Beautiful

Single Review
Mai Kuraki – Beautiful

Beautiful is Mai Kuraki’s 32nd single. It was released on June 10, 2009, and reached #2 on the oricon weekly charts. It sold a total of 33,344 copies, and has currently charted for 2 weeks.

tracklist:
1. Beautiful
2. Wana
3. Beautiful -Instrumental-

After the great PUZZLE/REVIVE, I seriously thought that Mai would do something similar with her next single. Turns out I was wrong. No worries though, because Beautiful is indeed a BEAUTIFUL song.

When it was first heard by the public through it’s PV, I have to admit that I hated it. It’s not about the vocals or whatever, it’s the style that was bothering me. There were times that made me feel so bored. So bored that I was about to knock my head off the keyboard. Okay, I’m kidding. But seriously, I did not like it.

But then the single was released, and I finally got the chance to listen to it again. By the time I heard Mai sing the chorus lines, I was like captured by her voice. The melody was really relaxing, as it could easily rock you to sleep. And I mean that in the nicest way.

The instrumentals, mostly made of pianos and strings, create a peaceful aura in the song that easily makes the song so fresh-sounding. There’s also Mai’s beautiful vocals to add on, and there’s the background vocals (obviously from her too) to make it sound even better.

Same as Beautiful, I did not like wana during the first listen. I thought it was so mediocre, and it was quite messy for my tastes. But after a few more listens, I have to say, I learned to like it even more, and I found out that it was more than what I thought it was at first. It even became one of my favorites from Mai.

The arrangement, which focuses on the piano and some synthesizers, create a unique sound that really goes well with Mai’s vocals. There’s also the turntables that give the song an additional twist to it that’s sure to surprise the listener once they try it.

Favorite Track:
Beautiful and wana

shuffle rating!
A+

PUZZLE/Revive

Single Review
Mai Kuraki – PUZZLE/Revive

PUZZLE/Revive is Mai Kuraki’s 31st single. It was released on April 1, 2009, and reached #3 on the oricon weekly charts. It sold a total of 46,354 copies, and charted for 5 weeks.

tracklist:
1. PUZZLE
2. Revive
3. The ROSE ~melody in the sky~ “Live Rehearsal Session”
4. PUZZLE -instrumental-
5. Revive -instrumental-

I never really liked PUZZLE during the days of it’s release but, I do have to say, when I started loving Revive, I started to like PUZZLE. I don’t think it’s awesome as her other songs but, I can say that it’s a good song. Sometimes, it can sound great but, sometimes it can’t. I really think that the main thing that ruined this song is the guy in the background. Words can’t explain how annoyed I am at him. When he says “yeah,yeah,pieces of the puzzle” while Mai sings, I just want to hunt the guy down for wrecking this song. Mai sings great, as usual but, I bet the song would get soo much better without the rapper.

The song I metioned a while ago was Revive. This song has a latin/spanish flavor to it that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE. I have to say, out of all of Mai’s previous releases, Revive is my favorite. This song is so fresh, that I still like it ever since it’s PV was released. I also think the guy speaking spanish in the bridge was so cool and so catchy, at the same time. In fact, the song IS catchy. Everytime Mai sings the “..Resume and Revive!” line, I just want to  join Mai sing and shout the lyrics out. The instruments, especially the piano and guitar was really AMAZING, and it suited the beautiful Mai voice really well. Revive is definitely one of Mai’s best tracks.

Unfortunately, I don’t know and haven’t heard the original but, THE ROSE ~melody in the sky~ “Live Rehearsal Session” was one beautiful track. Mai sings so gentle and soft here, which make it sound so comfy to listen to. I really liked the instrumental part after she’s all done singing but, I do wish the song was longer so that I heard more of Mai’s voice. Anyway, It’s a really nice track, and it’s definitely a beautiful ballad.

