Review: Shuji to Akira - Seishun Amigo
In the world of Japanese pop music, Johnny's Entertainment is more than just an idol factory, it's an almost frighteningly successful business empire. To some western Jpop fans, Hello!Project might seem like an inescapable entity, but their forces simply don't hold a candle to the sheer numbers, cultural influence, and popularity of Johnny's acts. Case in point; the new single entitled "Seishun Amigo" by 'Shuji to Akira', released 11/2.
The title song is the ending theme to a currently running drama series, "Nobuta wo Produce", in which two Johnny's stars, Kamenashi Kazuya and Yamashita Tomohisa, star as the lead characters Shuji and Akira, respectively. Twenty year-old Yamashita, though not the leader, is the most popular member of relatively young group 'NewS', which officially debuted in 2003 and has since seen great chart success with four singles and one album. Kamenashi Kazuya, 19, is also the most popular member of his group, 'KAT-TUN'. 'KAT-TUN' has become a dominate force in the Japanese media over the past couple years, and in 2005 especially; they appear in an endless amount of commercials, print ads, and campaigns, on variety TV shows, in a handful of dramas, and their recent concert DVD holds a position as one of the best-selling discs in Japan this year. All this fame, and the group has yet to even release a single CD. It's no small feat for a musical group to build up such a reputation without any actual music, but none but a Johnny's group could reach such an achievement. 'KAT-TUN' are still considered a "junior" group in the JE hierarchy, and their intense and ever-increasing fandom is left awaiting their official debut when the group is granted their first single.
As such, "Seishun Amigo" is the first CD release with any 'KAT-TUN' involvement, another element adding up to guarantee major hit status for the disc...but is the song worthy of the fervor? As the title suggests, "Seishun Amigo" is an upbeat track with a slight latin flair and a smattering of Spanish words that show up less than one would expect; "mi amigo" is used several times in verses, and a dramatically drawn out "si" precedes each chorus, but other than that, well, it's no "Matsuken Samba." Luckily, the music picks up on the vocals' surprising thematic slack. The song opens and closes with a series of electric guitar twangs and horns that are peculiarly reminiscent of James Bond music. The 007 sound smoothes out into a more refined pop backing for the majority of the song, with a persistent percussion beat and maracas, trumpets, and some excellent guitar strumming providing a subtle but effective mariachi groove. Following the music's tempo changes and revolving instruments, slower solo verses lead up to the faster, joint choruses, aided by background singers. The overall effect is a very lively, fun song that builds on a traditiona Johnny's sound with peppy, competent vocals and unique music. Though falling short in comparison to another Johnny's duet, 'Toraji Haiji''s "Fantastipo", a quirky disco-tune from earlier this year, "Seishun Amigo" is still a strong, likeable song that shines even more with repeated listens.
The two b-sides offered on the single are previously performed solo tracks that had been used in earlier dramas each singer appeared in, and as such, are already established as fan-favorites. "Colorful", Yamashita's solo, was featured in this past summer's drama series "Dragon Zakura" , and Kamenashi's "Kizuna" is from last year's "Gokusen 2". "Colorful" has a somewhat mellow pace that is thrown slightly off-balance by some random electrical guitar riffs and a few lines in which Yamashita aggressively rolls his R's in a jarring way. In contrast, the ballad "Kizuna" offers few bells and whistles but manages to be a more impressive, melodic track with its relatively simple arrangement. The song's merit is lessened slightly Kamenashi's thin, overly nasal vocals. Though long established, somewhat undeserved, as the unofficial lead vocalist of 'KAT-TUN', he doesn't quite yet have the chops to fully realize the potential of songs like this that rely more on power and control than style and delivery. Kamenashi is undoubtedly talented, and will surely begin progressing more once his group is given a chance to actually record songs, but on this single, he's easily overshadowed by Yamashita's fuller, smoother, more confidant vocals.
Offering a pretty catchy a-side and decent b-sides, "Seishun Amigo" is a release in which the whole is much, much greater than the sum of its parts. There's an almost absurd amount of traits attached that guarantee amazing sales. Current favorite Johnnys Entertainment member? Check. Most popular member from current favorite boy-band obsession in all of Japan? Check. First CD release ever involving said wildly popular member? Check. Theme song for current hit drama series? Check. Needless to say, "Seishun Amigo" has held the #1 position on the Oricon chart consistantly in the four days since its release, not only assured the top position for the week, but according to a Sanspo article here, also on its way to selling a million copies. If it succeeds, it will become the top selling CD single in Japan this year with just one week of sales under its belt, and as a result? Yamashita's stock will continue to rise, the powers that be will hopefully consider granting 'KAT-TUN' an official debut before their popularity bubble bursts, and Johnny's Entertainment will continue their plan to dominate the country in every forum, one pretty boy at a time.
Released: Nov 2, 2005 
