Lotus, etc
So melodyofmysoul posted a breakdown of what she thought of Lotus, the PV, and the b-sides. It was really interesting, so I decided to copy her and also make my opinions. BTW, feel free to completely disagree with me about it, I won't think any less of you for it, and I hope you'll not hate my for my opinions either.
Beware much music geekery ahead.
Lotus: I really, really like this song. There are moments that I don't totally love, but as a whole I honestly love it. I loved it from the previews even, and it hasn't disappointed me at all. I love how it keeps you constantly on your toes, and you never know where the melody will go next. There are a lot of interesting key changes all over the place, as well as modulations or random out-of-scale chords, but it walks the fine line and manages to stay coherent as a musical whole. A lot of time when you play with tonality like that, you lose focus and the overall effect is chaotic or scattered. Not so here- it keeps you interested but it's put-together enough that it can get stuck in your head after only one or two listens.
One thing: Ohno/Nino are not singing those high notes. Take my word for it. They might do it when they're live (I'll have to see a performance before I believe they can pull it off), but they're not the ones on the recording. I might just barely, barely buy that Nino is singing them (both of them), but Ohno's voice is too rich and full to sound as thin as that does. It's Nino. It's Nino both times. I think the reason why I was so skeptical about it at first was because when you see Ohno lipsync this, it's just not even remotely believable. If you listen to the two high notes one after the other you'll see that they used the same one twice- they just copied it over later. More on that when I get up to my PV review.
For reference, Lotus (audio only) since I don't know if my non-fan friends will read this or not. The link broke, but the PV link (below) still works so you can listen there.
Ever: I found the overall feel for this song very similar to a lot of other songs that Arashi has done. And not particularly worse or better than any of them. Its a ballad, with gentle low parts and soulful high parts, and they use a lot of melodic fragments and general elements that they've used before. My feeling here is "oh nothing new". It's a nice song, don't get me wrong, but on the first one or two listens I actually found myself pausing it to do something else in the middle. I don't want to say I was bored, but I wasn't captivated. Tonally it does have it's interesting moments, it's not quite as creative in terms of modulations as Lotus, but it's also in a major key throughout, so it's a different story. Lotus blurs the major/minor line a lot, this one sticks solidly in "encouraging major". The introduction and end and bridge parts were kind of uninspired, but overall it's a pleasant song.
Ever
Boom Boom: This one I'm conflicted about. The song itself I really like, it's got a chilled out melody that I enjoy, great harmonies, minor without being dark, and the beat is also laid back, not too rushed, like it knows it can hold your attention without sounding too frantic. My main complaint here is the effects. I HATE the autotune thing. And the over-produced effects that you get- I mean, Sho is barely recognizable during his Sakurap! The only way you do know it's him is because he's the only one who sings Sakurap. I just don't like the sound of super-autotune. It makes it sound like robots are singing instead of people. Now don't get me wrong, I thing autotune can be a useful tool, when someone is slightly off (or very off, heh) and doesn't want to rerecord the entire song. But the point of it is to hide it. Are you trying to make it sound like Arashi can't sing, and the only reason they sound good is autotune? Because that's not true, and that's just insulting them in my eyes. So that grates on me. But I like the song itself enough to overlook that. Also, the thing in the song that impressed me the most was actually Nino's high note, not one of Ohno's. I like his high notes too, but listen at around 3.10 in the song, I really love that. Of all three, this one is the one I'll most likely end up having on repeat for the longest (although Lotus fights hard for that spot), because I really feel like I want to get up and groove to this.
Boom Boom
General impression of the whole thing: I really do like the overall balance of the whole thing- one really intense, fast-paced song to bring up your heart rate (in more way than one if you watch the PV), one sweet slow ballad to calm you down, and one laid back, cool feeling song. That I am listening to as I type this and I have to remind myself that it's inappropriate to get up and dance in an office...
~
Lotus PV: Ahhhhh the PV. Hm. Well you already know what I think of the song, so I'm going to talk about the visuals.
So first off, before I say anything that might be negative let me start with this: They are GORGEOUS in this PV. All of them. Like "ohmygod fanning myself" and "faint just thinking about it" gorgeous. Like, incredible. OMG. (also all wearing amusingly tight pants, except Aiba. Especially Ohno, OMG.)
Now to be honest, this PV may end up as a picspam, and if so it'll probably be of the "making relentless fun of it" variety. SORRY DON'T KILL ME PLEASE DON'T KILL ME *hides in corner*
I just think it's kind of melodramatic. It doesn't need to be, the song is incredible and it just doesn't need the level of "I'm taking myself seriously" that it actually has. It's kind of like Aiba's sucking-his-cheeks face, it's just trying a little too hard.
