V6 – Honey Beat/Boku to Bokura no Ashita (Version B)
Avex Traxx
Tracks:
1. Honey Beat
2. Boku to Bokura no Ashita
3. Honey Beat (British Rock version)
4. Boku to Bokura no Ashita (Acoustic version)
A few people know that I like listening to JPop/JRock. I really do, though I really prefer the dance/rock tunes than ballads. Simple. The power of a ballad comes from the combination of lyrics and music. That doesn’t necessarily apply on dance tunes. Dance tunes are easier to appreciate.
V6 has been in the JPop scene since a decade ago. Honey Beat is their 30th single since debut (they like saying that in Japanese, watch Music Station on Animax). The other song in the single is the ballad Boku to Bokura no Ashita.
Honey Beat was used for a commercial for a school, and V6 themselves call it as an “encouraging” song – to convince students to go to school and work hard. This song is consistent with the group’s sound – catchy, with Engrish thrown in the mix, danceable, and the LSS-prone word “Waratte” (smile or laugh in Japanese). In fact, if you listen to the song without knowing the title, you might have guessed the title as “Waratte”.
However, you will appreciate the beauty of this song if you listen to the British Rock version. The original was sung by the entire group, with some parts being sung solo or by threes (which can be irritating to the ears). The other version, which I believe is way better than the original, was sung by three members only.
The rock version is slower, clearer, and easier to the ears, more in tune with the 60s (think The Beatles prior to Revolver).
I will not review the ballad, as I cannot appreciate it, how hard I tried doing it.
V6 is one of the JPop groups that I like, ever since I heard the song Change the World (with was used as opening theme for Inuyasha).
WHAT I LIKE:
Catchy tune. The British rock version rocks.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE:
I cannot appreciate the ballad.
—
Anyway, this group has been around for quite a time, and I think retirement must be in their minds. V6 is like the Backstreet Boys in this regard. After all, boybands do not last that long, except in Japan (look at SMAP). But playing cute when you know they are old is just pathetic. Good thing most of them have separate careers, in acting and in commercials. I just hope they have saved enough so that they can retire in peace.
UPDATE:
Someone dropped by via Google looking for the lyrics of Honey Beat, so here it is:
i wanna make you shinning smile.
tobinorou yo HONEY BEAT
namida wo kawashite asu wo wo ubae
aa darekano tame ni (ikitatte) kimi wa kimi da yo
waratte waratte waratte…naite naide kocchi muite hanashi shiyou yo
hora kiss wo nee kiss wo kudasai
taitei donna kireigoto datte ana ga arunda
nee kizu wo sono kizu wo kudasaiomoide wa ima wo kosenai yo
sousa aa haru natsu aki fuyu e kimi to futarikiri de Ahi wanna make you shining smile.
tobinorouyo HONEY BEAT
namida wo kawashite asu wo ubae
aa darekano tame ni (ikitatte) kimi wa kimi da yo
waratte waratte waratte…tarinakutatte agesugitatte hana wa kareru
nee koe wo hora koe wo kikasete
soudan datte joudan datte ai no kotoba
kono kagi de sono tobira akeyoumabataki wo surunomo kowai yo
sonna aa kimi no kidoairaku minogashitari wa shinaisa Ahi wanna make you shining smile.
hajimeyou yo HONEY BEAT
mirai wo erande ima risutaato
aa chizu wo nakushite (naitatte) akirameruna yo
waratte waratte waratte…sousa aa haru natsu aki fuyu e kimi to futari
souda aa yuzurenai ashita e kimi to futarikiri de Ahi wanna make you shining smile.
tobinorou yo HONEY BEAT
namida wo kawashite asu wo ubae
aa darekano tame ni (ikitatte) kimi wa kimi da yo
waratte warattei wanna make you shining smile.
hajimeyou yo HONEY BEAT
mirai wo erande ima risutaato
aa chizu wo nakushite (naitatte) akirameruna yo
waratte waratte waratte…
I’ll try to find an English translation…