Venerdì 14 Mag 2010, 18:59
KAT-TUN's 12th single, Going!, was released two days ago on Wednesday, May 12th 2010. According to the Oricon Charts, first day sales hit 99,770 units. This falls short of their previous release's – Love yourself ~君が嫌いな君が好き~ – sales of 157,788 by a dramatic 58,018. Even with lower first day sales than usual they're still likely to take number one on the Oricon Charts for the week starting May 24th 2010.
Nothing less to be expected from KAT-TUN, right?
So what's with the drop in sales in comparison to their previous releases?
Maybe this is just a silent protest from the fans. Akanishi's temporary absence from the band (to perform concerts in the USA) seems to have caused an uproar, and I wonder if this is the fans way of responding to the decision for Akanishi to pursue a solo career alongside his KAT-TUN work? Or maybe there are people who're just waiting to see if "Going!" will be included in the upcoming 5th album's track-listing before purchasing the single. Either way, until the word is uttered from Johnny people need to stop fearing the worst in this situation. Just like before, Akanishi will return and six soldiers will continue marching on. ♪
From the remaining five members there have been three editions of "Going!" released; all with slightly differing track-listings and cover art.
“Going!” LE1 features two tracks and a DVD of the promotional video and making of the title track. The b-side on this is a pop song titled SMILE. On LE2, solos by Tanaka and Nakamaru have been included, titled, I DON’T MISS U and, Answer. Finally, the b-side on the RE is a rock track titled FALL DOWN. If you’re easily offended, don’t try to look this one up on streaming websites like Youtube unless you wish to be presented with many videos of Kamenashi falling off the stage.
→ Review. Going!,
The title track, Going! starts off with a bang. The English intro, "Going! Yeah! Just Going! Yeah! Right now we are going!" will either make you laugh or have you just sat there thinking, "What the hell?" In my case it was the latter. But after listening to the song all the way through you'll understand why their voices carried such intense enthusiasm right from the kick-off.
I love how this can be interpreted. Considering that this is their second single release overall without Akanishi, I get the message that this means they can go on without him; that his temporary absence from the group isn't a bad thing, and they're not going to let a little hiccup in schedules hold them back from achieving their own dreams too.
After this intro the music kicks in with Kamenashi proclaiming, "Everybody, Going For Dream! 同じ夢を", and this is where we find that "Going!" has followed the trend started with the previous single – Love yourself ~君が嫌いな君が好き~ and it's b-side, The D-Motion – by relying on the auto-tune to achieve the sounds they want. I know a number of people were disappointed with the way their voices were distorted in their previous single, so for anyone who was hoping that this single would carry KAT-TUN's former rock-ish feel, they must have been a little anxious at this moment.
If, like myself, you were afraid that Kamenashi would be pushed into the centre more with Akanishi currently away, then you'd also be paranoid as to what is to come next.
新しい明日を 目指す We Go Now
変わりそうな Shinin' My Life
駆けだして 初めて 見える未来は
胸を揺らす Groovy Vibe
The song continues with Nakamaru starting off the first verse. His voice sounds higher with the auto-tune, and if you're not fond of KAT-TUN's recent sound then this is where things get a bit shaky. But if you're open to new styles, then you'll find the easy transition between Nakamaru and Ueda's lines incredibly smooth and pleasant. But maybe it was only me who actually missed Tanaka's rough voice when he takes on the third line of the verse. It took me a moment to realise it was even him singing. The auto-tune takes that unique depth out of his voice, and I feel that it is that roughness that usually makes his voice stand out from the others. However, when Taguchi comes in his voice is incredible. Admittedly, apart from in his solo, WIND, I'm guilty of often over-looking Taguchi's vocal talent. I feel he's often overshadowed by the range of some of the others member's voices. But his voice completely suits this type of go-happy, motivational song and it makes him shine even more brightly.
Every step, Overstep 自分信じて
Anytime, anywhere 高く
Every step, Overstep 明日を変える涙で
Get your dream!
The next few lines alternate between them all singing, and solo lines by Kamenashi and Nakamaru. With auto-tune, I must admit that I preferred Nakamaru's one word over Kamenashi's lines. Am I the only one who thinks he sounds just a tiny bit too high-pitched when his voice is altered like this?
力の限り 走る君が 世界の壁を壊してく
道は 果てしない夢に続く
始まりは一歩 踏み出そう Let’s goin'!
The chorus here is lovely, but I feel it's missing something. No, not Akanishi. But I feel it lacks depth -and that's the only flaw with auto-tune. The emotion in their voices seem to just melt away when altered like this. It's pleasant enough to hear, but I don't feel it's very strong.
煌めきと溜め息 代わる代わるに
まだ見ぬ夢をみる
仲間たち 巻き込んで 自由なままで
空響かす Oh My Beat
The second verse follows the same pattern as the first: Nakamaru → Ueda → Tanaka → Taguchi, and I feel that this arrangement works very well. I think in this verse Tanaka's voice sounds deeper here, and I prefer it to the first verse. But the highlight for me is definitely Nakamaru here. His voice usually has a smooth, gentle quality to it, and even with the auto-tune that same feel remains.
Every step, Overstep 風に乗る My Faith
Anytime, anywhere 胸に
Every step, Overstep 誰も知らない孤独を
Shout it Loud!
At this point I'm still unimpressed with the sound of Kamenashi's voice. Usually it's his voice that sticks out most for me when I listen to KAT-TUN, and his solos are incredible (okay, with exception of 愛しているから - that song is about five minutes too long if you ask me), but he definitely doesn't sound his best here. Ueda's a bit pitchy here too, but because the line is short it is pleasant enough to listen to.