The choreography I really liked, except for the beginning where they all surround Aiba like he's some kind of God (ok, he might actually be one, but still). It's mature looking and very put-together. And sexy, of course. Always sexy. The only thing is, I'm worried that in concerts it'll be no fun, because it's so serious. I am really glad that they genuinely made Aiba the center of attention though, everyone else has had at least one PV that really focuses on them, it's about time! (I do NOT count My Girl as focusing on Aiba. I just don't.)
The costumes: Generally smexy, again with the tight pants, also with the white. Aiba is wearing what looks like a chef's coat. That part I don't understand. But he's Aiba, so of course he pulls it off in unparalleled style.
Ohno and Nino lipsyncing those ridiculously high notes: This is the first point that I burst out laughing. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, this was just too amusing to be taken seriously, just don't even fake it, ok? It wouldn't be the first time they ignore the background vocals in a song. This, for me, ranks nearly on par on the ridiculous scale as those very-obviously-not-Arashi people singing the end of A.RA.SHI, which they do Every. Single. Time. But, in that case it's almost like a running joke- we know it's not them, they know that we know, but what the hell we're doing it anyway.
Arashi standing mournfully/introspectively in those fake-house rooms, fine. They've got all sorts of close ups in their other PV's, this isn't out of the ordinary. Also, pretty. Arashi standing doubled in those fake-house rooms, singing soulfully to their own copy of themselves, oh god I can't take this seriously. Seriously? No, just no. (GIF is mine)
Arashi standing in front of those trees (are those lotus flowers? Sakura? I don't know, I don't really care that much). SO PRETTY. See, that's artistic. Not incredibly creative, but artistic. Without being just plain weird.
Overall impression: it might grow on me, due to the excessive amounts of pretty, tight pants, great dancing, and great song. I might one day look back at this post and be mad at my earlier self for being so critical. But right now it's hard for me to keep a straight face watching it.
Lotus PV
Ok, that's it for my PV review, let the flaming begin!
~
Edit: Oh, one more thing before I forget! I know everyone loves Ano hi no Christmas, but please please please tell me that I'm not the only one who thinks it sounds like it should be the opening theme song of a 90's family sitcom? Please? Like the warm but semi-dysfunctional family with the "zany neighbors" and "wacky friends" and getting into situations that always end up resolved in some amusing-yet-heartwarming and maybe slightly preachy way? I can't even really listen to that song because that's all I can hear!
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO LANZ, TSOSIE, and EMU (if you read this): The beginning of Lotus sounds like the intro to a MBC song from when we were little and I can't remember which, help me out! Lotus is much better but it's driving me crazy!
לא ישא גוי!!!!!!!
Beware much music geekery ahead.
Lotus: I really, really like this song. There are moments that I don't totally love, but as a whole I honestly love it. I loved it from the previews even, and it hasn't disappointed me at all. I love how it keeps you constantly on your toes, and you never know where the melody will go next. There are a lot of interesting key changes all over the place, as well as modulations or random out-of-scale chords, but it walks the fine line and manages to stay coherent as a musical whole. A lot of time when you play with tonality like that, you lose focus and the overall effect is chaotic or scattered. Not so here- it keeps you interested but it's put-together enough that it can get stuck in your head after only one or two listens.
One thing: Ohno/Nino are not singing those high notes. Take my word for it. They might do it when they're live (I'll have to see a performance before I believe they can pull it off), but they're not the ones on the recording. I might just barely, barely buy that Nino is singing them (both of them), but Ohno's voice is too rich and full to sound as thin as that does. It's Nino. It's Nino both times. I think the reason why I was so skeptical about it at first was because when you see Ohno lipsync this, it's just not even remotely believable. If you listen to the two high notes one after the other you'll see that they used the same one twice- they just copied it over later. More on that when I get up to my PV review.
For reference, Lotus (audio only) since I don't know if my non-fan friends will read this or not. The link broke, but the PV link (below) still works so you can listen there.
Ever: I found the overall feel for this song very similar to a lot of other songs that Arashi has done. And not particularly worse or better than any of them. Its a ballad, with gentle low parts and soulful high parts, and they use a lot of melodic fragments and general elements that they've used before. My feeling here is "oh nothing new". It's a nice song, don't get me wrong, but on the first one or two listens I actually found myself pausing it to do something else in the middle. I don't want to say I was bored, but I wasn't captivated. Tonally it does have it's interesting moments, it's not quite as creative in terms of modulations as Lotus, but it's also in a major key throughout, so it's a different story. Lotus blurs the major/minor line a lot, this one sticks solidly in "encouraging major". The introduction and end and bridge parts were kind of uninspired, but overall it's a pleasant song.
