Wednesday, 5 March 2003, 09:27 a.m.

...*sigh* Why did I have to be busy when I have a new CD single, a DVD and two music show tapes lying around in my house?! >_< I somehow I wish I was not busy anymore!

You know what this is going to be right?! *evil grin* Hehehehehehe... ^_^

Ever since I got my copies of the Tackey & Tsubasa's TOBE TOBE TEN MADE TOBE's single (please, everyone, you are supposed to read that title with Japanese pronunciation!!!) and KAT-TUN's concert DVD's all I want to do is listen, listen, listen and watch, watch, watch and write a review (well more like EZTENDED COMMENT. I've done the listening and the watching but I just couldn't immediately get cracking on the extended comment... yet there's sooooooooooo much to comment about.
Which is why right now I'm force myself to FIND TIME to comment on them.

In any case, I'm about to talk very much about T&T. ^_^

TACKEY & TSUBASA
Tobe Tobe Ten Made Tobe

Personal Review

++ PRESENTATION ++
This has got to be one of the funkiest CD packages around. My version comes with an orange bag, a T-shirt and a DVD, and the CD.

--> The bag's quite large, and let's put it this way, if you want to spend a night or two out of the town and looking for a bag that can contain your private belongings (either toiletries or traveling documents) this bag will come fashionably handy. The color is orange. I'm not a big fan of orange, but this one really attracts me. It strikes you as being fresh, bold and innovative at the same time... and I think these descriptions fit T&T's image (somehow).

--> The T-shirt is white with "Tackey & Tsubasa - Takizawa Hideaki and Imai Tsubasa" written on it. After the word "Tsubasa" there's a small picture of sunglasses (??) and on it, there's the sign XX. When I saw that, I was thinking like, "It's suposed to be XXXXX. Hentai." Nyahahahaha... ^_^ Are T&T trying to show us that they really have that kind of relationship by showing that "XX" sign?? ^^;; I dunno. But this picture can have double meanings. Anyway, it's a free-size T-shirt. I'm definitely going to wear it somewhere someday. To show the world how big a fan I am of T&T. I can't go to a T&T concert wearing it but it'll not stop me from showing the world how big a fan I am of T&T. ^_^

--> The CD box is thick because it contains two discs. One is for the CD itself and the other is for the DVD. Bulky but sturdy.

--> The CD booklet is EXTREMELY NICE. The layout is very good. There are several pages of pictures and two pages for the lyrics and credits. A little bit minimal, and I was disappointed they didn't include the lyrics for the songs in the medley, but it's okay.

--> CD surface is orange. Metallic orange. Words are printed in silver and metallic green/blue. I think Jenn mentioned about the fonts in her review, but I forgot what it was. Whatever it is, I think it looks very retro. In case you're wondering how the font looks like, it's actually the same as the title on the CD booklet, and to see it, just check out the picture on the links above.

--> DVD surface is silver with white print. Like the concert DVD. It's so nice how the background where the CD is placed has Takki's pic on it and the background where the DVD is placed has Tsuba's pic on it.

--> PHOTOS, EXCELLENT. T&T are so stylish in here.
My favorite pictures definitely would be the cover and back cover of the CD. The front cover, which shows T&T looking lovingly at each other's eyes as if they're ready to kiss, is just.... plain. beautiful.
And the back cover is a pic of them sitting VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER (iya~ not just close, an inch closer, they'd be on top of each other!), smiling very brightly and looking as if they're the happiest people in the world.
After all that, CAN FANS STILL SAY THAT T&T DON'T DESERVE TO DEBUT TOGETHER?! I think NOT. It's obvious that they're happy and enjoy working together as a unit!!! (They might also enjoy each other elsewhere, for all we know. ^^;;; --> JODAN!!! Hehehehehe...)

++ CONTENTS ++
There are three songs:
1. "Sostsugyo ~Sayonara wa Ashita no Tameni~
2. To be or not to be
3. Brand New Medley: Ikiteru Akashi, Kaze and Love & Tough.

I love all the songs! It sounds better than their first album, musically and vocally. Anyway, one by one.

Sotsugyo.
The ballad with graduation theme. I'm sure a lot of people have heard it by now. It's beautiful.
I think I hear Takki more in this song but I could be wrong. Takki & Tsuba's voices sound more and more similar these days. But with a few more listens, I think I can confirm that it's definitely Takki's voice dominating this song.
It's a song with touching melodies. The intro starts with guitar, then comes the piano/keyboard melodies and there's a slow drum beat that accompanies the music all the way through. In the chorus, I can hear strings but I don't know if this is an effect or real strings.
When I first heard this song, I cried. Seriously. The song's title means "Graduation" and somehow the words got to me and I remembered how unhappy I was during the time of my high school graduation... then I cried. I wished T&T had been around with this song at that time... it would've made everything easier for me. ^^;;

