[2008.07.23] RYTHEM - Love Call/Akari no Arika single review

Yes, it has been months since the release of this floppy collaboration single isn't it? Yes, I'm such a dope because of this indolence inside me, I wasn't able to give a review a week after it's release. Ah well at least, it already stopped charting in the Oricon weekly so it's still kinda advantageous... in some sort of way. ~_~

Tracklisting:

1. Love Call (5:22)
   
2. Akari no Arika (4:05)
   
3. Love Call -instrumental- (5:22)
   
4. Akari no Arika -instrumental- (4:04)
   

Okay, this is RYTHEM's 15th single (16th overall, including their digital single Bitter & Sweet) and their first collaboration single (with a J-hip-hop group called Kimaguren) but this is still released under SMEJ. This single reached #30 in the Oricon weekly charts with total first week sales of 3,678 copies (too few for a 30th position IMO) and charted for a total of 3 weeks so I didn't bet that this one would sell 10,000 copies but only about 7,000 or even fewer because of the decline in single/album sales nowadays. Both A-side songs have drama tie-ins, the former is in a drama called Sukkiri! (which is their 3nd tie-in with the drama after their Negai single way back 2 years ago) and the latter with Hisho no Kagami.

When I first heard that RYTHEM will be having a collaboration single, I got really REAL excited but when I happened to know that they will be collaborating with a hip-hop/R&B group, I'd lost hope with it. Why? Because the duo isn't meant to do rap and hip-hop-py styles and stuffs, not just that I HATE (yes, hate) that genre. They are much more suited into their genre, medium ballad to cheerfully light-hearted melodies just like Harmonia, which the latter A-side is. I didn't expect much since they released a low-quality full version of Love Call in their main website.

I'm not saying the song itself is gross, uncute, and unbearable to hear but it's somewhat dull and kinda boring if you ask me. Just the wrong combo of artist collab and synths/beats. With the R&B-ish intro, it could really attract but when the duo started singing, it was kinda, "oh no..." for me. Its slow beat and unattractive beats started attacking out my eardrums. So much uninspiring... Maybe Kimaguren's up for this style but not RYTHEM. So much for trying out new style, it's not really all that credible and let out the true RYTHEM. I just pretended the track didn't appear on the tracklisting (but it's not all that real! *major bricking*) What's worse is it's longer than the true star of the single so I had to bear and grit out my teeth just to get through since I won't be able to describe the feeling if I won't be listening and close my mind to this song. It's still decent music after all.

Well after this long track, I can break free again and listen to the one of the most nicest, illustrative, relaxing piece of music RYTHEM have ever pulled out in aeons. Akari no Arika is the only "RYTHEM-only" song (Love Call is the only one with Kimaguren so feel free to break free like what I did! ^__^) in this single and just by hearing the intro (in one of my posts), I'd say it's the only one who has an interesting "ring" on it, isn't it? The song itself is poppish and yet (for me) it displays a lot of happiness and creativeness within the song. Whenever I listen to this song, it feels like I'm driving in a peaceful province adorned with beautiful garden wherein you can relax, enjoy and cherish your surroundings. It may not be interpreted in the lyrics but that's the one that I fantasize while going through over the song. Plus the cheerful and great combo of YUI and YUKA's voice is also present (which isn't in the former song). Just gotta love their cheerful and overflowing voice ever since Harmonia! XDDD~ And it even has a faster tempo! The guitar beats and the melody is truthfully amazing.

Overall, I'll grade this 3.5/5 since I didn't really like Love Call but the other powerful A-side overpowered it. 8D

Karaoke mode! With YUKA of RYTHEM (as if!)

sentiment: LOL'd
harmony: "Natsu Mero" by RYTHEM

Don't be fooled with the title~! ;) It didn't really happened in reality. :P It just happened with Audacity and mp3! Because I finally found a minus YUI version of their latest released single Kubisuji Line!! And it was so hard to find because all of my sources failed me!!! O.O They all had the limited version of the single (which only had the Nekoze (acoustic) on it) and at long last, I finally ditched a minus YUI and minus YUKA version of the song!! *me lurrvvzz karaoke* So I decided to give it a try but I used the minus YUI because SRSLY, I can't do what YUKA can do --- her amazing second voice! That was my weakest point, lol so I goaled for minus YUI so that I can have a duet with YUKA!! Although in a song rendition method only but at least, I had the experience!! XP That's what matters right now!!

