Interlude:
THE DIGITALIAN!!!!! Here are some thoughts, whoo! I have more to say about some songs than others, but I LOVE THEM ALL.
Zero-G: I LOVE IT. It's fun and catchy and the video is amazing and the making-of is AMAZING and Leader is amazing and Arashi is amazing, amazing, aahhh!!! I LOVE IT.
Wonderful: I LOVE IT. It's cute and sort of adorably jazzy and cute and cute. I LOVE IT.
Tell me why: I LOVE IT. I love it, full stop, but I especially love it because I especially love songs that start as one thing and build up to another thing, and this one starts off sort of melancholy but harmless and then keeps getting more intense until suddenly it sounds haunting and angry and epic and SO GOOD. And the music is so pretty, and their voices are so great!! One thing I really like to do is put on my good headphones (as opposed to the cheap pair I throw around in my purse and listen to on the bus) and listen to a favorite Arashi song and just try to pick out all the different voices and who's doing what and how each voice changes the sound of the whole thing -- like how Nino's voice really complements each of the others' and sort of gives them depth, or how putting Aiba or Sho behind someone else's voice makes it sound a little huskier. Anyway their voices are REALLY working for me in this, and those "sugite yuku," "omoide ga," etc. lines in the chorus give me little chills. I'm pretty sure that's Jun but maybe Aiba is there too, or maybe they switch off, I GUESS I'LL JUST HAVE TO LISTEN TEN THOUSAND MORE TIMES TO FIGURE IT OUT, WHAT A HARDSHIP. Oh and also SHO'S RAP, AAHHH, IT'S SO GLORIOUS, SAKURAI SHO LET'S MAKE OUT. Ugh I'm SO SO excited to see what they do with it live, I bet it's going to be INCREDIBLE. I LOVE IT.
Asterisk: I LOVE IT. I've seen a few people on Tumblr talking about how they weren't as into the first, more "digital" half of the album, and of course that's fine and valid but for me it is the opposite -- not in the sense that I don't enjoy the second half, I ABSOLUTELY DO, but I also LOVE this first half, and I feel like this song in particular is such a good example of that digital sound. Fifteen seconds in, I was already like "DAMN, I LOVE THIS SONG." Some day I want to make a playlist that consists entirely of Arashi songs about traveling through or looking to the stars: this one, Intergalactic, morning light, Sirius, Hoshi no Freeway... Any others any of you can think of? :D I LOVE IT.
Imaging Crazy: I LOVE IT. It definitely sounds like an Ohno solo but perhaps a bit sassier than usual -- and no part of that sentence is a complaint or critique in any way. :D I'm already excited about the super skillful dance he's undoubtedly going to do for this. :D :D I LOVE IT.
GUTS!: I LOVE IT. WHAT CAN I EVEN SAY ABOUT THIS SONG. IT'S GLORIOUS AND I AM CONSTANTLY GLAD THAT IT EXISTS. IT'S JUST SO GOOD. I LOVE IT.
Disco Star: I LOVE IT. OH MY GOD I LOVE IT. It's like Magical Song but turned up to 11. It's OUTRAGEOUS and so fun and so good. BOOGIE WOOGIE MOTTO MOTTO FREAKY FUNKY GIRL. AIBA!!! Seriously, you guys: I cannot stress to you how much I love this song. There are Shake It! levels of love going on here. MA-MA-MA-MAGIC!!! I LOVE IT.
誰も知らない: I LOVE IT. I love how all of the songs (that have appeared on Arashi albums) for Ohno dramas are sort of creepy and Halloween-appropriate. :D (One year my buddy asked me to make a Halloween playlist for his party -- not necessarily actual Halloween songs, just songs that had that sort of feel to them, so I gave him a bunch of Deftones and Duran Duran and threw Truth and Monster on there and he loved it. This song would definitely fit on that mix.) Their voices are great and I love love love the music with those epic strings. I LOVE IT.
