOREVER

Who knew Yuu was going to do an R&B-styled kind of song as one of the B-sides?  LOVE YOU FOREVER is kind of interesting because it’s something different for her and yet it makes me smile because it shows a little more variation for Yuu.  In some points, Yuu’s vocals remind me of Gocchin’s vocals which is awesome in its own right.  I actually enjoyed this a bit more than the A-side and this does a great job of making her stand out vocally IMO.

4. Mizuiro

Continuing to show even more variation, Mizuiro is more energetic with a great guitar-fronted arrangement but retaining a little bit of cute (almost Buono! actually).  As much as that initially excited me, Mizuiro becomes rather plain and bland after a while and not even Yuu’s vocals could really save it.  It just kind of blows on by unfortunately.

5. Sweetie

Closing the single out is Sweetie which is once again something that Yuu can actually pull off with ease.  Though I have to say that since it’s more synth-pop than “Hapirapi”, I’d say she pulled this song slightly better than it but it’s definitely no “Fuyuzora Hanabi”.  I must say that since she went solo, this song is definitely the closest to her cute songs that she participated in while she was under H!P.  It’s pretty good though.

 

 

Yuu’s second single is pretty nice but I’m not sure as a package if it ranks better than “Kikkake wa YOU!”.  I know she used to be an idol and all but since she’s on UNIVERSAL-J, you’d think they’d pull her away from that atmosphere but I guess not since Hapirapi shows more idolness (and so does Sweetie for that matter).  The remix was alright even though it’s the same remixer who did her debut A-side’s remix as well.  Mizuiro shows potential for Yuu to do something rock-wise and that’s cool but I think LOVE YOU FOREVER did the best job conveying a perfect show of how mature Yuu can sound in the future and I hope she goes that direction in the future!

You Kikkawa – Kikkake wa YOU! May 13, 2011

Track Listing

1. Kikkake wa YOU!
2. Sayonara Namida (Limited A only)
3. Candy Pop (Limited B only)
4. Fuyuzora Hanabi (Limited C only)
5. Kikkake wa YOU! (REMIX) (Regular only)
6. Kikkake wa YOU! (Instrumental)
7. Sayonara Namida (Instrumental)
8. Candy Pop (Instrumental)
9. Fuyuzora Hanabi (Instrumental)

1. Kikkake wa YOU!

For someone that just graduated from being an Hello! Pro Egg, Yuu (I’m not sure why the odd writing but whatever, same kanji just purposely written differently) begins her solo with an actual interesting pop song that does cater to her fans that knew her in her idol days.  It’s a cutesy song for sure, but not like when she was in MilkyWay which oddly enough she was the best singer in the group.  It’s catchy and shows off her cute side well here.

2. Sayonara Namida

So four versions of the single was released all featuring a different B-side than the other.  Starting logicially with Version A, Sayonara Namida is kind of interesting being a ballad for Yuu.  I’m not sure why but I actually enjoyed this song since it showcased Yuu’s vocals a lot more appropriately that “Kikkake wa YOU!” did.  They’re much deeper than I remembered and if she keeps this up she could prolly move past her idol days in this fashion (let’s hope she doesn’t get uberly dolled up). 

3. Candy Pop

Of the songs on the single, I kind of liked this one the most since it’s a little more edgier than the songs (sans the remix).  The arrangement is also a little bit of a change, turning it into more of a pop/rock track but audibly keeps Yuu’s deeper vocals present.  It’s good, but yeah there’s a slight staleness to it that might bore some people, but I think after a while it gets a bit better…

4. Fuyuzora Hanabi

Then there’s Fuyuzora Hanabi which is a bit more interesting and oddly enough strangely likeable about it.  It’s not totally a dance track but it has the makings to possibly take place as one if it was faster.  I don’t know why her vocals in this song remind me of Gocchin’s but it’s a nice surprise and ok, this bypasses “Candy Pop” as best track on the single.  It’s impressive.

5. Kikkake wa YOU! (REMIX)

I found it cool that there was a remix to the A-side present for the single but it’s so weird, especially the beginning because it has a lot of cutting and pasting parts that it’s a little strange for sure and kind of annoying.  At least once it actually gets into it, Yuu’s under a lot of auto-tune and while I kind of found it cool, the song is a little too long-winded but it’s got a good groove to it for sure…hmmm

Yuu’s debut single is actually not that bad surprisingly.  While she isn’t been produced by H!P (she’s on UNIVERSAL-J), her idol status might be coming to an end, but I can see her becoming quite a powerhouse given the right producers…she has a lot of promise ^_^