Well I hope that you all liked the first part of this article. I had fun writing it and I didn’t have time to finish it so here’s hopefully the last part. This section will cover a little more of BoA and will include Namie Amuro, Koda Kumi, and even Ai Otsuka. So get ready everyone for Part 2.

BoA is back up!

MADE IN TWENTY(20) - BoA

This little number was BoA’s 5th studio album, and yet another no. 1 hit. But what’s a little more interesting was the title. I mean where did the title come from, there’s no title track on the album, so it must be either spur of the moment, or just some title. But I guess this could be spur of the moment, but I think the title’s a little more than that. From the name it’s a little more personal, and there’s a little less restraint. I mean I guess this was to celebrate her 20th birthday, and a way to express her happiness, and how well she has it. This album also features some more R&B oriented tracks, and it’s a little more adult compared to her previous album. I really didn’t like this album that much but I must admit that she did put a little bit of herself into this album so that was nice. Overall though, it’s really to express herself as she has it made in twenty.

Queen of comebacks, Nami is here!

Queen of Hip-Pop - Namie Amuro

This album was considered her “comeback” album as it outsold her previous album, but I really think that PLAY was her comeback, but I won’t get into that. Anyway, this album comes from one on the tracks on the album, the very first one actually. Her previous album was all about her new style and such, this one was more about her defining herself. It’s almost as if she proclaimed herself the queen of her new found style, rather than a novice. I felt that this was a step up from STYLE and it was more edgier and more mature. As for the title track, it was edgy, powerful, and so so addicting. She’s definitely the Queen of Hip-Pop.

STYLE - Namie Amuro

After a three year period without a studio album, and her SUITE CHIC project, she released this album, her first venture into urban music. This album was a real defining album, she shed her pop-idol image and became a sexy, mature, urban adult. No more were her simplistic songs pop, instead she became immersed into the world of R&B and urban music. Despite this album not doing as well, and becoming her lowest selling studio album, it defined Namie as an urban artist, and put her back on track to regaining prominence. As for the title track, really called Namie’s Style, well it was very heavy in urban and hip-hop music. It wasn’t great, but I guess that was Namie for you.

Let’s not forget about the singer/songwriter Ai-Chan!

LOVE PiECE - Ai Otsuka

LOVE PiECE, another one of Ai’s wonderful albums. It was her fourth studio album and another album to include that infamous LOVE in the title. But like her previous albums, there was no title track. But I guess the title is all about PiECE, like from a puzzle. As you can see, the cover is made of six different sections, each a different color piece. There was a photobook with the album that included many photos with six different background and outfits, and each one was used to creat the cover, essentially creating a puzzle with different pieces. And album wise, there were many different genres in this album, each like a puzzule piece adding its own unique touch to the final puzzule, or in this case album.

LOVE COOK - Ai Otsuka

This album’s title was a little more on the personal note, well once you understand how she came up with it. But as always there’s that infamous LOVE part, but this time the second part is COOK. But why is that??? It turns out that her birthday is September 9 (9月9日), and that’s where the whole COOK came from. She revealed on Music Station that her birthday gave the title to the album. Anyway as for the explanation, it turns out that in Japanese 9月9 is read as kukku (クック), which corresponds to COOK. A cute and creative title, Ai-Chan is so cute!

But wait, aren’t we missing someone, like the new diva of AVEX, Kuu-chan.

Kingdom - Koda Kumi

After her best selling studio album and a year of entertaining singles, Kingdom was released. It was thought to sell out like hotcakes after the album was heavily promoted, many advertisements for Kumi, and the fact that there were PVs for every single song. But, due to a little controversy it almost became a flop, selling less than her previous studio album by about half the sales. But there’s no denying that this was a good album, but the real question is where did Kingdom come from. As she hasn’t said anything about it, all you can do is guess. Maybe she thought that she was becoming the next big thing, and that she’d even replace Ayu, making Avex her Kingdom, or even rhythm zone for that matter. And as for the title track, well all we got was a preview, and from that it sounded like a love song with a little jazz. Not much to add I guess, we’ll have to wait and see how the title track plays out in the future.

