Shibasaki Kou - Euphoria. Perfume - ねえ。。

Shibasaki Kou - Euphoria

* This video has been out for a few days it seems but the official youtube website for Shibasaki Kou's hasn't released anything on it. This is from one of the fans. *

Shibasaki Kou has been a very active artist (acting wise and singing wise) and is still very active right now. Among the few artist I've been updated on, she's the 2nd most fastest singer to release singles, with the 1st being our Madonna of Jpop, Ayumi Hamasaki.

Nevertheless they both go on a seemingly similar music path, that is versatility. Versatile should be the best thing about Shibasaki Kou and her music. She had done many kinds and types of music from ballads, to blues, from very rock to very pop and even electronic. Regardless is it because of her voice, or the musicians behind her, Shibasaki Kou san makes a very good commercial artist. None of her song sounds awful to be frank and she does excellent ballads/emo songs. (her emo songs can be really damn emo)

However, that is about as far as she goes.

Euphoria is a song that strikes on such a point. Overall Euphoria has the touches of Shibasaki Kou's previous song, with this one being more on the pop/emo-rock side. It's refreshing and sounds excellent, but neither surprising nor elating. When I first heard Euphoria, I went "hmmm nice not bad at all." But that's it. Sadly this is the problem with overly commercialized songs. They never sound bad and at times they are really good, but they can never really become a big hit. They don't have the "WOW" factor. Of all the Shibasaki Kou's songs I have heard, only a few out of her whole discography can give me the "WOW" factor. Sadly Euphoria is not it.

With the talents behind Shibasaki Kou's music career, I'm sure they can come out with something more explosive. If not they can experiment more with Shibasaki san's voice or do something really weird rather than the usual ballads, rock, pop songs. Her previous album "Love Paranoia" had her done some electronics techno stuff which sounded good but they aren't the mainly advertised songs. Stop being so cautious, and risk a bit more for Shibasaki san to be a real A-class singer. She's already an A-class actress in Japan, no reason she can't be an A-class singer. ;)

Video wise it looked good but similar to a previous video Kage. Also, I'm confused as to who the girl in black is, Shibasaki Kou herself? Or is it Takeuchi Yuko san. (They almost look the same I swear) The cosmetic at the ending part is a tad on the scary side but it does not worry me that much. Nothing much to complain or comment for at the end. :)

If I may add, she looks much better without the fringe.

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Perfume - ねえ

And here is it, the long awaited single from Perfume!! ねえ　（Nee)

Being the big Perfume fan I am, it's only natural I have waited in anticipation ever since it's sneak release on the CM. And I'm starting to hate TokumaJapan for always posting short version. ARGH!! Nee started out as the CM for the Perfume endorsed company, Natural Beauty's clothes.

I'm liking Nakata's creative vibes in making Perfume's music now. Ever since their "Game" days, Perfume's music is sounding more and more mature, which goes along with their age. From Fushizen na Girl to Voice, this latest release sounds good and screams of a very Capsule feel, not that I mind it.

Perfume seemed to have "upp-ed" their level of techno and still retained a bit of their own feel. Listen to how the song transform from the chorus to the verse, it's very electronic and upbeat, you can sense Capsule here. Now listen to the verse, it's the slow and melancholy part of Perfume's. They have added the good sides of both Capsule and Perfume into 1 and that is the style of the current Perfume. If any 1 of the 2 factors are gone, this song would have been average at best. Also as compared to Voice, Nee seems to be more "durable" to listen.

Being electronic-pop unit gives them the easy perks for changing sounds but retaining the same good progression and music. Therefore Perfume may have different sounds, but once you hear it you know it's Perfume.

MV had them all looking like models with Natural Beauty's clothes on. As always, Perfume's MV director must be some damn clever guy, he always has this artistic sense in combining the fantasy look into reality. Just as how he had done it with Voice and Fushizen, Nee's MV looks brilliant. Love the cat with Yuka-chan btw :D

Perfume sounds more adult now and I'm seeing that trend for their latest album which I'm predicting to be released either by year end after their 10 year anniversary concert.