Album Thoughts: ARASHI / Are You Happy?
Title: Are You Happy?
Artist: 嵐
Release date: 2016.10.26
Okay, I disappeared again. I'm sorry, it's life. But Arashi gave me motivation to write again. And who would miss an opportunity to talk about Arashi's album of 2016!
First of all, Happy New Year! I know I'm late into saying this but, let's hope 2017 will be a year full of greatness.Even though we won't because Trump is new POTUS and this world is ending. 2016 was a year full of many ups and downs. And I felt like there were more negative things that have happened than positive things. You know, what's with the UK unexpectedly changing PMs and the US getting a new president. And not just the whole world is going apeshit right now. The Japanese entertainment industry is crashing too. So many things have happened. What's with SMAP disbanding. Actors and actresses having scandals... leaving the industry... passing away even... yeah you know what I'm talking about. But great achievements happened too! Like Leonardo Dicaprio and Jackie Chan won an Oscar! Or Ninomiya Kazunari won an Oscar too!
Speaking of Ninomiya Kazunari, he's in an idol group called Arashi. And the group is probably what's making this world doesn't seem like it's drowning in hell. How dare Arashi asked us:
Are You Happy?
And I have seriously thought about the answer to this question. Because if we were to answer it, it's going to get deep. Because you know why? No one is ever happy. And I mean it. Not when we're talking about deep inside a person's heart. But is that important? Or just the little moments of joy you feel every now and then more important? Should us focus more on that instead? Because I feel like, just because that's necessary, it doesn't change the reality of hardships we're facing now. I know that we're just shouldn't take life so seriously, but it just makes you really think. And I'm not even sure what Arashi is trying to tell us here. Are they just simply want to make us happy. Or do they have a deeper meaning here?
Well, since I'm not even sure, I'll just go on a ramble about their songs. And who knows, maybe we'll really get that few moments of joy. And Arashi may just be our source of happiness in all our vastly different yet somewhat unhappy lives. I'm also glad that they made a slow start to 2017, since I just want them to continue resting because they have done their amazing duties to satisfy our fangirling minds, so Arashi, please continue to stay restedso that we know you're cooking up something awesome to surprise us later on.
I'm going to begin, as always, with the album covers. I have nothing much to say about them except Arashi just look happy. And they're smiling for once on their covers. I remember one episode of Arashi ni Shiyagare when Ayano Go was trying to redo the RE jacket cover by replacing each members' positions lol. That was interesting. Also, can I just say I love the Are You Happy? font? I love how they made the "y" into a happy face. That was cool.
There are a total of seventeen tracks in this album. We begin with DRIVE, and this song wasn't anything to begin with but then their concert tour happened and all I could think of is Arashi driving a car around the stadium, wearing funky outfits. It was expected since this track was "under the supervision of Jun M.". And of course Jun would come up with this. Now that's something we could look forward to when the concert DVD comes out. Second track is I seek, which as everyone knows, was the song that Ayano Go praised its fitness in the drama in which made us saw Ohno Satoshi proudly laughing his beautiful smile as he was suddenly awoken from his usual daydreaming especially it came from Ninomiya Kazunari's mouth. This song to me is still great. The funkiness and energy that comes from of it never cease to impress me. But it's not a track I would willing to click onto when I'm listening to my Arashi MP3 list. Especially I cannot get over the fact that I am still not able to finish the drama where I kind of left hanging around episode 8. Because it's just too hard for me to watch it. There is nothing wrong with it, it's just my problem. I think. Because the awkward level from the drama is just too high it makes me cringe, and I just can't get through it. Also I just don't see what so great about it for it to win so many awards. And Haru is annoying. I'm sorry Ohno.
Next is Ups and Downs. Nothing special, moving on. I think Seishun Boogie is one of my favourites from this album. I just love the drumming beats of this song and it's full of Aiba energy. The fifth track is our first member solo, Sunshine, by Sakurai Sho. I already said this in my review on Japonism, that Sho's solos never had any effect on me because his singing is annoying. Well, this is another one of them. Sunshine is similar to Hey Yeah! from THE DIGITALIAN in a way where they are both uplifting tracks... in a really annoying way. Maybe it's just because I have to think about Sho, and he's the member I least like. So when he gets all happy and cute I'm just not feeling it. The only bits I love are his rap bits. I mean, no matter how much Sakurai Sho annoys you, one cannot, in their right mind, dislike Sakurai Sho's raps. So cue to that. Anyway, moving on before you hate me.
