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Ripples...
+ Learn Some Japanese
Reviews,,,
Here you will find a few opinions/overviews of an anime/jpop concerts (or CDs) that either myself or a friend viewed. Hopefully, you'll get a better idea of these shows after reading these.
Valenti
Written by Meg-chan
Title: Valenti
Artist: Kwon BoA
Distributor: avex trax (Alion bootleg was reviewed)
Composers: Kazuhiro Hara, Kosuke Monimoto, Dansyu Goya, Mitsuyaki Miyuki, face2FAKE, Ken Matsubara, Ken Harada, BOUNCEBACK, AKIRA, Ziggy
Lyricists: Chinfa Kang, Natsumi Watanabe, Kenn Kato, Narumi Yamamoto, Emi K. Lynn, BoA, Ryoji Sonoda, Shoko Fujibayashi
Type: Album
Tracks: 12
Version Reviewed: Bootleg
Grade: 95% (A)
If I'm not purchasing dozens of releases of Ayumi Hamasaki, you know that I am spending my earnings wisely. Usually my collection consists of Gackt, Dir en Grey, Do As Infinity, and of course, BoA. "Valenti" is most definitely a genius piece of work, and although BoA rarely writes her own lyrics, and never composes her own work, the beauty and talent her voice contains makes up for her lacking in other areas. Honestly, hearing her hit note after note of pure perfection amaze me, especially as she is the young age of sixteen. Her abilities make her a worthy applicant for my purchasing.
The first track explodes into a poppy beat, with a chorus of people whoaing, and with BoA singing up and down the scale, and she suddenly bursts into the first verse. Her style is generally bubblegum pop music, but it works for her. I wouldn't have it any other way. Her young and vibrant voice make her music what it is, and I can't imagine her singing in any other genre. "VALENTI" is a fast-paced piece that graces your ears and then refuses to leave them. Although not terribly original, it is impressive and fun to listen to.
"JEWEWL SONG", one of BoA's slower and more emotional pieces, reached down to my heart and touched it the first time I heard it. BoA's clear voice sings the first verse, and then grows into the emotional chorus that pulls you into her world of happiness and bliss. You can sense the smile gracing her face as she sings the lyrics, reaching to you and finally releasing you, journeying back into the second verse and finally throwing you into the finale of beauty and sadness replaced by happiness. Without a doubt, "JEWEL SONG" is one of the greater pieces of this album.
The third track, "B.I.O." begins with abrupt and fast sound effects, with BoA singing the choppy first verse. Pure pop fill your senses and you are absorbed into the simple beauty of BoA's music. "B.I.O." succeeds in taking you nowhere fast, but entertains you and holds your attention with its danceable beat. When listening to this, I can easily switch BoA's voice with Britney Spears's, and it would sound about the same.
Wow, it really makes you feel sucky when you pride yourself in listening to Japanese pop music, and you can't even decipher the kanji on the case portraying the title. Honestly, the only characters I can translate in this title are "no" and "de", and it pains me not to know the name of what I'm addressing. However, we can get by with simply calling this piece "Number Five on Valenti." (Embarrassment.) As of this moment, I have no internet access or else I would check online for a tracklist. Alas, I must instead make a fool of myself.
Anyway. This piece is a medium-paced ballad, a simple tune that sooths your ears but rarely does anything else. Although a beautiful melody, I have heard many other masterpieces by BoA that by far surpass this unknown title.
Perhaps one of my favorite songs by Kwon BoA ever released is the miracle in fact called "Kiseki". I first heard it on the commercial advertising the release of its single, and was hooked instantly. Beginning with a mystic and perhaps tribal beat, it melds into an exciting romp of love and magic. Absolute dedication and splendor are what BoA delivers with this segment, and did not disappoint me in the least.
I've never been much for rap or hip-hop music, but BoA seems quite interested in the genre (or at least her composers are.) More often than not are there little rap snippets during her songs, which usually work well for her benefit. "WINDING ROAD" is no exception, although I must say I'd rather hear BoA's absolutely beautiful and devoted voice alone instead of accompanied by this guest rapper, DABO. "WINDING ROAD" is a gorgeous piece, and made my heart skip a beat the first time I heard it. The verses are simple but lovely, and compliment the explosive chorus exceptionally well.
The familiar poppy sound effects present in many BoA songs immediately grace our ears with the seventh track, "Searching for truth." Call me a sucker for those old-fashioned, overdone beats of pure bubblegum pop, but I love this song. It puts a smile of pure contentment on my face, and I honestly could listen to it all day. The verses are abrupt and fast, jumping all over the musical scale, and the chorus is a more legato jumble of notes, creating the perfect chemistry for an absolute masterpiece.
BoA possesses a vocal talent that allows her to travel both soprano and alto territories without crashing at all, and she displays these skills beautifully with "Moon & Sunshine". Although the first verse leads you to misjudge the song at first, you are grabbed and pulled in by the faultless supremacy that she creates. "Moon & Sunshine" is a relatively slow ballad but does not lack anything that other faster songs possess.
"Discovery" begins softly, fading in with a sparkle and a moderately fast-paced beat. Various instruments meld together until BoA begins to sing, sounding determined and growing stronger, gesturing you closer, until the chorus when she completely absorbs you and the song turns into a almost angst-filled piece. She sounds as if she is frustrated about something, and gives it an almost Latin or perhaps Indian style.
The sparkling noise is quite overdone in "Valenti". "flower" opens with yet another chime of triangles, and BoA begins a half-rap bit and continues by singing a primitive melody that really takes you nowhere. The notes turn staccato here and there, but "flower" really doesn't impress me. It is catchy, and it is danceable, but it accomplishes nothing by remaining within the confinements of BoA's stereotypical previous hits.
As I listen to "BESIDE YOU", and attempt to find a characteristic that sets it apart from the other titles on "Valenti", I am unable to. I am entertained by it, am impressed by it, but nothing more than that. "BESIDE YOU" is a typical pop song that holds your attention for a few minutes, but requires no second listens.
"feel the same" opens with BoA using a smaller, more childlike voice than usual. It sounds as if she's going for a cuter style, or perhaps a more innocent appearance. Whatever the case, it succeeds in sounding purer. It's a simple love song, but for some reason holds my attention. There is no other word to describe "feel the same" besides calling it "cute."
The "bonus track", if you will, was nonexistent on my copy of "Valenti". Perhaps it was a mistake on the bootlegging company's part, but for whatever reason it did not appear. Hopefully this was not the case on authentic avex trax versions of the disk.
Luckily, I have heard "No. 1" and am able to review it. Appearing on the "Kiseki" single, "No. 1" graced my ears and rose to my top-five BoA favorites. My absolute favorite part is when at the conclusion of the piece, a tiny BoA exclaims, "you still my number one!" That has to be the cutest thing I've ever heard.
"Valenti", although hardly original and almost predictable, holds a special place in my heart. BoA never ceases to charm me, and while I enjoy listening to loud and angry Dir en Grey, or angsty Hamasaki Ayumi, I am still able to say that one of my favorite Jpop/Kpop singers is Kwon BoA. An innocent bit of talent can and has made a difference in some people's lives.