Black Cherry - Koda Kumi

Black Cherry, this album is what you could consider to be her biggest hit, well studio album wise. It was no. 2 on the yearly charts and it came in no. 1 for 4 straight weeks after its release. This is her best selling studio album to date, and the quality shows. But the real question is where on earth did the title come from. Prior to the album there was one final single released and it was Cherry Girl / Unmei and it was used to promote or push the album as the lead single you could say. And there was even a drama for it, I’m guessing to further promote the album the name Black Cherry was chosen, to go with the Cherry Girl. That’s my theory, but you’re free to voice your own. As for the title track, well it wasn’t released until Kingdom. It was very urban and almost R&B like, point is it was good. There was a lot of English envolved but at the end it got scary, but it did reflect the album’s mood if you wil; it was very new, sensational, and urban , almost pop even.

*DONE*

That concludes What’s In An Album Title??? Part 2. I hope you all enjoyed it, I had a fun time writing it. But before I go, there’are a few more things I’d like to say. One thing that I’ve noticed with the album titles and such is that usually with your songwriters/singers like Hikki, Ayu, and Ai, the titles are a little more personal and a little more thought out. Now that’s not always the case but that’s what it looks like. And as for those that just sing, like Kumi, BoA, and Namie, it seems that usually title’s are chosen for promotions or even just spur of the moment, with no real thought out reasons in some cases. But either way the titles usually reflect something about the artists, whether it be how they are, or even how they’re feeling. Thanks again for reading. Maybe I’ll do a part 3 later in the year, who knows I still have a lot more album titles to discuse with you all.

Put ‘Em Up was Namie Amuro’s 22nd single. It was released on July 16, 2003 and reached number 7 on the charts with 21,725 copies sold. In all this single has sold over 41,149+ copies, making it Namie’s worst selling single according to Oricon. This is also the fourth single in the STYLE Era.

Tracks:
1. Put ‘Em Up
2. exist for you
3. Put ‘Em Up (Instrumental)
4. exist for you (Instrumental)

Review:
Put ‘Em Up, the infectious R&B/hip-hop hit. I remember the first time I heard this song, it was on itunes, and from the instant I heard it I fell in love with it. It begins with some guys singing or screaming “Put ‘em up…” and some electricity that’s gone haywire. Then with the sound of drum beats, Namie begins to sing in some great vocals that mirror R&B/hip-hop artists. The lyrics are a fusion of aggressive Japanese and sweet English. I can honestly say that for once, the verses were very catchy and they sounded so fantastic. And I must say that Namie was able to sing it all so fast, it made it sound so unrepetitive. The chorus was just so mind-blowing, it was filled with some many R&B/hip-hop beats and the music was perfect. It was the main attraction of the song, and it was so catchy and addictive. But the second chorus was surprisingly better as there was more power on the vocals as Namie began to pull a Mariah (sings a little then screams a little). And despite the chorus being sung over four times, I found it so refreshing and so new, not dull at all.

exist for you, the soft spoken ballad. This song is quite the opposite of the previous song. Unlike it’s predecessor, this song is a ballad with soft beats and calming music. The beautiful soft sounds of synth open up this song. R&B beats then become more common followed by Namie singing. Her vocals are pretty good and you can hear the emotion. The chorus is very beautiful in the fact that it’s so soft and moving. It might be slow but with the English and Japanese it’s become very catchy. But, despite all of that, I’d still say that this song is pure B-Side material.

Overall Review: Put ‘Em Up was pure freedom from the confines of ordinary pop music. Instead it was screaming R&B and hip-hop with unmatched strength. Considering what Namie became known for in this era this is perhaps the best example of what she really wanted to do. I thought that this single was so much better than most of her releases up until this point. It’s amazing what you can do if you really want to change. Another fantastic single for the STYLE Era.

Final Grade: 95A

60s70s80s was Namie Amuro’s 32nd single. It was released on March12, 2008 and reached number 2 on the charts with 114,719 copies sold. However in the second week it became number 1 with a second week total of 38,162 copies. This has become Namie’s first number 1 in 10 years. In all this single has sold more than 271,987+ copies, surpassing her sales of Baby Don’t Cry. These sales total are also the highest since Never End back in 2001. This is also her first tripple A-Sided single, and each song represented a different decade in music. None of these songs are cover songs, so they are different than the original. Finally, all songs were used in Vidal Sassoon CM’s, making it one of Namie’s most promoted singles.