Sixth track is one of Arashi's best songs ever! Fukkatsu LOVE! The song is so epic I need no more explanation. Just go and listen to it. And watch the music video too. And let it take your soul. Also, I mentioned in my I seek / Daylight review that I wasn't able to get my own copy of Fukkatsu LOVE CD. Well, I somehow managed to get it in the end. I think it was about 3-4 months ago. So I'm a satisfied fangirl.
Next song is Aiba's solo, Amore, and it's one of my favourite Aiba's solos. I mean, obviously nothing can beat the greatness that was Disco Star and Mr. Funk. But Amore has a mixture of Aiba's older solos and the magic dusts that are still dripping off Disco Star and Mr. Funk. It's full of Aiba's energy and it has become my favourite member solo of Are You Happy?. My second favourite member solo has to go to Ohno Satoshi, who is always the most outstanding anyway. Bad Boy was... how to say it... unfavourable at first listen. And I'm sure this applies to most fans too. But if you are willing to listen through it a few more times you would find that it's not at all as cringeable as you first listen to it. And the more you listen to it, the more hooked you would get, and then you would realize that this song is actually a very epic song. The live performance seemed even more epic. Please hurry concert DVD.
Ninth track is WONDER-LOVE, "under the supervision of Kazunari N.", which is yet again nothing special except one would think of course Nino would come up with such a track. Okay, I don't know what I'm saying, moving on. Because next is Nino's solo Mada Kyou to Onaji Asu ga Kuru, and I know a lot fans were giving positive feedbacks about this, but I seriously don't know what so special about it. I mean, I understand that Nino is killing our ovaries with his voice again, but I just find it... futsu... you know.
Anyway, then we have Daylight, which has quickly became one of my faves. Firstly, the song is my morning alarm song. So every morning after I got up I have this song stuck in my head. Secondly, I can actually sing this song. Like, all the words and stuff. It's not the first Arashi song but I'm just proud of myself lol. Thirdly, it reminds me of 99.9 and Miyama-sensei, in which I proudly announce that I have the Miyama bear happily standing on my desk next to my Japonism calendar, which I still use, since it has the 2017 calendar on the back too. Also, did anyone hear the rumour about a second season of 99.9? Who's hoping it's true?
Twelve track is Ai wo Sakebe. I've done a review of it here, so check it out if you haven't. Ai wo Sakebe is still a very satisfying track and I can listen to it anytime of the day, so it remains one of my favourite Arashi songs. Next we have our last member solo, Baby Blue, by Matsumoto Jun. There's nothing much about it except I feel like this is Jun's most polite solo, out of all of the ones he had done so far. Literally. Even his live performance was humble, judging by the concert live reports that is. Well, that's great, I love gentle Jun more than wild Jun.
The fourteenth track is Miles away. And this song is, no need to argue, hands down the best track on this album. Well *smirks* it was "under the supervision of Satoshi O" afterall. And Satoshi O. is a genius and knows how to create the most perfect tune to fit all of Arashi's vocals in harmony. So Miles away is definitely one of the most beautiful songs out there, ever. To my homies is another song with positive feedback from fans. I think it's because you have all Arashi rapping, because if you have a song with all members rapping you know it's a great song, and you would also expect a member named Sakurai Sho to be in charge of such a song. Because Sho is the god of rapping, and whatever it is it always turns out great.
Onto the sixteenth track of Are You Happy?, we have another Arashi gold, Don't You Get It, the promotional track of the album. Now, this song started out sounding annoying, one that can easily piss someone off. BUT. As it turns out, like most of their other songs, a great catchy song that lifts one's mood anytime of the day, and has quickly joined my list of favourite Arashi songs. Don't You Get It is one of the Arashi songs I listen to the most nowadays, especially I'm still so in love with the dance choreography of this song. It's simple, fun, and easy to remember. It's a great song to dance to when you just feel like being silly. But let's not forget the wonderfulness that is the music video! Where you get to see Arashi being the most funny goofballs they have been in a long time!
