CD
CD + Blu-ray
CD + Blu-ray Anime Version
1) Omokage
2) Soyokaze
3) Jiu no Kuchizuka (CD + Blu-ray Anime Version)
SID's last physical single release was 2021's Star Forest .
Before Omokage was physically released , the A-side was 1st released digitally on 8th Jan .
Promo wise , Omokage was used as the opening theme no. for the 2nd season of the anime Tenkan Shifuku , which's the Japanese dubbed version of the anime The Heaven Official's Blessing .
Omokage is the 2nd SID song used to promote Tenkan Shifuku after Jiu no Kuchizuka which was used as the anime season 1's opening theme no. .
Credits wise , Omokage was written by vocalist Mao & composed by bassist Aki .
Soyokaze serves as the B-side in Omokage & this song was 1st released digitally last year on 11th Dec , on the same day as the release of SID Tribute Album -Anime Songs- .
Just like Omokage , Soyokaze was also written by Mao & composed by Aki .
I enjoy Jiu no Kuchizuka a great deal & Omokage is a fitting successor . Since both songs were used to promote the Tenkan Shifuku anime , it's not surprising they sound similar but for me I have no issues with it .
Soyokaze contrasts Omokage really well & this song was created in celebration of SID's 20th anniversary last year which made things even more special for them .
I hope Omokage will not be the only new SID release of the year . In recent years , the members have undertaken solo activities which explained why they have not been as active as once before , group activities wise .
But regardless of things , SID still has my support . For them to be in the music business for more than 2 decades , it's not easy but they're still here so that says a lot .
For now , I will continue to listen to Omokage as much as possible while waiting for their next music release .
CD + Blu-ray
1) MISSION
2) Deep Down
3) MISSION (TV Size)
4) MISSION (Instrumental)
5) Deep Down (Instrumental)
MISSION is Mika Nakashima's 48th single & it was released on 13th March .
Mika's last physical CD single release was last March's Beyond .
Before MISSION was physically released , the A-side was 1st released digitally on 13th Jan .
Promo wise , MISSION was used as the ending theme to promote the 2nd season of the anime Megumi no Daigo: Kyuukoku no Orange . Described as a fast paced song , this no. reflects the feelings of the anime's main characters who are passionate about their MISSION .
A video was made for MISSION but it's not included in the physical release of the single .
In MISSION you could sense how intense Mika sounds in the song . The usage of piano being played furiously away is also a nice surprise .
Deep Down serves as the B-side in MISSION . Something about this mid tempo emotional song drawn onto me on 1st listen . Piano is also present in Deep Down but in here it's a lot more calmer and soothing which contrasts the A-side really well .
Overall I really enjoy MISSION & usually the B-side is overshadowed by the A-side but for this , Deep Down is actually A-side worthy .
Music release wise , Mika has released a lot of new material (be it digital and/or physical CD single releases) since her last studio album JOKER & I will not be surprised if Mika will release a new studio album this year . If so , it will mark another milestone for her as her next album release will be her 10th .
Only time will tell . For now , MISSION is a single worth checking out with special emphasis on the B-side Deep Down .
Dangerously is a song by Koda Kumi which was released digitally on 8th March .
Promo wise , Dangerously was chosen to promote the movie Kamen Rider Geats: Jyamato Awaking that was released on the same day .
Compared to Koda's previous digital release song Silence , Dangerously is very fun and upbeat . I really like the song the moment I 1st heard it .
Just like Trust・Last which Koda performed together with Shonan no Kaze (which promoted the drama Kamen Rider Geats) , Dangerously is another song that made Koda step out of her music comfort zone but in a good way .
Koda's 19th album UNICORN will be released on 17th April but Dangerously will not be included in the new album .
CD
CD + DVD
1) Eye's Sentry
2) High Light!!
3) über cozy universe
4) Eye's Sentry (Instrumental)
CD + DVD Anime Version
1) Eye's Sentry
2) CORE PRIDE
3) REVERSI
4) Itteki no Eikyou
5) High Light!!
6) über cozy universe
7) Eye's Sentry (Anime ver.)
8) Eye's Sentry (Instrumental)
UVERworld's last physical single release was 2022's Pygmalion .
Eye's Sentry was released on the same day as UVERworld KING’S PARADE Otoko Matsuri REBORN at Nissan Stadium video release .
Promo wise , Eye's Sentry was used as the new opening theme for season 4 of the Ao no Exorcist anime .
