hitomi's Japanese girl is full of electronic pop surprises.
In June 2005, hitomi released the single Japanese girl, a three song single that in limited form was released with a wild set of nail tips, much to the delight of her fans. The single, which experiments with electronic pop, shows not only hitomi's vocal talent but her confidence in the sounds she creates.
The opening track Japanese girl starts with a computer voice that is singing the English chorus, "I'm just a Japanese girl." The digital speech paves the way for the electronic rhythm which enters soon thereafter, and hitomi's clear voice can be heard well. While the stanzas have added sound effects with background vocals, echoes and noise distortion, the additional sounds compliment the synthesizer laced arrangement. The composition is much like that of something one might hear with Dance Dance Revolution, with a steady drum beat and constantly changing keyboards. As a Japanese girl singing Japanese pop, there is no one better suited for this song than hitomi.
hitomi's second track, Venus, maintains the dance melody with a very 80's feel. The electronic keyboard opening, which has a darker and richer sound than the predecessor may sound familiar to many, but due to hitomi's accent, the English lyrics are well disguised. But less than a minute in, anyone who grew up on American English 80's music will have their strings of nostalgia pulled when they hear the chorus and realize hitomi is covering Bananarama's 1986 hit Venus. Combining the heavy electronic composition, great keyboard solos and hitomi's enthusiastic and adorable lyrics, Venus is a fantastic cover.
While final track there is... (LOVE LIFE Version) has more of a traditional pop sound; it is a refreshing change of pace. At first listen, the first few seconds sound like that of orchestra instrumentals, but upon further investigation it's clear it is a well masked keyboard opener. Compared to the others, there is...'s arrangement is much simpler, tapering down to a quiet R&B melody with a delicate beat that simply guides the vocals rather than adding to the energy of the song. The chorus, while anti-climatic, gives listeners a chance to listen to the beauty of hitomi's voice and her range, which is impressive in itself. The ballad is a nice way to finish out the single, leaving a good lasting impression.
Just one of many from hitomi's large singles discography, Japanese girl is a great starter piece that gives us a taste of hitomi's world. It will be sure to get you hooked!