Last but not least, TWO TO TANGO, and let's just leave this song hanging here as a way to make you wonder how the live performance would turn out as it was choreographed by dear Ohno Satoshi-san. I would go no further.
And let us take a huge sigh of relieve as we finally come to the end of this long post. So I will end this with Don't You Get It music video to make your day.
Conclusion: 8 / 10 stars
Artist: 嵐
Release date: 2016.10.26
Okay, I disappeared again. I'm sorry, it's life. But Arashi gave me motivation to write again. And who would miss an opportunity to talk about Arashi's album of 2016!
First of all, Happy New Year! I know I'm late into saying this but, let's hope 2017 will be a year full of greatness.
Speaking of Ninomiya Kazunari, he's in an idol group called Arashi. And the group is probably what's making this world doesn't seem like it's drowning in hell. How dare Arashi asked us:
Are You Happy?
And I have seriously thought about the answer to this question. Because if we were to answer it, it's going to get deep. Because you know why? No one is ever happy. And I mean it. Not when we're talking about deep inside a person's heart. But is that important? Or just the little moments of joy you feel every now and then more important? Should us focus more on that instead? Because I feel like, just because that's necessary, it doesn't change the reality of hardships we're facing now. I know that we're just shouldn't take life so seriously, but it just makes you really think. And I'm not even sure what Arashi is trying to tell us here. Are they just simply want to make us happy. Or do they have a deeper meaning here?
Well, since I'm not even sure, I'll just go on a ramble about their songs. And who knows, maybe we'll really get that few moments of joy. And Arashi may just be our source of happiness in all our vastly different yet somewhat unhappy lives. I'm also glad that they made a slow start to 2017, since I just want them to continue resting because they have done their amazing duties to satisfy our fangirling minds, so Arashi, please continue to stay rested
I'm going to begin, as always, with the album covers. I have nothing much to say about them except Arashi just look happy. And they're smiling for once on their covers. I remember one episode of Arashi ni Shiyagare when Ayano Go was trying to redo the RE jacket cover by replacing each members' positions lol. That was interesting. Also, can I just say I love the Are You Happy? font? I love how they made the "y" into a happy face. That was cool.
There are a total of seventeen tracks in this album. We begin with DRIVE, and this song wasn't anything to begin with but then their concert tour happened and all I could think of is Arashi driving a car around the stadium, wearing funky outfits. It was expected since this track was "under the supervision of Jun M.". And of course Jun would come up with this. Now that's something we could look forward to when the concert DVD comes out. Second track is I seek, which as everyone knows, was the song that Ayano Go praised its fitness in the drama in which made us saw Ohno Satoshi proudly laughing his beautiful smile as he was suddenly awoken from his usual daydreaming
Next is Ups and Downs. Nothing special, moving on. I think Seishun Boogie is one of my favourites from this album. I just love the drumming beats of this song and it's full of Aiba energy. The fifth track is our first member solo, Sunshine, by Sakurai Sho. I already said this in my review on Japonism, that Sho's solos never had any effect on me because his singing is annoying. Well, this is another one of them. Sunshine is similar to Hey Yeah! from THE DIGITALIAN in a way where they are both uplifting tracks... in a really annoying way. Maybe it's just because I have to think about Sho, and he's the member I least like. So when he gets all happy and cute I'm just not feeling it. The only bits I love are his rap bits. I mean, no matter how much Sakurai Sho annoys you, one cannot, in their right mind, dislike Sakurai Sho's raps. So cue to that. Anyway, moving on before you hate me.
Sixth track is one of Arashi's best songs ever! Fukkatsu LOVE! The song is so epic I need no more explanation. Just go and listen to it. And watch the music video too. And let it take your soul. Also, I mentioned in my I seek / Daylight review that I wasn't able to get my own copy of Fukkatsu LOVE CD. Well, I somehow managed to get it in the end. I think it was about 3-4 months ago. So I'm a satisfied fangirl.
