SINGLE REVIEW: Arashi’s ‘Happiness’
I’m really not at all familiar with Arashi, but a friend in Japanese class reccomended that I listen to their music… Sooo, I have basically been dropped into the world of another Japanese boy-group that I know nothing about… It was the same with KAT-TUN and almost all of the artists under Johnny’s Entertainment. I’m pretty sure they’ll resemble KAT-TUN, mostly based on the fact that I they look the same. I don’t know how people differentiate between some of these groups… I swear it’s just one group popping up after the other, each another version of the previous… Wierrrrrrd. Well, I guess, with nothing to lose, I leave you with the review of arashi’s ‘happiness’.~
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Happiness is an interesting song, though my fears were confirmed. To me, arashi pretty much sounds like KAT-TUN, but maybe geared towards a bit yonger of an audience. Their songs are kind of mid-tempo pop with a bit of a rock influence. The music for the song isn’t bad, but really unoriginal. Their vocals are okay, but I still hear a striking resemblence to KAT-TUN. Generally speaking, they’re not bad. I’m not sure I can say I really care for this song, which, although technically okay, is just kind of bland and average. I’ve heard songs like this from many artists, and I’m just generally not impressed, especially since this isn’t one of the better versions of this kind of song that I’ve heard. I ended up having to force myself to listen to it more than once, and I just can’t get myself to like it all that much. I want to hear a ballad by them, because that’s where the vocals of artists are really tested. This song seems to just use their voices rather than actually need them. It kind of just rambles on in a puddle of uninteresting guitar and amateur vocals.
Vocal Grade: B- — Musical Grade: B+ — Consistency Grade: B+ — Harmonizaton Grade: B
Overall Grade: B-
The second song on the single, entitled Still…, is a little bit better. When I heard the calm and relaxing intro guitar I thought that maybe they were going to actually answer my wishes for a ballad, but I ended up wrong… naturally. The slow chords disappear quickly and flow into a very typical mid-tempo pop song that features incredibly repetetive vocals and some happy beats in the background. There wasn’t much about this song that I cared for, and I found it to be a bit obnoxious at times. The music for this song is OKAY, but I’m really not impressed. The song also has a rap sequence in it, which I thought was poorly done and random. I don’t like rap at all, and to hear these boys do it only made me want to laugh. I don’t really see how anyone thinks that talking in rhyme is music, but whatever. I’m not impressed with something that I know I could do just as well [meaning the rap].
Vocal Grade: B — Musical Grade: B+ — Consistency Grade: B — Harmonization Grade: B
Overall Grade: B
The third and final track on this single is Snowflake. There was once again a slow intro, which I completely thought was going to melt away into another manufactured pop song. However, I was thankfully wrong. I still think that their vocals are not that great, but I thought this was definitely the best song on the single. Their vocals are better in this song, and so is their harmonization. It kind of bugs me that they don’t do more interesting things with their harmonization other than take turns singing, and then have a small part where they all sing at the same time. Of course, their voices sound pretty much the same, so I don’t know if I would even realize it was a group. Arashi gives me a very amateur vibe, and I really thought this single was kind of a disappointment. It shows that there isn’t much standard for becoming a musician in Japan. At this rate, you’ll just need six people who aren’t mute to form a musical group.
Vocal Grade: B+ — Musical Grade: B- — Consistency Grade: A- — Harmonization Grade: B+
Overall Grade: B
SINGLE GRADE: B-
OMG that Happiness song was sooo bouncy and like it was right from a japanese Sesame Street float in a parade…i’m sure the yrics have nothing to do with the alphabet or numbers, but the tempo and beat and…ecclectic mix of instruments and INFLECTION of the voices and repetition just reminded me of a song from a kid’s TV show. it kinda woke me up[ though…WEIRD. but it was FUN. haha
WAAAAAAAAAH i was disappointed when the serene beginning was swallowed up by the many guys’ voices all eager to keep it upbeat and POPish. -.- not that bad, but sitll…gah.
….it was a LONG…LONG….song. and almost painful–i agree, their attempt at the rap was sad and if it was their way of mixing the song up….just no. if you want to do rap, do a whole song with it..don’t ruin an already awkward song with more awkwardness. >< rap is so gross, and japanese men…well, i have yet to hear a japanese rapper…i guess…
when snowflake started, i knew, even if it went into a poppy sounding typical song of theirs, it’d be my favourite. i’m glad it was toned down for the most part, and it had a nicer sound to it, one that ddn’t go all over the place or seem lke it belonged on japanese nickelodeon. but yeah. it wasn’t bad. of couse, when i turn on yui…hehehehe
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This is by far not their best single. Though I myself am not a JE fan, I do find that Arashi keeps to the traditional and happy Jpop style (as does a lot of JE groups).
Maybe a song like Love so sweet would be better.
Unoriginal? Arashi debuted earlier than KAT-TUN. And yes, I agree. This is totally not one of their best singles. The previous one’s were better.
Would you care to review Arashi’s latest album [Time]?
I am a fan, and to be honest, Happiness isn’t the greatest single to introduce anyone to their music. Although I have to admit that their appeal to me does lie in an overall combination of their music (happy uplifting lyrics) and personalities (which is hard for me to convey to a non-fan, as their careers in the industry span way more than just their music).
But yeah, I enjoyed reading your review of the single nonetheless, cos’ it’s refreshing to read honest opinions by music fans outside the Arashi fandom.
arashi was ALOT earlier than KAT-TUN. so ts not their fault. songs like love so sweet, kitto daijoubu, wish, a.ra.shi, we can make it, has really nice and catchy tune although some parts are abit wierd. but those songs are my faves.
Hmm…I think there’s a mistake somewhere. Since Arashi debuted way before Kat-tun, it’d be logically improbable that they would sound “like” Kat-tun when the latter group wasn’t even formed yet. It could be the other way around, Kat-tun sounding like Arashi, but then, Arashi’s the more “pop” sounding one. Kat-tun’s on the heavier, pop-rock side, a bit more Ska-rock to me. Arashi sounds “safer,” a lot less edge, more “bubblegum rock” so to speak.