TRAP: I LOVE IT. I love it A LOT. "A Knife Party remix of an Arashi song" sounds like a thing I would have joked about when the album title was revealed but would have never actually hoped for, AND YET: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS SOUNDS LIKE. I'LL GET YOU IN THE TRAP~~ I LOVE IT.
STAY GOLD: I LOVE IT. I'm actually a little surprised by it because it seems... hm, I've been trying to think of the best way to say this :D but it doesn't sound (to me) like a Jun solo within the context of the album, by which I mean: it sounds like it could have been a group song for this album. THAT'S NOT A COMPLAINT BY ANY MEANS. This song is super great and I love it a lot, and it DOES have a pretty distinct Jun feel to it (pause for an obscene joke: I'd like a Jun feel~~~ okay, moving on) but I'm also used to Jun solos being EXTRA sparkly and fabulous whereas this song is definitely sparkly and fabulous but not (to my ears) any more than the rest of this very sparkly, fabulous album. Possibly this also has to do with its place on the track list; this Disco Star/Daremo Shiranai/TRAP/STAY GOLD line-up is pretty fantastically intense, so Jun doesn't exactly deliver a sucker punch of disco lights vs. if it had been after, say, Bittersweet. None of this is to say I would have done anything differently: THE SONG, THE TRACK LIST, EVERYTHING IS PERFECT, NO COMPLAINTS ANYWHERE IN THIS PARAGRAPH. I was just surprised is all. :D Having said all of that, I am 99.99% certain Jun will go above and beyond with the live performance, and it's only 99.99 because that .01% is allowing for the logical possibility that yes, technically he could end up doing something really mellow, but we all know he won't. (UNLESS THAT IS HOW HE WILL BLOW US ALL AWAY, BY TRANSCENDING ALL EXPECTATIONS OF GLITZ AND SPECTACLE? POSSIBLE FUTURE JUN, YOU SLY FOX.) Bottom line: I LOVE IT.
Bittersweet: I LOVE IT. This song is cute, so cute, and it's seriously the perfect song for Chocojun of which I have finally begun attempting a rewatch. It is possible that listening to this song will always make me think of those black and white striped pants. I LOVE IT.
メリークリスマス: I LOVE IT. I love it with the power of A THOUSAND CHRISTMASES. A heart-wrenchingly cute and masterfully crafted pop song, as expected of Nino!! I've probably listened to it a thousand times by now, loving it even more each time. Also, for anyone who has seen the lyrics: AIMIYA, Y/N??? SAME WAY HOME, SMILING AT 100%, ONE SANTA CHASING ANOTHER SANTA AKA FLIRTY INCLINATIONS AMONG PEOPLE OF THE SAME PROFESSION, MERRY CHRISTMAS-BIRTHDAY???? AIMIYA Y/N???????? I'm not usually one for songfic, but I feel like I NEEEEED a story about Arashi getting together with a cute, fruit-covered cake for Aiba's birthday and then Aiba leaves to head home so he can celebrate with his family in Chiba and Nino walks him to the door and lets him go without confessing like he's been meaning to and then sits around fidgeting until it's just too much and he storms out of the apartment and runs through the snow just in time to make it to the station before Aiba's train leaves so Nino's standing there doubled over and red-faced and panting while Aiba laughs about him looking like one of the strawberries on that cake they gave him earlier until Nino's like "[PANT PANT] YOU LOSER [PANT PANT] I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU I LIKE YOU" and Aiba's all "I like you too, Nino~~~" and gives him a little kiss before turning to get on the train and Nino is stunned but pulls it together enough to tell him "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" before the train doors close. I NEED IT, I NEED IT. I LOVE IT.
キミの夢を見ていた: I LOVE IT. This song is really cute and sounds sort of nostalgic in some ways, especially the chorus, like it could have been right at home on Time or Dream "A" Live. :D I LOVE IT.