Tracks:
1. NEW LOOK
2. ROCK STEADY
3. WHAT A FEELING
4. NEW LOOK (Instrumental)
5. ROCK STEADY (Instrumental)
6. WHAT A FEELING (Instrumental)

Review:
NEW LOOK, the new spin on a 60s Mowtown classic. This song samples parts of the song Baby Love made famous by The Supremes, and represents the 60s. This song has that distinct Mowtown feel to it. The song begins with Namie singing a few English words and that mowtown music playing. Namie’s vocals are sweet here and actually pretty good. The lyrics sound a bit humorous as it mentions ice cream flavors, shoes, and a New Look, but that’s fine by me. The chorus was pretty good, and overall catchy. It reminded me a bit of the original song, so that was a great bonus. But overall this song didn’t do it for me. It’s still good, but I just felt that it was the weakest of the three.

ROCK STEADY, a twist on the ever popular 70’s hit by the Queen Of Soul. This song samples parts of the song of the same name made famous by Aretha Franklin, and represents the 70s. This song has that distinct urban/hip-hop feel to it. The song opens up with some English words and some very catchy music. Then Namie begins the verses, which sound so catchy. There are a few phrases in English, but mostly Japanese. Then she begins the chorus. The chorus is so great, somewhat short, but still great. It’s so catchy in general and it’s so amazing. Some more verses follow and then the next chorus begins. The Ooo la la la… sounds great, even for Namie, then one more big verse, then the final chorus. The final chorus sounds even better than I thought possible. What a great twist on an already popular hit.

WHAT A FEELING, the Japanese remake of an 80s worldwide hit. This song samples parts of the song of the same name made popular by Irene Cara, and represents the 80s. This song also has that distinct techno-dance quality to it. The song opens up with some synth-like music and a few dance beats. Namie then begins with verses, some parts in English but mostly in Japanese. Then the pre-chorus begins with that Ooh, ooh, ooh… Shortly afterwards the chorus begins and that famous “What a feelin’” can be heard. It really reminds me of the original English song, which sounded so great. Another few verses begin and then some more choruses start. The final chorus is so great. Afterwards the song ends with that same beginning music. Despite this not being a cover song, Namie does the original song justice in my opinion.

Overall Review: 60s70s80s was a mind blowing single. This single, by far, is Namie’s best single in years. All the songs were great, and they were nostalgic almost. I really liked how each represented a decade in music, something new for Namie. And most were new spins on popular hits, even though they weren’t cover songs. This is also my favorite single since it features so American songs that I love, even though they’re really Japanese. Hopefully this is the new direction Namie’s music will be heading in. This is the perfect single to begin Namie’s new era.

Final Grade: 100A+

Queen of Hip-Pop was Namie Amuro’s 6th studio album. It was released on July 13, 2005 and reached number 2 on the charts with 201,524 copies sold, in all it has sold over 475,600+ copies. This was also for what some see as a comeback fro Namie as it was in the top 2 and sold more than 450,000+ copies, unlike her previous album Style. It also included some aspects of the Pink Panther which made the album even better. It was also seen as her most successful album since her GENIUS 2000, which was released in 2000, until PLAY was released.

Tracks:
1. Queen of Hip-Pop
2. WANT ME, WANT ME
3. WoWa
4. I Wanna Show You My Love
5. GIRL TALK
6. Free
7. My Darling
8. Ups & Downs duet with Nao’ymt
9. I Love You
10. ALL FOR YOU
11. ALARM
12. No

Review:

Queen of Hip-Pop, the title track with the R&B/Hip-hop edge. The title is a mixture of Hip-hop and pop, which most guessed and she was the queen if you will at that time. The song begins with the catchiest and fastest music. The entire lyrics are catchy and sound great. The chorus is the best part of the song with the lyrics and the English phrases. Overall the perfect way to open up her brand new album.

WANT ME, WANT ME, the dirty, adult oriented song. From the title you can infer that this song is quite dirty. It uses references to some adult things shall I say. The some has some kind of Middle East vibe to it with the constant beat in the background. As I said before this song is NOT for children. But if you’re in the mood for a hot, sleezy, adult, dirty song, this is for you. And after a few listens it’s not half bad, once you get over the lyrics.

WoWa, did someone say dull R&B tune? The song begins with a familiar whistling sound. But it becomes annoying quickly and then you start to notice the claps, which aren’t that bad. The chorus of this song isn’t that great, nor is it catchy. Where are the good R&B songs? Can anyone find them? Oh well give it a try, you might actually like this song.

I Wanna Show You My Love begins immediately and has a catchy melody. The beginning music is great and really starts off the song in the right direction. The chorus wasn’t as catchy as Queen of Hip-Pop, yet it still sounds amazing.

