The rest of the SR Samurai Reviews
Jul. 5th, 2004 02:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sherryillkI finally finished my first impressions today so here they are:
Rest of CD1:
7. Realize: The opening is good, very attention grabbing. It sounds a bit muted which carries throughout the entire song. Besides that, I have nothing to say against it. I like entergetic songs but somehow I'm not totally convinced of the sincerity of the song. It's just not strong enough for me.
8. Minna Koko ni Ita: The chorus is really good. Leading up to it... Well, I'm one who has to have something good to hold on to or else I get bored really easily. It's seriously an okay song. I wish I knew what the lyrics are because I'm a lyrics person. Not knowing Japanese is really a drawback because I can't understand what the song is trying to convey and whether or not it's working. As it is, I think it's an okay song but nothing special (but what would make it special would usually comes from the lyrics).
9. Clear: I like the background music and I feel like the lyrics are really good in this song. I don't know why (they could be crappy and totally superficial for all I know) but I really feel like they would be really good. This would be the type of song had it been in English that I would have really liked. For that, I am holding out hope that this is a really nice song that has no special gimmicks to make me like/love it. The whistle towards the end is also very sweet. Ever since "Golden Faith," I've totally re-evaluated the whistle
10. Youthful Days: What a nice, hopeful song! Slow which makes it go down several notches in my book. The title of the song influences my conclusions on the song so I'm not really sure if it's my own conclusion or if I'm totally basing myself on the name of the song. I think it's the latter rather than the former so I think I"m going to shut up about about this tack.
CD2:
1. Don't Look Back ~ Echizen solo version: I never liked the Aozu version of the song and the fact that it's sung just by Echizen in this version makes it slightly better. It's more consistent but I still can't say I like it very much.
2. Airgato: This started as a really slow number and I was a bit hesitant about deciding whether or not I liked it but then I heard TEZUKA'S voice! That totally sold it for me. I was listening it on WMP and I totally didn't see the whole "featuring Okiayu Ryoutarou as Tezuka Kunimitsu" part. AS the song progress, I couldn't help but feel like they were two lovers calling to each other... And I'm not even a Ryoma/Tezuka fan.
3. Yuugure: Nice piano in the beginning. Slow song but a rather sweet, calming one. It's one that I could see as a lullaby, lulling me to sleep. Unfortunately, I can't fall asleep to music but if I could, I would gadly be carried off to Dreamland by this song. It's soft and sweet but it doesn't strike me as a love song. If it is, oops? I don't know Japanese, how was I supposed to know?
4. Tonde! Mawatte! Mata Raishuu! ~Ryoma ga Ippai~: I love Kikumaru. I've always loved Kikumaru. I don't understand Japanese but in the beginning it sounded like Kikumaru barged in on Ryoma's recording session. At the first start of the music and Ryoma singing, it's obviously clear that Ryoma is not happy and does not want to sing at all. All the while, Kikumaru is just very happy in his Kikumaru way. "Genkinai" is what Kikumaru calls Ryoma and eventually he gets fed up and stops the music. Then they talk a bit more. I think Kikumaru is giving Ryoma about advice about how he should be sounding in the song -- cute and happy "genki". Ryoma is not convinced in his "cool as ice" way but then Kikumaru mentions something about Kawamura that made him really excited. The music starts again and Ryoma is definitely a bit more enthusiastic. This is such a fun track! I love how when Ryoma is doing his "nyan, nyan, nyan"'s that Kikumaru calls out "kawaii." It's so cute! All of his Kikumaru's interruptions, calling out instructions and advice and just odd sounds are just too cute. I loved this track when it was sung by Cap to Bin and I like it now. Ryoma gets a little to into it towards the end and it starts sounding a little strained. Hearing Ryoma do the voices for Inui, Kaidoh and everyone is just too cute! All Kikumaru moments, especially when he chims in are great.
5. Milk: I was really looking forward to this song because of the title but... Well, the song is okay but personally I think it's worthless. It's mainly Inui and Kaidoh talking with some little nothings sung by MinaJUn. I really don't like talking tracks which seem Inui and Kaidoh seems to primarily consist of. It's a shame too -- they have pretty nice voices... I really want that Kaidoh song I heard in one of the Rajipuri episodes -- it was just so good. I just don't understand why they insist on doing talking tracks. You listen to this song and you start hoping for MinaJun's "la-la-la" parts because it's the ONLY bits of singing in the whole song. Take that way and the music and all you will have is dialogue! I will never be a fan of talk.
6. Kimi wa Dokomademo: The more I listened to this song, the more I liked it. It's slow but it's still rather charming. The way MinaJun lets her voice carry out feels like you're being carried by it too. Her voice sounds like something out of a musical (like Cats) but the rest of the song sounds like it's out of a love song from the 50s. In the middle of it, Ryoma stops singing for a moment and there's a little dialogue between Ryoma and a guy who I think is Oishi. They talk about "seishun" which I think is "spring," right? Anyway, at the end of it, Oishi starts laughing laughing madly which is a bit uncharacteristic of Oishi so I'm not totally sure of if it's really him.
