THE AAA PIMP POST and my take on AAA :) (Part I)
PART I (Introduction and the Music)
Before the post...
Congratulations! You've reached the 987654321th (my exaggeration XD) version of AAA pimp post!
Much of the information might be repeated but I try to include as much information as I can, as well as some of my thoughts (cannot be duplicated, can it? =D). I must apologize that I do get kind of blabber-ish towards the end (lazy me XD). Please do not bash me if our opinions differ! If it so happen that I'm not too much of a fan of your favourite members/songs, please, NO HATE please! Likewise, I will not dislike you for hating my favourites :) Comments (if any) are, of course, very welcomed and loved. :)
Now, if you would let me start...
Oh wait.
DISCLAIMER: Information are from various sources, too many, I simply cannot remember >_< WARNING: LONG POST AHEAD! and be ready for the smileys spam as I tend to use A LOT of them XD
Ah, yes, now let me start...
THE GROUP
AAA (Attack All Around, pronounced triple A, トリプル・エー) is a 7-member coed J-pop group, consisting of 2 female members (Uno Misako and Ito Chiaki) and 5 male members (Nishijima Takahiro, Urata Naoya, Hidaka Mitsuhiro, Atae Shinjiro and Sueyoshi Shuta). The group was formed in year 2003 with the current 5 male members and Misako as the only female member. Two more girls (Ito Chiaki and Goto Yukari) joined the group later on and the 8-member group debuted in year 2005 with the single, BLOOD on FIRE. They received their first award, "Best New Artist" in the 47th Japan Records Awards in 2005. Yukari left the group in year 2007. In 2008, AAA received the "Dance Artist" award in Best Student Voice.
THE MUSIC
Most of AAA's music are upbeat (eurobeat/techno) but they do handle other genres like bubblegum pop, rock and ballad really well too. During the debut era of their music career (before the first album), they released a new single every month (call this high productivity! ^-^).
Amazingly enough, I was into J-pop since a young age (was as crazy over 4-member all-female group SPEED then as I am over AAA now) and yet, I did not notice the group until their fourth album >_< *fails*
I'm usually not a very techno/eurobeat kind of person. Perhaps one reason would be that I am into C-pop for almost the whole of my life and techno stuffs in C-pop are usually associated with the last generation =\ Yes, I did thought that I will not go into anything techno/eurobeat but hey, AAA got me! I don't know why and how but...oh wells, AAA's just so special and unique :) You can't help but go "I so want to learn how to dance", too, especially after watching their PVs and live performances ^-^
FIRST ALBUM: ATTACK
This is AAA's very first studio album, consisting of tracks from previous singles, BLOOD on FIRE, Friday Party, Kirei na Sora, and Dragon Fire. I must say, as the very first album of the group, this album is full of power and energy. My favourite tracks include Kirei na Sora, VIRGIN F and Bokura no Te.
TRACKLIST:
BLOOD on FIRE
Theme song for "Initial D Live Action Movie" when shown in Japan. I liked this song but felt it's kind of over-rated. No, I still love this song! :)
DRAGON FIRE
Ending theme for "Aichiteru".
Welcome to This World
Taiyou
Kirei na Sora
Ending theme for "TV Oja Manbou". I wasn't really a fan of this song at first but after listening to the 2nd AL version, I totally like this song!
Saikyou Babe
Boys only song. The rap in the middle of the song wins!
Get or Lose
Girls only song. No, not a fan of this song, I'm sorry ._.
Deai no Chikara
I was never an avid fan of the Deai no Chikara installments (since I'm not a fan of female-male duets in the first place) but I guess if I had to choose my favourite one, this HAS got to be the one :)
VIRGIN F
Say YAY to one of my favourite songs off the album. I especially like Chiaki and Yukari's parts "Yes it's so brand new brand new wind" XD
Friday Party
Theme song for "Super Urugusu".