GIRL TALK begins with one of those things that are like portable pianos but different. But it changes into a faster paced R&B song. Now this was originally released along with SPEED STAR as a double A-Side single, but this was used and SPEED STAR wasn’t. Never the less this is a great song especially with the amount of English in it and that towards the end you can hear her singing in perfect English.

Free is another R&B track, with a startling beginning. It’s quite different from what I’ve heard Namie sing. It has the defining edge with some aggression and it has a scary quality to it almost like Koda Kumi’s Under. But as we know both are different. The chorus of this song is actually pretty good and somewhat catchy.

My Darling begins with some annoying guy’s voice but then Namie takes over thankfully. It really tells you what Namie’s music has become. Throughout the song you’ll notice the guys voice appear, which annoys me. The overall song is still great with all the music and lyrics. Like many songs the chorus is the best part of this song.

Ups & Downs duet with Nao’ymt the first ballad on the album. It’s nice to see Namie having a ballad on this album. Her most successful single was a ballad, and it’s great to get back to the basics. Namie’s voice outshine Nao’ymt’s vocals, but I can live with that. The music sounds generally pleasant with a nice happy vibe. Although despite this being a ballad I really don’t care for it that much. Perhaps a few more listens are in order.

I Love You the upbeat, happy song. It’s faster than some of her other songs and it has that optimistic vibe to it. It also seems to have a little Spanish to it. It’s a interest song and a nice change on the album but like some of the other songs on the album, it didn’t interest me.

ALL FOR YOU, a beautiful enchanting ballad. It begins with that sweet innocent start. The pianos play along with the violins to create a beautiful opening. I guess this is what you’d call a ballad as Namie’s vocals are powerful in the chorus and the music. It seems kinda dull to me, but than again I’m used to her R&B style. It’s still not that bad though.

ALARM one of Namie’s only singles not to chart the top 10. Despite all of that it became very popular, apparently a summer of 05 hit. This song is heavily influenced by R&B as you can hear all the beats, which sound a little synth. It’s very catchy and still a great song. So listen to it a few times and you’ll get the hang of the song.

No, the dance R&B song. It begins with a catchy intro and some great music. You can definitely hear some synth in this song and it sounds amazing. The chorus is the best part of this song and what’s better is that it uses quite a bit of English and the lyrics are great, a little humorous at times but still great. Too bad the song is kinda short. Without a doubt this is my favorite song on the album. The final chorus of this song is so addictive and catchy, and you can hear Namie’s vocals throughout it. It might end with a na, na, na, na, na, na… but it’s just the beginning.

No Pt. 2 aka. the hidden track. You might have wondered how No was a 7 minute song when it was less than 4 minutes. This is the hidden track of the album. It begins where No left off, but it’s a ballad. It’s a softer side of No with a slower pace and it has a ballad quality along with a different chorus. What a great way to end this studio album.

Overall Review: Queen of Hip-Pop was a great album from Namie. It was also quite good in terms of sales and the quality of the songs. But I must say that some songs were lack luster compared to some of the better ones. Still you have to admit that this was a great album by Namie. And the R&B edge to it was amazing and the Pink Panther stuff was a bonus.

Final Grade: 90B

PLAY was Namie Amuro’s 7th studio album. It was released on June 27, 2007 and reached number 1 on the charts with 250,619 copies sold. This was Namie’s first number 1 album since Genius 2000, which was released 7 years ago. PLAY was a comeback album for Namie in so many ways. Not only was it her first number 1 album in nearly 7 long years but it remained number 1 the second week with over 90,000+ copies sold. In all PLAY has sold over 516,000+ copies, more than her last studio album Queen of Hip-Pop. This is also my favorite album from Namie Amuro to date. And another little piece of information. Some of the A-Sides weren’t used like Ningyo and White Light, the same goes with the B-Sides like Nobody and Darling.

Tracks:
1. Hide & Seek
2. Full Moon
3. CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK
4. It’s all about you
5. FUNKY TOWN
6. Step With It
7. Hello
8. Should I Love Him?
9. Top Secret
10. Violet Sauce (Spicy)
11. Baby Don’t Cry
12. Pink Key

Review:

Hide & Seek, this song is the perfect to open up one of Namie’s best studio albums. It begins with a marching band that sounds so mind blowing. Namie’s voice is a little distorted towards the beginning, but it sounds so good. The chorus is catchy and in English for most of the time. The constant beats you can hear add to this song and make it even better. During the end chorus Namie mispronounces some of the English with the whole R and L but it still sounds good, this is also my favorite part of the song. The song then ends with that constant beat and another persons voice, that ends this first great track from Namie. This song was also used to promote the album and had a PV.

