音楽 Appreciation! 🎶

Music is the universal language of mankind. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet

Honestly, this is my first time writing one whole entry related to music, and basically, this is more of a review regarding an album that I have been frequently listening to recently. Not being a music expert though, I am not going to technically elaborate each track, but instead, will just post my honest thoughts about these.

I may be focusing more on the music itself rather than the literal translations of the lyrics of the songs. For those who are interested though, Otakara-Maru at LJ has posted the Japanese and Romaji lyrics. Aitamashii at DW also started translating the lyrics of the songs as well! For the interludes, I will provide my thoughts based on the translations provided by stahseedesu in Twitter.

Since I've mentioned a quote at the beginning of this entry, I would say that music is indeed universal - despite the language differences, everyone may understand what the music would like to convey. Music even exists many years ago, but it will definitely never go out of style, it can rather be revived, be remixed, or even be lyricized (an example would be NEWS' Yonjuushi that is based from classical music Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff).

NEWS has recently released their 12th album titled "Ongaku" (音楽, literally means music) last August 17, and this marks their first album as trio. Centered on the theme of music, the whole album is definitely a treat or let me say, a feast for the ears, as it offers tracks with diverse music genres.

LE A



LE B





RE

Personally, I really love the monochromatic and minimalist jacket covers of this album, especially the regular edition one - look at how expressive NEWS' eyes are! I also like the words written on it - basically, that's how music really works, so these make sense.

Music /'mju:zik/: Vibration of sounds combined in such a way as to create beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.

Power of Music

Music brings people together.
Not only that, it improves health, confidence and resilience.

I am still clueless about what those shapes around NEWS members' names symbolize though - do I need to overthink, or just accept that those are just stylized K (for Koyama), M (for Masuda) and K (for Kato)? 🤔

Anyway, I am not being biased for my favorite Jpop group, but NEWS, being one of the most musically versatile among Johnny's groups, has provided quality music again, which for me, is even better than their previous albums that they have released so far. To be honest, it is my habit to skip the interludes and singles when listening to an album, but this time, I have listened to (and I think that I will always be listening to) Ongaku tracks consecutively, so it's not shuffled, no skips, including the interludes and singles! I am so much in love with it to the point that I now have this lengthy entry posted here in my blog, much like how Shige is posting his thoughts (plus the "behind the scenes") on the album tracks through his personal liner notes on Shigeaki no Cloud before lol. Now I wonder if Shige will also be posting about Ongaku this time. 🤔

Before I proceed with expressing my own thoughts on each track, here is the digest of all the songs included in this album.

All Songs Digest

Watch on YouTube

TRACKLIST:

🎼 Introduction - Interlude -

The album starts with an interlude, a narration about a star that fell, and was asked by the man about what the star can eat. The star, even without the mouth, was able to answer him that it can eat sounds using its ears, hence, the man offered the star to let him teach about music, something that the star hasn't eaten before.

If this will be made into a film, I can imagine that the setting will be under the clear night sky, where the star came and eventually fell from. Anyway, this interlude is actually included in TRIAD MV uploaded in the official Youtube channel of J Storm.

🎼 TRIAD

I already mentioned this in my tweet, but upon watching the MV, this is so far my most favorite among the album lead songs released! It is just amazing that our boys were able to play different musical instruments and the sounds created out of playing those were created into this song. It somewhat reminds me of Theme of "QUARTETTO" - only that in QUARTETTO, they created sounds out of the ordinary things.


From TRIAD MV included in LE A

Musical instruments that they played: Harp, drums, timpani, vibraphone, grand piano, electric piano, analog synthesizer, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, saxophone, double bass, modular synthesizer. Among those, the instruments that best suit the NEWS members, for me, are saxophone for Keiichan, drums for Massu and of course, guitar for Shige.

Here is the TRIAD MV:

Watch on YouTube

TRIAD: A union or group of three; three related things that form a group; a chord that consists of three notes that are separated by three or four half steps.


From TRIAD MV included in LE A

🎼 LOSER

An upbeat support song that serves as the theme song for TV Tokyo spring drama Kichijoji Losers starring Massu. Very lively claps plus trumpet sounds can be heard, which can truly encourage those who feel that they're "losers", to "stand up" 😁

Watch on YouTube

🎼 カノン (Canon)

When I first heard of the radio rip of this song, my heart skipped a bit since upon hearing the intro, I knew it was familiar! I can also hear the familiar part of Pachelbel's Canon in D clearly in the bridge of the song. Canon in D is my favorite classical music piece, so no wonder I consider this as one of my favorite tracks in this album.

🎼 Rhythm - Interlude -

The continuation of the story of the star and the man. This time, the star felt the sounds of the heartbeat, then thumps its hands and feet to the beats. The man joined in, and told the star that this is rhythm.

Basically, rhythm is a repeated pattern of sounds or beats. Beats can be heard during the narration.