One Step: I LOVE IT. It's cuuute and sweet and just really catchy and wonderful, and it's this really nicely done mix of cutesy and bouncy that would fit super well on a mix with Magic hour, Alright!!, and Your Song among others. There is some A++++ wobbly Nino voice in the beginning, I'm so so into it, and Ohno's "OOOH YEAH~~" towards the end kills me every time. I LOVE IT.
Hey Yeah!: I LOVE IT. PERHAPS EVEN MY NEW FAVORITE SHO SOLO?? It's just so fun and cute and aahhh the lyrics are great SO GREAT. I love the juxtaposition of "Don't sweat the small stuff" and "The small stuff is what really matters," SHO, THAT'S A SUCKER PUNCH TO MY HEART, HOW DARE YOU. I want to print the chorus lyrics out and plaster them all over my life, right next to Tuvok's line about not ignoring darkness, Usagi's line about chaos belonging in the hearts of everyone, and that Hadashi no Mirai lyric about gathering the pieces of your future. KONO SEKAI WA BEAUTIFUL!!! I LOVE IT.
Hope in the darkness: I LOVE IT. Aaahhh this song is really pretty and epic and wonderful, Arashi <3<3<3. I predict that whether they perform it in big feathery white outfits or in their concert T-shirts towards the end or any other option in between, it is going to squeeze some pretty intense feelings out of me. I LOVE IT.
Take Off!!!!!!: I LOVE IT. IT'S LIKE THE PERFECT MIX OF SASSY RAPPING FROM ALL MEMBERS, A BOUNCY CHORUS, AND FAN-LOVING LYRICS THAT MAKE ME WANT TO ROLL AROUND IN ARASHI FEELINGS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. WHAT A GOOD WAY TO END SUCH A GLORIOUS ALBUM!! I LOVE IT.
There you have it!! A summary: I love every song forever and can't wait to see what they do with all of this in concert. I PREDICT LOTS OF LASERS.
Crossposted here on Dreamwidth. You can comment there anonymously or using OpenID. ♥
Zero-G: I LOVE IT. It's fun and catchy and the video is amazing and the making-of is AMAZING and Leader is amazing and Arashi is amazing, amazing, aahhh!!! I LOVE IT.
Wonderful: I LOVE IT. It's cute and sort of adorably jazzy and cute and cute. I LOVE IT.
Tell me why: I LOVE IT. I love it, full stop, but I especially love it because I especially love songs that start as one thing and build up to another thing, and this one starts off sort of melancholy but harmless and then keeps getting more intense until suddenly it sounds haunting and angry and epic and SO GOOD. And the music is so pretty, and their voices are so great!! One thing I really like to do is put on my good headphones (as opposed to the cheap pair I throw around in my purse and listen to on the bus) and listen to a favorite Arashi song and just try to pick out all the different voices and who's doing what and how each voice changes the sound of the whole thing -- like how Nino's voice really complements each of the others' and sort of gives them depth, or how putting Aiba or Sho behind someone else's voice makes it sound a little huskier. Anyway their voices are REALLY working for me in this, and those "sugite yuku," "omoide ga," etc. lines in the chorus give me little chills. I'm pretty sure that's Jun but maybe Aiba is there too, or maybe they switch off, I GUESS I'LL JUST HAVE TO LISTEN TEN THOUSAND MORE TIMES TO FIGURE IT OUT, WHAT A HARDSHIP. Oh and also SHO'S RAP, AAHHH, IT'S SO GLORIOUS, SAKURAI SHO LET'S MAKE OUT. Ugh I'm SO SO excited to see what they do with it live, I bet it's going to be INCREDIBLE. I LOVE IT.
