Cover for both CD & CD + DVD
1) Anata to Ikite Yuku
2) Tokei (Re-recorded)
3) Satellite of love (Re-recorded)
4) Joker {LIVE from VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016)
5) 「SUMMERDELICS」reprise
The last GLAY single release was last Aug's DEATHTOPIA .
The only new song included in WINTERDELICS.EP ~Anata to Ikite Yuku~ is Anata to Ikite Yuku which was used as the theme song for TV Tokyo's drama Universal Koukokusha ~Anata no Jinsei , Urikomimasu!~ starring actor Sawamura Ikki .
The other material in WINTERDELICS.EP ~Anata to Ikite Yuku~ are 2 new recordings of Tokei & Satellite of love and a live rendition of Joker that was recorded at last year's VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016 .
Following the release of their 14th album SUMMERDELICS in July , GLAY rocks out to a new season in the band's 55th single WINTERDELICS.EP ~Anata to Ikite Yuku~ . Guitarist TAKURO wrote & composed the love ballad Anata to Ikite Yuku , which is reminiscent of the band's classic Zutto Hitori de... .
Anata to Ikite Yuku is classic GLAY at their best & it's such a heartwarming song it's impossible not to like .
After releasing DEATHTOPIA which was full out aggressive with Desutopia & Chonsoku Destiny , it's nice that GLAY has mellowed down considerably with Anata to Ikite Yuku .
Hopefully GLAY can release a new single to kick start 2018 on a good note .
CD
CD + DVD A
CD + DVD B
This single was released a month + after their 16th album 「untitled」(song is not included in the album) & the A-side was used to promote NTV's Saki ni Umareta Dake no Boku drama starring member Sakurai Sho .
Doors ~Yuuki no Kiseki~ is described as a warm but powerful slight ballad with a message about the importance of looking ahead & moving forward even through any problems that involve relationships with people .
The warm medium-tempo ballad carries an encouraging message for listeners & the lyrics were written based on the drama theme .
There're a total of 5 B-sides available in Doors ~Yuuki no Kiseki~ . NOW or NEVER is available in the CD only & CD + DVD B versions of the single .
NOW or NEVER is also ARASHI's 1st B-side to have a video made & it's described as a jaunty pop no. with catchy dance moves . Promo wise , the song was used in the ads of Puzzle & Dragons handphone game that ARASHI stars in themselves .
Perfect Night & BORDER are exclusively found in the CD only version of Doors ~Yuuki no Kiseki~ while Winter days is only available in the CD + DVD version of the single .
ARASHI wraps up another successful fruitful year with the release of their 3rd single of 2017 , Doors ~Yuuki no Kiseki~ .
I thought Doors ~Yuuki no Kiseki~ was going to be included in 「untitled」 but I guess due to marketing tactics , JStorm decides to exclude it from the group's latest album (which I will write about it soon) .
On 1st listen , Doors ~Yuuki no Kiseki~ sounds like a typical ARASHI mid tempo ballad & there's no doubt that this no. is overshadowed by I'll be there & Tsunagu considerably as both songs are fantastic in their own respective right .
But over time , Doors ~Yuuki no Kiseki~ is actually not bad on whole & that goes for the B-sides too .
Considering that ARASHI has released so many B-sides over the past 18 years , I'm very surprised it took them so long to finally make a video for a B-side but it's better late than never as NOW or NEVER do deserve it as it's a great fun catchy song .
NOW or NEVER is frankly good to be A-side material which contrasts Doors ~Yuuki no Kiseki~ extremely well . I'm sure ARASHI could have released both songs together as another double A-side single but alas that didn't happened .
B-sides wise , this time round they're generally quite good (Perfect Night is a nice slow no. while BORDER is aggressive & should have more gruff) but I feel Winter days is the weak link as I was expecting it to be Winter theme but ironically that's not the case .
All in all I'm pleased on what ARASHI has released this year & I look forward to what else they have in store in 2018 !
2 CDs
2 CDs + DVD A
2 CDs + 2 DVDs B
1st CD - 10th anniversary special collaboration album
1) GREAT AMBITIOUS Feat GLAY's JIRO & Toshi Nagai
2) RODEO DRIVE Feat GRANRODEO's e-ZUKA
3) BLACK SKY Feat SKY-HI
4) Golden Night ~Ogonshoku ni Dakishimete~ Feat Golden Bomber's Kiryuin Sho
5) Koi no Super Express Feat Choutokkyuu
6) Triangle Feat Trignal
7) NEVER ENDING STORY Feat MY FIRST STORY's Kid’z & Nob
8) She Is Devil
9) Hirari Mai Chiru Hana no Youni Feat Kuraki Mai
10) GOD Feat Ju-ken & ARIMATSU
2nd CD - Fans' Select Best
1) Ikusen no Meikyuu de Ikusen no Nazo wo Toite
2) SUMMER PARTY
3) Sekai wa Odoru
4) Ao no Mirai
5) Hikari
6) Everlasting Luv
7) SUGAR BABY
8) Kamisori
9) Angelic Smile
10) Birdman
11) Kokoro o Tsunaide
12) hEaVeN
13) FAKE LOVE
14) DESTROY CRASHER
15) Yume Monogatari
Pronounces as Cross , X was released in celebration of BREAKERZ's 10th anniversary . X includes 10 songs in the 1st CD titled 10th anniversary special collaboration album which BREAKERZ sang a different track during each of the 10 BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- 2 man lives with 10 different artistes which took place this year from Jan to April .