🎼 ポリリズム (Polyrhythm)

One of the sounds that I can hear in this song somewhat reminds me of a certain background music in Tiktok lol. But kidding aside, this basically uses, well, polyrhythm - "poly" means many, so this has "multiple rhythms". I can also hear this "twinkling sound" here, like in Brightest from Neverland album. Maybe that's "Taku Takahashi" brand, since there is this common element that exists in most of his music compositions, that unfortunately, I cannot express in exact words lol.

🎼 チンチャうまっか (Chincha Umakka)

A catchy song with "delicious" words in different languages! With "masarap" included and the first word mentioned in the song, I feel validated 😌

Let's learn! 😋

Masarap - Tagalog 🇵🇭
Buono - Italian 🇮🇹
νόστιμο (Nóstimo) - Greek 🇬🇷
Sedap - Malay 🇲🇾
อร่อย (Aroi) - Thai 🇹🇭
好吃 (Hǎo chī) - Mandarin 🇨🇳
Bueno - Spanish 🇪🇸
Delicioso - Portuguese 🇵🇹
Yummy - English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Gott - Swedish 🇸🇪
C'est Bon - French 🇫🇷
لذیذ
(Lazeez) - Arabic 🇸🇦
خوشمزه
(Khosh mazeh) - Persian 🇮🇷
Finom - Hungarian 🇭🇺
Lecker - German 🇩🇪 / Lækker - Danish 🇩🇰
うまっか (Umakka) - Japanese 🇯🇵

Watch on YouTube

🎼 三銃士 (Sanjuushi)

I've mentioned in the earlier part of this post about Yonjuushi, and this time, current NEWS also has Sanjuushi! But in contrast to the classical music-based slow tempo of Yonjuushi, Sanjuushi is an upbeat song composed by GReeeeN! After 15 years since GReeeeN-san produced weeeek, they again provided a catchy tune for NEWS, something Janiizu-ppoi (because of the genki-ness of the song).

Watch on YouTube

🎼 Melody - Interlude -

I can hear celestial sounds, much like something that we can hear at night, in this interlude about the star lying down to look at the night sky, where five shooting stars had passed and left their light streaks across the sky. Then a whistled melody/tune, resembling the whistle intro of "Beautiful", is started.

🎼 ビューティフル (Beautiful)

One of the first three singles that have been released after NEWS became a trio, Beautiful is a very relaxing song that served as the theme song for TV Tokyo drama Rental Nanmo Shinai Hito, starring Massu. Shige singing 🎶You're beautiful, ahhhh🎶 with his falsetto is remarkable here. 🤭💚

Watch on YouTube

🎼 pink moon

A Massu-produced song, this is so far, one of the most calming love ballads that NEWS ever have. Their voices are clear yet soothing to the point that I can easily fall asleep with it, much like listening to a lullaby.

🎼 Harmony - Interlude -

Shige has mentioned concepts about music so creatively, that I really thought that if only our music teacher during my school days was teaching us the same way as how Shige is giving us ideas about the elements of music, I would appreciate the subject more 😆. So in this interlude, it makes sense that we cannot create sound with only one beat, we cannot create melody with only one sound, and even a chord needs three notes.

🎼 KMK the boys rock you all!

Harmony is the blending of the sounds, therefore, this song is perfect to be included in the "harmony" section of this album. As what the others thought about it, this song is much like something that is included in musical stage plays or movies (think about Disney-produced movies like Lion King), or a Gospel music that is given life by the harmonies of the voices of the choir members. I am actually hoping that the live performance will be backed up with live orchestra + choral group.

🎶Let me hear the sound and shout🎶

🎼 カナリヤ (Kanariya)

A song that seems so sad, but there is the feeling of hope to move on. I still remember that heartbreaking moment as a fan two years ago, when I thought that quartet NEWS will live forever, yet, ended up becoming a trio. It may be regrettable after all those years of being together as four, but with determination, the remaining three decided to continue what they've started, thus, with all their might, they were able to protect NEWS. *emo emo* 😭

Watch on YouTube

🎼 走れメロスのように (Hashire Melos no Youni)

I don't know why, but every time I listen to it, I feel like it has the same vibes as Kanlungan, a song by Filipino singer Noel Cabangon. It has very calming, nostalgic, homey melody. This is another Massu-produced song, and the lyrics were actually written by Takeda Tetsuya-san, who once played the role of Kinpachi-sensei! Seems like that "parent-child like" relationship between Takeda-san and Massu still prevails even years after they first acted together in the drama! By the way, I really love Keiichan's bass here the most! 💜

🎼 Dischord - Interlude -

Tensed music can be heard while narrating about the conflicts - the shouts, the screams that made the star annoyed.

In music, there is so-called "dissonance", or the lack of harmony among the notes, which results to clashing of sounds. While it may be annoying to some, these sharp sounds are actually present in most of the songs nowadays - think about those edgy rock songs.

