CD
CD + 2 DVDs A
CD + DVD B
The A-side was chosen to be used to promote the Fuji TV drama Strawberry Night Saga starring Kame himself .
Strawberry Night Saga revolves around Himekawa Reiko who was promoted to assistant inspector at the age of 27 even though she was not on the right career track . Nikaido Fumi plays Himekawa & Kame plays Kikuta Kazuo , a dependable sergeant who works closely with Himekawa .
This is Kame's 1st time singing a drama's theme song solo . Rain is described as having a theme on deep love . Kame stated , "It's a new challenge for me so I feel tense" .
Rain was written with the theme that centres on a deep love that watches over those who work hard to live despite the struggles & difficulties they face .
A total of 5 B-sides are included/scattered in all 3 versions of Rain :
- Te wo Nobase (CD & CD + DVD B Track)
- Plastic Tears (CD Only Track)
- VANILLA KISS (CD Only Track)
- Ima (CD + 2 DVDs A Track)
- Michi (CD + DVD B Track)
A video was made for Te wo Nobase & it was used to promote NTV's professional baseball broadcast programmes FUN! BASEBALL 2019 & Going! Sports & News .
Out of the 5 B-sides , Kame wrote & composed Ima while he wrote Michi .
Kamenashi Kazuya is finally releasing his 1st ever solo single ! The popular KAT-TUN member and actor both stars in + sings the theme song Rain for the Fuji TV police drama Strawberry Night Saga . The song matches the mood of the serious detective series .
Frankly I have no idea why it took Kame so long to put out solo material of his own but it's better late than never & also timing probably plays a factor as well .
Most of past dramas that Kame acted in tend to be provided by KAT-TUN theme songs wise except for Boku, Unmei no Hito desu & of course Strawberry Night Saga .
I usually don't like Kame's solo ballads but Rain is quite different from his past solo ballads . Also , all the while I always feel that Kame's upbeat solo songs are way better with Kizuna & Hanasaide Ai being the 2 exceptions .
The B-sides made available in Rain are all musically diverse in their own distinct way & I appreciate the personal input that Kame did with regards to Ima & Michi .
For me I would have loved to see a video made for Plastic Tears but given the lyrical content of the song , I doubt that both JStorm and Johnny & Associates are willing to let that happen .
So instead a video was made for Te wo Nobase instead which contrasts Rain extremely well .
I really hope Rain will not be a 1 off Kame solo release . I genuinely enjoy the whole single & I'm sure Kame would be able to handle releasing a solo album in the near future and if that ever happens , I would welcome that in a heartbeat .
CD
CD Anime version
CD + Blu-ray
1) Setsuna no Ai
2) Forte
3) Setsuna no Ai (OFF VOCAL)
4) Forte (OFF VOCAL)
GRANRODEO's 1st release of 2019 , the A-side was used as the opening theme song for the 3rd season of the Bungo Stray Dogs anime .
The 3rd season of the Bungo Stray Dogs anime began airing from last month onwards & this's the 2nd time GRANRODEO provided their song to be used for Bungo Stray Dogs , after last year's Deadly Drive .
Vocalist KISHOW has a voice actor credit in Bungo Stray Dogs .
GRANRODEO's 8th album FAB LOVE was released yesterday on 15th May & Setsuna no Ai is excluded from the new album .
Frankly for once I like the B-side a lot more than the A-side , not to say that Setsuna no Ai ain't good .
Just that the 1st time I heard Forte , I immediately like it a lot as it has such an unique melody & oddly Forte has rather strong Irish folk sounding influences which I never heard that being used in any Japanese artistes I listen to , until now .
It's a bit of a shame that both songs are not included in GRANRODEO's latest new album FAB LOVE . Setsuna no Ai no doubt will be included in their next studio album , I hope Forte will make the cut as it deserves to be in & not out .
Atarashii Sekai e Atarashii Jidai e was performed for the 1st time during BREAKERZ LIVE 2019 ~Heisei Saigo no DAIGO's BIRTHDAY~ .
The digital cover of Atarashii Sekai e Atarashii Jidai e ~Reiwa Version~ was taken in the beginning of BREAKERZ LIVE 2019 ~Heisei Saigo no DAIGO's BIRTHDAY~ when DAIGO walked onstage & held up the Heisei sign before the concert began .
Credits wise , DAIGO wrote & composed Atarashii Sekai e Atarashii Jidai e ~Reiwa Version~ .
The last time BREAKERZ released something digitally was 12 years ago ie. WAKE UP MY SOUL / Re:born .
It's quite hard to believe it has been so long since the guys last released something digitally but seeing that they weren't able to release something physically before the Heisei era concluded , this's better than nothing .
I was surprised when I 1st heard Atarashii Sekai e Atarashii Jidai e ~Reiwa Version~ as it has a really unique melody . I knew there was piano in the song but I didn't expect it's towards a more pop feel .
So instead of a grand ballad like Hikari , Atarashii Sekai e Atarashii Jidai e ~Reiwa Version~ leans more towards as a mid tempo song .
Looking at the song title , I will not be surprised if Atarashii Sekai e Atarashii Jidai e ~Reiwa Version~ is not the same version as what the guys performed during BREAKERZ LIVE 2019 ~Heisei Saigo no DAIGO's BIRTHDAY~ , melody wise .
If so , Atarashii Sekai e Atarashii Jidai e would be very fitting to be released as the guys' 20th single which will happen during Summer which I no doubt be looking forward to it .