I believe

Single Review
ayaka – I believe

I believe is ayaka’s debut single. It was released on February 1, 2006, and debuted as #10 in the daily charts, but managed to reach #3 on the weekly charts. It sold a total of 236,012 copies to date, and was the 34th best-selling single of year 2006.

tracklist:
1. I believe
2. Yume no Kakera
3. I believe (Inst.)

I believe is the song that truly turned me into an ayaka fan. I listened to a lot of her songs before, and I thought they were just okay. Only a few stood out to me but, only one song stood above all of those songs — I believe. It is beautiful, and inspiring, in it’s own way! How ayaka sings in this song is really stunning. So stunning, that it would just grab your attention at once, and would make you love it’s every second. The song is a slow song, yet it is very beautiful. The arrangement is so beautiful, especially the string arrangement, which blends well with the piano, and ayaka’s gorgeous voice.  For me, the best thing about this song is the lyrics. The lyrics contains words that just gives a person a lot of encouragement, whenever one is feeling down.  And an impressive fact about this, is that ayaka, herself composed this song. I never thought that she would have so much talent to create such an inspiring song. I believe is an excellent debut song. Everyone should definitely try this song out!

Yume no Kakera, on the other hand, is an upbeat song. Compared to the first track, this song carries a more cheerful arrangement because of the drums, and ayaka’s happy vocals. I really like this song too because it never fails to give me a smile on my face whenever I listen to it. Everyone should definitely give this song a listen too. You won’t be disappointed.

Favorite Tracks:
I believe and Yume no Kakera

shuffle rating!
A+

WINDING ROAD

Single Review
ayaka×Kobukuro – WINDING ROAD

WINDING ROAD is a collaborative single between ayaka and Kobukuro. It is ayaka’s official 5th single. The title track was featured in the Nissan Cube CM. It was released February 28, 2007 and was sold in a low price of ¥555. It reached #2 in the charts and has now sold a total of 352,790 copies making it the 11th best-selling single of that year.

tracklist:
1. WINDING ROAD
2. WINDING ROAD (Instrumental)

Winding Road is probably one of the best collaborations I heard so far. It’s just so good that it can beat all the songs from double’s BEST COLLABORATIONS album. I don’t know what’s up with me comparing this song to an RnB artist but, who cares? They’re both songs. :] Anyway, as I have said a little while ago, it’s one of the best collaboration songs I heard so far. Wanna know why? It’s because of the “natural” feel this song has. well, To tell you honestly, I wasn’t a big fan of ayaka’s music before but, after hearing her Start to 0 ~love~ song, I automatically fell in love with her “natural” style. I know some of you guys doesn’t know what I’m talking about when I say “natural” so, I’ll be glad to explain it. When I say natural, I’m referring to some songs that doesn’t use too much enhance thing-a-ma-jigs. Get what I mean? anyway, going back to the song… I absolutely adored this song for the way it opens and ends in a calm way! It begins with ayaka and KOBOKURO singing in acapella for the first 27 seconds then everything suddenly comes in. It’s energetic for a long time but, it ends calmly like the way it opened… except it’s in an opposite direction. The last 26 seconds of it was for acapella. Another reason why I loved this song is because of the combination of the voices of the 3 people singing in this song (wow! used a lot of “of the” lol!). They had the perfect voices for the theme of the song… “natural-ity”. Overall, a truly enjoyable song and will definitely get the attention of J-muzic fans out there.

Favorite Track:
WINDING ROAD

shuffle rating!
A+