Full Moon, the infectious eerie tune. This song begins with an almost gong sound, but it’s lighter. The music in the song sounds a little ominous and eerie but either way is fine. Namie’s vocals have never sounded so good, they have but you know what I mean. The chorus is so catchy and sounds so funny. Losing control during a full moon. The constant snaps add a nice little touch to the song. You can even hear a wolf howling for a few seconds, it makes the song better. The song then ends with the final chorus along with that constant beat and eerie music.

CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK, R&B with catchy lyrics. This song is known mostly for the addictive beats and thumping percussion section. The song was very up-beat and the music was very happy sounding, a lot better than some of her previous works. The chorus was great and was so catchy, but the rapper’s voice did get annoying. It’s a shame that the song is so short. A great addition. It’s been reviewed here.

It’s all about you, this song is a little faster paced and has a rock vibe to it. Namie’s voice almost sounds angry during this song. This song really didn’t peak my interest that much. But it’s still an okay song.

FUNKY TOWN, one of my favorite singles from Namie. This song adds a nice little pop/dance/cartoon vibe to the album. Another good addition to the album, better this than Darling. The chorus was great, although it could’ve been a bit better, it was still great. I loved the cartoon sounds, the great vocals, and the occasional English. Click here for the review of FUNKY TOWN.

Step With It, this song begins quickly. The background music is okay, could be better. I can honestly say that this song really didn’t jump out at me. Feel free to listen to it though.

Hello, this was the second song used to promote the album and had it’s own PV. This song is more dance inspired than anything else I guess. In the background you can hear the phone ringing, it adds a little something to the song. This song is actually pretty good. I liked the chorus, even though it could have been better, but overall it’s a music listen if you love Nami.

Should I Love Him? this in my opinion is almost like a R&B ballad. It’s an okay song, but it didn’t peak my interest.

Top Secret, this song is so good. It begins with “I wanna taste you tonight, Hit me.” It’s a very good song. Lots of English but still so good. The music is so fantastic and matched the lyrics and the melody so perfectly. The chorus is superb and so so addictive. This is one of her more adult songs consequently, but that really doesn’t matter. It was originally my favorite song on the album, until I played Hide & Seek, which is excellent. Overall it was a perfect combination of music, vocals, R&B music, and power.

Violet Sauce (Spicy), the rock arrangement. This song is a Spicy version of the original. There is an overwhelming difference in the song, mostly the more powerful guitar arrangement and better music. The chorus here was so amazingly catchy, long but catchy. This was also placed on the album instead of the other A-Side entitled White Light, a holiday song. Overall a much better version. Here is the review for Violet Sauce.

Baby Don’t Cry, the soft and lovely tune. This is by far one of Namie’s best songs on the album, and best single in the era. The music is a bit on the light side but if fits very well here. I think without this song the album wouldn’t have been half as good. The chorus was phenomenal in terms of vocals and catchiness. The verses were so great too, surprisingly catchy too. Baby Don’t Cry has been reviewed here.

Pink Key, this is a nice closer for Namie’s album. This song is upbeat and sounds so happy. It has a no one can stop me feel. The chorus here was nice, and according to itunes it’s one of the most popular tracks on the album. Another beautiful song from Namie and the perfect closer with a soft, happy track.

Overall Review: PLAY is by far one of Namie’s best works in years. It has a little of her adult style music here along with her older, more sweeter style. I can see why it reached number 1 on the charts just after a few simple listens. Most of the songs were fantastic and some others, not so. Clearly the voice distortions are a nice touch to this album as they gave it a more modern feel. But in all PLAY is a R&B/hip-hop/pop/dance type of album. PLAY on!

Final Grade: 95A

FUNKY TOWN was Namie Amuro’s 31st single. It was released on April 4, 2007 and reached 3 on the charts with 34,200+ copies sold. In all it would go on to sell 54,000+ copies. This is also the last single in Namie’s PLAY era. And this is not a cover song of Lipps Inc famous 1980 song Funky Town.

Tracks:
1. FUNKY TOWN
2. Darling
3. FUNKY TOWN (Instrumental)
4. Darling (Instrumental)

Review:
FUNKY TOWN, sweet cartoons. This song is very pop/dance/cartoon influenced, a very unique yet great combination. It has a little cartoon voices when the 1,2,3,Go. It has a very good and well arranged background music. Whistles and claps can be heard throughout the song. Also some cartoon noises can be heard during parts of the song, and you’ll know them once you hear them. The chorus is pretty catchy. Overall a nice funky song.

