Every Heart -Minna no Kimochi-
April 25, 2009 at 7:30 PM | In BoA | 1 CommentTags: BoA, J-pop, singles
Artist: BoA
Release Date: March 13, 2002
Label: Avex Trax
Genre: Ballad
Number of Songs: 4
Personal Rating: 4.5/5
1. Every Heart -Minna no Kimochi-
2. Every Heart (English Version)
3. Listen To My Heart (Ken Harada’s TB-Bassin’ Remix)
4. Every Heart -Minna no Kimochi- (Instrumental)
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BoA’s style in music is so much different back then than right now in the present which is pretty natural since she was really new at J-pop when she released this single. Just like Alan, Japanese is their second language yet, they pretty much master at it if they’re singing in Japanese.
Every Heart -Minna no Kimochi- is my first song that I listened to by BoA since it was used as the third ending theme of the anime Inuyasha. (That anime series gave a ton of publicity in America for the J-pop artists.) Since the third ending was around the emotional part of the series, it’s pretty obvious that its a ballad. The nice sound of the piano at the beginning makes the song very melodious at first sight and it really kept me listening. BoA’s vocals were very fitting for the song since her voice was indeed the “beat of the angel” which really made this song pretty much one of her hit singles back then. (It reached #10 on the Japanese Oricon charts which is really good for a fifth single!)
With the Japanese Version of “Every Heart” very memorable and all, the Every Heart (English Version) totally sounds different. Unlike the nice feel of Utada’s English or awkward feeling with Ayumi Hamasaki’s, BoA’s English is actually pretty presentable. Not that it’s bad, it’s just that BoA’s English vocals sounds so much different compared to her Japanese.
Personal Rating: 4.5/5
The Meaning of Peace
April 15, 2009 at 7:07 PM | In BoA, Kumi Koda | 1 CommentTags: BoA, J-pop, Kumi Koda, singles
Artist: Kumi Koda and BoA
Release Date: December 19, 2001
Label: Avex Trax
Genre: J-pop
Number of Songs: 2
Personal Rating: 5/5
1. The Meaning of Peace
2. The Meaning of Peace (TV Mix)
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In memory of America’s tragic 911 attack and in honor of its victims, both Kumi Koda and BoA join together to bring to you their first ever collaboration single called the “Meaning of Peace.” As a part of the charity album called “Song + Nation,” the single was donated for 911 relief.
To be honest, The Meaning of Peace was actually a great collaboration single. I mean, J-pop mainstream artists BoA and Kumi Koda really do make a great combination! Since this was in memory of the 911 attack, I was pretty much expecting this to be a disc filled with very emotional ballads. I guess I was proved wrong. Instead of a ballad, this song was more part of the laid back pop genre. The beginning of the song begins with a nice combination of an acoustic guitar and the piano. Now when I first listened to this song, I really didn’t know whose voice was BoA’s or whose voice was Kumi Koda. But when I gave it another listen I felt that Kumi Koda was singing more loudly than BoA. (Like Kumi was the bass and BoA was the alto.) The song overall was pretty uplifting and it pretty much reminded us of what was important during war time: hope for peace. Probably one of the most powerful collaboration singles ever!
Personal Rating: 5/5
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