Arashi - Believe/Kumori nochi Kaisei

[tsukinobyouin]

According to Oricon, Arashi's latest single's first day sales has already surpassed the first day sales of their single "truth/Kaze no Mukou e," which was the number one selling single of 2008. The single is packed with promotional ties, which may explain why it's performing so well already. Of course it's still early in 2009 so anything could happen, but it's sales figures make it a likely candidate for one of the top selling singles of the year.





Limited Type 1, Limited Type 2, and Regular Edition covers.



"Believe" is the theme song for the live action "Yatterman" film starring Arashi member Sakurai Sho and Fukada Kyoko.

Check out the live action PV here. There is also an animated version, which features each Arashi member as a hero from the Yatterman-related series. I can't find the full version of that on youtube, but a preview is here.



"Kumori Nochi Kaisei" is actually sung by "Yano Kenta featuring Ohno Satoshi" - i.e. Ohno sings this song solo for his currently airing drama Uta no Onii-san. Watch the PV here.



The b-side that comes on the Regular edition is called "Tobira," but I can't say anything else about it since I'm trying to save at least one surprise for when the single actually comes in the mail <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> There's a preview of it on youtube here.





Thoughts? I'm in love with both a-sides, but Kumori Nochi Kaisei took watching several episodes of Uta no Oniisan to grow on me. Sho's rap in Believe is not my favorite of his (the rhythm is a bit awkward), but the rest of the song is really catchy. It seems like they used some unusual groupings for the part splits, but it's hard to tell since there's some autotune going on <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Special Needs Tricycle]

I think I like Believe, just from listening to it once. I don't really like the verses yet, but the chorus is cool.



I also really hate Oono's solo. I hate it hate it hate it.



I'll download this and listen to Believe and see if it grows on me. :>

[Melon]

I LOVE BELIEVE. The only part I don't like is Sho's rap, because his voice sounds forced. It sounded better when he was doing that talk-sing thing he does. I think I watched the PV four times in a row when I first saw it.



When I first heard Ohno's solo, I couldn't understand WTF he was saying at the english parts. I thought "DOWNx3" and "RUNx3" were "Wanwan" and wondered why in the hell those lyrics seemed out of place. I remembered that silly drama he's in (which I'm currently d/ling) and so I was picturing him in a little dog suit singing "WAN WAN". Ohno has a nice voice, but this song sounds out of his league and annoying. It'll probably grow on me. I didn't like Truth much when it came out, but it grew on me.

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='Petit Melon' post='61511' date='Mar 4 2009, 06:54 PM']When I first heard Ohno's solo, I couldn't understand WTF he was saying at the english parts. I thought "DOWNx3" and "RUNx3" were "Wanwan" and wondered why in the hell those lyrics seemed out of place. I remembered that silly drama he's in (which I'm currently d/ling) and so I was picturing him in a little dog suit singing "WAN WAN". Ohno has a nice voice, but this song sounds out of his league and annoying. It'll probably grow on me. I didn't like Truth much when it came out, but it grew on me.[/quote]



There actually is no DOWNx3 - that's what I thought on a first listen, but official lyrics say its "DAN DAN DANG" XD Though it changes throughout, see lyrics here. I kind of agree on his voice in the song - I wouldn't quite say it's out of his league, because I've heard him do way harder with no problems, but he's singing in kind of an odd voice. Some of the live performances actually sound better, but it definately took a while to grow on me.

[Tallgeese]

Another good one by Arashi. They're pretty much the only group in JE I follow anymore.

[vanillacat]

I love Ohno's solo. D: It's so... typical Arashi. In a good way!



Arashi singles tend to not disappoint (wtf grammar), and this one's no exception. BELIEVE is excellent, damn.

[Kago]

this song is SO GOOD. I didn't like it when i heard the short preview of it, but damn. The full version is GREAT. They're on such a roll. It's not as good as Truth, but I didn't ever expect a song like that to come around again.

[Liana]

What is this hate on Kumori Nochi Kaisei? I heard it right now and it's ADORABLE! I forgot how much I loved Ohno's voice! Believe was pretty good, but I've already forgotten how it went really. The PV was crazy boring too. I shouldn't expect anything more than "We are in a cool looking set, looking cool" from a song like that but I have my dreams okay.

[tsukinobyouin]

The full version of the animated Believe PV has popped up on youtube. It's not so much of a PV as a mini tribute to the anime series, but it's kind of a cute and a nice extra. Each member is supposed to be a different "So-and-so Man," but I don't think there's much point in explaining who's who unless you happen to be a follower of all of those anime series and would actually get the references. I hope Sho is more excited about yelling his catch phrases in the movie. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />

[Kago]

The single hit 500,000 copies in its first week. I wonder how many it'll sell long term?

[Fina]

I absolutely love this song, and I know everyone hates the rap but it's one of my favorite parts. I like both the PV's too. The animated version is fun to watch (Although I admit I have no idea what exactly which one is. But it's cute none the less. And I enjoyed that Aiba's had to do with puppies versus humans. It seems fitting.) The real action version doesn't have much going on but I think all the guys look great in it so I'm not complaining. I think Nino should style his hair that way more often. Plus I'm a sucker for guys in sweaters and ties.



Ohno's single is cute but I can't see myself listening to it over and over again. I enjoy it in the drama. The PV is fun though, there is so much going on. From the preview Tobira sounds cute but typical Arashi.



And wow! 500,000.