Eye's Sentry is the 4th song UVERworld has contributed to promote the Ao no Exorcist anime after :
- CORE PRIDE ; 19th single
- REVERSI ; 23rd single
- Itteki no Eikyou ; 30th single
Prior to the physical CD single release , the A-side was 1st released digitally last month on 25th Feb .
A video made for Eye's Sentry but it's not included in the physical release of the single .
Usually it takes a while for me to get into UVERworld's songs but surprisingly I love Eye's Sentry the moment I 1st heard it .
UVERworld's music can be hard to like because at times they can get too over the top experimental but luckily that did not apply to Eye's Sentry .
As usual the inclusion of saxophone in UVERworld's material is always welcome . It's still not often you see a saxophone player being included in a JRock group , permanent member wise .
Hitomi is a song by Fukuyama Masaharu which was released digitally on 19th Feb .
Promo wise , Hitomi was chosen to promote the drama Haru ni Nattara .
Hitomi is described as an inclusive song that gently embraces the world of father & daughter . Fukuyama created Hitomi with the image of a "reciprocated letter" to a loved one .
Fukuyama's latest song release Hitomi is very different from his previous digital released song Soubou but in a good way .
Unlike Soubou , Hitomi is a lot more cheery & lighthearted . This mid tempo no. captured the spirit of what the Haru ni Nattara drama is & my favourite part of Hitomi is the ending of the song's melody which has a great Orchestra feel that did not sound over the top .
Just like Soubou , Hitomi is another great song added to Fukuyama's ever growing music discography & I look forward to see what else Fukuyama will release next this year .
Silence is a song by Koda Kumi which was released digitally on 14th Feb .
Promo wise , Silence was chosen to promote the movie Gold Boy that will open in Japan's cinemas on 8th March .
The digital cover & accompanied music video were filmed in Okinawa .
Unlike Koda's previous digital released song Vroom which I still do not like unfortunately , I thankfully did not have the same thoughts over Silence .
Ballads that Koda released over the years can be hit or miss . What I like about Silence is that it emphasised on the less is more aspect & Koda showcased her vocals well in this beautiful piano driven ballad .
Koda's 19th album UNICORN will be released on 17th April & Silence will be included in the new album .
Regular
Limited
Tracklist (same for both versions)
1) Orange
2) Imagination -New Version-
3) I'm・A・Believer -New Version-
4) One Day -New Version-
5) Orange (Instrumental)
6) Imagination -New Version- (Instrumental)
7) I'm・A・Believer -New Version- (Instrumental)
8) One Day -New Version- (Instrumental)
SPYAIR's latest music offering was released on the same day as JUST LIKE THIS 2023 video release .
This is the 1st physical CD release featuring new vocalist YOSUKE after he replaced ex vocalist IKE who left SPYAIR on March 2022 due to health issues .
Orange is the 2nd original song featuring YOSUKE after SPYAIR digitally released RE-BIRTH last July .
Promo wise , Orange was chosen to promote the movie Haikyu!! Gomi Suteba no Kessen that opened in Japan's cinemas last Friday on 16th Feb .
Orange is described as an emotional song that is studded with self-homage to past SPYAIR songs that were used to promote the Haikyu!! anime franchise over the years .
The B sides in Orange EP includes re-recorded past SPYAIR songs SPYAIR that promoted the Haikyu!! anime franchise :
Imagination -New Version- ; 14th single ; released digitally last Sept
I'm・A・Believer -New Version- ; 17th single ; released digitally last Dec
One Day -New Version- ; 23rd single
SPYAIR brings their 1st music release since new vocalist YOSUKE joined the band last April ! Orange is the theme song of Haikyu!! Gomi Suteba no Kessen . The EP also includes new versions of Imagination , I'm・A・Believer & One Day .
Song wise , Orange is really good . The mid tempo ballad has music elements from the past songs SPYAIR that they used to promote the Haikyu!! anime franchise over the years & I love the inclusion of violin strings in the melody .
In addition , the video that SPYAIR made for Orange has some really cool callback references to the past music videos they made which 1 of them they referenced One Day in the video .
As for the newly recorded songs in the Orange EP , the new take of One Day is the only 1 that I surprisingly do not like . Perhaps if YOSUKE sung the song in a lower vocal range , I would have prefer it a lot more but for this , this's the rare occasion where I prefer the original take of One Day over the newly recorded version .
I have supported SPYAIR for a very long time . It was devastating when ex vocalist IKE left the band due to health issues & let alone his singing voice is still 1 of the most recognisable & unique to date .
That said , it's heartening to see that the reminding members have continue on & with YOSUKE now being the band's new vocalist , SPYAIR is in good hands & I look forward to future music releases from them .