🎼 BURN

An emo rock song that serves as an opening theme song for anime Hanyou no Yashahime. I still remembered that proud moment when the anime fans praised and commented how they love this song, to the point that they wondered when this will be released in some music streaming sites like Spotify. Well, unfortunately, we only have this short YouTube version of the MV lol. 😅

Watch on YouTube

🎼 ReBorn

This served as the opening theme song for Season 2 of Hanyou no Yashahime. I didn't expect at first that there would be an actual choreography for this when they performed it on a music show. That was really cool though.

Watch on YouTube

🎼 Music - Interlude -

During the narration, we can hear the piano sounds same with what we can hear at the start of TRIAD. The conflict already stopped when the star cried out. Then, this is the time when the star and the man had parted ways, and the star thanked the man for teaching it about music.

🎼 未来へ (Mirai e)

This served as the theme song for NTV drama Nigatsu no Shousha, where Shige appeared as a regular cast member. This is another iconic NEWS' support song, alongside Full Swing, U R Not Alone and Ikiro! I'm just happy that other Janiizu fans (non-NEWS fans) appreciate this song more when they witnessed it being performed during JaniFes. 💕

Watch on YouTube

🎼 Coda

Another favorite track in this album, as the title suggests, this is perfect as an ending song. I got emotional during the first time I heard this. I love the line "変わらない愛を君へ贈る" (Kawaranai ai wo kimi e okuru - We're sending you unchanging love) 😭

After the song, the final narration tells about the star wondering how it may be able to talk to the man even though it didn't have a mouth at first.

"You had music inside of you right at the beginning." the man answered.

Then the star said to itself,

"I will continue to sing, as long as music lives in me."

That line somehow reminds me of a statement that Massu mentioned at the end of Kimi no Kotoba ni Emi wo performance during STORY concert in Nippongaishi Hall:

"Anou... I want to sing with Koyama and Shige forever." 😭

🎼 Refrain - Koyama Keiichiro

The transition from Coda to Refrain feels like the transition from final scene of the musical to ending credits, for me lol. Anyway, Keiichan continues to sing dance club song (which actually suits him!), from WORLDISTA's Going that Way to STORY's Stay Alive, well, he actually started that when he performed Dancin' to Me during EPCOTIA Encore 😆.

🎼 XXX - Masuda Takahisa

Okay, upon the release of the tracklist, I already have the assumption that this will be something WILD based on the title, since XXX suggests censorship lol. However, Massu mentioned that it is read as "Kiss Kiss Kiss". When the album songs digest has been uploaded in J Storm's official YouTube channel, we can see the onscreen text 火照った身体に優しく kissin' (hotetta karada ni yasashiku kissin' - gently kissin' the burning body) as part of the lyrics, with Massu's gasps. Then by the time I've already heard the whole thing, there's the "So let me bite head to toes" line, and the MEOW, but I heard ROAR-like sound at the end, so is this a WILD CAT?!

How is this a cute ballad, Masuda-san?! This is clearly... ERO. Welcome to adulthood, Massu. 😆🔥🎶Guilty not to be 🎶

But, having a catchy dance tune, this is actually my favorite solo song in this album. I would like to know how Massu will perform this. 😏

🎼 Agitato - Kato Shigeaki

Shige has experimented (lol jk 😆) again using DTM, like during the time he created "Narrative" for STORY. But this time, there is the... angst, maybe. It somewhat reminds me of LVE, but slower.

I can hear Shige rapping some Italian words mostly used as music jargons (crescendo, expressivo, agitato, ritenuto), and the remarkable
「君が思うより僕は危険」(Kimi ga omou yori boku wa kiken - I am more dangerous than you think). But I like the last lines he wrote in English:

"Behold, the moment of the 'NEWS BRAND'
You worry about me
But I must go my way
to know myself as yet unknown
I'm gonna hit it and I'll be the great beast
Then set free and fly high"

And that's what he meant by "Kimi ga omou yori boku wa kiken."

It's much like, leave the comfort zone to prove something, and return stronger. What a powerful message.

🎶🎶🎶

For me, this is not just a usual album. Listening to it feels like watching a movie - the interludes and how the songs are arranged were planned really well, that the whole album makes up a complete story! It's amazing that the songs were arranged in accordance with each theme of the interlude.

As expected from our genius resident writer, Shige has again showed us his own view of music through his beautiful, creative writing, which has given life by Matsu Takako-san's narration, with her soothing voice. I cannot comment more of NEWS' singing ability - their vocals are just heaven sent! Massu's flexible vocal range + Keiichan's bass + Shige's treble = chef's kiss. As usual, they have brought out the emotions in the songs that they are performing.👌

I would recommend listening to it in sequence, without the skips, and with earphones, to fully enjoy "consuming" this music that I believe, only NEWS can give (much like how the star "consume/eat" the music that it has never eaten before), in addition to the sound effects that you may hear within the tracks... well, something where you can enjoy ASMR. 😁

Now I am thinking about how lucky the fans are by the time they're going to witness Ongaku through live shows (which will start tomorrow, 8/27)! I am looking forward to the time that it will be released in DVDs.

Anyway, for now, I really can't wait to buy my own physical copies of the album (as well as the concert goods) soon! 🤩🎶