Chikyuu ni Idakarete
TBQH, I'm not really familiar with this song? =X
Bokura no Te
Tied-in to AAA Stage Play, Theater of AAA~Bokura no Te~. Just look at the lyrics, especially the chorus, and you'll know why this song is loved :)
SECOND ALBUM: ALL
YES, this has got to be one of my favourite albums, just because it contains most of my favourite tracks! Most of the tracks aren't new ones, only the last two tracks are brand new but that doesn't mean the album's not worth it. NO, a definite NO. My favourite tracks include Hallelujah, Samurai Heart-Samurai Tamashii-, Champagne Gold, and Mikansei.
TRACKLIST:
Hallelujah
Theme Song for drama "Gachi Baka!”. JUST LOOK AT THE PV AND THE CHOREOGRAPHY! OMG!
Hurricane Riri, Boston Mari (Original Long version)
Theme song for drama "Shichinin no Onna Bengoshi” Season 1. I guess this has become one of the last songs to be performed during concerts. This song is FULL OF ENERGY! I especially like the version in 3rd AL :D
Let it beat!
Theme song for movie "Akihabara@ DEEP".
Samurai heart -Samurai Tamashii-
This is totally my favourite genre! I like dark songs, don't ask me why. The sounds of traditional instruments in the background makes the song a beauty (uhh…if you get what I mean >_<).
Chewing Gum
A duet between the group's two male main vocalists=PERFECT.
Soul Edge Boy
Boys only song.
Kimono Jet Girl
Girls only song.
"Q”
This song is hyper! XD
Champagne Gold
It's weird how I did not really like techno music and yet the most techno-ish song in the album has become one of my favourites off the album! XD
Winter lander!!
Shalala Kibou no Uta
Us
Mikansei
Yes, it's the lyrics, the lyrics!
THIRD ALBUM: AROUND
This album consists of more rockish and pop tunes, rather than the eurobeat stuffs AAA usually do. My favourite track includes Get CHU!, Kuchibiru Kara Romantica and Red Soul.
TRACKLIST:
Get CHU!
Aha, such a cute song you would not want to miss it ;)
SUNSHINE
Theme song for "Super Urugusu".
SHE no Jijitsu
Deai no Chikara II
Kuchibiru Kara Romantica
Theme song for drama "Delicious Gakuin". I like the very retro-ish feel of the song. It's not typically AAA but this song is still loved.
Red Soul
Paradise Paradise
Hanabi
First girls only ballad. Oh yes, I do like the harmonizing of the girls' voices :D
No End Summer
Boys only song. I like Hidaka's reggae-ish rap in the middle of the song.
Body Talker
That's Right
Insert song for drama "Delicious Gakuin". A good song to listen to when you feel like smashing something >_<
Saigo no Kotoba
Tied-in to the little drama featuring all members "Kagi no Aru Basho" included in the DVD of the album. On the first listen, I thought this was a boys-only ballad until I heard Misako towards the end of the song =X
FOURTH ALBUM: depArture
So after "ATTACK”, "ALL” and "AROUND” what would the next title be? Many thought that will a full stop to the group and this album title totally worried the fans (NOOO!!! Such a great group :( ). Thank goodness, it is just the title >_<|| Even though this album isn't really AAA's usual style (It's milder on the beat with more pop-ish tunes) I still quite like this album :) My favourite tracks include MUSIC!!!, Mosaic, and Tabidachi no Uta.
TRACKLIST:
-introduction-
TBH, I thought this introduction was quite redundant. OOPS. *runs to hide*
MUSIC!!!
YAY, I like this song because this is such a happy song and the transition from the chorus to Hidaka's rap to Misako's ballad and back to the original tempo is pure win ^-^
SAVE YOUR SOUL
Jamboree!!
Okays, so this is the first AAA song I stumbled upon (quite late, huh >_<) and I thought this song is SOOO happy! Makes you want to dance around. LOL.
Wonderful Girls
Boys only song.