Asterisk: I LOVE IT. I've seen a few people on Tumblr talking about how they weren't as into the first, more "digital" half of the album, and of course that's fine and valid but for me it is the opposite -- not in the sense that I don't enjoy the second half, I ABSOLUTELY DO, but I also LOVE this first half, and I feel like this song in particular is such a good example of that digital sound. Fifteen seconds in, I was already like "DAMN, I LOVE THIS SONG." Some day I want to make a playlist that consists entirely of Arashi songs about traveling through or looking to the stars: this one, Intergalactic, morning light, Sirius, Hoshi no Freeway... Any others any of you can think of? :D I LOVE IT.
Imaging Crazy: I LOVE IT. It definitely sounds like an Ohno solo but perhaps a bit sassier than usual -- and no part of that sentence is a complaint or critique in any way. :D I'm already excited about the super skillful dance he's undoubtedly going to do for this. :D :D I LOVE IT.
GUTS!: I LOVE IT. WHAT CAN I EVEN SAY ABOUT THIS SONG. IT'S GLORIOUS AND I AM CONSTANTLY GLAD THAT IT EXISTS. IT'S JUST SO GOOD. I LOVE IT.
Disco Star: I LOVE IT. OH MY GOD I LOVE IT. It's like Magical Song but turned up to 11. It's OUTRAGEOUS and so fun and so good. BOOGIE WOOGIE MOTTO MOTTO FREAKY FUNKY GIRL. AIBA!!! Seriously, you guys: I cannot stress to you how much I love this song. There are Shake It! levels of love going on here. MA-MA-MA-MAGIC!!! I LOVE IT.
誰も知らない: I LOVE IT. I love how all of the songs (that have appeared on Arashi albums) for Ohno dramas are sort of creepy and Halloween-appropriate. :D (One year my buddy asked me to make a Halloween playlist for his party -- not necessarily actual Halloween songs, just songs that had that sort of feel to them, so I gave him a bunch of Deftones and Duran Duran and threw Truth and Monster on there and he loved it. This song would definitely fit on that mix.) Their voices are great and I love love love the music with those epic strings. I LOVE IT.
TRAP: I LOVE IT. I love it A LOT. "A Knife Party remix of an Arashi song" sounds like a thing I would have joked about when the album title was revealed but would have never actually hoped for, AND YET: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS SOUNDS LIKE. I'LL GET YOU IN THE TRAP~~ I LOVE IT.
STAY GOLD: I LOVE IT. I'm actually a little surprised by it because it seems... hm, I've been trying to think of the best way to say this :D but it doesn't sound (to me) like a Jun solo within the context of the album, by which I mean: it sounds like it could have been a group song for this album. THAT'S NOT A COMPLAINT BY ANY MEANS. This song is super great and I love it a lot, and it DOES have a pretty distinct Jun feel to it (pause for an obscene joke: I'd like a Jun feel~~~ okay, moving on) but I'm also used to Jun solos being EXTRA sparkly and fabulous whereas this song is definitely sparkly and fabulous but not (to my ears) any more than the rest of this very sparkly, fabulous album. Possibly this also has to do with its place on the track list; this Disco Star/Daremo Shiranai/TRAP/STAY GOLD line-up is pretty fantastically intense, so Jun doesn't exactly deliver a sucker punch of disco lights vs. if it had been after, say, Bittersweet. None of this is to say I would have done anything differently: THE SONG, THE TRACK LIST, EVERYTHING IS PERFECT, NO COMPLAINTS ANYWHERE IN THIS PARAGRAPH. I was just surprised is all. :D Having said all of that, I am 99.99% certain Jun will go above and beyond with the live performance, and it's only 99.99 because that .01% is allowing for the logical possibility that yes, technically he could end up doing something really mellow, but we all know he won't. (UNLESS THAT IS HOW HE WILL BLOW US ALL AWAY, BY TRANSCENDING ALL EXPECTATIONS OF GLITZ AND SPECTACLE? POSSIBLE FUTURE JUN, YOU SLY FOX.) Bottom line: I LOVE IT.