To be or not to be.
Before I move into anything, let me just say that I was thrilled when I heard the title of the song. I'm a big fan of Shakespeare and I used to read his plays in junior high. So, when I realized that I can still find a bit of Shakespeare in my current interest (J-Pop) I was so excited. It's like the uniting of Ami-chan's two worlds of the past and present. ^_^
TONIKAKU...
THIS IS A KICK-ASS SONG!!!! I like this song a lot. Even though I still can't decide which one I like more from "Sotsugyo" and this, I play this song a lot... even more than "Sotsugyo". I didn't realize how badly I needed this song to cheer up my mood.
VERY AVEX. Finally T&T gets into the AVEX mode. That strong, very particular sound of AVEX. Of course the song's written by HAL anyway so it's no surprise. Full of beats, electronic, and electric guitar sounds... the melody is SUPER CATCHY. I don't know how to describe this song properly. Just think AVEX. No, seriously. If you've listened to many Avex's artists' songs, you'll know what I'm talking about.
The intro of this song is very GRAND. Starts off with the kind of tune you'd hear in Takki's solo "Here I Am" (intro)... and Takki & Tsuba sings the chorus part slowly. Then it stops, comes an electronic sound and the beat comes in and from then on it just rocks.
I like the lyrics of this song! I got to know a little of the meaning of this song after trying to romanize it. My favorite words from this song are: "To be or not to be, kotae wa iranai", "Machigaetemo ii" and this part: "Kurikaesu tsumi sore hodo tsuyoi ningen janai kara tachitomatte itatte kangaekomu dakede..." because Takki and Tsubasa's (especially the latter) voices are just so perfect here! And the vocal harmony that these two combine in that part is just SAIKO DESU! What makes it more meaningful is the way the music sort of extended from the second chorus to that part I mentioned. I can imagine the dance for this song, particularly that part! I can't wait to see the performance for that part because that part sounds perfect for solo dances and I want to know how the choreography would be!

Ikiteru Akashi.
I can't believe this is ending theme for USO Japan?!. It sounds... well, alternative. Think... err... what's that genre called... punk rock?? Actually, this song reminds me very much of Tsuyoshi Domoto.
I'm so surprised to hear this song for the first time. I didn't expect T&T to be able to sing a song like this. I hear mostly Tsuba's voice here... what happened to Takki?! ^^;; I still can't be crazy for this song, like the way I'm head over heels with the first two. Maybe I have to listen to it some more. But the chorus part is beginning to grow on me.

Kaze.
Takki solo. COOL! SONG! ME LIKEY! ^_^ The tune is catchy, and slightly up-tempo. Let's just call it semi-uptempo. Somehow this song reminds me of... Naohito Fujiki. SERIOUSLY. If I thought the "Ikiteru Akashi" is fit to be sung by Tsuyo-D, this song is fit to be sung by Nao. I can hear clearly Takki's voice here. Improving. A LOT. I'm so proud of him. His voice here is so soothing. Ahhhh, in love. You know what I think: it's a date song. If you sit in a car with someone you like/love, listening to this song, it'll make you smile. WAFFY. ^_^

Love & Tough.
Tsuba solo. ANOTHER COOL SONG! LIKEY TOO! It sounds like alternative rock. I'm not reminded to any other artist. I just think about Tsuba. I'm so amazed by Tsubasa's voice. It fits the song perfectly. It just goes with the beat and melody. I think Tsubasa is slightly more creative with his vocals than Takki. The types of songs he sings are different yet they all sound good because he seems to know how to adjust.

HATACHI VISUAL MIX from the DVD.
It's basically a "medley" of the three PVs T&T's done for their debut album. They're only half PVs of course since it's a "visual mix" anyway but the shots and cuts that are shown in this DVD is different from the original PV. There are several focused-extended-shots of both Takki, Tsuba and especially that antique watch that the two are holding. Somehow seeing the PVs right after one another with the shots like in these ones make the videos look more meaningful. Especially on that part where Takki placed his hand on top of Tsuba's open hand with the watch on his palm. It's a beautiful scene, made even more beautiful by this newly edited version of the PV.
I really want to know who direct it because these three are just among the best PVs I've ever seen. Everything in PV looks really good... the soft colors, the camera angles, the symbolic features, the singers, the setting... they're breathtaking.

++ OVERALL JUDGEMENT ++
10.
No, really. It's KANPEKI.
A big round of applause for Tackey & Tsubasa and AVEX.

As for AVEX, I usually fret because they release so many versions of just one CD and make me spend a lot, but this time, I really don't mind spending money for it. It's just worth it. The bonuses, the presentation, and the quality of the whole package is just excellent.

As for T&T, I just feel so proud of them. *Ami-chan's gone teary eyed* They've matured a lot. Their music and vocals are exciting and make me want to listen to them more and more. Addictive. Hontou ni. They've matured so much. Their vocals have become much, much better than in the past. Seeing from the different genres that co-exist in this CD single, I can conclude that they will never bore their fans and music lovers. They can improve, expand and progress even more than they already have. I believe soon enough that they will be including their own songs in their singles and albums. Already during the junior jidai (Johnny's Jr period), the both of them have written their own songs and they did quite a good job back then... what more now that they've debuted and have more experience!!!
Right now, I can admit that they're professional artists now. Of course, they receive a lot of help from Avex and their management to get this far and to get this popular, but they undoubtedly have the talents and determination to succeed!
What the future will bring... otanoshimi ne! ^_^

++ FROM AMI-CHAN ++
I've decided to make a "PV" for "To be or not to be". I dunno if they plan to record a PV for this (I hope they do) but because the song is so inspirational I've decided that I will make a "PV" for them. Even though it's imaginary, and it will only be "visualized" through my writing, I really think that song deserves one even from now on! Ganbarimasu! This imaginary PV will come later this week, as I'm going to prioritize the KAT-TUN Concert "extended comments" first before writing that one. =) Wait for it, OK?

Lyrics! Lyrics! I've romanized "Sotsugyo" and "To be or not to be". ^_^ It's not perfect, and some words are missing (and I've turned to the expert to help me!) but I'll make corrections later. The lyrics page I page I made is orange. ^_^ Matching the whole color theme of the TOBE single. ;)
T&T "TOBE TOBE TEN MADE TO BE" LYRICS

Also, I have updated my T&T "Futari De" gallery with the two "love is in the air" (^_^ Nyahahahaha) pictures from the single. The link for the lyrics is also included there. =)
UPDATED T&T "FUTARI DE" GALLERY