Next song is Aiba's solo, Amore, and it's one of my favourite Aiba's solos. I mean, obviously nothing can beat the greatness that was Disco Star and Mr. Funk. But Amore has a mixture of Aiba's older solos and the magic dusts that are still dripping off Disco Star and Mr. Funk. It's full of Aiba's energy and it has become my favourite member solo of Are You Happy?. My second favourite member solo has to go to Ohno Satoshi, who is always the most outstanding anyway. Bad Boy was... how to say it... unfavourable at first listen. And I'm sure this applies to most fans too. But if you are willing to listen through it a few more times you would find that it's not at all as cringeable as you first listen to it. And the more you listen to it, the more hooked you would get, and then you would realize that this song is actually a very epic song. The live performance seemed even more epic. Please hurry concert DVD.
Ninth track is WONDER-LOVE, "under the supervision of Kazunari N.", which is yet again nothing special except one would think of course Nino would come up with such a track. Okay, I don't know what I'm saying, moving on. Because next is Nino's solo Mada Kyou to Onaji Asu ga Kuru, and I know a lot fans were giving positive feedbacks about this, but I seriously don't know what so special about it. I mean, I understand that Nino is killing our ovaries with his voice again, but I just find it... futsu... you know.
Anyway, then we have Daylight, which has quickly became one of my faves. Firstly, the song is my morning alarm song. So every morning after I got up I have this song stuck in my head. Secondly, I can actually sing this song. Like, all the words and stuff. It's not the first Arashi song but I'm just proud of myself lol. Thirdly, it reminds me of 99.9 and Miyama-sensei, in which I proudly announce that I have the Miyama bear happily standing on my desk next to my Japonism calendar, which I still use, since it has the 2017 calendar on the back too. Also, did anyone hear the rumour about a second season of 99.9? Who's hoping it's true?
Twelve track is Ai wo Sakebe. I've done a review of it here, so check it out if you haven't. Ai wo Sakebe is still a very satisfying track and I can listen to it anytime of the day, so it remains one of my favourite Arashi songs. Next we have our last member solo, Baby Blue, by Matsumoto Jun. There's nothing much about it except I feel like this is Jun's most polite solo, out of all of the ones he had done so far. Literally. Even his live performance was humble, judging by the concert live reports that is. Well, that's great, I love gentle Jun more than wild Jun.
The fourteenth track is Miles away. And this song is, no need to argue, hands down the best track on this album. Well *smirks* it was "under the supervision of Satoshi O" afterall. And Satoshi O. is a genius and knows how to create the most perfect tune to fit all of Arashi's vocals in harmony. So Miles away is definitely one of the most beautiful songs out there, ever. To my homies is another song with positive feedback from fans. I think it's because you have all Arashi rapping, because if you have a song with all members rapping you know it's a great song, and you would also expect a member named Sakurai Sho to be in charge of such a song. Because Sho is the god of rapping, and whatever it is it always turns out great.
Onto the sixteenth track of Are You Happy?, we have another Arashi gold, Don't You Get It, the promotional track of the album. Now, this song started out sounding annoying, one that can easily piss someone off. BUT. As it turns out, like most of their other songs, a great catchy song that lifts one's mood anytime of the day, and has quickly joined my list of favourite Arashi songs. Don't You Get It is one of the Arashi songs I listen to the most nowadays, especially I'm still so in love with the dance choreography of this song. It's simple, fun, and easy to remember. It's a great song to dance to when you just feel like being silly. But let's not forget the wonderfulness that is the music video! Where you get to see Arashi being the most funny goofballs they have been in a long time!
Last but not least, TWO TO TANGO, and let's just leave this song hanging here as a way to make you wonder how the live performance would turn out as it was choreographed by dear Ohno Satoshi-san. I would go no further.
And let us take a huge sigh of relieve as we finally come to the end of this long post. So I will end this with Don't You Get It music video to make your day.
Conclusion: 8 / 10 stars
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