Bittersweet: I LOVE IT. This song is cute, so cute, and it's seriously the perfect song for Chocojun of which I have finally begun attempting a rewatch. It is possible that listening to this song will always make me think of those black and white striped pants. I LOVE IT.
メリークリスマス: I LOVE IT. I love it with the power of A THOUSAND CHRISTMASES. A heart-wrenchingly cute and masterfully crafted pop song, as expected of Nino!! I've probably listened to it a thousand times by now, loving it even more each time. Also, for anyone who has seen the lyrics: AIMIYA, Y/N??? SAME WAY HOME, SMILING AT 100%, ONE SANTA CHASING ANOTHER SANTA AKA FLIRTY INCLINATIONS AMONG PEOPLE OF THE SAME PROFESSION, MERRY CHRISTMAS-BIRTHDAY???? AIMIYA Y/N???????? I'm not usually one for songfic, but I feel like I NEEEEED a story about Arashi getting together with a cute, fruit-covered cake for Aiba's birthday and then Aiba leaves to head home so he can celebrate with his family in Chiba and Nino walks him to the door and lets him go without confessing like he's been meaning to and then sits around fidgeting until it's just too much and he storms out of the apartment and runs through the snow just in time to make it to the station before Aiba's train leaves so Nino's standing there doubled over and red-faced and panting while Aiba laughs about him looking like one of the strawberries on that cake they gave him earlier until Nino's like "[PANT PANT] YOU LOSER [PANT PANT] I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU I LIKE YOU" and Aiba's all "I like you too, Nino~~~" and gives him a little kiss before turning to get on the train and Nino is stunned but pulls it together enough to tell him "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" before the train doors close. I NEED IT, I NEED IT. I LOVE IT.
キミの夢を見ていた: I LOVE IT. This song is really cute and sounds sort of nostalgic in some ways, especially the chorus, like it could have been right at home on Time or Dream "A" Live. :D I LOVE IT.
One Step: I LOVE IT. It's cuuute and sweet and just really catchy and wonderful, and it's this really nicely done mix of cutesy and bouncy that would fit super well on a mix with Magic hour, Alright!!, and Your Song among others. There is some A++++ wobbly Nino voice in the beginning, I'm so so into it, and Ohno's "OOOH YEAH~~" towards the end kills me every time. I LOVE IT.
Hey Yeah!: I LOVE IT. PERHAPS EVEN MY NEW FAVORITE SHO SOLO?? It's just so fun and cute and aahhh the lyrics are great SO GREAT. I love the juxtaposition of "Don't sweat the small stuff" and "The small stuff is what really matters," SHO, THAT'S A SUCKER PUNCH TO MY HEART, HOW DARE YOU. I want to print the chorus lyrics out and plaster them all over my life, right next to Tuvok's line about not ignoring darkness, Usagi's line about chaos belonging in the hearts of everyone, and that Hadashi no Mirai lyric about gathering the pieces of your future. KONO SEKAI WA BEAUTIFUL!!! I LOVE IT.
Hope in the darkness: I LOVE IT. Aaahhh this song is really pretty and epic and wonderful, Arashi <3<3<3. I predict that whether they perform it in big feathery white outfits or in their concert T-shirts towards the end or any other option in between, it is going to squeeze some pretty intense feelings out of me. I LOVE IT.
Take Off!!!!!!: I LOVE IT. IT'S LIKE THE PERFECT MIX OF SASSY RAPPING FROM ALL MEMBERS, A BOUNCY CHORUS, AND FAN-LOVING LYRICS THAT MAKE ME WANT TO ROLL AROUND IN ARASHI FEELINGS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. WHAT A GOOD WAY TO END SUCH A GLORIOUS ALBUM!! I LOVE IT.
There you have it!! A summary: I love every song forever and can't wait to see what they do with all of this in concert. I PREDICT LOTS OF LASERS.
Crossposted here on Dreamwidth. You can comment there anonymously or using OpenID. ♥