Judy and Mary's boisterous energy will have you singing along to their single, Motto.
Judy and Mary rocked through the 90's, wowing fans with each release. While Yuki's voice may seem hard to handle for some, her high pitched vocals are an endearing and irreplaceable quality that makes the band what it is. Motto, released in November 2000, and was another shining example of Judy and Mary's uniqueness to the Japanese pop scene.
Motto is a rambunctious rock track that goes in nine directions but simply sounds great. While the melody of Motto features screeching guitars and crazy drum beats, Yuki is really adorable with her rapidly sung vocals and voice inflections, each of the speedy stanzas blending perfectly with the rhythm. During the chorus, she belts out the lyrics, which are heavily echoed, as if she were performing on a huge stage. In Motto's PV, that is exactly what she does, so for fans who have viewed the video, it is easy to call this to mind when listening. Catchy and cute, Motto will have you dancing everywhere to its addictive beat.
Girlfriend's opening is more focused on Yuki's vocals than the sound, with just a drum count and a slow guitar to guide her through the first stanza. The chorus is adorned with bells and cheerful vocals, but Yuki's voice sounds distant instead of powerful through this key stanza, and it is nearly drowned out by the backup singers. While the composition speeds up after the first chorus, as if preparing for a grand finale, it never truly delivers. The song tapers to a capella vocals for a few seconds before the sound resumes, but it isn't astounding, leaving Girlfriend very overshadowed by the previous track.
While the addition of Motto in karaoke version is a fun bonus, the song just isn't as enjoyable without Yuki's energetic vocals and shrieks. It feels like something is missing, and a listener is likely to switch back to the regular version unless they're planning to sing along themselves.
One of Judy and Mary's final releases, Motto is polished and professional. However, it still holds the wacky charm that Judy and Mary fans know and love, making it a great addition to the band's large discography.