Favorite Track:
Revive

shuffle rating!
A-

Season of love

Single Review
Mai Kuraki – Season of love

Season of love is Mai Kuraki’s 26th single. It was released on February 14, 2007 and reached #6 on the Oricon Charts. It has now sold a total of 29,295 copies.

tracklist:
1. Season of love
2. Season of love -Latin lover remix-
3. Shiroi Yuki -Orgel Version-
4. Season of love -instrumental-

Season of love was a great follow up to Mai’s previous single, Shiroi Yuki, because this song sounds a bit like a christmas song, with a spanish twist in it. It flows at a more serious way than Shiroi Yuki and sounds a lot darker with it’s dark atmosphere. Mai’s vocals are just great and even the male vocals at the background sounds good! I just don’t get it why other people don’t like the male vocals at the background. I think that they add more flavor to the song, and blends well with Mai’s vocals. Another reason why I loved the Male vocals was because it reminded me a lot of Mai’s collaboration song with Michael Africk, “NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP”. In fact, this song is very similar to NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP because both songs has those great male vocals, and has a message about not giving up or not leaving each other because of their love. Anyway, just listen to this song because it just might catch you and make you love it. For short, it’s a recommend! XD

The title of this song is very true to it’s content, …as Season of love -Latin lover remix- contains more latin instruments than the original. Mai’s vocals are sped up and are filtered which results into quite a good sound. The instruments are fast too, especially the latin guitars and the latin beats. In all, this remix is quite good and is also a recommend if you’re into remixes.

The orgel version of Shiroi Yuki is very nice as it shows the tune of the original song without any fancy instruments to play it. It sounds so calm to and is great if you’re looking for a lullaby to rock you to sleep! x]

Favorite Tracks:
Season of love

shuffle rating!
A

Baby I Like

Single Review
Mai Kuraki – Baby I Like

Baby I Like is Mai Kuraki’s debut single, and is her only single under the name “Mai. K”. It was released on October 20, 1999.

tracklist:
1. Baby I Like
2. Did I Hear You Say That You’re In Love
3. It’s All Right
4. Baby I Like ~Oral Exciter House Remix~

People say that Baby I Like sounded just like a demo because of it’s somehow low quality but, to be honest, I don’t see it. It pretty much sounded like the material found in her DELICIOUS WAY album, which I’m not that surprised to know, because it was just a couple of months after she released this single when she debuted in Japan. Anyway, Baby I Like is catchy to death!! At first, you just can’t stand the way Mai repeats the “Baby I Like…” lines again and again but, after a couple of listens, you’ll learn to love it. Well, I didn’t hate it at first. In fact, I looooved it because I thought it was catchy but, many people found it really annoying. I also love the 90’s feel this song carries all throughout the song because it gives you an extraordinary feeling that you just can explain, and it just hypnotizes you to sing with Mai and the backup singers. I was actually surprised when I first heard this song because I was expecting a demo-sounding, naughty, dirty, up-beat disco track that makes you want to disco but then again, Mai was just 17 at that time and wasn’t a Kuu-chan or anything XD. …so, Yeah! this song is very good and is a recommend!

When people said something about a song that sounds like a demo, Maybe they were referring to Did I Hear You Say That You’re In Love? because, well, it sounded like one! XD It has those boring moments and doesn’t really do anything but let the singer’s voice shine all throughout the song. This song was quite good but, I’m not really a big fan of ballads so, It was just OK for me. I just think that the chorus was great. The rest weren’t as good as it.

’s All Right is the only song from the single that contains japanese lines, at the same time, is the most high-quality sounding track on this single, as it doesn’t show that it was recorded in the 90s. ’s All Right was just OK for me too because It didn’t really contain any memorable moments. The good thing about it is just the beats and the chorus. I also found Mai’s rapping in the middle part, crap.

The Orat Exciter House Remix of Baby I Like was great! I absolutely loved it’s new arrangement, the techno effect added to Mai’s voice, and the hand claps. It gave the song a new look, and improved some of the original version’s boring moments! It had some bumps but, it’s all right. Listening to this track made me wonder why all of the remixes on Mai’s japanes singles suck XD. But anyway, I really love this version! It’s a recommend and It’s definitely one of the best remixes out there!

