This 2004 single from Vidoll is worth revisiting.
Traditionally on White Day, the men give flowers and chocolates to the women. With their 2004 single Boku, White Day mo hitorikiri, it seems that Vidoll has taken the side of a man left alone without a loved one to pamper.
The title track, Hitorikiri no White Day, opens with a digitalized drumbeat. Jui’s voice is slightly distorted to sound thicker and somewhat detached. Then, the guitars kick in with the deep, slow melody. Minor key chords are inserted at intervals and the vocals are echoed, giving the impression of an empty room and unstable emotions. The beat and composition aren’t very complex, but the guitars provide enough background ornamentation to keep it from being bland. The bridge is simply built to roll into the chorus, during which Jui shows his range by switching from low to high register with ease. A sudden break in sound near the end is followed by a short, whimsical digital piece before the chorus drops back in; the longing in Jui’s voice pulls like an undertow, and the sad, sweet song fades out on a poignant note.
Boku, shimobe., which was previously released as a single, appears to show the other side of love - the madness born from devotion. It starts with Rame going hard and heavy on bass, and he is soon joined by a dissonant melody and strange, electronic beeping. The fast pace of the song is matched by Jui, who growls and snarls in anger, and intermittent skips in the beat give Boku, shimobe. a disturbing vibe. While the verses have a creepy, funhouse feel, the chorus is fairly soothing, as the major key sounds like a return to sanity. This break to normalcy makes the jarring guitar and bass licks stand out even more. Boku, shimobe. is a nice complement to Hitorikiri no White Day; it counters the ballad as a great track to rock out to.
With a sappy song of a broken relationship and a deranged, resentful piece on a bad situation, Boku, White Day mo hitorikiri probably isn’t what you look for when it comes to Valentine’s or White Day. However, love comes in all types, and as this classic single from Vidoll proves as you fall in love with it.