Deai no chikara III
a piece of my word
Girls only ballad. This has got to be my all-time favourite girls ballad :)
ZERØ
Theme song for anime "World Destruction~Sekai Bokumetsu no Roku Nin~". Whoa, dark, rockish tunes are my favourites! I was really amazed by how fast Hidaka's tongue can go in the rap >_<
HORIZON
BEYOND~karada no kanata
I don't know, I never liked this song *runs to hide again*
Mosaic
Theme song for drama "Mirai Seiki Shakespeare” starring all members. I really like how the song opens and the last part where Naoya hits the high notes is my favourite part too :D
Hajimari no kiseki
A Shinjiro and Shuta 'cutesy' duet. Finally the least vocally-active members are singing! ^-^
Tabidachi no uta
This was the song (actually it was Nissy and Naoya's great vocals XD) that got me into AAA. I really like Chiaki's vocals in this one too.
FIFTH ALBUM: HEARTFUL
This album is strong on the beat, with FIELD as the only ballad in the album. This is also the very first album that actually doesn't end off with a ballad. Even though the whole album continues on the same tempo, I don't find the album boring at all (which usually does in albums that continues in the same tempo and I don't end up listening to the whole album >_<)! AND AND AND in this album, each and every member gets to sing in at least one song! ^-^ My favourite track includes Summer Revolution, As I am, ONE, Heart and Soul, and FIELD.
TRACKLIST:
♥ (Heartful)
This is more than just an instrumental introduction. The members are actually involved in it and this is the very first time that I actually liked an introduction to an album XD
Overdrive
My first thought about the song was that the tempo and beat of the song is crazy (in a postive way). LOL.
Break Down
Theme song of drama "Teioh". On the first listen, Misako's constant "Break break break break break down" annoys me but this song has definitely grown on me :)
Brand New World
Naoya x Chiaki x Shinjiro x Hidaka.
Rising Sun
Nissy x Misako x Shuta. Nissy's "Fly high" always cracks me up XD
Summer Revolution
Girls only song. This is definitely my favourite girls only song :)
As I am
Theme song for "Rendezvous!". Misako's very first solo and vocally strong :D
ONE
Misako x Chiaki x Shuta x Shinjiro. THIS. IS MY FAVOURITE TRACK OFF THE ALBUM!!! Shuta x Shinjiro rap and Misako x Chiaki chorus is <3
Get It On
Boys only song. Is it just me or the verses feels very Arashi-ish? =X The piano in the introduction is nice though :)
Heart and Soul
The beat of the song is like pumping all the way. Checking the play count of the album, this song has the highest play count. This goes to tell how much I love this song XD
Believe own way
Boys only song.
FIELD
The only ballad off the album. This song is just so…beautiful :D
Metamorphose
Hide-away
Ending theme for anime "Inuyasha: The Final Act".
OTHER MUSIC RELEASES
SINGLES COMPILATION: ATTACK ALL AROUND
TRACKLIST:
(includes all previously released singles)
Climax Jump
Theme song for "Kamen Rider Den-O". Released under the name AAA Den-O Form.
Izayuke Wakataka Gundan 2007
MIRAGE
Was in the first episode of "Kamen Rider Kiva". This song has an Arabian feel to it :)
OTHERS
Remix albums:
REMIX ATTACK
AAA REMIX~non-stop all singles~
Cover album:
CCC-Challenge Cover Collection-
My favourite's got to be the Crazy Gonna Crazy cover (Hidaka x Chiaki rap wins!)
Mini albums:
ALL/2 (ni bun no ALL)
alohAAA!
CHOICE IS YOURS
Boys only album.
THE CONCERTS
1st Attack at Shibuya-Ax
2nd Attack at Zepp Tokyo
1st Anniversary Live - 3rd Attack 060913 at Budokan
4th Attack at Shibuya: Ax on 4th of April
AAA 2nd Anniversary Live: 5th Attack 070922 Nippon Budokan
Highlights: The unplugged section in the middle of the concert :)
AAA Tour 2008: Attack All Around
AAA 3rd Anniversary Live 080922-080923 Nippon Budokan
Highlights: Hurricane Riri, Boston Mari performance and the speeches before Mikansei.
AAA Tour 2009 - A depArture pArty
AAA 4th Anniversary Live 090922 at Yokohama Arena
This is my favourite live performances of theirs up-to-date as this is one where their singing is almost perfect :)
FUTURE RELEASE
COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED :)
THE AAA PIMP POST and my take on AAA :) (Part II)