Title: ENEMY Artist: the brilliant green Single: ENEMY Released: December 12, 2007
Review
Question: what is the difference between Tomoko's vocals in "ENEMY" and a dying hospital patient? The dying patient has more energy. Is this a trivial answer? I think not.
"ENEMY" is the 16th single from the brilliant green. The song has a depressing tone that you'll feel deep in your heart. It's not the lyrics that make you depressed, it's the lifelessness of Tomoko's voice, as she sings for roughly 5 minutes. I suppose it takes skills to sound so consistently boring. Her poor vocals waste the excellent instrumentals, which has created a haunting atmosphere. Next time, someone needs to poke Tomoko real hard when she sings to get some tone variation.
The verdict: the enemy in this song is Tomoko's awfully boring voice. What a waste!
Lyrics
Here are the romaji lyrics: aozameta sora kokuchou no retsu hiai no te muragaru kage susurinaku koe mukuwarenai namida wa munashii
tsuki ni kagayaku tenshi no hashigo sono saki ni kitai wo shite wa nageku bakari itsu made mo sou shite itai no?
nani ga kawaru wake ja nai kiseki nanka okoranai
the Enemy lives inside myself yeah I know... tozasareta sora no shita de furuete iru I stand alone
amai dake no jibun ni kidzuiteta
yureru minamo ni koboshita namida kakusenai fuan no toge modoru nara ima te wo nobashi dareka ga naiteta kanshou ni wa hitaranai nan no yaku ni mo tatanai
The Enemy lives inside myself yeah I know... ima wa mada koerarenai kabe demo ii mite mitai no mukougawa ni hirogaru aozora wo
ima wa chiisana hoshi dakedo kagayakeru hi wo egaite koko ni iru no I stand alone
mune wo tsuku yokaze ga munashisa ga oroka da to azakeru nara sore demo ii mite itai no sono mukou ni hirogaru aoi sora
Title: Ash Like Snow Artist: the brilliant green Single: Ash Like Snow Released: February 6, 2008
Review
"Ash Like Snow" is the 17th single from the brilliant green which will replace the opening theme for the anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00. I'm a fan of "DAYBREAK'S BELL" (the old opening), but the song isn't fitting for a Gundam opening. In other Gundam series, such as Gundam Seed and Gundam Destiny, the openings were dance songs from artists like Tamaki Nami.
When I think about a Gundam opening, I think about the main characters in their overpowered robots blowing up bad guys in their obsolete mobile suits. What sort of music matches these openings? Killer dance tracks. There is no need for depressing songs with the intention of creating sympathy for those poor, poor youngsters piloting those war machines. They are fully aware of what they signed up for. Now let's see some action!
With the title "Ash Like Snow," I wouldn't expect this song to be a dance song and that hypothesis is correct. I would describe this song as a fast paced rock song.
the brilliant green waste no time by starting off with energetic instrumentals via the electric guitar and bass. I anxiously wait for Tomoko's vocals and pray that it won't be disappointing. Luckily, Tomoko vocals aren't monotone. Tomoko is notorious for having some lifeless vocals, so I'm glad she didn't exercise that option for this song. I live for two parts of this song: the beginning and the 1:25 mark. Tomoko and the guitars start off quietly and begin picking up energy until you think something will explode. It's addictive and refreshing, exactly what I was looking for. The chorus is somewhat disappointing since it lacks any addictive elements, I almost forget that it exists in this song. The chorus just blends in with the rest of the verses.
One thing that made me shudder was the use of synthesized vocals. Around the 2:30 mark, Tomoko's voice is synthesized as she enlightens us with her lyrics. It seems unnecessary and really breaks the flow of the song.
One notable part of the music video is the two pandas attempting to snipe Tomoko, but fail miserably. How hard is it to snipe a member of the brilliant green in their music video? They don't dance like BoA or Leah Dizon would. They are stationary objects. Don't be greedy, don't go for the head shot.
The verdict: unfortunately, I'm only hooked on two parts of this song so it's not enough for me to highly recommend this song. The song is good, but not one of my favourites from the brilliant green.
Edit: January 12, 2008
Here is the actual Gundam 00 opening with the brilliant green's "Ash Like Snow" summarized in 1:30. I really like this version because the song's energy has been concentrated in 1:30 instead of stretching it out for 5 minutes. I'm looking forward to the anime length version when the Gundam 00 soundtrack comes out. As I had pointed out previously, the opening is a pity party as I had expected. From the few reviews I've read from anime viewers, they seem to like this Gundam 00 opening more than "DAYBREAK'S BELL," and I completely agree with them.
Lyrics
Here are the romaji lyrics for "Ash Like Snow" so you can sing along: sora akakusomeru kokutan no yami nomikomareta hoshikuzutachi hakanaku furitsumoru hai no yuki
mitsumeta nageki no mado I never dreamed kooritsuku there... I come for you
omoi wa sekibaku no yozora ni maiagari kudaketa kono sekai ga katachi o kaeru tabi ni mamoritai mono o kowashiteshimatteitan da
kokoro ni hishimeku haitoku no yami kimi no koe ga masui no you ni tsumetaku kankaku o ubatteku
mujyun o oikaketemo owaranai naze boku wa tatakau no?
tatoeba hikari ga kieusete kono chikyuu(hoshi) ga ochitemo wasurenai yo sono chiisana negai ga arubeki basho e to michibiku
there I come for you yeah Ash Like Snow is falling down from your sky Ash Like Snow Ash Like Snow Ash Like Snow Let me hear... why? I have to fight
kono omoi wa sekibaku no yozora ni maiagari kudaketa yami o hiraku eikou to hikikae ni mamorubeki mono o ushinattekita (It's falling from your sky) munashisugiru (Baby I come for you)
kudakechitta kakeru ni kizutsuku tabi tozasareta boku no kokoro o tsuyokunaru koto o erande koko made kitan da