Writing/composing credits in the 1st disc of X :
1) GREAT AMBITIOUS ; words : DAIGO music : DAIGO
2) RODEO DRIVE ; words : DAIGO music : SHINPEI
3) BLACK SKY ; words : DAIGO music : AKIHIDE
4) Golden Night ~Ogonshoku ni Dakishimete~ ; words : DAIGO music : AKIHIDE
5) Koi no Super Express ; words : DAIGO music : DAIGO
6) Triangle ; words : DAIGO music : DAIGO
7) NEVER ENDING STORY ; words : DAIGO music : SHINPEI
8) She Is Devil ; words : DAIGO music : AKIHIDE
9) Hirari Mai Chiru Hana no Youni ; words : DAIGO music : DAIGO
10) GOD ; words : DAIGO music : DAIGO
Songs in X that have additional vocals in the songs themselves
- BLACK SKY Feat SKY-HI
- Golden Night ~Ogonshoku ni Dakishimete~ Feat Golden Bomber's Kiryuin Sho
- Koi no Super Express Feat Choutokkyuu
- Triangle Feat Trignal (dialogue , no singing done by Trignal)
- Hirari Mai Chiru Hana no Youni Feat Kuraki Mai ; used as the collaboration song to promote the 37th Sapporo White Illustration event that will take place during 24th - 25th Nov
Songs in X that have no additional vocals in the songs themselves
- GREAT AMBITIOUS Feat GLAY's JIRO & Toshi Nagai
- RODEO DRIVE Feat GRANRODEO's e-ZUKA
- NEVER ENDING STORY Feat MY FIRST STORY's Kid’z & Nob
- GOD Feat Ju-ken & ARIMATSU
The fanclub version of X includes BATTLE SE -VS- as a bonus track . BATTLE SE -VS- is the same music that's played at every start of the 10 BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- concert prior to the respective artiste and/or BREAKERZ come out onstage to perform .
This's the 2nd instrumental song that guitarist SHINPEI composed in the guys' discography , the 1st was for THEME OF FIGHTERZ in FIGHTERZ .
The 2nd CD in X is titled Request best which includes 15 songs that fans selected/voted online as part of Fans' Select Best . This year's single songs which BREAKERZ released ie. Ikusen no Meikyuu de Ikusen no Nazo wo Toite & Yume Monogatari made the cut .
BREAKERZ encapsulates the band's decade-long career in the special album X . As the title indicates , X captures the band's crossovers with other artists & with fans .
Typically when an artiste celebrates their 10th anniversary , they normally will release a best album but for BREAKERZ , they've chosen to do something a bit different from the norm .
I have to be honest to say that the guys' last studio album 0-ZERO- is my least favourite album of them as I thought the album could have been so much better (I'm still a bit sore that their 14th single RUSTY HEARTS wasn't included in 0-ZERO-) .
BREAKERZ's 1st 2 studio albums which were released 10 years ago , both of them had no singles but yet most of the songs are still timeless classics up to now .
Likewise , their 1st mini album Ao no Mirai have only 7 songs but they still stood the test of time even though it was released 9 years ago .
That said , I was genuinely surprised when I heard the 1st disc in X & the songs were more musically diverse than I thought .
I support/listen GLAY , SID & GRANRODEO so when I listened to the songs that BREAKERZ performed on the day/s when they shared the same stage with the respective artistes , they sound like something that the artiste themselves might sing themselves .
I like most of the songs in X & I especially enjoy BLACK SKY , Koi no Super Express & Hirari Mai Chiru Hana no Youni . I wasn't surprised that GREAT AMBITIOUS is the 1st song in the tracklist as it's definitely 1 of the standout songs .
Also X has a considerable amount of input from other musicians , be it the same ones that performed together with BREAKERZ during BREAKERZ 10 Shunen 10ban Shoubu -VS- and/or with guest vocals or not .
I suppose if the guys didn't released BREAKERZ BEST ~SINGLE COLLECTION~ 5 years ago , they wouldn't have chosen to do something like X but I appreciate that they've done something unique instead of releasing another typical best album .
End of the day , I'm really proud to support BREAKERZ & to be their fan for such a long time as I pretty much grew up with them over the years . Despite certain ups & downs in their fandom , I wouldn't trade it for anything else & I look forward to the next decade of their career .
Happy 10th anniversary !