Goin' We're Goin' Just Goin' Right Now We're Goin'
明日を信じて 世界に飛び乗れ
Your Dream 解き放て Goin' Goin'
After repeating the chorus Kamenashi comes in again, and at this point I'm actually enjoying the sound of his voice. More because of what he's saying, mind, than how it sounds. Though first time I heard it I found it bit weird, but after 250-odd plays in three days it's grown on me. Following this is Nakamaru and Ueda, and once again I'm impressed with how sweetly their voices go together. This is the high-light of the song for me.
Goin' Goin' Go 努力した君と挫折日々が無情の様で "Noooo!"
Goin' Goin' Go 立ち止まる 意味を探してた日々は向こうの方へ "Goooo!"
Goin' Goin' Go 苦労と両隣負けたって昨日は今日で Change
Goin' Goin' Go Goin' Goin' Go 強引だっていい
However, no KAT-TUN song is complete without the JOKER planting his stamp in the credits. I usually adore Tanaka's raps, and this is no exception. The fact that it follows on instantly from where Nakamaru left off just makes it x10 better. For me, what sells it is the repetition of "Goin' Goin' Go." It's just impossible to ignore it.
Everybody say "Oh-Oh!"
Come On "Oh-Oh!"
Everybody say "Oh-Oh!"
Oh!
飛び乗ろう その風に
If, like myself, you listened to this on Music Station before hearing the recorded version then this just sounds plain weird! I wonder if this bit would have been best left out in the recorded version? It just feels so empty without the audience's responses to their calls. But it's growing on me rapidly.
They repeat the chorus again after this, and by this point I find myself growing tired of it. The lyrics are lovely, yes, but it's weak compared to the strength of the verses and the rap.
Everybody, Goin' For Dream!
一人じゃない Your Dream
Going!
The song finishes with Kamenashi, and once again I've gone from really enjoying his lines to finding them merely tolerable.
I mentioned earlier that I originally feared that Kamenashi would get too much of the focus in this song before I heard it. Obviously, this isn't the case: but I still feel that the way he both opens and ends the song and is the only person excluded from the verses still makes him stand out from the others. However, I don't think he's standing out in a positive manner. Auto-tune does nothing for his voice, and honestly I'm just glad he wasn't in the verses for fear of spoiling them.
As for the others, I definitely feel that Ueda and Nakamaru were carrying this song. I didn't think that Ueda's voice would suit this type of song, and if it had been his solo I could see it going badly. But coupled with Nakamaru the two of them sound amazing following on from one another. Heck, they even made Kamenashi sound worse when they alternated lines with him.
Tanaka's voice suffers with the auto-tune, I find. But without it his voice might have seemed completely out of place in this song. He still sounds great, but I do miss the depth his voice tends to carry without it. I feel that it's the hoarseness of his voice that makes him stand out from the other members. Luckily a bit more of that edge crept into his rap. If it had been edited too much then it would have just been a total disaster.
Finally, I believe Taguchi deserved more lines in this. His image and stage personality are so well suited to this type of song it's overwhelming, yet he only gets two solo lines? I did say that I often overlook him, but I definitely feel that a song like this could have done better had he been given more lines.
http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy29/babomarionette/Lastfm/going1.jpg
→ B-side LE1. SMILE,
On it's own this is a very gentle pop song, and it's nice to listen to. But when it follows up a song as upbeat as, "Going!" it feels like it's lacking something. However, the pure quality of their voices is a breath of fresh air from songs that have been altered as much as the title track. I'm not entirely in love with this song, and it seems to be quite forgettable. However, I do like it. I'm also pleased that Kamenashi and Tanaka sound a lot better in this, too.
http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy29/babomarionette/Lastfm/going2.jpg
→ B-side LE2. I DON'T MISS U,
I am in love with this song, completely. I remember hearing a small portion of this on the Live Break the Records Road Documentary and instantly wishing there was a recorded version, so I was over the moon at hearing about this solo being included as a b-side. The opening, as expected from Tanaka, is loud, blunt and gripping.
→ B-side LE2. Answer,
Nakamaru’s solos have never been my favourites. It’s not that I dislike them, I just feel that him being placed in a group was an excellent decision in his career. But this song is the first of his that actually makes me sit back and go, “Wow.” His voice is so gentle here, and the high notes at the end of each line towards the end are just so gorgeous. It ends making me think, “Oh, it’s over now?” It’s definitely one I could sit to and listen to on repeat. But at the same time, his voice is so beautiful here that I feel as if I would fall asleep listening to it if there wasn’t something to break up the sound.
http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy29/babomarionette/Lastfm/going3.jpg
→ B-side RE. FALL DOWN,
Fast, in your face, and it carries that rock edge that sets KAT-TUN apart from the other JE groups. This song made me think of RHODESIA when I first heard it. I’m not saying that they sound alike, but it just has that sort of feel to me. By I do adore “RHODESIA”, so perhaps that’s a good thing? I think this is the song that is going to give fans the reassurance that yes, they’re changing but at the same time they’re not planning to lose what makes them unique. But, honestly, the phrasing of, “Stand up ya middle finger right?” makes me laugh. But language always can cause problems, so I won’t cause a fuss. Especially with a line as amazingly awesome as, “Yo only God can judge me ya know?” in there. It really makes me think.
Overall, as a whole, I honestly adore this single. I didn’t think that they would be able to top Love yourself ~君が嫌いな君が好き~ – and clearly, judging by sales, a lot of people agree with this notion – but I genuinely believe that they have. The b-sides on these definitely make it worth listening to, and I’ll definitely be clinging to Tanaka and Nakamaru’s solos until everyone around me is sick of hearing them, hehe~
Do you agree or disagree? Don’t hesitate to tell me what you think of both this review and of “Going!” itself either here or over on The Umbrella Reviews.
☂ Tina.