Channel-Ai Community Blog - JPop reviews, articles

Back in 2002, during Miki's solo days.

Miki Fujimoto Birthday: 1985-02-26 Birthplace: Hokkaido Blood type: A

You may have heard of Miki Fujimoto from Morning Musume. She, however, started as a solo artist in the Hello! Project. Her solo works are missed very much in the Hello! Project, and many hope she will revive her solo career.

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1. Tomorrow’s way 2. Last Train 3. feel my soul ~YUI Acoustic Version~ 4. Tomorrow’s way ～Instrumental～

Newcomer YUI debuted in February with the song “feel my soul” and made her comeback on June 22 with “Tomorrow’s way”. At the age of 18, she writes the words and music to all her songs. With her sweet and innocent voice, YUI sings about maturing in “Tomorrow’s way”. This single’s cover features a picture of YUI looking out a window with her chin resting on a guitar. With rays of sunlight shining in through the windows behind her, it surely reflects the longing to grow up that is conveyed in lyrics of the title track. Let’s look at “Tomorrow’s way”!

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Reina Tanaka Birthday: 1989-11-11 Birthplace: Fukuoka Blood type: O

Airi Suzuki Birthdate: 1994-04-01 Blood type: B

Miyabi Natsuyaki Birthdate: 1992-08-25 Birthplace: Chiba Blood type: O

I’d like to inform you on yet another inactive Hello! Project Unit: Aa! Yes, the groups name is titled Aa! The group is composed of 3 girls: Reina Tanaka of Morning Musume, and 2 Hello! Project Kids- Miyabi Natsuyaki and Airi Suzuki. At the time of the units activity (October 2003, with only 1 single), Reina was 13, Miyabi was 11, and Airi was at the very young age of 9.

Their first and last single, titled FIRST KISS, is a midtempo R&B song. The outfits are eccentric overalls with chains and multi-colored hats. The bside, Masayume, is a slower song which is full of emotion.

Even with their young ages, Aa! is quite a good group. If you would like to see who sings what, and want to see a translation, Project Hello is a great source. Here are the FIRST KISS lyrics and the Masayume lyrics.

1st Single: FIRST KISS

1. FIRST KISS
2. Masayume *
3. FIRST KISS (instrumental)

* Thanks to Maki-san for Masayume.

1. Kizuna 2. SOI SOOSU no Theme 3. Ho Ho Ho 4. Kizuna ~Acoustic Ver.~

ORANGE RANGE’s 12th single “Kizuna” came out on August 24, 2005. The single shot straight up to the number one position on the Oricon charts and sales have been pretty good so far. Many fans have compared this single to their previous hit ballad “Hana” which was released in October last year. On the cover a swing set is shown and the symbol of the band is drawn in the dirt. The picture is in black and white and gives it more of a nostalgic feel. The CD design and the back of the sleeve feature little doodles of stick men with parachutes being eaten by alligators and struck by lightning and a game of tic-tac-toe won by the O’s. No doubt about it, “Kizuna” is about friends and remembering the good times, so grab your warm and fuzzy childhood memories and let’s go!

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1. Akashi 2. SARARIIMAN 3. Sae Zuri 4. For Tomorrow 5. GO! 6. Yume no Kakera 7. + . - . × . ÷ 8. Hitoshizuku 9. Confidentially 10. Ashiato

ZONE’s sophomore release “O” came out on November 27 of 2002. The jacket photos have a fall theme which is fitting for that time of year. The pictures are beautiful and this is actually one of the best jackets I’ve ever seen in an album. After gaining success with hits like “Hitoshizuku” and “Akashi”, when sitting down and planning this album an idea was to have each member of the band perform a solo song. But the question is this: will the members be able to sing a song on their own without the vocal support of the other members? Will each girl shine on her own or fall flat on her face, bringing with her any positive thoughts about the album itself? Let’s see!

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