Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo was Hitomi Shimatani’s 28th equal single. It was released on June 25, 2008 and reached number 33 on the charts along with its counterpart. The first equal single was WAKE YOU UP / Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo / Marvelous. Both singles sold a combined total of 4,165+ copies. This with its counterpart was the final single in the Flare Era.

Tracks:
1. Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo
2. Ameoto ~Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Zenya~
3. Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo feat.GooF from SOFFet <SMOOTH RAP version>
4. Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo (Instrumental)
5. Ameoto ~Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Zenya~ (Instrumental)

Review:
I’m pretty sure a few people were wondering what this first track was, I mean the title was long enough. Some people were thinking that’d it be so good, others thought it’d be a total flop. Well don’t hold your breath for Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo. I felt like it was a total flop. The song seemed to begin well enough with some nice R&B beats, but then they were quickly replaced by some foreign strange, and it’s not cultural either, music. Hitomi might sound happy singing but I wan’t happy listening. The song was laid back and everything but it was just so mundane. I mean the chorus was so slow moving and the beats weren’t all that great. This song was really a step down from her previous tracks. I don’t care if the lyrics were based off a poem by Aida Mitsuo, the song was bad. Lighthearted and happy yes, fun and so smooth NO.

After that atrocious song I was hoping for something better. But with the song Ameoto ~Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Zenya~, I had no hopes. I mean the song looks a little like the previous track right? Well to my surprise this song was more enjoyable than the previous track. It was a ballad, and although her ballads aren’t the best this seemed to be an easy listen. The song was a little better than Nakitai Nara but it still needed a little push in the right direction. I just really wish that there was more of a climax for this song. However, I really enjoyed this song with the slow pace, the piano instrumentals and some seemingly jazz beats. Still it’s an improvement from the previous track.

If you didn’t think that the title track couldn’t get worse, you were wrong. Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo feat.GooF from SOFFet <SMOOTH RAP version> sounded even worse in my opinion. I felt that this was just a filler song I mean there was no reason for it. The guy was only present for what seemed like a few seconds and that was it. The song sounded the same for the most part, I couldn’t tell the difference. This song was just sad.

Overall Review: Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo was utterly disturbed. This single is screaming “I need some help, AVEX my label of so many years HELP ME!” I think that she really needs a push in the right direction. I think that Hitomi needs some better songs too, something a little Kuu-Chan like, or even comeback queen Namie, just something new and exciting. I find myself in another predicament listening to this single. It’s not really worth the money, the only thing remotely good was the B-Side, the B-Side for god’s sake. Hitomi has just fallen and it seems that no one can save her. I miss her good old days. The only thing interesting thing about this single was maybe the cover and that title. The worse way to end the Flare Era.

Final Grade: 77D+

WAKE YOU UP / Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo / Marvelous was Hitomi Shimatani’s 28th equal single. It was released on June 26, 2008 and reached number 33 on the charts along with its counterpart. The second equal single was Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo and it was released on the same day as this single. In all these two singles combined have sold over 4,165+ copies. WAKE YOU UP was used as the theme song for TV Tokyo’s dorama Keitai Sousakan 7. Marvelous was image song of NTV’s live broadcast wrestling show. This with its counterpart is the fourth and final single in the Flare Era.

Tracks:
1. WAKE YOU UP
2. Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo
3. Marvelous

Review:
WAKE YOU UP, the up-beat tune. This begins with some very up-beat music followed by some gospel sounding choir singing in English. Hitomi then begins to sing and the first thing i think is “man this music is loud” but it seems to quiet down enough so you can hear her. I honestly had no clue where the verses ended and where the chorus began, but it’s safe to say that it wasn’t that memorable. Although during the last two minutes the song got better. But an electric guitar as the bridge seemed so out of place. I personally think this song belongs in another time, not the 21st Century. This reminds me of old music from either the 80’s or 90’s, especially with the last few seconds.

Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo lit. In the Rain When It’s Rainy, In the Wind When It’s Windy. This song’s lyrics were part of a poem by Mitsuo Aida. This song begins with some R&B beats, but then it stops, and then some very odd music replaces it. Hitomi’s vocals sound nice, but the music is just so odd. But the song seemed to move slowly. The verses sounds pretty dull, but the chorus. The chorus was just so long winded and so boring. It started off fine, but ended so so flat. The only interesting thing about this song was the abnormally long title.

Marvelous, finally a tolerable song. After the previous lackluster songs I was about to give up on this single. But this song has given me something to look forward to. It begins with a little fast piano solo and some fast moving music. Hitomi begins to sing and it’s actually pleasant, not dreadful. And the verses move pretty fast and smoothly to the chorus. This time not only was the chorus noticeable, but it sounds good, in a sweet almost sugary pop kind of way. I really love how it used some English too, no Engrish either. The chorus moved pretty fast and it was actually catchy, almost addictive. But it’s something that Hitomi would do so I can’t say I’m not surprised. And as vinyabarion stated, it was similar to Camellia but not as good.

Overall Review: WAKE YOU UP / Ame no Hi ni wa Ame no Naka wo Kaze no Hi ni wa Kaze no Naka wo / Marvelous was certainly a unique single. It was a step up from her previous single, but it seemed a little rushed and ill-prepared. I mean it’s one thing to release a triple A-Side single with another single, but it should be a good one. It’s really depressing what’s happened with Hitomi, her singles were so good once, now they seem so dull, so lifeless. The only real track I was interested in was Marvelous and that was only fair. What’s happened to her, hopefully Flare will be better. This single will only be known as the “extremely long and useless titled single” nothing more. A deeply saddening way to end the Flare Era, not so marvelous.