Ever
Boom Boom: This one I'm conflicted about. The song itself I really like, it's got a chilled out melody that I enjoy, great harmonies, minor without being dark, and the beat is also laid back, not too rushed, like it knows it can hold your attention without sounding too frantic. My main complaint here is the effects. I HATE the autotune thing. And the over-produced effects that you get- I mean, Sho is barely recognizable during his Sakurap! The only way you do know it's him is because he's the only one who sings Sakurap. I just don't like the sound of super-autotune. It makes it sound like robots are singing instead of people. Now don't get me wrong, I thing autotune can be a useful tool, when someone is slightly off (or very off, heh) and doesn't want to rerecord the entire song. But the point of it is to hide it. Are you trying to make it sound like Arashi can't sing, and the only reason they sound good is autotune? Because that's not true, and that's just insulting them in my eyes. So that grates on me. But I like the song itself enough to overlook that. Also, the thing in the song that impressed me the most was actually Nino's high note, not one of Ohno's. I like his high notes too, but listen at around 3.10 in the song, I really love that. Of all three, this one is the one I'll most likely end up having on repeat for the longest (although Lotus fights hard for that spot), because I really feel like I want to get up and groove to this.
Boom Boom
General impression of the whole thing: I really do like the overall balance of the whole thing- one really intense, fast-paced song to bring up your heart rate (in more way than one if you watch the PV), one sweet slow ballad to calm you down, and one laid back, cool feeling song. That I am listening to as I type this and I have to remind myself that it's inappropriate to get up and dance in an office...
~
Lotus PV: Ahhhhh the PV. Hm. Well you already know what I think of the song, so I'm going to talk about the visuals.
So first off, before I say anything that might be negative let me start with this: They are GORGEOUS in this PV. All of them. Like "ohmygod fanning myself" and "faint just thinking about it" gorgeous. Like, incredible. OMG. (also all wearing amusingly tight pants, except Aiba. Especially Ohno, OMG.)
Now to be honest, this PV may end up as a picspam, and if so it'll probably be of the "making relentless fun of it" variety. SORRY DON'T KILL ME PLEASE DON'T KILL ME *hides in corner*
I just think it's kind of melodramatic. It doesn't need to be, the song is incredible and it just doesn't need the level of "I'm taking myself seriously" that it actually has. It's kind of like Aiba's sucking-his-cheeks face, it's just trying a little too hard.
The choreography I really liked, except for the beginning where they all surround Aiba like he's some kind of God (ok, he might actually be one, but still). It's mature looking and very put-together. And sexy, of course. Always sexy. The only thing is, I'm worried that in concerts it'll be no fun, because it's so serious. I am really glad that they genuinely made Aiba the center of attention though, everyone else has had at least one PV that really focuses on them, it's about time! (I do NOT count My Girl as focusing on Aiba. I just don't.)
The costumes: Generally smexy, again with the tight pants, also with the white. Aiba is wearing what looks like a chef's coat. That part I don't understand. But he's Aiba, so of course he pulls it off in unparalleled style.
Ohno and Nino lipsyncing those ridiculously high notes: This is the first point that I burst out laughing. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, this was just too amusing to be taken seriously, just don't even fake it, ok? It wouldn't be the first time they ignore the background vocals in a song. This, for me, ranks nearly on par on the ridiculous scale as those very-obviously-not-Arashi people singing the end of A.RA.SHI, which they do Every. Single. Time. But, in that case it's almost like a running joke- we know it's not them, they know that we know, but what the hell we're doing it anyway.
Arashi standing mournfully/introspectively in those fake-house rooms, fine. They've got all sorts of close ups in their other PV's, this isn't out of the ordinary. Also, pretty. Arashi standing doubled in those fake-house rooms, singing soulfully to their own copy of themselves, oh god I can't take this seriously. Seriously? No, just no. (GIF is mine)
Arashi standing in front of those trees (are those lotus flowers? Sakura? I don't know, I don't really care that much). SO PRETTY. See, that's artistic. Not incredibly creative, but artistic. Without being just plain weird.
Overall impression: it might grow on me, due to the excessive amounts of pretty, tight pants, great dancing, and great song. I might one day look back at this post and be mad at my earlier self for being so critical. But right now it's hard for me to keep a straight face watching it.
Lotus PV
Ok, that's it for my PV review, let the flaming begin!
~
Edit: Oh, one more thing before I forget! I know everyone loves Ano hi no Christmas, but please please please tell me that I'm not the only one who thinks it sounds like it should be the opening theme song of a 90's family sitcom? Please? Like the warm but semi-dysfunctional family with the "zany neighbors" and "wacky friends" and getting into situations that always end up resolved in some amusing-yet-heartwarming and maybe slightly preachy way? I can't even really listen to that song because that's all I can hear!
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO LANZ, TSOSIE, and EMU (if you read this): The beginning of Lotus sounds like the intro to a MBC song from when we were little and I can't remember which, help me out! Lotus is much better but it's driving me crazy!
לא ישא גוי!!!!!!!