CD Regular
2 CDs Limited
1) tonight
2) doctor doctor
3) Isshou Nakama
4) don't call me
5) Aishiteru yo , Sayonara ,
6) only care about you
7) My Only Lover
8) Pancake
9) Kimi ga Kimi de ite Kureru Kara
10) Nanda Kanda
Aoyama's last full length album release was 2014's Lonely Angel . 10TH DIARY release was to celebrate Aoyama's 10th anniversary in the business & the album's release date happened 1 day after the release of Aoyama's 2007 debut single ONE WAY .
The inspiration behind 10TH DIARY covers & promo picture are based on ONE WAY as the single cover utilises sunflowers . 10TH DIARY includes 10 songs , inclusive of digital single My Only Lover .
All songs in 10TH DIARY were written by Aoyama . The 2nd CD in the 2 CDs version of 10TH DIARY is a 10TH ANNIVERSARY BEST MIX that includes 29 of Aoyama's songs , the long remix was handled by DJ RYO-Z .
Kicking things off in 10TH DIARY is tonight & the album opening track is surprising because it's a ballad unlike the next song doctor doctor which's an aggressive R&B upbeat no. .
Isshou Nakama was 1st released digitally on 30th Aug & a music video was made for the song with rapper AI , Kemio RIEHATA making cameo appearances .
don't call me is track #4 , followed by Aishiteru yo , Sayonara , which's the longest track in the album clocking in at almost 7 mins .
I was a bit daunted prior to hearing Aishiteru yo , Sayonara , but it's actually not bad despite the length .
only care about you is track #6 and lyrically the song's quite amusing but to hear Aoyama swear in it , that doesn't happen often from her .
My Only Lover was 1st released digitally back in Feb & it was chosen to be used as the 30th anniversary collaboration song for French cosmetics brand Guerlain's popular item Meteorites .
Written by Aoyama , the lyrics of My Only Lover show the singer's true feelings about wanting to fall in love .
Pancake & Kimi ga Kimi de ite Kureru Kara are the next 2 album tracks . Both of them are upbeat R&B songs and each of them is quite good in their own respective right .
Nanda Kanda wrap things up in 10TH DIARY and it's also the shortest song in the album . Unlike most of the other tracks , Nanda Kanda is very simplistic as it's just Aoyama singing alongside with an acoustic guitar which doesn't get any better than this .
Aoyama Thelma celebrates the 10th anniversary of her debut with the special album 10TH DIARY , which comes with 10 songs that exemplify her emotions & growth . The album's title harks back to her 1st album DIARY & the album cover features a sunflower, just like her debut single ONE WAY .
Honestly before hearing 10TH DIARY , I was sceptical as aside from My Only Lover , I wasn't sure what to expect from the album's new material .
But 10TH DIARY overall is surprisingly good & better than I've expected . I've supported/followed Aoyama pretty much since the beginning of her career so I know her music capability quite well & frankly Aoyama's most popular song Soba ni Iru ne is actually 1 of my least favourite as I find it very over-rated .
I still find it very unfortunate that after Aoyama's music peak , her career ain't the same as before but despite this , she still continue to release music & some of her non popular songs became some of my most favourite from her .
For Aoyama to release 10TH DIARY , it's kind of coming back full circle for her as both the visual concept & even the album's title paid homage to her debut which I thought it's quite cool .
I don't know how the future's like for Aoyama's music career but I enjoyed listening to 10TH DIARY and I will still continue to support her no matter how bad the circumstances are .
CD
CD + DVD
1) Koi no Honou
2) After Story
3) Magic Time
4) Koi no Honou -Original Instrumental-
5) After Story -Original Instrumental-
6) Magic Time -Original Instrumental-
The duo's last single release was last Nov's WARAE ~In The Mood~ . Koi no Honou was released on the same day as Hilcrhyme OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 2017-2018 「H」 .
2 B-sides are available in the single which both were released digitally prior to the physical single release of Koi no Honou .
After Story was 1st released digitally on 10th June . The song was used to promote the Shunkashuutou Monogatari movie & TOKYO MX's Kon'ya mo LL ♡ (LIVE & LOVE) drama .
The 2nd B-side Magic Time was 1st released digitally on 8th Sept & it was used as the tie up song for Natsu Matsuri in Sanrio Puroland .
I was surprised when I 1st heard Koi no Honou as it's not a typical upbeat Hilcrhyme song . In fact , I had vibes of Little Samba ~Jounetsu no Kinyoubi~ (B-side in debut single Jun'ya to Manami) as both tracks have that Latin music influence going on in them .
Not that it's a bad thing as I feel Little Samba ~Jounetsu no Kinyoubi~ is still 1 of the duo's best B-side songs and despite the inclusion of 2 songs that were already released digitally , I'm actually fine with it .
Hilcrhyme's 22nd single Namida no Tane , Shiawase no Hana will be released later this month on 22nd Nov .