Final Grade: 85C+

Nakitai Nara was Hitomi Shimatani’s 27th single. It was released on March 19, 2008 and reached number 34 on the charts with 3,574 copies sold. This was the third single in the Flare Era.

Tracks:
1. Nakitai Nara
2. Kuchizuke Shiyou
3. Nakitai Nara (Instrumental)
4. Kuchizuke Shiyou (Instrumental)

Review:
Nakitai Nara lit. If I Want to Cry, the sad ballad. An acoustic guitar begins to play as this ballad begins. Hitomi then begins to sing in some soft vocals. With the cello in the background, the song sounds so sad, almost like it was crying. During the chorus Hitomi’s vocals stay basically the same, and that’s not the best thing really. Although during the 2:21 point of the song when she sings it actually sounds nice, but then again there are background vocals. As for the chorus, well it seemed so dull, even with the wonderful instrumentals. Ballads really aren’t Hitomi’s forte, she should stick with dance and pop songs in my opinion.

Kuchizuke Shiyou lit. Let’s Kiss, a Parisian ballad? Well unlike the previous song, this one isn’t so long winded, nor is it so dramatic. Instead this song is a little softer, and it’s filled with some interesting music, namely the accordion music, it makes it sounds like you’re in Paris, or France for that matter. Anyway Hitomi’s vocals were a lot better, they were soft, yet so lovely. The piano playing constantly was a nice little touch too. Although there was no climax, and the you couldn’t tell where the chorus was, the song was still an improvement. Much better than the previous song.

Overall Review: Nakitai Nara was a disappointing single. I normally love ballads, but these were so sad. I mean Hitomi is normally a better pop, or even dance singer, not a ballad singer. The first ballad was so flawed and so dull. But at least the next ballad was more vibrant more appealing. However, it could’ve been worse, this single was tolerable nonetheless. Still, a dull single for the Flare Era.

Final Grade: 85C+

Neva Eva was Hitomi Shimatani’s 25th single. It was released on June 6, 2007 and reached number 22 on the charts with 6,055 copies sold. In all this single has sold over 8,175+ copies. The title track was used as the opening theme song for the Nippon TV Wrestling 2007. This was also the first single in the Flare Era.

Tracks:
1. Neva Eva
2. Hakuchuumu
3. Neva Eva (Instrumental)
4. Hakuchuumu (Instrumental)

Review:
Neva Eva, the upbeat brass tune. This upbeat tune begins right away with some brass instruments and what appears to be some drum beats, and something that sounds like a small drum beat; and in all the commotion it sounds like there’s a bit of running going on; must be the fast music. Anyway after wards Hitomi begins to sing, in some darn good vocals. As she sings the music seems to accompany her and that awesome voice of hers, and the music builds up till the chorus starts to create a fun and great climax. The verses were rather enjoyable, but once again the chorus out-shined it all. The chorus was very up-beat, happy, fast, and so so fun, summer-esque if you will. And those instrumentals reinforce that. The bridge sounded a little like a jazz fest with all the brass until the other instrumentals arrive, still very nice. This song wasn’t half bad.

Hakuchuumu lit. Daydream, the island inspiration. Like the previous song this one begins right off, but this time with a heavy island vibe, made very powerful by the drums and instruments. And her vocals start just as soon as it started, and they’re a little stronger here in this song. As the verses progress they begin to sound better, in preparation for the chorus. The chorus was slow moving but it still sounded good, again the brass instruments were present giving it some jazz flare. I loved how she managed to use a little English and the fact that it was so dance like, well an island dance really. You could really feel the beats in this laid-back song.

Overall Review: Neva Eva was brass bursting with pure excitement! This is the first time I’ve seen Hitomi use the brass section so excessively and so flawlessly. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat the whole time listening to both songs. One the one hand you have a fast paced brass tune, on the other a laid back brass, island song. But overall this has got to be one of her more enjoyable singles, especially for a summer one, a fun and entertaining way to begin the Flare Era.

Final Grade: 100A+

Shinku / Ai no Uta was Hitomi Shimatani’s 26th single. It was released on September 5, 2007 and reached number 14 on the charts with 12,121 copies sold, and in all it was sold 19,757+ copies. This was the second single in the Flare Era, and the highest charing single in the Era.

Tracks:
1. Shinku
2. Ai no Uta
3. Shinku (A.C.E.3 version)
4. Shinku (Instrumental)
5. Ai no Uta (Instrumental)

Review:
Shinku, lit. Deep Crimson. I’d have to say that this is a dance song. It begins right off with a beautiful instrumental that enchants you. Then Hitomi begins singing the first verse, which is catchy and sounds very good. Then she begins the chorus in which her voice shows strength and power. The chorus itself is amazing with the music and the lyrics. What a great song. And it kinda reminds me of one of her earlier dance songs called Garnet Moon.

Ai no Uta lit. Love Poem in this song. It begins with the piano playing and sounds incredible. It’s actually a lovely ballad and it’s a lot better than I thought it was going to be. What a nice ballad from Hitomi, I didn’t know she had it in her. Although I think that it could’ve been a little better.

Shinku (A.C.E.3 version) the opening for the game Another Century Episode 3: The Final. This version is a lot shorter and begins with an instrumental that sounds a little dark but it’s still good. It then changes into the regular version of Shinku, but as I said a lot shorter, and still good.

Overall Review: Shinku / Ai no Uta is such a great single from Hitomi. I wish it would’ve reached the top 10 but that’s okay. I loved who Shinku was a fast dance song and that Ai no Uta was a slow love ballad, kinda contradictory but still great. And the remix was a great bonus.

Final Grade: 94A-