It�s Showtime!! 3.26.2003, BMCV-5001 Vermillion Records 1. IT'S SHOWTIME!! 2. New Message

B�z 33rd single continues their tradition of simply great music. There is no pretension, no fancy extras, just two top-notch tunes and flawless performances from Tak and Koshi. That it was their record breaking 30th consecutive #1 single and that it debuted on a day where ten other re-mastered B�z singles took chart positions #2 through #11, in B�z 15th year, is incidental to the quality of their music.

This is an upbeat single. In terms of how hard the rock is, I�d rate it GREEN album style. The songs are energizing, in the vein of Ultra Soul, Stay Green, and ROCK man. However, this is a very short single, clocking in at 7:59. I enjoyed every second, but I�m just letting you know!

This single is an excellent introduction to B�z for people who have never given them a try before. The songs are not too long, very catchy, easy to listen to, not too hard, not too soft, and showcase some deft guitar work and the usual great Inaba vocals.

It�s Showtime!! is another B�z song that is addictive on the first listen, from the opening guitar intro to the end. It makes perfect sense that it is the theme song for the Asahi Network Sports program, since it is about attending an arena style event, applying to LiveGym, sports, or concerts. The song is a burst of energy that gets your blood pumping and the lyrics effectively capture the sentiments of attending an event like LiveGym. �Come meet a side of yourself you didn�t know,� writes Koshi, �Leave pain behind.� The images in the lyrics of searchlights, the smoke, the roars shaking the arena, and hands clutching tickets combine with the rocking beat of the melody, the bass, and Tak�s stand-out guitar parts -- this is an exciting song. It's a little more melodic than Go Fight Win, another exceptional live number that gets crazed fan participation.

Highlights for me include the Tak solo and riffs. The lyrics also have a lot of rhyme, adding to the �running� feel of this song. In summary, I would call this song a Pied Piper for LiveGym. Fans will listen to this and want to see B�z live! This will absolutely rock in concert and get the crowds screaming, like so many other B�z songs.

Beat Two is New Message, which was first introduced on the 2002 concert video A Beautiful Reel, when it was played over the introductory and ending clips. I loved it so much I would keep playing those clips over and over so I could listen to this mystery song. So needless to say, I found New Message immediately captivating. For the first 10 seconds the song seems to be contemplating which way to go; then at :10 with Koshi's "Oh!" it starts marching along unwaveringly. New Message doesn�t have the heat of It�s Showtime!!, but in a way it gives off just as much energy, in a more relaxed way. I like the part at 2:59 where Koshi�s voice is suddenly accompanied by only piano notes for a few seconds. The chorus is quite irresistible -- �Itsudemo ii kara!�� and the lyrics are easy to sing along to. The melody, the arrangement, and the way Koshi sings give this song an optimistic, encouraging mood. If I had to pick an image for this song, I�d say it�s a sunny blue sky ~ this song would have fit perfectly with the rest of the GREEN album, with its affinity for summer.

Here are 2 messages from Tak and Koshi regarding It's Showtime!! from their official site. Mat-chan says you MUST listen to it! :) Koshi's message Tak's message