Darling, this is the B-Side. I can honestly say that this song didn’t interest me as much as Funky Town, but when has any of her B-Sides interested me? The music is okay, and so is the melody. The best part is the chorus, other than that, mediocre. But I can see why it wasn’t on PLAY.

Overall Review: FUNKY TOWN was pure excitement and fun. The single overall was rather enjoyable and happy. I really loved the title and the song overall. As for the B-Side, well it could’ve been better. But, I think that even with this single not doing so well on the charts, it’s definitely a good buy. What an unusual and yet energetic way to end the PLAY Era.

Final Grade: 97A

Baby Don’t Cry was Namie Amuro’s 30th single. It was released on January 24, 2007 and reached number 3 on the charts 52,100+ copies sold, in total this single would sell 144,081 copies. This was Namie’s most successful single since Say the word, released in 2001, later to be broken by 60s70s80s. This single in my opinion was a comeback for Namie, even though she never fell from popularity that much. Baby Don’t Cry was the third single in Namie’s PLAY era, and it is my favorite single from that album.

Tracks:
1. Baby Don’t Cry
2. Nobody
3. Baby Don’t Cry (TV MIX)
4. Nobody (TV MIX)

Review:
Baby Don’t Cry, the fan favorite. It begins with a heart beating and then turns into a mid-tempo ballad. This song is my favorite song out of her PLAY singles, mostly because it’s softer and more calming. The chorus is my favorite part, because of the frequent use English and because it’s so catchy. But the chorus here was also such a lovely treat; Namie’s vocals were fantastic and gave the chorus life. The music is pretty good along with the melody, the two compliment each other. The verses were quite catchy too at a few points. The ending was very beautiful, it’s no wonder why it was such a popular tune.

Nobody this song was originally supposed to be on her White Light / Violet Sauce single, but was not for some reason. This song shares the same music with White Light. I can honestly say that this song doesn’t interest me that much. It doesn’t jump out at me like Baby Don’t Cry. I don’t think that Namie’s vocals are that great here. It’s okay but could be better.

Overall Review: Baby Don’t Cry was sheer happiness and love. You really couldn’t have asked for a better single from Namie than this. I just fell in love with this song, especially because of the great lyrics and English. I wasn’t that thrilled with Nobody but the single overall was so amazing and so pleasing. Another great single for PLAY.

CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK / Ningyo was Namie Amuro’s 29th single. It was released on May 17, 2006 and reached number 2 on the charts with 43,500+ copies sold. This single would go on to sell over 79,500+ copies. This was the second single of her PLAY Era. Once again another A-Side wouldn’t be used on the album, this time it was Ningyo.

Tracks:
1. CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK
2. Ningyo
3. CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK (Remix)
4. CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK (Instrumental)
5. Ningyo (Instrumental)

Review:
CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK, the summer dance tune with an R&B flare. The song begins with some brass instruments playing followed by some guy’s voice. This song is very upbeat and catchy. The chorus is so addictive, mostly because of the English. Throughout the song, the same guy’s voice who began the song can be heard again, it’s a little annoying but it could be worse. The constant playing of the brass instrument makes it better and more catchy. The verses here were actually catchy and Namie’s vocals are quite good. I was very impressed by the fact that it was that good.

Ningyo, lit. Mermaid, the cover song. This song is a cover song, meaning it was sung by someone else before. It begins with a music that sounds like you’re at sea/sailing on the open seas. Namie’s voice isn’t to powerful in the song, but her voice sounds so calm, and mesmerizing somehow. The chorus sounded nice, but that’s about it, the little castanets were a nice addition. But this wasn’t included on her album PLAY.

CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK (Remix) in this remix the vocals are the same but some of the brass elements are replaced by heavy dance beats. The song was also shortened by a few seconds. It was also speed up a bit more, and it sounded a little better than the original since Namie’s vocals weren’t drowned out by the brass instruments.

Overall Review: CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK / Ningyo was a unique single. Unique doesn’t mean bad, but not great either. The first A-Side was great, and was by far, the better of the two. Ningyo was an interesting track. But it’s easy to see why it wasn’t added to the album. Can’t Sleep, Can’t Eat, I’m Sick however was fantastic in terms of music, up-beatness, vocals, and sheer power. Not a bad single for the PLAY Era.

Final Grade: 90B