7. Dreaming on the Radio ~ SR Type: It starts off with sounds of song on the radio and then it stops and it goes into the regular song. When I first downloaded "Dreaming on the Radio," I really liked it because it was upbeat and it was easy to listen to but the more I listen to it, the more familiar it became to me so now I hear it as nothing special. It's still a good song.
8. I have to say I was looking forward to this one. Unlike "Arigato", I know this is a duet with Kaida Yuki and I was not disappointed. It's a little more upbeat but still sorta slow in its own way. The part where they say "Stand Up" is a bit jarring but the rest of the song is pretty good.
9. Ichigan: Once again I really like the piano in the beginning.
10. We Love SEIGAKU: With a name like that I had bad feelings about this song. It starts off with a rap and I still maintain that people who are not American can not rap. Thankfully it didn't last long and MinaJun starts to sing. It's not a bad song, the background is a bit too happy and fast for the song though... The song is best described as a mishmash of different things -- MinaJun's singing, the Seigaku chant, different people from the Ichinen Trio to individual Seigaku people saying and yelling different things. It's just so odd... I don't hate it but it's definitely unique that I'm leaning towards "it's so different that I kinda like it" stance.
All in all, Samurai did not disappoint me. There were plenty of good songs, a good amount of really great ones and I have a good feeling left inside of me after finishing listening to all the songs.
Also, I would like to say I find "Life Goes On" a lot better than my first impression. I can't help but laugh at it because it's so freaking funny to hear MinaJun sing in English. I still can't understand the entire thing but I think I'll probably sit down and try to type out the entire lyrics just to get a better picture of it as a whole song.
Today I finally caught up with all the Naruto manga! I haven't read it all yet and I'm a bit afraid of what I might see since I kinda know most of what's going to happen but I will persevere.
I also won the ID DVDs! $36 with S&H. Now I have to figure out if they can accept regular money orders or not. It's times like this I really hate not having a paypal account. :( I will get one, definitely. Someday...
I've also downloaded two HikAki doujins. The first is called "Love Trap" and it features a stupid Akira. Personally, I wish it was the other way aroud. The other is called "Thorn" and it's rather dark with a cutting Hikaru. It has two sides of the story so hopefully I won't end up scaring myself when I read it.
Rest of CD1:
7. Realize: The opening is good, very attention grabbing. It sounds a bit muted which carries throughout the entire song. Besides that, I have nothing to say against it. I like entergetic songs but somehow I'm not totally convinced of the sincerity of the song. It's just not strong enough for me.
8. Minna Koko ni Ita: The chorus is really good. Leading up to it... Well, I'm one who has to have something good to hold on to or else I get bored really easily. It's seriously an okay song. I wish I knew what the lyrics are because I'm a lyrics person. Not knowing Japanese is really a drawback because I can't understand what the song is trying to convey and whether or not it's working. As it is, I think it's an okay song but nothing special (but what would make it special would usually comes from the lyrics).
9. Clear: I like the background music and I feel like the lyrics are really good in this song. I don't know why (they could be crappy and totally superficial for all I know) but I really feel like they would be really good. This would be the type of song had it been in English that I would have really liked. For that, I am holding out hope that this is a really nice song that has no special gimmicks to make me like/love it. The whistle towards the end is also very sweet. Ever since "Golden Faith," I've totally re-evaluated the whistle
10. Youthful Days: What a nice, hopeful song! Slow which makes it go down several notches in my book. The title of the song influences my conclusions on the song so I'm not really sure if it's my own conclusion or if I'm totally basing myself on the name of the song. I think it's the latter rather than the former so I think I"m going to shut up about about this tack.
CD2:
1. Don't Look Back ~ Echizen solo version: I never liked the Aozu version of the song and the fact that it's sung just by Echizen in this version makes it slightly better. It's more consistent but I still can't say I like it very much.
2. Airgato: This started as a really slow number and I was a bit hesitant about deciding whether or not I liked it but then I heard TEZUKA'S voice! That totally sold it for me. I was listening it on WMP and I totally didn't see the whole "featuring Okiayu Ryoutarou as Tezuka Kunimitsu" part. AS the song progress, I couldn't help but feel like they were two lovers calling to each other... And I'm not even a Ryoma/Tezuka fan.
3. Yuugure: Nice piano in the beginning. Slow song but a rather sweet, calming one. It's one that I could see as a lullaby, lulling me to sleep. Unfortunately, I can't fall asleep to music but if I could, I would gadly be carried off to Dreamland by this song. It's soft and sweet but it doesn't strike me as a love song. If it is, oops? I don't know Japanese, how was I supposed to know?
