Shuuji to Akira - Seishun Amigo

May 3rd, 2007 by Erika · 20 Comments · 93.3%

Left: Kamenashi Kazuya
Right: Yamashita Tomohisa

Artist: Shuuji to Akira
Product Code: JECN-77
Release Date: 2005.11.2
Debut Ranking: #1
Label: Johnny’s Entertainment

With the conclusion of the popular school dorama “Nobuta wo Produce”, the stars of the show, Kamenashi Kazuya and Yamashita Tomohisa have formed a temporary unit and released a single consisting of the show’s theme song as well as a solo from both boys. Using their characters from the show Shuuji to Akira’s single debuted as the #1 selling single and was at the top of the Oricon Chart’s 999 top singles chart in 2005.

As well as doing the series, both boys are talented singers agrowing in fame and popularity. Kamenashi Kazuya is the youngest member of KAT-TUN. Since the debut of the group in 2001 through today, Kamenashi has brought a great deal of popularity to the group. Fellow bandmates also starred in doramas with Kame. Yamashita Tomohisa has been part of a group called NEWS since its founding in 2003. NEWS consists of 6 members from Johnny’s and Johnny’s Associates. Both YamaPi and Kame have found success with their careers as aspiring young actors and singers.

1. Seishun Amigo

Seishun Amigo was the theme song for Nobuta Wo Produce. It starts off with an instrumental introduction and guitars giving you the feeling that youare listening to the James Bond theme. The structure of the song is quite simple. The boys have a call and answer method and then join together for the chorus in unison, backed by an actual chorus.

The video of the song was really quite interesting. It flashed back and forth between Kame and YamaPi in their school uniforms from the show sitting on some boxes and singing, to dancing in the back alleyways. Like I said, the video was interesting. Although the video concept is rather random, it is a must have for your iPod.

There have been many versions of the song due to several television performances given by the duo. However, the single uses an upbeat version. When I first heard the song, I laughed. That may have been because I was just beginning to listen to Asian music and everything sounded somewhat cheesy compared to the American music I had been listening to, but you can be the judge of that. I had listened to the song before I have watched the series. After I had watched it used in the series, I appreciated it more.

Overall, I would have to say that Seishun Amigo was an excellent song. It is peppy and made you want to do some those awful dance moves with Kame and YamaPi.

Rating:

2. Colorful

This was YamaPi’s solo on the single. This song was used in Dragon Zakura as the insert song. The song starts off with bells and a piano to introduce the song. I do not know why but it reminded me of a holiday song. Gradually, violins are added into the picture. In general, I am not a fan of YamaPi’s voice, but it is distinctive. In the chorus, I feel like he is reaching for the notes, which makes it go out of tune. Generally, his voice is a little bit too breathy for my tastes. This song is quite a bit slower than Seishun Amigo, but the bells help to make you feel happy and peppy. Overall it’s a decent song.

Rating:

3. Kizuna

This song was Kame’s solo for this single. It was the slowest of the three tracks and is considered a ballad. In 2004, Kizuna was used as the insert song for Gokusen 2, a series which Kame himself starred in. This song starts with a guitar introduction and gradually other instruments come into play after Kame’s entrance. Although Kame does not have the richest voice of all the Johnny’s boys, he manages to pull off an exquisite ballad for the single. In spite of some pitching problems on the higher notes, the song was wonderful.

Rating:

Conclusion:

Kame and YamaPi worked really well together and made an excellent single that was quite different than the other singles being released at the time. These songs provide you with something awesome to listen to while you look at those angelic faces. This single is a must have for your music library.

Overall Rating:

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Purchase this item: YesAsia US | YesAsia Global

About the author

Erika is a big fan of her boyz Arashi. If you want to talk about Johnny boys, Erika is the girl you should look for.