Favorite Track:
Baby I Like

Shuffle rating!
A-

Shiroi Yuki

Single Review
Mai Kuraki – Shiroi Yuki

Shiroi Yuki is Mai Kuraki’s 25th single and was released on December 20, 2006. It reached #4 on the Oricon Charts and has sold a total of 43,721 copies. Shiroi Yuki was used as the 26th ending theme song for the anime Detective Conan.

tracklist:
1. Shiroi Yuki
2. Omoi no Saki ni…

When I first listened to Shiroi Yuki, I thought it was a bit boring because of the kind-of-crappy orgel intro but, as soon as the real thing starts wherein the soothing christmas “oohs and haaas” come in, My mind was starting to change as I think that it was an excellent way to open a winter song like this. Then Mai starts singing the verses and everything just gets better and better, especially in the chorus. The chorus really helps set-up the mood for christmas with it’s christmas-y tune, which is catchy in many ways. After the chorus comes my most favorite part of the song… The part where the choir comes in and sing some lines which is really soothing. Too bad it only runs for almost 10 seconds because it would’ve been much much better if it ran longer. After the choir part comes the 2nd verse, passing by the chorus again, which is quickly followed by the christmas “haaas” again (which was great, actually!). The bridge wasn’t that much of the stunner but, Mai saves the best for the next part where she hits a high note, backgrounded by male back-up voices and quickly repeats the chorus again. Now, I’M DEAD SERIOUS when I say that this song is a must listen because, despite it’s laid-back sound and atmosphere, the song remains to sound so happy and remains to have a cheery feel. Not to mention it’s catchy chorus and Mai’s excellent vocals. NOW, GO PEOPLE! LISTEN TO IT!! I’m telling you, this song is impressive! In fact, it’s way way more than “EXCELLENT”.

The B-side, Omoi no Saki ni… had a spanish feel in it because of the spanish guitars in the beginning. But, as she sing the verses, none of the spanish elements are present. They just all come back during the chorus.  My favorite part would have to be the part where she sings the chorus near the end accompanied by the backup singers because I just really love how their voices blend together! Mai’s strong voice really shines in the song… sadly, This song is pretty much B-side material because of it’s somehow forgettable verses but, it’s really worth the listen. You can just get bored by some parts but, as the song goes on, you’ll start to ignore them and enjoy it.

Favorite Track:
Shiroi Yuki and Omoi no Saki ni…

shuffle rating!
A+

NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP

Single Review
Mai Kuaraki – NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP

NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP is Mai Kuraki’s 4th Japanese single. It was released June 7, 2000 and peaked as #2 in oricon. It sold a total of 434,250 copies and charted for 7 weeks.

tracklist:
01. NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP
02. Trying To Find My Way
03. NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP (It’s On Tonight Remix)
04. NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP (Instrumental)

NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP in my opinion, is the best song that was released for “DELICIOUS WAY”. It openns up with some keyboard sounds and marracas. Mai starts singing the verses and soon after that, It reaches the chorus. The verses were quite good with soft, whispering wah-wahs you can hear with it’s melody & the beats. As for the chorus, the blending of Michael Africk’s and Mai K.’s voice was really good. It’s like they really have something going on there. lol… the chorus was catchy too but, the most infectious part of the song would have to be the rap. It was so catchy especially the lines “There’s one thing in life I can guarantee From Mike A. to Mai K. and forever will be”… Just try to listen to it, you also might like it. I know I did!

If the A side was enjoyable, The B-side, Trying To Find My Way was BORING!!! It sounded like Mai was sleepy singing at a karaoke bar. I mean, It’s so dull! Nothing special about it… as in NOTHING!!! It pretty much ruined the whole single.

Has anyone noticed that I didn’t like all the remixes that was included in her last 3 singles? Well, I didn’t like those but, believe me, I liked this remix of NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP. It was actually a smart move to put the rap at the beginning of the song because it opens the remix in an energetic way.

Favorite Track:
NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP

shuffle rating!
A-