4. Tonde! Mawatte! Mata Raishuu! ~Ryoma ga Ippai~: I love Kikumaru. I've always loved Kikumaru. I don't understand Japanese but in the beginning it sounded like Kikumaru barged in on Ryoma's recording session. At the first start of the music and Ryoma singing, it's obviously clear that Ryoma is not happy and does not want to sing at all. All the while, Kikumaru is just very happy in his Kikumaru way. "Genkinai" is what Kikumaru calls Ryoma and eventually he gets fed up and stops the music. Then they talk a bit more. I think Kikumaru is giving Ryoma about advice about how he should be sounding in the song -- cute and happy "genki". Ryoma is not convinced in his "cool as ice" way but then Kikumaru mentions something about Kawamura that made him really excited. The music starts again and Ryoma is definitely a bit more enthusiastic. This is such a fun track! I love how when Ryoma is doing his "nyan, nyan, nyan"'s that Kikumaru calls out "kawaii." It's so cute! All of his Kikumaru's interruptions, calling out instructions and advice and just odd sounds are just too cute. I loved this track when it was sung by Cap to Bin and I like it now. Ryoma gets a little to into it towards the end and it starts sounding a little strained. Hearing Ryoma do the voices for Inui, Kaidoh and everyone is just too cute! All Kikumaru moments, especially when he chims in are great.
5. Milk: I was really looking forward to this song because of the title but... Well, the song is okay but personally I think it's worthless. It's mainly Inui and Kaidoh talking with some little nothings sung by MinaJUn. I really don't like talking tracks which seem Inui and Kaidoh seems to primarily consist of. It's a shame too -- they have pretty nice voices... I really want that Kaidoh song I heard in one of the Rajipuri episodes -- it was just so good. I just don't understand why they insist on doing talking tracks. You listen to this song and you start hoping for MinaJun's "la-la-la" parts because it's the ONLY bits of singing in the whole song. Take that way and the music and all you will have is dialogue! I will never be a fan of talk.
6. Kimi wa Dokomademo: The more I listened to this song, the more I liked it. It's slow but it's still rather charming. The way MinaJun lets her voice carry out feels like you're being carried by it too. Her voice sounds like something out of a musical (like Cats) but the rest of the song sounds like it's out of a love song from the 50s. In the middle of it, Ryoma stops singing for a moment and there's a little dialogue between Ryoma and a guy who I think is Oishi. They talk about "seishun" which I think is "spring," right? Anyway, at the end of it, Oishi starts laughing laughing madly which is a bit uncharacteristic of Oishi so I'm not totally sure of if it's really him.
7. Dreaming on the Radio ~ SR Type: It starts off with sounds of song on the radio and then it stops and it goes into the regular song. When I first downloaded "Dreaming on the Radio," I really liked it because it was upbeat and it was easy to listen to but the more I listen to it, the more familiar it became to me so now I hear it as nothing special. It's still a good song.
8. I have to say I was looking forward to this one. Unlike "Arigato", I know this is a duet with Kaida Yuki and I was not disappointed. It's a little more upbeat but still sorta slow in its own way. The part where they say "Stand Up" is a bit jarring but the rest of the song is pretty good.
9. Ichigan: Once again I really like the piano in the beginning.
10. We Love SEIGAKU: With a name like that I had bad feelings about this song. It starts off with a rap and I still maintain that people who are not American can not rap. Thankfully it didn't last long and MinaJun starts to sing. It's not a bad song, the background is a bit too happy and fast for the song though... The song is best described as a mishmash of different things -- MinaJun's singing, the Seigaku chant, different people from the Ichinen Trio to individual Seigaku people saying and yelling different things. It's just so odd... I don't hate it but it's definitely unique that I'm leaning towards "it's so different that I kinda like it" stance.
All in all, Samurai did not disappoint me. There were plenty of good songs, a good amount of really great ones and I have a good feeling left inside of me after finishing listening to all the songs.
Also, I would like to say I find "Life Goes On" a lot better than my first impression. I can't help but laugh at it because it's so freaking funny to hear MinaJun sing in English. I still can't understand the entire thing but I think I'll probably sit down and try to type out the entire lyrics just to get a better picture of it as a whole song.
Today I finally caught up with all the Naruto manga! I haven't read it all yet and I'm a bit afraid of what I might see since I kinda know most of what's going to happen but I will persevere.
I also won the ID DVDs! $36 with S&H. Now I have to figure out if they can accept regular money orders or not. It's times like this I really hate not having a paypal account. :( I will get one, definitely. Someday...
I've also downloaded two HikAki doujins. The first is called "Love Trap" and it features a stupid Akira. Personally, I wish it was the other way aroud. The other is called "Thorn" and it's rather dark with a cutting Hikaru. It has two sides of the story so hopefully I won't end up scaring myself when I read it.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
on 2004-07-16 05:48 pm (UTC)Yeah, Thorn is quite freaky .__. I was the one who scanlated it, and I was freaking so badly- cause it almost fell apart while I was scanning X_X;; it made this CRACK sound when I turned the page at one point... eeeek. ;__;
...so I really hope people like it, after what I went through scanning it. X__x
Did you like it though? :3 if you did, I've got another scanlation done by the same circle (Autocracy, and the circle's Gyarandoh) and there's another in the works... I got the rest of the script yesterday, and the scanlation will be finished when I get home. In four weeks. Meep. ;_;
So~ that's all from a random person. Well. Kind of random, since you downloaded Thorn. Which I hope you liked. ;o;
no subject
on 2004-07-19 01:49 am (UTC)