JPop · Review

20 responses so far ↓

sakuranbo // May 3, 2007 at 7:38 pm

oooooo!!!i luff ‘kizuna’ !if you listen to the lyrics it’s seriously good!!^ ^
Mazza330 // May 4, 2007 at 3:31 am

Seishun Amigo is one of my favourite Johnny’s singles. I love it so much that I actually learnt those awful dance moves ^ ^. But Kame looks so sexy doing it. No more fangirling.

Kizuna is also beautiful.

And as a side note. Nobuta wo Produce is my favourite drama ever.
International Wota » Blog Archive » [Blogs] Channel-Ai on Shhuji to Akira // May 6, 2007 at 6:01 pm

[...] Shuuji to Akira - Seishun Amigo [...]
Kerry // May 10, 2007 at 2:16 am

Hiya! I really like ‘Seishun Amigo!’ I think it’s a fun song and it’s great for getting people in the mood for dancing! Too cool!
tsukiko // May 10, 2007 at 11:31 am

Akira and Shuuji belong together :) They are so cute! Love this song too, thanks for writing this wonderful article for them!
pitzz // May 12, 2007 at 4:51 am

kame looks so cute
although i am a thai i dont understand japanese
i think kame is awesome …
sakuranbo // May 12, 2007 at 5:38 pm

LOL!i jus watched the drama:P omg yamapi is so cute in the drama!!
Terry // May 13, 2007 at 4:32 am

Kame is just too COOL. Yamapi is cute too but Kame is just SEXY.

I just watched the drama as well and it ROCKS SO MUCH.

This single is good too!
Riko // May 14, 2007 at 2:00 pm

Thank you for finally putting this up on the blog!!! I have been waiting for it for a LONG time! It’s so popular, and I was thinking, “Why isn’t Channel-Ai putting on yet?”. xDDD
Erika // May 15, 2007 at 6:23 pm

Yea…when I first joined, I was kinda thinking that myself, so since I couldn’t do it as my first article, I did it as my second.
Alice.Blue // May 30, 2007 at 11:56 pm

Seishun Amiho was a lovely song ^_^ I agree, when I first heard it, I thought that it sounded kinda cheesy, but after a while, I started to like it. I just finished the Nobuta wo Produce drama, and thought that it was wonderful =D Lol, in the video Shuji and Akira’s is pretty wacky, but it makes you want to dance xD
HANABI.1984 // May 31, 2007 at 3:01 am

I finished watching Nobuta wo Produce too. I have to say that I loved it! At first when I would see Kame on TV shows, I didn’t like him. I don’t know why, but he just rubbed me the wrong way. I like him better now after watching him act. I’ve seen YamaPi in other dramas, so I was already a fan of his acting. The two work great together. In the drama and with this single. It was catchy and I enjoyed their performances.
eriri // Jul 15, 2007 at 4:35 pm

i don’t know…the first song, though really catchy, doesn’t get you attatched like the 2nd and 3rd track. kizuna’s lyrics were written by kamenashi, and colorful is pretty powerful.
Susan // Jul 16, 2007 at 8:24 pm

yamapi to kamenashi….DAISUKI!!!!!
Amichan // Jul 21, 2007 at 5:05 am

One of the most catchy singles from JE ever.
camr_jemr // Sep 7, 2007 at 12:55 pm

i really like kame and yamapi!!! i watched Nobuta Wo Produce and i fell in love to them!!
SillyMooFace // Oct 21, 2007 at 11:01 pm

i love Kizuna.. when i first downloaded it, i put it om repeat mode and ended up listening to it 40 times in a day, which grew to 116 times on the second day haha and i’m still not bored of it yet! i also love seishun amigo.. but the problem is tt it stays in my head all day once i listen to it haha. Anyways… thanks for ur reviews!
nvlla // Mar 18, 2008 at 12:34 pm

yamapi’s voice is sexy!
sita // Apr 29, 2008 at 11:18 pm

yamaP is the BEST
ayeen // Jul 14, 2008 at 4:03 am

i like yamapi and kame..chaiyok chaiyok!!!!!!!