Tamaki Hiroshi shows us the love with his 2008 single Dakishimetai.
Tamaki Hiroshi is a popular AVEX artist and a rising Japanese television drama actor. His three track single, Dakishimetai, was released in March 2008 and came with a photobook of Tamaki showing his daily routine.
Dakishimetai gives us our cake and lets us eat it too, as it starts with the chorus, giving us a sneak peek of the song to come. Soon tapering off into a sparkling drum beat, Hiroshi's vocals soon return, guided by the piano and drums that accompany him. It is evident that Hiroshi loves what he does, sounding as if he is smiling cheerfully as he belts out the lyrics. Each catchy stanza boosts the mood, with the chorus overflowing in jubilation. Towards the end of the song, we're greeted with a skilled guitar solo before Hiroshi sings a capella, though he is soon rejoined by the the piano and instrumentals, which creep back in for a final strong chorus. The single also includes Dakishimetai's instrumental version, which is just as enjoyable without the vocals and will have you dancing around in no time. However, with the absence of Hiroshi's endearing vocals, the song loses some of its charm, despite the addition of background singers.
As if giving us a breather from the energetic title track, Kimi he to is a subdued piano melody with reserved instrumentals and a focus on Hiroshi's gentle lyrics. The piano accompanies Hiroshi through the song, but it is much quieter compared to his singing, which rises in pitch towards the chorus. During the chorus, he is joined by a gentle drumbeat that is just as muted as the piano, so that no attention is diverted from Hiroshi's message. While the song remains steady, in the last minute, the instrumentals burst to life and are joined by a choir of background vocals, which build Hiroshi up for his final and strongest vocal stanza.
For a fan of Tamaki Hiroshi's acting, it seems strange at first to hear him singing, but after a few listens, the curious emotions quickly turn to those of affection. It's not surprise that music and television go hand in hand, and Tamaki Hiroshi proves just how perfectly they mesh together with Dakishimetai.
