Okumura Hatsune - Honto wa ne

Debuting in 2007, Okumura Hatsune made a name for herself with the single Koi, Hanabi. Since 2009, she has been known simply as Hatsune and has continued making music.

Honto wa ne opens the two-track single lightly. It’s soft, almost predictable in terms of the outcome of the song but is a good listen nonetheless. Used as the theme song for the 2008 NTV drama “Seigi no Mikata,” Honto wa ne fits the role of being an ending theme. The track itself practically follows a pattern in that it has the feeling of being like an ending song, with its simple melody and orchestral strings mixed with pop-sounding guitar. Hatsune’s voice is also a tone too bright in comparison to the backing track, and if toned down a bit, her voice would match the song better. The PV, available on the limited edition of the single, shows Hatsune tying back her hair and holding an acoustic guitar as she brightly sings “it's all right.” The full force of the song is thrown at the listener right that moment; however, the PV largely focuses on her playing the guitar and cut away to several scenes of a marionette. The song ends with a snippet of short-lived harmonica - if only more harmonica accompaniment had been featured throughout the song.

The B-side to the single is Natsuiro no Koi, and it keeps the same feeling as Honto wa ne projects alive - with one exception. Hatsune’s voice isn’t as bright as it is on the previous track. This makes Natsuiro no Koi seem more relaxed than it actually is and makes the listener pay attention to what the seven colours of love might be. Natsuiro no Koi is a tender track to remember.

Karaoke versions of both tracks are available on both the regular and the limited edition of Honto wa ne. The limited edition also comes with a DVD containing the PV for Honto wa ne. Both i>Honto wa ne and Natsuiro no Koi are featured on Hatsune's debut album, Arigatou, released a year after her initial debut in 2007. Since the release of Honto wa ne, Hatsune has released three other singles and an album; her most recent being Mata Aitai.