And take note I tried the minus YUKA version awhile ago and I just *cough cough* it out... XD *shot* Yes, I really have an uncute voice plus I'm not gifted with the second voice! =__=

Get your own Flash MP3 Player

And here if you want to listen to my duet with YUKA, listen at your own risk!!! XP Well, it's just for fun right? So nothing to lose!!! xD Go get the opportunity when you have it! *me isshh an opportunist person* LOL! XD

Love Call/Akari no Arika info

sentiment: so-and-so
harmony: "Kameleon Kamen" by RYTHEM

At last, the single cover is now available even if the quality is only small courtesy of their official website. Good cover and I like Yui's violet clothes (dunno if that's a jacket or whatsoever). But I really didn't like the appearance... I dunno myself but I think this single will be the complete opposite of their epic win song, Harmonia. If you saw their PV on that song, it amazed me because I love the place and surroundings that they cover for the video unlike here, they'll be in the city with those citylights around them telling me that it'll be a hip-hop single. And you know what, I was correct! Wait till you hear these,

The first one is the Love Call. It's their first collaboration... with a new J-pop duo. And what's unbelievable is that they teamed up with a hip-hop duo!! =__= Which I didn't like the idea from the start. And as expected, it has some taste of hip-hop with those synths from the start. It's a low-quality full version so if you're interested, just listen to it. Ermm, what can I say? I didn't really like the song... Why? They're straying off to their original genre of music!! Plus, their overflowing placid voice is not present either!! I'd rather hear a ballad from them... Hip-hop doesn't really suit Yui and Yuka! (-____-) Maybe unplugged, acoustic and jazzy music, it's still plausible but from either R&B and hip-hop, don't ask.

The second one is a 42-second preview of the other A-side Akari no Arika. This is more love for me!! I love this!!! I love the intro of the song and I'm glad it's not a ballad. XD And ish more inspiring, even their blending voice was already present in the half-part of the preview! It's more calming and feeling like you're in a distant yet flavorful paradise with a pleasant ring on it. I'm expecting more on this one!! XD

My Personality Type

sentiment: kinda bored
harmony: "Time heals all sorrows" by Kotoko

Got this from Urumi-chan's blog. It's been a while since I've taken an online quiz nee? I just got curious of what personality type I have. xD And what do you know, I'm an independent thinker (IT)?! Yes the explanation there are 80-90% me but I can't believe that I'm independent...

Ahh I miss Sachi Tainaka... xD Oh and speaking of her, I updated her page in Wiki since I learned that she will have her 8th single entitled Mou Kisu Sarechatta released on the 23rd of July... Oh that date... It's also the release date of Rythem's 16th and first double-A side single entitled Love Call/Akari no Arika. None of these singles has released their single covers as of now, and I'm excited to grab them... xD *can't wait*

At last! It's finished!

sentiment: sleepy
harmony: "Kubisuji Line" by Rythem

watching: Shakugan no Shana II episode 17, true tears episode 2

Hora! Hora! I'm finished with Rythem's complete discography at good ol' Wiki. xDD It's not the best description but it's certified hard work from moi! :DD Especially the Kubisuji Line! xD I'm loving the cover and it's my first time to make an article with alternate cover! *gets innocent again*

I'm getting addicted again with Rythem -- to the highest level -- to the point that I made a playlist of my Rythem collection on my multiply although I'm not yet finished uploading songs. Well, who's not going to be allured with their overflowing voice? Their songs are relaxing and delightful and some are touching (some of my favorite ballads are Komugiiro no RABUSONGU and Rapunzel). But of course I still love Harmonia, Houki Gumo, Kokoro Biidama and Mikazuki Rhapsody. xD And not to mention Kubisuji Line. xD

*yawn* Ah this day has been very short yet I got sleepy again so I'll have to call it a "night" again. I didn't do much today since I'm already finished with driving school (but I still have to attend driving lecture during Saturdays) and I'm not very helpful with household chores. Or maybe I'm just thinking too much again that's why I get tired easily? D: